RUSTON ? Calera High School senior Shanavia Dowdell is considered by most the No. 1 prospect in the state of Alabama.

On Wednesday, Dowdell became No. 1 at Louisiana Tech as well as the 6-foot-2-inch forward became the first Alabama native to ever sign with the nationally prominent women?s basketball program.

?I?m very excited to have Shanavia as a Lady Techster,? said Tech head coach Chris Long. ?She is a player. She has great hands, can run the floor, can post up as well as step out and hit the 15 footer. She has a chance to be special at Louisiana Tech. She is also a great person.?

Ranked as the No. 1 senior in Alabama by the Birmingham News, Dowdell is a four-time all-county performer who has been selected as the state?s Class 2A most valuable player the past two years while leading Calera to the state championship game both seasons.

As as a junior, Dowdell averaged 27.2 points and 13.1 rebounds per game while leading the Eagles to a 25-2 record and the 2005 state championship game. As a sophomore she averaged 28.9 points and 14.2 rebounds per game, and she scored 35 points in a loss in the Class 2A title contest.

?She has the complete package,? said first year Calera head coach James Knowles. ?She?s a really good player, works hard and has a great attitude.?

According to her AAU coach Greg Williams, Dowdell possesses the ability to play on the block with her back to basket but the strength of her game is her ability to score.

?Shanavia has a soft touch and good range,? Williams said. ?She has already developed a 15 to 17 foot shot and once she perfects it, she will be even tougher. She is a natural athlete. She knows how to use her body for rebounding and defense.?

Dowdell chose Louisiana Tech over Georgia, Auburn and Mississippi State.

?I liked (Louisiana Tech?s) winning tradition,? Dowdell said. ?I enjoyed (my visit to Tech). It was a lot like home, and I really liked that as well.?

Shanavia Dowdell Bio
6-2, F, Calera High School, Calera, Ala.

High School: Lettered since her eighth grade year on varsity for coach Scott Gafford at Calera High School ... Will play for coach James Knowles as a senior ... Named all-county four times ... Named to the Alabama Super Five in 2004 ... Named to the Birmingham News All-State first team in 2004 ... Named to the ASWA 2A All-State first team in 2003 and 2005 ... Was a finalist for 2A Miss Basketball in 2004 and 2005 ... Named Alabama 2A state MVP in 2004 and 2005 ... Averaged 27.0 points and 15.1 rebounds in 2005 ... Averaged 28.9 points and 14.2 rebounds in 2004 ... Led Calera High School to the Alabama 2A state championship game in 2004 and 2005 ... Scored 35 points in a loss in the 2004 Alabama 2A state title game ... Played in the Alabama North/South All-Star game in July, scoring 11 points and grabbing 11 rebounds ... Played AAU for coach Greg Williams and the Alabama Lady Warriors ... Also played volleyball at Calera ... ranked as the No. 1 high school senior in Alabama by the Birmingham News ... ranked as the 92nd best high school player in the country by Blue Star ... Personal: Full name is Shanavia Averiel Dowdell ... Daughter of Aretha and Andrew Dowdell ... Has three brothers, Kevin, Fanando, and DeMarcus, and one sister, Tamiria ... Born Sept. 10, 1987. Age 18.

Chose Louisiana Tech over Georgia and Auburn