Sugar Bears add three to basketball roster

Britney Gowans of Lincoln High School in Dallas and the Camden Fairview duo of Jasmine Curtis and Desiree Rogers signed with the University of Central Arkansas women's basketball program Wednesday.

Gowans, a 5-foot-11 guard, is ranked the No. 35 shooting guard in the nation and No. 12 overall player in Texas for the 2009 class by ESPN HoopGurlz recruiting rankings. An all-state selection and District 12-4A Offensive Player of the Year, she averaged 15.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 2.5 assists per game this season for Lincoln High, which was a national preseason Top 20 team by USA Today.

"We got on her early and fought off Kentucky and Boston College late," Sugar Bear coach Matt Daniel said. "We saw her when we first went out recruiting, stuck with her and stuck with her, and our staff has done a great job of developing and cultivating that relationship."

Curtis, a 5-11 post, and Rogers, a 5-11 forward, earned five all-state selections between them while helping lead the Lady Cardinals to three state tournament appearances and two class 5A state titles.

Curtis averaged 17.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals while shooting 58 percent from the floor for the Lady Cardinals this season. Rogers posted averages of 15 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3.5 steals per game.

"I'm really excited about Desiree," Daniel said. "I went and watched her play one night during the season and she dives after two loose balls in the same possession and she's got a 102-degree fever. She's just that kind of kid."

Curtis will give the Sugar Bears another option in the paint as they look to replace outgoing senior center Chorcelle Taylor.

"She's a 5 (post) that can square up to the basket or knock down the 15-footer," Daniel said. "She's deceptively quick and really explosive. She's got really good athleticism for a post player and we think she's going to make an immediate impact."