Darrett Joins Prairie View
PRAIRIE VIEW, TX -- While looking for some information on the Houston area colleges, I came across the roster page for the Prairie View A&M Panthers (Lady Panthers / Pantherettes); and, one particular name caught my attention.
Latara Darrett.
Darrett, 5'10", from Chino, CA, was one of the top high school players in the country in the Class of 2006. She chose Baylor University; and, she had a very, very solid freshman season in 2006 - 2007.
However, Darrett got into trouble with the law in September 2007. Darrett and volleyball player Ashlee Cooper were charged with "assault causing bodily injury" for beating a woman (Chayla Cooper) in Cameron Park (in Waco, TX, on August 7, 2007) which left the victim with bruises, scratches and a chipped tooth.
Though Baylor University didn't make any public comments on the incident, Darrett was dismissed from the team and the school.
Fast forward to the present.
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, head coach at Prairie View A&M, has given Latara Darrett a second chance.
"I've told her this is her second chance and she understands that," Cooper-Dyke said. "What's in the past is in the past. She's learned from her mistakes and she's now a much better and much different person. I've told her what we expect from her on and off the court. She's doing very well in school. She's looking forward to the opportunity to play basketball for PV; and, we're excited to see her play for us."
A player with Darrett's very high skill set is rarely seen in today's Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
"She's a special talent who brings a skill set we don't really have in the SWAC and here at Prairie View," Coop added.
Cooper-Dyke has placed very high expectations on Darrett. In fact, Coop is planning for Darrett to wear jersey number 14 when practice starts in a few weeks.
"We'll see if she can live up to the expectations that come with wearing number 14. I think she can."
Darrett, a junior, is eligible to play ball in the 2009 - 2010 season. Darrett, currently, has two years of basketball eligibility for PV. Hopefully, Latara will make the most of it and justify Coach Cooper-Dyke's faith in her.
Latara Darrett.
Darrett, 5'10", from Chino, CA, was one of the top high school players in the country in the Class of 2006. She chose Baylor University; and, she had a very, very solid freshman season in 2006 - 2007.
However, Darrett got into trouble with the law in September 2007. Darrett and volleyball player Ashlee Cooper were charged with "assault causing bodily injury" for beating a woman (Chayla Cooper) in Cameron Park (in Waco, TX, on August 7, 2007) which left the victim with bruises, scratches and a chipped tooth.
Though Baylor University didn't make any public comments on the incident, Darrett was dismissed from the team and the school.
Fast forward to the present.
Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, head coach at Prairie View A&M, has given Latara Darrett a second chance.
"I've told her this is her second chance and she understands that," Cooper-Dyke said. "What's in the past is in the past. She's learned from her mistakes and she's now a much better and much different person. I've told her what we expect from her on and off the court. She's doing very well in school. She's looking forward to the opportunity to play basketball for PV; and, we're excited to see her play for us."
A player with Darrett's very high skill set is rarely seen in today's Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
"She's a special talent who brings a skill set we don't really have in the SWAC and here at Prairie View," Coop added.
Cooper-Dyke has placed very high expectations on Darrett. In fact, Coop is planning for Darrett to wear jersey number 14 when practice starts in a few weeks.
"We'll see if she can live up to the expectations that come with wearing number 14. I think she can."
Darrett, a junior, is eligible to play ball in the 2009 - 2010 season. Darrett, currently, has two years of basketball eligibility for PV. Hopefully, Latara will make the most of it and justify Coach Cooper-Dyke's faith in her.
posted by Kris G @ 2:03 PM
3 Comments:
At Mon Sep 21, 04:46:00 PM CDT,
Anonymous said…
Very impressed with this move. Coop has given direction, leadership and a second chance to a young person that was getting thrown away. Talent for teaching is how I see this one.
SilverStreak
At Mon Sep 21, 10:05:00 PM CDT,
SORF said…
I hope Darrett honors this rare second chance that CC-D and PV has given her. I hope Darrett makes the best of the opportunity.
At Fri Nov 13, 02:05:00 PM CST,
Anonymous said…
Did she sit out the 08-09 season @ PV? Cant find her on that roster? Doesnt she still have to sit out a year of residency?
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