Sims Signs With Alcorn State

The El Dorado girls basketball program came a long way over the last three years. The Lady Wildcats went from 9-15 to 12-14 to 17-9 this past season. Like the program, Falundrus Sims also came a long way as her points and rebounds rose from 3.9 points and 6.4 rebounds as a sophomore to 10.5 points and 12.8 rebounds as a junior to 12.9 points and 12.1 rebounds as a senior.

As her production increased, so did her stock in terms of college coaches. The 6-2 post, who had a reserve role off the bench on the ninth grade team, had her pick of colleges as a senior. Monday, Sims signed a NCAA Division I letter-of-intent to play basketball for Alcorn State University.

Sims chose the Lady Braves over the likes of Grambling State, UALR and UAPB.

Alcorn State is coming off a 21-11 season and the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. The Lady Braves, who were 16-3 in conference play, qualified for the NCAA Women’s Tournament, losing at eventual national champion Notre Dame in the first round.

“It’s a nice school. They’ve got a good basketball team,” said Sims.

Alcorn State plays in the SWAC with the likes of Grambling, Southern, Prairie View, Texas Southern, Alabama A&M, Jackson State, UAPB and Mississippi Valley. The Lady Braves will lose four starters off this year’s team

“I think it will be a great opportunity,” said El Dorado coach Brad Slatton. “It’s a good fit for both of them. They’re a team that made the NCAA Tournament last year. They lacked size and they were looking for that. Her upside is good. She’s still a young basketball player who can get a lot better if she really wants to work at it.”

Sims shot 63.8 percent from the field and was regarded by many as the best defensive player in the AAAAA-South Conference, averaging 4.2 blocked shots per game. Sims is a 59.7 percent field goal shooter in her career. She also averaged 10.6 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in her three years.

Sims, who was the 2001 News-Times Defensive Player of the Year, was an All-State selection along with being a first-team All-Area performer and a finalist for Player of the Year honors. She led the Lady Wildcats to their first Class AAAAA State Tournament appearance since 1994.

Sims, who was also an All-State volleyball player, has a 3.43 grade point average and plans to major in pre medicine.

“This puts a stamp on our program. It’s an honor for her and at the same time, it’s a sense of accomplishment for our program, too,” said Slatton.

Sims is the second Lady Wildcat to sign a college letter for basketball this season. Meshali Mitchell inked with Southwestern Assemblies of God University earlier.