Published: November 19, 2008 10:10 pm      

Whitt makes Point

PRINCETON — Laura Whitt wanted to spend her senior season concentrating on basketball and not worrying about the future.

Her future is set. Let Whitt’s final season of high school basketball begin. After all, the Tigers have big goals.

“I think we’ll have an excellent year,” Whitt said. “I hope we’ll have an excellent year and I think we are very capable of making it to the states.

“Our goal is nothing short than making it to the state tournament.”

Whitt’s focus will be on that goal now that the Princeton senior has signed a letter of intent to play college basketball starting in the 2009-2010 school year at High Point University.

“I wanted to get it out of the way so I could just relax and enjoy my senior season,” said Whitt. who took advantage of the NCAA’s early signing period by signing on Wednesday at the PSHS library. “I really want to concentrate on what’s important for high school.”

High Point is a Division 1 school located in the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina, between Winston-Salem and Greensboro. The Panthers, which play in the Big South Conference, are coached by Tooey Loy, with a roster that includes George Wythe import Ashlee’ Samuels.

“I really liked the campus and I really liked the coaches and I really liked some of the players,” Whitt said. “They all welcomed me really well and it really seemed like the right fit to me,

“I knew I could have a chance of playing my first year especially and that was one of the main reasons too. I thought I could play.”

Princeton head coach Debbie Ball agrees. An All-Class AAA honorable mention selection last season, Ball thinks Whitt will help the Panthers in many ways.

“Laura has had that ability, she would be a prospect anywhere because she is so versatile on the court,” Ball said. “I think it’s a plus for their program to get a player like Laura.”

Whitt, who was also a second team All-MSAC selection last season, can do many things with the basketball, and expects do all those things at High Point.

“I’ll probably play point, one-guard, and I think I’ll be able to push the ball up the floor and look for the open man and be able to do things like that,” said Whitt, a four-year starter for Princeton.

Also a first-team All-Class AAA volleyball selection this season, Whitt plans to major in interior design at High Point, with a minor in architectural engineering. Playing at the next level is definitely a dream come true.

“I’ve always played basketball, I’ve played ever since I was in kindergarten,” Whitt said. “Basically it’s just been something that I’ve always wanted to do is play college basketball.”

Whitt first learned that she could sign during the early signing period after hearing from High Point last summer. She attended their basketball camp, and it’s safe to say she made an impression.

“They said they liked my defense,” Whitt said, “and they thought I ran the floor well and things like that.”

Life will definitely change on the college level, a fact that Whitt already knows.

“Practices, they’re definitely going to be picked up in intensity,” Whitt said. “Just constantly having something to do to get ready for the season and the classes will be harder.”

Playing at the Division I level will also be a challenge. The Panthers have already played the University of Virginia this season, and still have trips remaining this year to Arkansas and South Carolina.

The Panthers were 15-15 last season, including a 6-6 mark in the Big South.

“That is very exciting, Whitt said. “To know I will be playing with some of the best.”

One of five seniors on the Princeton basketball squad, the Tigers have high hopes for this season after finishing one game short of a state berth last season.

One of those classmates is Amanda Smith, who signed on Wednesday with Concord.

“I am excited, I am very happy for her that she is able to go to High Point,” Smith said. “It would have been nice to have her along with me, but I respect her for her decision and I hope she does well.”

Ball is confident in those five seniors and their ability to help the Tigers reach their goal of the state tournament.

“We depend a lot on Amanda and Laura and our senior class,” Ball said. “The whole senior group, they have the abilities to conquer this year.

“Our whole team could do real well this year. I think with the way they all play together that in any game, one of them will be stepping up or all of them will be.”

With her college decision written in ink, Whitt’s senior season can begin without questions about her future. She hopes to be the one stepping up when the campaign tips off on Dec. 10 at St. Albans.

“I’m not worrying about anything like that, you don’t have to impress anybody, you don’t have to see who is in the stands,” Whitt said. “You can just focus on playing and focus on doing what is best for your team.”

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com