Louisiana Tech added more solid shooting Wednesday as the Bulldog Basketball Program inked Clarke Hale to a National Letter of Intent on the last day of the signing period.

Hale, a 6-2 guard out of Azle High School in Texas led the Hornets to a 30-7 record and a trip to the Texas Class 4A Regional Tournament last year as a senior, averaging 27.3 points and 5.3 assists per game playing both guard positions as well as the wing. He set the Azle High School single-season scoring record as a senior and is also the top career scorer for the Hornets.

?Clarke had an outstanding senior season,? Louisiana Tech coach Keith Richard said. ?We are really excited to add a quality high school guard to our program. Clarke is a great shooter that we feel can have a good career over the next four years.?

Rated as the 21st best recruit in Texas by Mike Kunstadt?s Texas Basketball Review, Hale was a first team 4A All-State selection and was also an Academic All-State selection, MVP of District 6-4A and played in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star game.

?I?m very excited to become a Bulldog,? Hale said. ?It?s been a grueling process of figuring out of where I was going to go, but I really think I found the right place. It feels good and I?m ready to get out there and down to work.?

Hale played under his father, coach Robert Hale, at Azle High School.

?We?re very proud and excited about Clarke signing with Louisiana Tech,? Robert Hale said. ?Our visit there made us feel very good about the school, the facilities and the coaching staff. It feels like a good fit for Clarke.?

Hale signed at 10 p.m. Wednesday, two hours before the deadline for the 2004 late signing period.

In his junior season at Azle High School Hale averaged 20.2 points per game and was named the District 6-4A Offensive Player of the Year.