Hamilton Heights sends two to D-I and other college signing news

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

The Hamilton Heights basketball program announced Wednesday that two of their players signed with NCAA Division I colleges.

Gerda Paulauskaite, a 6-foot-3 senior forward from Lithuania, inked scholarship papers to continue her career at Gardner-Webb University, while Aleksa Jugovic, a 6-3 point guard from Serbia, signed with Tennessee Tech a few hours after committing.

Paulauskaite averaged 3.5 points and 3.2 rebounds, while blocking 23 shots in 20 games for the Lady Hawks in 2012-2013. Hamilton Heights headmaster Duke Stone said that Gardner Webb really liked her defensive capabilities.

"They were the only school to really pursue her," Stone said. "She went on a visit and really liked it. She has a lot of ability on defense and rebounding, but she has the ability to mature into a solid offensive player."

Jugovic is in his first season in the United States, but wasted no time coming onto the scene. He earned the offer to play for Tennessee Tech during the preseason, as the Hawks have a number of highly regarded players which have brought in a lot of coaches. It took one visit to the Cookeville, Tenn., school for Jugovic to decide that's where he wanted to play.

"He's going to be a really good player for us," Stone said. "He's the best skill player that we've ever had here."

Woods signs with Lee

Meigs County senior basketball player Levi Woods signed Wednesday to continue his career at NCAA Division II Lee University in Cleveland, Tenn. Woods, a 6-foot-3 guard/forward, averaged 21.1 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists for the Tigers during the 2012-2013 season and currently has 1,509 points in his high school career.

"Each year, he's gotten better and he's matured," Meigs coach Sammy Perkinson said. "He's grown as an individual and has become a more complete player. He's always been such an offensive threat, but he's starting to become a better defender and more all-around player. I think he'll be a good fit for Lee and I think that Lee and coach [Tommy] Brown will like him."

Lee gets Sonoraville star

Sonoraville's Carrie Cheeks has accepted an offer to play basketball at Lee University and plans to sign this week.

Cheeks, also a standout volleyball player, has averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks per game thus far in her high school career.

"It's pretty," Cheeks said of the Cleveland, Tenn. campus. "It's far enough away from home, but not too far."

Cheeks said she first established communication with Lee's program after attending a basketball camp there. She added the fact that Lee has now added a nursing program factored into her decision.

Irish's Bouchard signing

Notre Dame's Stephanie Bouchard plans to sign a volleyball scholarship today to play for coach Jayme Crowley at NCAA Division II member Trevecca Nazarene University.

Bouchard, a key contributor on both rows as well as a server for the Lady Irish, visited the Nashville campus at the end of July. She said she liked the idea of attending a smaller school and she plans on majoring in biology.

"Me and Coach Crowley hit it off," Bouchard said. "It just felt right when I went there."

Boen headed to TWC

Walker Valley's Baylee Boen has plans to play both softball and volleyball with NAIA Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens.

Boen injured an ankle in the Lady Mustangs' first volleyball match this fall and had an injury-plagued senior season. She was one of their top run scorers last softball season.

Three from CSAS decide

Three Arts & Sciences softball players have made decisions on which college-scholarship offers they will accept.

Jamani Greer and Kiara Suttles plan to sign with NCAA Division I Southern University. Gabi Queener will play at Division III Maryville.

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