Cawthorn signs with Tennessee Tech
Published 10:35 pm Friday, November 15, 2024
Franklin-Simpson High School’s Lareesha Cawthorn smiles after signing to play basketball for Tennessee Tech in the school’s performing arts center on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Franklin-Simpson High School’s Lareesha Cawthorn signs to play basketball for Tennessee Tech beside her family members in the school’s performing arts center on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Franklin-Simpson High School’s Lareesha Cawthorn thanks her family, friends, coaches and teammates after signing to play basketball for Tennessee Tech in the school’s performing arts center on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Franklin-Simpson High School’s Lareesha Cawthorn gets emotional as she thanks her family, friends, coaches and teammates after signing to play basketball for Tennessee Tech in the school’s performing arts center on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Franklin-Simpson Lady Wildcats Head Coach Ashley Taylor speaks about senior Lareesha Cawthorn as she gets ready to sign to play basketball for Tennessee Tech in the school’s performing arts center on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Franklin-Simpson High School’s Lareesha Cawthorn laughs beside her family members as school officials and her coaches speak about her before she signs to play basketball for Tennessee Tech in the school’s performing arts center on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
FRANKLIN – When she was in sixth grade, LaReesha Cawthorn was more interested in cheerleading than basketball.
By eighth grade, that passion changed and now Cawthorn’s hoops’ career will continue at the collegiate level with the Franklin-Simpson senior signing to play with Tennessee Tech on Friday.
“It’s really been a great day,” Cawthorn said. “It’s a relief being able to know I am going to a school … to play the sport that I love. It’s very exciting knowing that I’m going to be able to continue my basketball career after I graduate.”
Cawthorn said she chose Tennessee Tech because that program was one of the first to reach out and remained interested and engaged throughout the entire process.
“I got an offer from them at the end of my sophomore year and they just kept reaching out to me, showing a lot of love to me,” Cawthorn said. “They would call me and let me know things I needed to work on from what they had seen when they came to watch my games. The head coach, Kim Rosamond, is just a very loving person. Her energy, she is just a lovely person to be around. Tennessee Tech is a beautiful campus. The gym/court I will be playing on is so beautiful and big.”
She got a first-hand look at the campus with the Lady Cats attending the Tennessee Tech team camp this summer.
“(Franklin-Simpson coach Ashley Taylor) had it figured out when I committed there,” Cawthorn said. “She told me she was going to let us go to a camp up there. I was able to go there and play on the campus I will be playing on, so it was really great. My teammates were really supportive. Being able to be there with my teammates and meet my future teammates and coaches as well, it was great.”
One of the top players in the region, Cawthorn transferred to Franklin-Simpson from Russellville last season and made an immediate impact. She led the Lady Cats in scoring (17.3 ppg) and rebounding (9.5), helping Franklin-Simpson finish 30-2 and advance to the Region 4 semifinals.
The Lady Cats enter the season as the favorite in the region.
Cawthorn said she’s happy to have her college decision decided and is ready to focus on her senior season at Franklin.
“It’s a big relief,” Cawthorn said. “I’m just ready to focus on our team goals and go all the way to the end.”
About Micheal Compton
I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News.
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