Mande Driggers
It is always a great feeling when at NSR we watch one of our scout’s children accomplish so many great things in high school and go on to participate in college athletics. That’s the case this year as NSR basketball prospect, Mande Driggers, from Faith Christian Academy in Victoria, Texas, recently committed to Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Tex. Her dad is South Texas Area Director, Alan Driggers.
One of the most accomplished Texas hoops seniors of 2011, Mande compiled some very impressive numbers during her prep career tossing in 1,776 points while pulling down 2,134 boards. The 5’11” forward managed to carry a 4.0 GPA.
As a senior, Mande led her team to a 36-3 record and a State Final Four appearance before losing to the eventual 4-time State Champion, Sherman Texoma in the State Semi-Finals. Following post season action, she was named to the TAPPS & TABC All-State Team. A senior transfer from Rosehill Christian Academy in Tomball, Tex, Mande led her teams to three State Final Four berths. She closed out her high school career in the Texas Sports Hall of Fame/Texas Shoot-Out All-Star Basketball Game at the Ferrell Center on the campus of Baylor University May 7th.
On her decision to attend Howard Payne, Mande said, “I looked at a lot of different schools and it was a tough decision. In the end it (Howard Payne) made the most sense.” A standout academic performer as well, Mande has been accepted into the Douglas MacArthur Academy of Freedom which is Howard Payne’s Honors Program. “I am going to study pre-med. I want to be a dermatologist and the Academy will prepare me for that.” The Academy program at Howard Payne boasts a 100% acceptance rate for its graduates into law and medical school. “I am very familiar with the school as I have had a lot of family go there.” (Mande’s father, mother, sister, aunt and uncle are all HPU alums) “I spent a lot of time around the campus when my sister was there, so I know it pretty well.”
Mande will also receive an Academy scholarship which will cover the cost of her education. “I looked at several schools with athletic scholarships and considered going that route, but in the end I want to be a student first and basketball second, so HPU fits that.” She also considered Southwestern University, Case Western Reserve University, University of the South, DePauw University, Trinity University and Austin College.
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