RUSTON ? Two years ago, Louisiana Tech signed its first player ever from the state of Alabama in forward Shanavia Dowdell.

Head coach Chris Long tripled that number on Wednesday inking three of the top prep stars in Alabama to national letters of intent in guards Jasmine Bendolph, DeAngela Sword and Kiara Young.

Long said he was very happy with the caliber of player and individual that his staff was able to land in this class, and feels that Tech fans will see an immediate impact by this group in 2008-09.

?I think all three of these players will come in and compete for playing time when they walk on campus,? Long said. ?We addressed several needs with this group. All three were highly recruited. I feel like we signed the best three guards in the state of Alabama and three of the best in the southeast.?

Bendolph is a 5-foot-7-inch point guard from Mobile who plays for coach Charlie Shipp at Davidson High School. Long said Bendolph is a complete point guard who can do everything well.

?Jasmine is a special player,? Long said. ?We have been watching Jasmine play for quite some time. She is a pure point guard that can handle it, distribute it, and score it. She has an excellent command of her dribble.

?She is very hard to trap because of her ability to see the floor and escape with her dribble. She has good vision and a great knowledge of the game. She can really score as well as pass it. Our fans are going to really like her game.?

Bendolph led Davidson to the Alabama Class 6A state title game as a freshman and sophomore. She averaged 14.8 points and 5.2 assists as a junior while being named the Mobile Press Player of the Year. She is also a two-time first team all-state selection and has been named preseason honorable mention all-American by two different publications.

?Jasmine?s work ethic is great,? Shipp said. ?She is just a great kid and a great player. She is a coach?s dream. She handles the ball so well. Since she?s been here, no one has been able to press us. She handles the ball and looks to get everyone involved. She is a very unselfish player. She can take over a game. Her court vision is unbelievable. Her knowledge of the game is incredible.?

Bendolph, who is coaching Davidson?s junior varsity team under Shipp?s direction, chose Louisiana Tech over a number of programs, including LSU.

?I just felt like Louisiana Tech was the right program for me,? Bendolph said. ?Coach Joni (Crenshaw) has been following me since middle school and the coaching staff has shown me a lot of support. I also wanted to stay close to home.?

Sword is a 5-foot-10-inch shooting guard who stars at Carver Montgomery High School and who has lettered all four years for coach Yvonne Simmons. The two-sport star ? Sword won the Alabama Class 6A state title in the long jump as a junior ? averaged over 18 points and 10 rebounds a game last year. She is an AAU teammate with Bendolph on the Alabama Twisters Black Elite Team.

?Dee is a great athlete,? Long said. ?She is quicker than quick. Once she gets stronger, she will help our team rebounding, scoring, and has lockdown defensive ability. What separates Dee from other players is her first step and ability to slash and hit the pull-up jumper or get to the basket. Her range on her 3-pointer is getting better and better. Dee and (Jasmine) have played together for a long time in AAU basketball so they will be very good together.?

Sword, who plans on majoring in computer information systems, ranks No. 1 in her senior class at Carver Mongtomery with a 3.8 grade point average. She is a three-time all-metro team member and has also been named a preseason honorable mention all-American by Sporting News Magazine and Dan Olson?s Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.

?They have a great tradition which is a big thing for me,? Sword said. ?I really liked the team chemistry between the players and the coaches. I think I?ll fit in perfectly with their style of play with my quickness.?

Sword chose the Lady Techsters over Auburn and Georgia.

Young is a 5-foot-9-inch guard who begins her fifth year lettering for the Lauderdale County High School varsity team and coach Brant Lewellyn. She led Lauderdale to the Alabama Class 3A state title as a sophomore and was named the title game MVP after hitting the game-winning shot.

?Kiara is a very strong guard that can play either the 2 or 3 guard position,? Long said. ?She has very strong shoulders but is also very explosive. You just don't find many high school players with the strength level she has particularly on the wing. She is also a player that should really have a good career on the boards. Her first step allows her to get by players guarding her and she can finish at the basket. I think with hard work her upside is very high.?

Young led Lauderdale to a 26-9 record and the Elite 8 as a junior while averaging 24.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. She was named first team all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a junior and was a finalist for Miss Basketball. A preseason honorable mention all-American, she is rated as the 32nd best player and fourth best shooting guard in the country by Dan Olson?s Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.

?I like Louisiana Tech?s style of play because they really get up and down the court,? Young said. ?All of the coaches really kept up with me. They called and came to my AAU games. There really showed a lot of interest in me. Plus, when (DeAngela) and (Jasmine) committed, I decided I really wanted to play with them.
Tech is a good program, and I wanted to play for a good program and try to win a national championship.?

Young chose Tech over Auburn and Mississippi State.

Long said the Lady Techsters plan to sign more players during the late signing period.


Jasmine Bendolph
5-7, Guard
Mobile, Ala. (Davidson HS)

High School: Played point guard for four years for coach Charlie Shipp at Davidson High School ? Averaged 14.8 points and 5.2 assists as a junior ? Led Davidson to the Alabama Class 6A state title game as a freshman and sophomore ? Led Davidson to the Class 6A Region 1 title as freshman and sophomore and the Class 6A Area 2 title as a junior ? Named Mobile Press Player of the Year as junior ? Mobile Press Top 5 player for three years ? Named all-state tournament team as a freshman and sophomore ? Named first team all-state as a sophomore and junior ? Named MVP at the regional tournament as a sophomore ? Ranked in top five in Alabama according to www.hoopgurlz.com ? Named preseason honorable mention all-American by The Sporting News Magazine and by Dan Olson?s Collegiate Girls Basketball Report (prior to senior season) ? Played AAU for coach Krystle Johnson and the Alabama Twisters Black Elite team ? Personal: Full name is Jasmine LaShawn Bendolph ? Daughter of Jacquelyn Bendolph ? Has two sisters, Julisa and Jessica ? Born Jan. 10, 1990, in Mobile, Ala. ? Age 17.


DeAngela Sword
5-10, Guard
Montgomery, Ala. (Carver Montgomery HS)

High School: Lettered all four years for coach Yvonne Simmons at Carver Montgomery High School ? Averaged 18.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game as junior ? Named all-metro by the Montgomery Advertiser all three years ? Ranked in top five in Alabama according to www.hoopgurlz.com ? Named preseason honorable mention all-American by The Sporting News Magazine and by Dan Olson?s Collegiate Girls Basketball Report (prior to senior season) ? Played AAU for coach Krystle Johnson and the Alabama Twisters Black Elite team ? Also are a member of the Wolverines track and field team ? Won the Class 6A state title in the long jump in 2006 with a mark of 18-4 ? Was a member of the school?s area and subregional championship 4 X 400-meter relay ? Ranked No. 1 in senior class with 3.8 gpa ? Member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society) ? Personal: DeAngela Denise Sword ? Daughter of Edward Ellison Jr and Rudi Sword ? Has three brothers, Joe, Joshua, and Michael, and two sisters, Margaret and Tamara ? Born Sept. 3, 1989, in Montgomery, Ala ? Age 18.



Kiara Young
5-9, Guard
Rogersville, Ala. (Lauderdale County High School)

High School: Lettered for five years for coach Brant Lewellyn at Lauderdale County High School ? Led Lauderdale County to the Class 3A state championship game as a sophomore and was named MVP after hitting the game-winning shot ? Led Lauderdale to a 26-9 record and the Elite 8 as a junior while averaging 24.1 points and 8.3 rebounds per game ? Was named first team all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a junior and was a finalist for Miss Basketball ? Rated as the 32nd best player and fourth best shooting guard in the country by Dan Olson?s Collegiate Girls Basketball Report ? Ranked in top five in Alabama according to www.hoopgurlz.com ? Named preseason honorable mention all-American by The Sporting News Magazine and by Dan Olson?s Collegiate Girls Basketball Report (prior to senior season) ? Played AAU for the North Alabama Twisters ? Personal: Kiara Shonte Young ? Daughter of Tracey and Leander Young ? Has two sisters, Leandra and Asia ? Born Dec. 5, 1989, in Decatur, Ala. ? Age 17.