UNLV women sign N.C. prep standout

Thursday, Nov. 11, 1999 | 10:27 a.m.

LAS VEGAS

The UNLV women's basketball program has signed North Carolina high school standout Padra Strong to a national letter of intent to attend UNLV beginning in fall 2000, Head Coach Regina Miller announced Wednesday.

Strong, a 6-foot-4 post player from Pine Forest Senior High School in Fayetteville, N.C., averaged 15.7 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocked shots per game last season as a junior.

Strong has compiled a long list of athletic accomplishments, which includes being named a 1998-99 and '99-2000 Street & Smith High School Preseason All-American (honorable mention). She also was a USA Today All-Stater for '98-99.

She was a '99 WBCA Premier Selectee and was named America's Best All-Stater for '99-2000. She was a '99 North Carolina Junior Olympic Team Member and was named Area Prep Star for 1997, '98 and '99.

"Padra will have an immediate impact at the post position for us," Miller said. "She is an excellent recruit for UNLV, not only because of her outstanding athletic successes, but also her academic achievements. I am looking forward to working with her and developing her tremendous potential in becoming a great Division I player."

Strong was named the '99 Pine Forest High School All-Region Team MVP and was named to the all-region squad in '98 and '99. She made first-team all-conference in '98 and was an America's Who's Who in Sports for girls basketball in '99.

Strong turned down scholarship offers from North Carolina, Mississippi, Seton Hall, San Deigo State, West Point, Georgia State, Miami, Missouri, Clemson and Virginia.