Three Lady Raider Staples Sign Letters of Intent

One of the best high school girls basketball players will soon be featured on one of the nation's top college programs.

Three members of the nationally-ranked Bolingbrook High School girls basketball team, including nationally recognized point guard Ariel Massengale, signed letters of intent today to play for NCAA Division I schools next year.

Massengale, the Lady Raiders' 5-foot-7 senior superstar, signed to play at the University of Tennessee, one of the most successful women's basketball programs in the history of the sport.

There, she will play for legendary coach Pat Summitt, who has won 15 Southeastern Conference championships, eight national championships, seven NCAA Coach of the Year awards and was even tabbed as the Naismith Coach of the Century in 2000.

Massengale played on the United States' world championship team over the summer. ESPNU.com recently tabbed her as the fourth best player and second best senior among high school players. She averaged 13.4 points and 5 assists per game for the state champion Lady Raiders last season.

Two of Massengale's teammates also committed to notable programs.

Taylor Tuck, a 6-foot forward who scored 126 points and grabbed 90 rebounds last season, will play for the University of Illinois.

Falon Edwards, meanwhile, will take her talents to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

"Falon Edwards is a very gifted athlete. She has great ability to get to the basket and is a big, physical guard," said SIU's head coach Missy Tiber. "We continue to make every effort to get players from winning programs and Falon is from one of the best at Bolingbrook where she was a major contributor in winning two state championships. Coach Tony Smith prepares his players well for the next level so her transition should be smooth."

With most of its two-time defending state championship team back this season, Bolingbrook High School is ranked sixth in the nation in MaxPreps.com's pre-season Xcellent 25 and this season, which opens the Friday after Thanksgiving with a shootout in Memphis against hometown favorite Memphis Central.