April 17, 2008
Henderson County prep inks NLI to play for Eagles
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team announced that 5'4" freshman guard Rinesha Soaper (Henderson, Kentucky) has signed a national letter of intent to play for Head Coach Rick Stein's Screaming Eagles in 2008-09.
Soaper is currently a senior at Henderson County High School where she led her squad to a 24-5 record and the quarterfinals of the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen this past season.
A three-time All-Sixth District performer, Soaper was named to the All-Second Region Tournament team four straight years and was the most valuable player as a junior and a senior.
In 2007-08, Soaper averaged 19.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game to lead Henderson County to the District Championship and its fourth straight regional crown. She was named the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches' Region II Player of the Year in 2008 and was named to the 2006 and 2008 KHSAA Sweet Sixteen All-Tournament Team.
Soaper, who also played softball and ran track at Henderson County, is one of 42 girls to be invited to the Kentucky All-Star tryouts, which are held this coming weekend.
"Rinesha is a versatile guard with the ability to score off the dribble as well as shoot the ‘three,'" Stein said. She can handle and pas in transition and will create for her teammates.
"Rinesha had a fantastic career at Henderson County that should be highlighted with a spot on the Kentucky All-Star team," Stein concluded.
Soaper joins 6'0" junior guard/forward Abby Williams (St. Joseph, Illinois) on USI's list of incoming players for the 2008-09 season.
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
