Shutdown forward signs with SAGU
WAXAHACHIE, Texas — As iron sharpens iron, just as proven winners raise the level of those around them.
One of the state’s best prep basketball programs, No. 13 ranked DeSoto High School , have Eagles as their mascot for more than patriotic reasons. They soar above many others with elevated expectations that produce lofty performances.
Alexis McAfee , a 5-foot-9 small forward and a two-time All-District player, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Southwestern Assemblies of God University this fall.
DeSoto, a suburb in south Dallas, went 62-15 the past two seasons with McAfee in the line-up.
The Eagles compete in the eight-team District 7 (Class 5A), considered the fiercest in the state, included Duncanville (42-0), Mansfield Timberview (29-7), Cedar Hill (26-11) and DeSoto (25-9) among its top four teams.
Two others, Midlothian and South Grand Prairie (16-14), also posted winning records.
She was selected to the All-Tournament Team during the Garland Classic. Added to her athletic achievements, she was named to the Academic All-District team this season.
Her high school coach, Larry Goad , one of the game’s best tacticians and an ambassador for the sport, said that “Alexis is a shut-down defensive player. She had over 60 steals this year and 117 deflections.” 
The Eagles allowed only 38 points per game, the best defense in the district.
Coach Goad knows a thing or two about talent. He has been at DeSoto for 28 years and has racked up 726 wins.
SAGU Head Coach, the venerable Arlon Beadles, also spoke highly of McAfee.
“Alexis is a great fit for SAGU,” he said. “I know she will help our team’s defense. Plus, she has a nice 15-foot jump shot.”
Five years ago the Lady Lions signed Stephanie Hawkins (DeSoto, Tx / DeSoto HS), a 5-8 guard, also from DeSoto. She led SAGU in scoring as a freshman and started throughout four seasons in purple, racking up 100 wins.
McAfee could become another gem from DeSoto.
The Lady Lions look to return to form this season. That means a ballhawking, trapping, rebounding, shot-blocking force that has ranked in the nation’s Top 20 in four of the last five seasons.
Field goal defense, points allowed and steals have bore the fruit of a zone defense that wreaked havoc on the best of teams, though Beadles hasn’t disclosed what style they will employ this season.
The return to health by Jirah Rodriguez (Georgetown, Tx / Georgetown HS), Sierra Hankins (Welch, Tx / Welch HS) and Nia Winston (Garland, Tx / Panola JuCo, Lakeview Centennial HS), combined with Shaquita Roberts (San Antonio, Tx / Byron Steele HS) could prove to give the squad a potent line-up.
With Taylor Hill (Waxahachie, Tx / Waxahachie HS) at point guard, along with other talented returners, competition for playing time will surely lead to a summer of hard work for veteran hoopsters.
An impressive freshman class appears to be shaping up; giving reason for the belief this season will see a vastly improved team. McAfee joins 6’0 center Charity Page (Nacogdoches, Tx / Nacogdoches HS) in the 2013 recruiting class. Coach Beadles expects to announce a few others to complete a very talented corps.
Contact : Mark “Link” Warde , SAGU Sports information Director, at [email protected] or at 469-658-2847.
