A daughter of a one of the island’s residents has been drafted into women’s team of the Mercer University Athletics, the campus Website reported two weekends ago.
Mercer women’s basketball signed forward Samoana Ingram for the 2009-2010 season which assures her a slot in the Bears as freshman, and four years of NCAA eligibility for the Orange and Black.
Samoana is a daughter of Damon and Jovita Hofschneider Ingram. Mrs Ingram is from Tinian now living in Stafford, Virginia.
“Samoana is one of the toughest players we saw on the recruiting circuit. She can bang with the tallest of posts and is a rebounding machine. She has a knack for being around the ball on both ends of the floor,” the Website quoted Jones as saying.
Ingram heads to Mercer after a well-traveled high school career that saw her earn four letters with three schools in three different states, the Website said.
The half-Chamorro cagebell averaged a double-double for North Stafford High School in northern Virginia last season, contributing 18.1 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, Mercer Website said.
In addition to the First Team All Commonwealth District honors, she was also named the Free Lance Star All-Area Athlete in her senior campaign. She earned first team all-area and all-district honors and an all-region honorable mention nod in 2007-08 after leading North Stafford to the district championship. She also took the court for the Fairfax Stars Elite AAU team.
Prior to heading to Virginia, Ingram landed a spot on the all-region first team and All-Southern second team while playing for Buena Vista High School in Sierra Vista, Arizona in her sophomore season.
As a freshman, Ingram helped Diamond High School in Anchorage, Alaska to a 23-5 record and a state championship in her freshman season, scoring 15 vital points in the title game. She was named to the all-tournament team for the Alaska State Tournament, and earned all-state honorable mention honors in her first and only season with the Lynx.
“Even though she played post in high school, we see her developing her guard skills to play power forward,” Jones added. “Samoana will bring a tremendous energy both on and off the court. We look for Samoana to make an immediate impact as a freshman.”
Ingram joins forward Amber Coleman as the newest additions to the Mercer roster for the 2009-10 season.
