JACKSON'S KOEPER BECOMES AN OTAHK

Arguably the area's premier high school girls basketball player has decided to continue her athletic and academic careers extremely close to home.

Jackson High senior Andrea Koeper, as expected, signed a national letter of intent Wednesday afternoon with Southeast Missouri State University. Wednesday marked the first day of the spring signing period.

A 5-foot-10 guard/forward, Koeper averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game as a senior in helping lead the Lady Indians to a third-place finish in the Class 4A state tournament. Koeper is a two-time first-team all-state selection.

"It's a very exciting time for me and my family. I'm happy with my decision and I think it'll turn out great," said Koeper. "The (Southeast) coaches were very personable and I felt comfortable. All the players were extremely nice to me."

Southeast coach Ed Arnzen, who envisions Koeper playing the small forward position for the Otahkians, was excited about landing the area standout.

"We are extremely happy to have signed Andrea," Arnzen said. "She is an excellent student-athlete and I think she can be a very good player for us."

The Otahkians had just one senior on last season's team that finished fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference, but Koeper is hoping to be able to make an impact during her freshman campaign.

"I think I'll get some playing time. I hope I do," she said. "I'm really excited and can't wait to get to play."

Koeper joins fellow high school senior Tonya Guell, who signed during the fall period, as incoming Southeast freshmen for next season. Guell is from Wisconsin.

Indians sign none

As expected, Southeast's men's basketball team did not announce any signings Wednesday.

Coach Gary Garner said the Indians probably won't sign any players until next week. He said the Indians will be looking to add a guard and an inside player to their fold.

"We hardly ever sign anybody on the first day (of the signing period)," Garner said.

The Indians are still reportedly very much in the running to land 7-2 center Kostas Avgerinos, a native of Greece who originally signed with Southeast two years ago.

Avgerinos did not qualify academically and wound up at Southern Idaho Junior College. He played for the national juco power as a freshman but was injured during all of his sophomore season and still has three years of eligibility remaining.

During the fall signing period, the Indians landed two-time Class 3A all-state guard Brett Hall from Dexter High School.