MURFREESBORO--
BlueRaiderZone.com has learned that Kristi Bellock will be visiting the campus
of Middle Tennessee State University the weekend of September
4th.
Bellock, a 6'2" combo forward, is the
2007-2008 reigning Louisiana Gatorade Girls' Basketball Player of the
Year. The senior begins her final year of high school at John
Curtis Christian School in River Ridge, LA.
Bellock shot 60 % from the field in 2007-08,
averaging 19.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1.9 blocked shots
per game. She led her team to the Class 2A state title, scoring a game-high
22 points for John Curtis Christian (30-9).
She was twice selected as the East Jefferson
Parish Player of the Year and was an All-State selection in 2006, 2007, and
2008.
According to Rise Magazine, Bellock has
maintained a B average in the classroom. In addition to volunteering with the
Special Olympics, Bellock donates her time to the Little Dribblers youth
basketball program and to a children's summer camp.
“She is definitely an upper-echelon player,” said
Keith Haywood, head coach at rival St. Mary's Academy. “She's six-foot and she
can get it done inside or outside. She's got the skills of a guard, but she can
go down low and hurt you there too.”
Hoopgurlz.com lists Bellock as
the 29th-ranked player in the nation and 5th-best forward. In addition to
MTSU, other programs in the mix for Bellock are Duke, LSU, Miami, South Carolina, and Maryland.
Middle Tennessee received verbal commitments from
two blue-chippers this week: point guard Kortni Jones of Oak Ridge,
TN, and center Dymon Raynor of Smyrna, TN.
The Lady Raiders are coached by Hall-Of-Famer
Rick Insell, and finished in the Top 30 in attendance in the country for the second
year in a row last season.
Middle Tennessee has produced a pair of WNBA
selections over the past two years. Amber Holt was selected ninth overall by the
Connecticut Sun in 2008 and Chrissy Givens was taken 31st overall by the Phoenix
Mercury in 2007.