Gunter tallies two commitments
Mitchell, Long sign to play with Lady Tigers
By Chris Gibson, Sports Writer
LSU women’s basketball coach Sue Gunter continues her success of signing solid prep basketball players.
Gunter, whose big catch last year was local forward Seimone Augustus, signed two guards to national letters of intent during the first week of the early signing period.
LSU has inked 5-foot-11 guard Khalilah Mitchell of St. Mary’s High School in New Orleans, in addition to 5-foot-6 point guard Amber Long hailing from Dutch Fork High School in Irmo, S.C.
“We are very fortunate to get both of these quality players,” Gunter said. “Not only are they outstanding basketball players, but they are quality students with very good academic backgrounds.”
Mitchell comes from a talent-rich New Orleans area that has produced the likes of current Tiger guards Doneeka and Roneeka Hodges and point guard Temeka Johnson. Mitchell averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds per game last season as a junior.
She also showed her consistency last season after averaging 18 points as a sophomore.
“Khalilah possesses great speed and quickness,” Gunter said. “She is very athletic and has great skills with the basketball. She is a very smart player with speed to burn.”
Gunter went to South Carolina to get Long’s signature. Long, an athlete who also holds the school’s record for both long and high jumps in track, will give the Tigers more depth at point guard next year.
The Tigers will be need that depth with the departure of senior Kisha James after this season.
Long had a solid junior campaign in which she put up 16 points, five rebounds and five assists. Her accolades include Adidas All-American, All-State and All-Region honors.
“Amber is a point guard and is not so much a scorer as a thinker,” Gunter said. “She will score if needed but knows and studies the game a lot. She is also an outstanding athlete on the track.”