Tatum, Texas, standout signs with LSUS basketball
April 16, 2003
Saige Cooper, an athletic and academic standout at Union Grove High School, has signed to attend and play basketball at LSUS.
LSUS Women's Basketball Coach Ronnie Howell said Cooper committed to play for the Pilots April 8 at her Tatum, Texas, home. Her parents, Richard and Joanne Cooper, witnessed their daughter's historic signature. With it, she became the first high school senior to officially commit to play women's basketball at LSUS since the sport was reinstituted after nearly a decade absence.
"Saige is the type of quality student-athlete we are trying to attract at LSUS," Howell said. "She works very hard in the classroom as well as on the basketball court. She has a great personality, and we're excited that she chose LSUS to further her basketball career and receive a quality education."
As a basketball player at Union Grove, Cooper was All-District as a sophomore, junior and senior, was offensive MVP as a sophomore and overall MVP as a junior and senior. She was newcomer of the year as a freshman.
She was first team All East Texas as a sophomore; All East Texas offensive MVP, first team All Region and third team All State as a junior, and first team all Region and second team All State by Texas Basketball Magazine as a senior.
Her 4.0 GPA earned her Academic All State honors as a senior.
Cooper doesn't limit her athletics to basketball. She played volleyball and ran track as a sophomore, junior and senior. She received first team and All District honors in volleyball all three years. She was a regional qualifier in both the 300 hurdles and cross country all three years, and earned Academic All State honors as a senior.
When not on the court, she was head cheerleader on the sideline as a sophomore, junior and senior, and earned All America honors from the National Cheerleading Association all three years.
Her academic accomplishments are equally impressive, having competed in the University Interscholastic League poetry for three years and one-act play for four years. She is National Honor Society secretary and earned an ACT score of 25.
"Saige brings instant credibility to our women's basketball program," LSUS Athletic Director Doug Robinson said.
