By ROBERT L. LEE

RESERVE – Former East St. John High School Lady Cat Kovana Reese marks the sixth player to sign onto a college basketball team in six years, and the second to sign with Southern University at New Orleans. Reese, a 2000 graduate of East St. John, spent her first season playing basketball as a center with Holmes Junior College in Mississippi.

Moving up the college ladder and closer to home, Reese will join one of her Lady Cats teammates, 2001 graduate, Danielle Stemley, who started for SUNO this past season as a point guard.

Reese said that having one of her best friends and former teammates one the team should make the transition easier, as will her previous experience at Holmes. Her full scholarship to SUNO should also make the move easier.

“I know what to expect at SUNO and I know what I have to do,” said Reese. “Danielle told me about the coach and how he expects everyone to hustle and keep on improving.”

Last season, Reese averaged 12 points each game, along with three assists and team-leading averages of seven rebounds and six blocked shots.

She said her experience on the court for the Lady Cats and coach Troy Giordano propelled her into college basketball, already knowing some of the plays and routines run at Holmes.

“I picked up more moves on the court, but most of the stuff I already knew from high school,” she said. “Team-wise it was not much different, and felt like high school, except for different players.”

At East St. John, Reese started as a center all four years and was a part of the team’s first of six straight district championships and 108-24 win-loss record.

The only hurdle in her way was a brief bout with nervousness, which she said she overcame mid-way through the season.

She credits her father and her “second father,” Giordano, for helping her along in her college and court careers.

“My father has been very proud of me. He has been motivating me along with my second father, coach Troy,” said Reese.

“I think it’s good Kovana and Danielle will get to be teammates again,” said Giordano. “Danielle has had a lot of success at SUNO and I expect Kovana to be successful too. She will definitely be an asset to SUNO either at center or power forward.”

Reese and Stemley have three years of eligiblity ahead of them on the court. Reese said if she doesn’t continue to play basketball after her college career has ended, she will have her degree to fall back on, and probably use it for a job in the field of social work.