Reagan's Beroth commits to play for East Carolina

By: JournalNow Staff | JOURNAL STAFF REPORT
Published: November 18, 2009

Alana Beroth, a 6-2 center at Reagan, has signed to play women's basketball at East Carolina, and Georges Massoda, a 6-8 center from Forsyth Country Day, has signed with the men's team at High Point, according to releases yesterday from the universities.

Also, Mike Petersen, the women's basketball coach at Wake Forest, announced a class of four, including two players from North Carolina -- point guard Chelsea Douglas of Charlotte and 6-4 Lindsy Wright of Denver.

Coach Eric Rader of Reagan said that Beroth also had offers from UNC Charlotte, Richmond and American.

"Those were the schools that wanted her," Rader said. "To me, being recruited is ‘We really want you,' not ‘We sent you a letter.'

"I think she made a great choice going to East Carolina, and I think it will work out well for her."

Beroth averaged 10.3 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.6 blocks last season and was an All-Piedmont Triad 3-A selection.

"She has got some skills, and she can get up and down the floor, but she will find out it's a lot more physical game at the college level," Rader said. "And I think she will have to learn to deal with the physicality of play in Division I.

"Her coordination has really improved, and her skills around the basket have really taken a step forward. I think that's why people like her.

"She is that size and can finish on both sides of the rim with her left or right hand."

FCD's Massoda was part of Coach Scott Cherry's first recruiting class at High Point, with guard Justin Cheek of Charlotte Ardrey Kell and Travis Elliott of Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. Massoda, originally from Cameroon, averaged 7.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 blocks last season, his first at FCD.

At Wake Forest, Petersen's latest class also includes Erin Hall of Norcross, Ga., and Jaymee Carnes of Gainesville, Ga.

"We feel like we signed a group that addresses position needs," Petersen said. "We're really happy with this group as a whole."

Douglas is a fast, athletic point guard who led Charlotte Hickory Grove to a 30-1 record and the NCISAA 3-A title last season, when she averaged just more than 20 points a game. Wright, from East Lincoln High, averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds last season and shot 61 percent from the field.

Hall averaged 14.4 points and shot 36 percent from the 3-point line as a junior, and Carnes, a 6-1 power forward, averaged 16 points and eight rebounds and was the The Gainesville Times player of the year in 2008.

In other sports, Alex Weber of West Forsyth has signed to play tennis at UNC Charlotte, Coach Jim Boykin of UNCC announced. Weber is a 5-10 right-hander.