MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / November 11, 2000

RESERVE – It may not draw the attention of National Signing Day in February but the early signing period for basketball and baseball was a busy one for River Parishes athletes this week.

Kinya Lennix and Danielle Stemley became the latest East St. John girls’basketball players to sign college scholarships. Lennix signed with Tulane andStemley with Southern University of New Orleans.

“They are getting two loyal and dedicated kids,” East St. John coach TroyGiordano said. “They never missed a day of practice in school. They are twokids who will do the right thing in school. Both make good grades, are neverlate for practice and always listen to the coaches. They are two quality kidswho work hard.”Lennix was an honorable mention all-state selection last season after averaging 16.7 points and 6.2 rebounds a game. She also became the leadingscorer in Lady Cat history and currently has 1,641 points for her career.

Lennix was recruited by a host of schools, including Mississippi State, Arizona, San Diego State, Virginia, Temple, Colorado, Southern Mississippi, South Alabama and Wisconsin. Lennix said Tulane head coach Lisa Stocktonand her staff have her projected playing either the one or two spot.

“I liked the whole atmosphere,” Lennix said of picking Tulane. “I didn’t wantto go far from home and the coaches were really nice. They made me feelwelcomed. I wanted to go in and have a chance to play. Coach Stockton said itdoesn’t matter if you are a freshman or a senior, if you can play, you will play. I liked the school and I liked the kind of offense they run. I’ll be able togo out and utilize my skills.”Stemley was an all-district selection in 1999-2000 after averaging seven points and 2.5 rebounds per game. She also had 122 assists, 108 steals andhit 30 percent of her 3-point shots.

Stemley was also recruited by a number of schools, including Nicholls State, UNO and Southeastern Louisiana, but said she liked the situation at SUNO.

She is projected at guard in college.

“I think it’s a well-organized school,” Stemley said. “They explained how itwas, that education comes first, basketball second. They told me I might notme in the starting five but that I would definitely get playing time. They likedthe way I hustle. I’m very excited about it. I’m kind of speechless right now.”The Destrehan Lady Cats basketball team is also having one heading to the next level as Joevone Markey, a senior center signed with UNO Wednesday.

Markey helped Destrehan to the bi-district playoffs last season, earning all- district and all-River Parishes honors after averaging 13 points and 15 rebounds a game.

Destrehan’s Randy Roth, who helped both the baseball and football team to the playoffs this year, signed a baseball scholarship with LSU Wednesday.

Roth was named to the Class 5A all-state baseball team in 2000 after batting .500 with 10 home runs, 11 doubles, 38 runs batted in and 35 runsscored.

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