Three John Tyler Lady Lion basketball players signed college scholarships on Thursday at the JT gym -- (from left) Za’Kiyah Jones (Texas College), J’Kimbria Criss (Clarendon College) and Jazmyne Hicks (Texas College)

Three John Tyler Lady Lions basketball players signed scholarships for the next level on Thursday during a ceremony at the Lions Den on the JT campus.

Inking letters were Za’Kiyah Jones and Jazmyne Hicks with the Texas College Lady Steers and J’Kimbria Criss with the Clarendon College Lady Bulldogs.

JT coach Ronald Meikle commended the hard work of the Lady Lions as well as how they represented their school and community. He said TC and CC will be proud to have Jones, Hicks and Criss attending their schools “because they are not only great athletes but also great students.”

Jones, a 5-7 shooting guard, averaged 8.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while shooting 79 percent from the free throw line and 40 percent from 3-point. She was honorable mention All-District 11-6A.

Both Criss and Hicks were second-team All-District 11-6A.

All three were part of the JT Region II semifinalists in 2017.

Criss can play either forward or center. She averaged 6.0 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field and 72 percent from the free throw line.

Hicks was named JT’s Most Valuable Player, averaging 11 points and 8 rebounds. She shot 54 percent from the floor and 70 percent from the free throw line.

After signing their official letters, the players posed for photographs with family, friends, classmates and coaches as the signing table was decorated in the purple and gold of Texas College and the green and white of Clarendon College.

Both Jones and Hicks said they were happy to be able to play in Tyler where their parents and family and friends can attend their games.

Texas College is an accredited historically black, four-year college that is affiliated with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The Lady Steers compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Red River Athletic Conference.

The RRAC includes: Huston-Tillotson University (Austin), Jarvis Christian College (Hawkins), Langston University (Langston, Oklahoma), LSU-Alexandria (Louisiana), LSU-Shreveport (Louisiana), Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio), Paul Quinn College (Dallas), Texas A&M University-Texarkana, University of Houston-Victoria, University of St. Thomas (Houston), University of the Southwest (Hobbs, New Mexico) and Wiley College (Marshall).

Criss said she is looking forward to heading to west Texas and is ready for the season to begin.

Clarendon College is a community college located in Clarendon, the seat of Donley County in the Texas Panhandle.

The Lady Bulldogs compete in Region V of the National Junior College Athletic Association with New Mexico Junior College, Frank Phillips College, Midland College, Odessa College, Howard College, South Plains College and Western Texas College.

 

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