Aug. 20, 2010
RUSTON -- Former West Monroe High School standout Kassietta Brown made an impression on the Louisiana Tech coaching staff when she scored 10 points last season for Southern Miss in a 76-68 win by the Lady Techsters in Hattiesburg.
Evidently, LA Tech made an impression on her as well as the sophomore-to-be guard has transferred and has enrolled in classes for the fall quarter which begins in early September.
"I think Louisiana Tech is a good school," Brown said. "It's got a really nice basketball program. I wanted to be closer to home. Although I haven't been around coach (Teresa) Weatherspoon much, I've heard a lot about her. I've heard she is an awesome coach. I've been around her a few days lately and I know she is an awesome person. I look forward to learning from her."
Brown averaged 18.9 points and 5.4 rebounds for coach John Green as a senior at West Monroe High School earning all-state honors during her final two years for the Lady Rebels. Following her high school career, Brown signed with Southern Miss where she averaged 4.0 points while coming off the bench in 27 games last season.
"I saw Kassietta at West Monroe and noticed what kind of player she was," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "She is very strong, very physical and she can shoot the basketball. She is a very consistent player. She chose to go to Southern Miss but we are fortunate that she has decided to come back. She will fit in very well with our program and with our style of play."
Brown, who will have to sit out this season due to the NCAA transfer rules but will then have three years of eligibility remaining, had one of her best games of her freshman campaign against the Lady Techsters last season when she hit 4-of-7 field goals, including a three-pointer, while scoring 10 points, grabbing two rebounds and recording one assist and one steal.
The 5-foot-9-inch guard shot 37 percent from the field and 34 percent from the three-point line during the year while averaging just over 15 minutes a game. She scored a season-high 15 points in a loss at Marshall.
She will join four other newcomers for the Lady Techsters this year, including guards Jelena Vucinic, Angie Felton and Brittany Hardy and forward Shantale Bramble-Donaldson.
Kassietta Brown 5-9, So., Guard West Monroe, La. (Southern Miss)
USM: Saw action in 27 games off the bench for the Golden Eagles ... Averaged 4.0 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game while averaging 15.1 minutes ... Shot 37 percent from the field, 34 percent from the three-point line and 61 percent from the free throw line ... Scored a career-high 15 points in a loss at Marshall ... Also scored 10 points in a eight-point loss to Louisiana Tech ... High School: A three-year letterwinner for Coach John Green at West Monroe High School ... Averaged 18.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a senior ... An all-state selection in 2008 and 2009 ... Played in the Louisiana All-Star Game ... Earned all-district honors four times and was named the district MVP ... Garnered all-Northeast Louisiana accolades ... Played AAU for the Arkansas Mavericks and Coach Ronald Rogers ... While playing for the Arkansas Mavericks 16U team, she helped the team capture the Arkansas State championship in 2008 ... Played on teams that finished fifth in the nation in 2007 at the 15U AAU National Championships ... Personal: Full name is Kassietta Danielle Brown ... Daughter of Anthony and Tammy Smith ... Has one brother, Anthony Smith Jr. ... Born July 9, 1990 in Monroe, La.
