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Lapp, Kuroki sign with MCC women's program
New McCook Community College women's basketball coach Benjamin Smith mined the area and the state for his first two recruits for the 2007-08 season.
Smith, a former assistant at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks who was hired in June to lead the women's basketball program at MCC, signed Hayes Center graduate Jamie Lapp and Hershey alum Stacy Kuroki Tuesday to letters of intent.
Both players are guards. Lapp is a 5-foot-5 shooting guard and Kuroki is a 5-4 1/2 point guard.
Lapp selected MCC over an offer from Midland Lutheran College.
"I wanted to stay close to home and I could afford coming to school here," Lapp said. "It was a very easy decision. I wanted to play basketball really badly."
Lapp averaged 12 points a game for the Cardinals during the 2006-07 season. Hayes Center lost to Wauneta-Palisade in the district title game.
Lapp plans to major in physical education and plans to get a coaching certificate.
Her parents are Heath and Michelle Lapp, Hayes Center.
Like with Lapp, Kuroki said the decision was easy for her.
"I wanted to play basketball," Kuroki said. "It was mainly the coach (the reason for coming to MCC)."
Kuroki said the Hershey Panthers, a rival of McCook High School in the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference, put together a strong season.
Kurowki plans to become a linguist-translator and carried a 3.4 grade point average at Hershey. Her parents are Reed and Cindy Kuroki.
Smith said Lapp and Kuroki will be good players for MCC.
"Four players from last year's team will be back," Smith said. "We needed a couple players who can bring the ball up the floor.
"Jamie and Stacy are two different types of players. Everyone on the roster should contribute."
Smith announced that Carter Roe, who has a master's degree from the University of Northern Arizona, will be the MCC assistant women's basketball coach.