Drake withdraws commitment to UK women

By Jennifer Smith / jsmith3@herald-leader.com

Like most high schoolers, Samantha Drake isn't exactly sure what she wants. But she knows she's not ready to sign on the dotted line with the University of Kentucky.

Nelson County's Drake, rated the 74th-best player and the eighth-best post player in the nation, said Saturday that she has withdrawn her commitment to Kentucky and plans to reopen her search for a college.

Drake said she is "very interested" in Michigan State, but she plans to visit other campuses, too, and then sign in April.

The 6-foot-2 center who averaged 25.5 points and 10.7 rebounds last season, orally committed to UK the summer after her freshman season.

She says now that it was "too soon."

"I committed real early, and I never got a chance to see what else was out there," Drake said. "I never got the chance to look around. I finally made up my mind that I need to look around some more."

The state's second-leading scorer last season already is her high school's all-time leading scorer with 2,500 points, and she holds Nelson County's single-game scoring record of 44 points.

UK's other five commitments from the Class of 2010, including No. 30 Jennifer O'Neill, signed last week during the early signing period.

ESPN's Hoopgurlz.com had ranked UK's recruiting class No. 10 in the nation when it included Drake along with O'Neill, No. 64 Laquinta Jefferson and No. 67 Kastine Evans.

Others in the signing class include Lexington Christian's Sarah Beth Barnette and Maegan Conwright from Arlington, Texas.