Surrounded by teammates, family and friends, Lakewood’s Kasey Drayton and Tianah Alvarado made their colleges choices official by signing their letters of intent to play basketball.
Drayton, who averaged 15 points per game last season and led the Spartans to the state final four, signed with Alabama-Birmingham.
Alvarado, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, signed with Seton Hall.
The two had a signing day ceremony in the administration building’s conference room. Their Lakewood jerseys were draped over the table, and t-shirts and banners from their future colleges were pinned on the back wall.
Drayton wore a UAB shirt. Alvarado did not have any Seton Hall attire.
“I have a shirt and a hat,” Alvarado said. “I just forgot to bring it.”
After signing, both received calls from their college coaches.
Drayton said she decided on the Blazers because the coaches there have been recruiting her since she was a freshman.
“(UAB) was always there and the coaches came to all my games,” Drayton said. “I know I can go there and play right away.”
Alvarado said part of her reason for choosing the Pirates was the staff continued recruiting her after her knee injury.
“A lot of schools stopped calling once I got hurt,” Alvarado said. “But Seton Hall was always there. I knew all along this past year that’s where I wanted to go.”