MEADVILLE – “I’m going to Ole Miss.”

That’s the decision Franklin County standout guard CarlettaBrown made after visiting the Oxford campus over the weekend. TheLady Bebels gave Brown a full-package deal that could make her thefuture floor leader for the Lady Rebels for the next fouryears.

Brown, a talented 5-foot-4 senior point guard from northwesternFranklin County, signed with the Lady Rebels after consideringoffers from Alcorn State, Jackson State, Southern andCopiah-Lincoln Community College. Brown is expected to vie for astarting position upon her arrival at Ole Miss in August.

“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to play and pursue mycareer plans at a highly regarded Division One school,”said asmiling Brown. “One of my career goals was to always play in theSoutheastern Conference and now I’ve got that opportunity ahead ofme with Ole Miss.”

Brown’s main reason in selecting the Lady Rebels was the nicecampus visit she had when she visited Ole Miss.

“The campus was so nice and organized,” added Brown. “Thecoaches Ron Aldy (head) and assistants Gil Thompson, Kim Rasamondand Drew Clinton, treated me with alot of respect. They made mefeel real good about my future plans.”

Brown, who was named The Daily Leader’s All-Area Player ofthe Year also earned the second highest average in her senior classat Franklin County with a 3.98 GPA and a 22 ACT. Brown was alsoselected Miss FHS and Most Likely to Succeed in Franklin’s Who’sWho elections this past year, along with her crowning as 2000homecoming queen in early October.

Franklin County girls coach Albert Cain expects Brown toplay a limited role at first and then probably play as a starteraround her sophomore and junior years.

“Carletta’s first year with Ole Miss will be more of alearning experience than anything else,” said Cain. “She’ll be inthe thick of things after that. She’s got the potential to be avery good college ball player.”

One thing Brown knows how to do is shoot. She averaged 25.2points per game this season on a mediocre 8-17 Lady Bulldog team.She also knows how to dish out passes as her 5.6 assists and 5.3steals average showed during the season.

“She could really change a game’s outlook really fast,”continued Cain. “Her quickness and outside shooting kept us in alot of games this year. She’s one of those players you love to haveon your team and hate to play against.”

Over the summer, Brown led her AAU national team to theirsecond state championship in her two years of playing all-starball. She hopes to bring as much excitement and fury to the OleMiss campus when her turn comes to shine.

“I want to help be part of something good here,” said Brown.”I’ll be playing a lot of nationally known teams from SECpowerhouse Tennessee to in-state rival Mississippi State. It’sgoing to be a whole different ball game up there than it was downhere.”

Brown will join a powerful group of Ole Miss signee’s fromguard-forward Amber Watts of Hinds AHS to Nevada all-star shootingguard Elizabeth Cansdale of Boulder City, NY.

Brown is the first major Division One signee from theMeadville-based Franklin County school district. She hasrepresented the Lady Dawgs for four years as the starting pointguard for the always powerful and dependable Class 3ABulldogs.

Overall, Brown’s future looks as good as her jumpshot.