Nikki strikes another blow, WBB adds top 30 player

wow, this is big, WBB future looking even better

LSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ANNOUNCES THE SIGNING OF SHEILA BOYKIN, FINALIZES ROSTER FOR 2011-12 SEASON

BATON ROUGE – LSU women’s basketball head coach Nikki Caldwell has announced the signing of highly-touted high school prospect Sheila Boykin, a 6-foot-2 forward from Los Angeles, Calif.

Boykin, who was granted her release from her National Letter of Intent by UCLA, is rated the No. 27 player in America by ESPN HoopGurlz. The addition of Boykin now gives the Lady Tigers two of the nation’s top 30 incoming freshmen who are eligible to compete for the 2011-12 season.

“Sheila is going to be a great addition to the LSU family,” said Caldwell. “She brings a passion and intensity for the game on both ends of the floor. She is one of those tough kids that do the things that don’t necessarily show up in the box score. She puts the team in front of her own personal glory. We are extremely happy about her future as a Lady Tiger.”

LSU received a National Letter of Intent in the fall signing period from Krystal Forthan, the nation’s fifth-ranked player by ESPN HoopGurlz. Forthan, a 6-foot-4 forward who prepped at Georgetown (Texas) High School, is enrolled in classes for the summer session. The Lady Tigers also have 6-foot-1 guard Anne Pederson of Copenhagen, Denmark joining the roster. Pederson starred at The Rock School in Gainesville, Fla.

Boykin was one of 10 players who earned 2011 Los Angeles Times All-Star honors after averaging 10.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a senior at Long Beach Poly High School. Boykin led the Jackrabbits to a 25-3 record and a No. 17 national ranking by USA Today.

As a junior, she posted 9.6 points, 8.8 boards, 4.0 assists and 3.7 steals per contest at Long Beach Poly. That year she spearheaded the squad to the CIF SS Division I-AA championship. Boykin was named Moore League Co-MVP, CIF Southern Section Division I-AA Player of the Year and Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year.

Boykin will enroll in classes in August and join a talented LSU squad that features five seniors, two juniors, three sophomores and now three freshmen. The Lady Tigers, which were ranked 20th in an early preseason poll by ESPN.com, welcome the return of All-Southeastern Conference players LaSondra Barrett and Adrienne Webb.

Caldwell enters her first season at LSU after turning UCLA into a national power with a 72-26 (.735) record in three seasons. Prior to her stint with the Bruins, Caldwell served as an assistant coach for six seasons under legendary coach Pat Summitt at Tennessee, winning a pair of national titles.

Season tickets for the 2011-12 LSU women’s basketball season are now on sale online at www.LSUtix.net or by phone at (225) 578-2184. Season tickets start as low as $50.