She’s going to be a Mississippi College Choctaw. BrookhavenAcademy standout guard Katie Newman has signed a basketballscholarship with MC for the next four years, as she takes hercrafty ball-handling skills to the Golden Dome for all to see.

Newman, The Daily Leader’s Co-All-Lincoln County Player ofthe Year, chose the Lady Choctaws over South Alabama, TCU,Belhaven, and Millsaps. She also chose Mississippi College over OleMiss where she could have been a cheerleader.

After weighing her options carefully, Newman could only seegold at the end for her future career. And the Golden Dome atMississippi College was the only place she wanted to be.

“I’m very excited to become a Lady Choctaw,” said an alwayssmiling Newman. “They offer everything I want in a major, and in agreat atmosphere to play in.”

Newman is expected to see action immediately upon herarrival, as the Lady Choctaws play guards two to threedeep.

“I’ll be behind a senior next year,” said Newman. “But headcoach Paul Allan Duke said I’ll see plenty of playing time, due tothe Choctaws two-deep standards.”

Newman, a five-year starter at Brookhaven Academy, signed anacademic/basketball scholarship with the Clinton-based Baptistcollege. Newman held a 3.9 GPA in the classroom and collected acool 13.3 points, 6.0 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals percontest during her senior season.

She helped lead a talent-rich group of Lady Cougars to a40-3 record overall and a runners-up spot in the Academy AA StateTournament. Newman also helped lead the Lady Cougars to the AcademyAA state championships her junior and sophomore seasons. TheCougars reached the quarterfinals in the Overall State Tournamentboth her junior and senior seasons.

“Katie is the hardest working player I ever coached,especially in the hours outside of practice,” said BrookhavenAcademy head coach Barry Gray. “She competed full-speed every gameand worked hard to improve her skills. She will be a great asset toMississippi College.”

Gray said Newman’s five years as a starter made thebasketball program steadily improve. “She contributed to much toour program’s success, both on and off the court.”

Newman’s planned major is Premed. As of right now Newmanwill only concentrate on that and basketball, leaving hercheerleading and softball talents behind.

“I thought about cheerleading and playing softball, and Ithink I won’t have enough time between that, my major, andbasketball,” added Newman. “I think restricting my talents to onesport will help me a lot more through on and offseasonpractices.”

Newman will be joined by Co-Lin guard/forward Rusti Smith onthe Lady Choctaw roster next season. Smith, a West Lincoln product,will combine with Newman to help jumpstart the Lady Choctaw programwith a Lincoln County connection.

“Rusti will be on the team next year, so I’ll have somebodyI know playing along side of me,” continued Newman. “Overall it’s agreat honor just to being playing college basketball.”