VINCENNES, Ind. – 2024 Region 24 Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Second Team NJCAA All-American Destinee Hooks (Indianapolis, Ind.) announced last week that she plans to continue her basketball career next season at NCAA Division I University of New Mexico.
"I chose UNM because I was ready for a different environment," Hooks said. "The facilities are extremely nice and new and the coaching staff was a very good fit for me personality wise and seemed like the perfect home away from home."
"Being named an NJCAA All-American is a very astonishing honor and one that I will never take for granted," Hooks added. "Personally, I never saw that far ahead into the future, but it means everything to me to be noticed as one of the greats of this program."
Hooks is coming off an obviously outstanding season with the Lady Trailblazers, where in after being hampered by an injury early in the season, came back to average 21.1 points, sixth in the NJCAA, 6.5 rebounds and five assists, 17th in the NJCAA and 2.9 steals, 28th in the NJCAA per game in 21 games.
Hooks wasted little time making an impact on the VU women's basketball season, scoring 17 points and grabbing eight rebounds in her collegiate debut against Three Rivers C.C.
Hooks finished the season with four double-doubles and had her best game of the season at John A. Logan College, where she scored 37 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had seven assists and seven steals.
The Lady Blazers had a 16-5 record in the 21 games Hooks played in this season, finishing the year with a 19-11 record, earning the No. 2 seed in the Region 24 tournament and reaching the Region Championship game for the second consecutive season.
Hooks earned 2024 Region 24 Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors, before becoming the 30th Lady Trailblazer to earn NJCAA All-American honors and 26th All-American under VU Hall of Fame Head Coach Harry Meeks.
"My favorite memory from this past season would probably have to be my first game back," Hooks said. "Missing the first seven or eight games of the season, it was just a great, surreal feeling to be back on the court competing for the first time in two years. Knowing that I have the full support from my coaches, teammates and family cheering me on."
"Vincennes University has prepared me simply by giving me life lessons beyond the court," Hooks added. "VU taught me more about integrity and has helped me grow my character and has molded me into the role model I have always wanted to be. Adversity is vital in any journey you take, so I have pretty much just learned to embrace and grow from it instead of letting it tear me down."
Hooks will be joining a New Mexico squad that finished with a 21-11 record this past season, under Head Coach Mike Bradbury, including a 12-6 record in Mountain West Conference play, earning the No. 2 seed in the MWC tournament.
The Vincennes University Athletic Department would like to congratulate Destinee Hooks on her signing with the University of New Mexico and wishes her good luck as she continues her basketball and academic career next season.