Women's Hoops Signs Top Guards

Nov. 14, 2007

TAMPA, Fla. -- Two of the nation's top guards from the high school Class of 2008 signed letters of intent to play for the University of Oklahoma women's basketball program, announced head coach Sherri Coale Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.

Whitney Hand, a 6-foot-1 shooting guard from Fort Worth, Texas, and Jasmine Hartman, a 5-10 point guard from Bellaire, Texas, will be Sooners come the 2008-09 season.

Hand is ranked the No. 38 overall player in the country and the No. 10 guard by HoopGurlz.com. She is considered to be the No. 1 shooting guard in the state of Texas.

"Whitney Hand is one of those kids you pray you get a chance to coach," Coale said. "She's skilled; she's smart; she has an unwavering work ethic; and she loves to play. Lots of kids say they love to play. When Whitney has a basketball in her hand, you're absolutely sure she does."

Hand averaged 17 points, 9.4 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 5.4 steals as she led Argyle Liberty Christian High School to a state basketball championship in 2007. She earned all-state honors in class 5A and was an all-district Co-MVP. Hand was also a member of Liberty's state championship volleyball team.

"Whitney's a big guard who can really shoot the basketball and she's the best offensive rebounder I've come across in a long, long time. She might end up being the most prepared incoming freshman to ever put on a Sooner uniform."

Hand is described as a scrappy player who fights for every loose ball, rebound and inch of space she can get.

Hand is the daughter of Rich and Susan Hand and has two sisters. Rich was a Major League Baseball pitcher in the early 1970s and played for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers and California Angels ball clubs.

Despite missing most of her junior year with a torn ligament in her right knee, Hartman is rated by HoopGurlz.com as the No. 2 point guard in Texas. A preseason All-Greater Houston team member by the Houston Chronicle, Hartman runs the offense for one of the nation's top high school basketball programs.

"We feel so fortunate to add Jasmine Hartman to our family," Coale said. "She is a good-sized, left-handed guard who is terrific with the ball in her hand. She's explosive, smooth and very creative in delivering to the open player on the court. She can defend and block shots and she comes from a great high school basketball program at Bellaire."

Hartman's Bellaire squad recently downed top-ranked Cinco Ranch High School 91-47 in the team's season opener. Hartman provided 12 points, including 10 in the first half before being used sparingly in the second.

"She's such a neat kid. Her enthusiasm for basketball and the University of Oklahoma is refreshing."

Hartman is revered for her ball-handling and scoring ability but is happiest when she can dish it out to a teammate.

Hartman was first team all-district as a freshman and sophomore and was invited to the Top Ten All-American Camp, whose alumni include former LSU and current WNBA star Seimone Augustus, Stanford's Candice Wiggins, and OU's Amanda Thompson, after both of those seasons.

Hartman has a younger sister and her mother, Jessica, also has a baseball connection, working as a payroll assistant for the Houston Astros.

Hand and Hartman add size to an already speedy guard position for the Sooners. With all 12 current players returning next season, the Sooners are very excited about their prospects.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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