Dec. 3, 2007
Dietra Caldwell, Baiba Eglite, Katarzyna Gawor and Channing Hillman all have signed National Letters of Intent to attend UTEP and play for the women's basketball team starting next season, head coach Keitha Adams announced Monday afternoon. The quartet will help fill the gap left by this year's talented senior class.
Caldwell, a star with Thurgood Marshall High School in the Houston area, is known as a strong, persistent, hard-working player. One of the top scorers on both her high school and AAU team, she is also developing her leadership skills. Serving as a captain on her TMHS squad is evidence of that. The first-team all district player as a junior, Caldwell excels in the classroom as well, as she ranks in the top-10 percent of her class and is an annual honor roll member.
"She is an excellent guard who score," Adams said. "She can score by going to basket and can hit the three-point shot. She plays hard on defense and competed over the summer with We All We Got AAU team. I love her competitiveness."
Eglite is a 5-10 guard from Latvia, where she is a standout with the Latvian Junior National Team. This past summer, Eglite competed at the U18 and U20 European Championship, averaging 13.3 points per game, five rebounds per game and three assists. The all-around player will be a perfect fit for the Miners, and the signing continues the influx of top international talent to the Sun City.
"Baiba is upsized guard who can play the point guard spot or the off guard," Adams said. She can create scoring for herself and her teammates. Baiba is well rounded player who will bring good international experience."
Gawor, originally from Krakow, Poland, travels to UTEP from Seward Community College. The 6-3 post player will have three years of eligibility for the Miners. A physical player from the same city as current Miner Kasia Krezel, Gawor averaged 17 points, five blocks, four steals and four assists while in high school. She competed in the Poland National Tournament competitions, and was named the Most Valuable Player at the Krakow basketball tournament.
"She is an excellent shooter and very skilled post player who brings size and skill to the post area," Adams said.
Hillman, a 5-10 guard/forward out of Mount Notre Dame High School, will venture El Paso from the Buckeye state. She has been a member of two state championship teams, garnering first-team all-conference and all-city honors, not to mention second-team all state accolades. A leader on the court, the second-leading scorer and rebounder has helped her team achieve a ranking of as high as fifth in the country.
"She is an excellent player who will bring a competitive attitude to our team," Adams said. "She is an upsize guard who can score both inside and out. Channing will rebound and play tough nosed defense. She competed this past summer on Cincinnati's Finest AAU team."
