Texas Tech University Athletics
Lady Raiders Sign Two to National Letters of Intent
November 09, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2005
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech women's basketball team has signed two standout high school basketball players to National Letters of Intent today. Raquel Christian (Midland, Texas) and Jordan Murphree (Brock, Texas), will attend Texas Tech University in the fall of 2006.
"Both Jordan and Raquel come out of great high school programs," said head coach Marsha Sharp. "They were very well coached at the high school level and we always love that because I think it translates them into making the transition here a lot easier and their skills are already at a high level. We are excited about signing them and think they both are going to be great additions to our guards."
Christian, a 5-7 guard, was a first team all-region, District 3-5A Offensive Player of the Year and first team all-district in 2005. She was also named team MVP and team Offensive Player of the Year at Midland High School. Last season she averaged 18 points en route to scoring 451 points for the year. Christian is ranked 12th among all players in the state of Texas by the Texas Girls Basketball Report.
"Raquel is a quick guard that will remind our fans a little bit of Katrisa O'Neal (former Tech player)," Sharp stated. "I think she has a lot of the same qualities. She is really quick and can jump up and shoot the jumper well. The thing that we felt separated her from other slashing guards in the country is the fact that she can also shoot the three-point shot."
Brock High School standout Murphree is a 5-11 guard who was named one of the top players at the Adidas Camp this past summer. Murphree was District 9-2A Co-MVP, while being selected first team all-state and TABC 2A Player of the Year. She led her team to the Class 2A state championship as a junior and was named to the state tournament all-tournament team. Murphree averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, 4.7 steals and 4.4 assists per game last year. She is ranked as the No. 3 player in the state of Texas by Texas Hoops, 10th-best player in the country by Blue Star and as the 14th-best player in the nation by the All Star Girls Report.
"I felt like over the summer Jordan separated herself from other guards in the country," said Sharp. "I think that most people felt like she was one of the top four or five guards that are coming out in the entire nation. I think she brings a multitude of skills with her. She is a great passer and can score. I love her mentality and I think she can play several positions on the perimeter. She is going to be a great addition and will have an impact immediately on the program. We are really excited about the fact that she is going to join us."
