PHOTO BY JOHNNIE DANIELS/THE DILLON HERALD
TaKeria Legette signed a basketball scholarship with Benedict College on Monday, June 20, at the Ellis Performing Arts Center in Latta.
Principal Leigh Sloan presented the opening remarks while praising Legette about her basketball skills and her academics.
TaKeria took center stage to thank everyone for all that they had done for her in her career in basketball at Latta plus her academics in which she excelled. She thanked her family, friends, teammates, her coach, her teachers, and the principal for the roles that each had played in her career. She remarked that she would not be where she is today without the contributions that each had made.
Legette has been recognized for her basketball prowess since she was only 6 years old. Her brother, Kwame Campbell influenced her the most in the sport.
Although she is capable of great accomplishments in other sports, she has elected to concentrate on the game of basketball.
She has received all types of awards while playing basketball such as MVP, All Region, All State, and many others. She was on the Latta Lady Vikings basketball state championship team in 2015 and on the Latta Lady Vikings Lower State Championship team this year.
While excelling in basketball at Latta she was noted for her leadership abilities she demonstrated.
She hopes to continue that trait at the next level of play at Benedict.
Although she received several offers from other schools such as Angelina College of Texas, she chose Benedict as it is located near home. Also, she feels she is a perfect fit for Benefit as she can easily adapt. She is not only a talented basketball player, she excels in academics as evidenced as she will major in pharmacy.
While not playing basketball, TaKeria enjoys singing all types of music.
TaKeria’s mother, Cassandra Campbell, gleamed when she spoke of her daughter’s accomplishments, both on and off the basketball court. “I am so very proud of her. She is a very beautiful young lady. With God’s blessings, I wish her well in her future endeavors. She has a promising future while enjoying basketball and pursuing her degree in pharmacy. I’m very proud of her academics, too.”
Athletic Director Aaron Miles stated that he was proud of TaKeria’s leadership she displayed on the court and in the classrooms. “I only expect great things of her in the future.”
Head basketball Coach Curtis Jackson was estatic as he commented, “This is something we have been working on since she was in the seventh grade. She has helped us (the Latta Lady Vikings basketball team) since then. I have been waiting for this. She will do great things at Benedict. She has a great opportunity to get a college degree in her selected field. I had heard great things of her while in the sixth grade and before of her playing ability. She is also great in the classrooms.”
TaKeira was also known for her shooting ability as evidenced with her scoring over 1,500 points in her basketball career at Latta.
In her senior year she connected for 74% of her free throw attempts while pulling down 47 offensive rebounds and 62 defensive rebounds for 12.1 rebounds per game as she led the team in scoring.
