Point Loma’s Mann Chooses Western Kentucky

All-American Terri Mann, who led the Point Loma High School girls’ basketball team to four straight state titles, signed a letter of intent late Friday night to play for Western Kentucky.

Mann, 6-feet 2-inches, set national records in rebounding for a career (2,256) and a season (816).

In recent weeks, she had narrowed her choices to Western Kentucky, USC and Texas.

“At all the colleges I visited, all of the girls were straightforward with me,” said Mann, who averaged 37 points and 25 rebounds a game. “They told me the truth about the programs--the good things and the bad--and I felt I fit in best at Western Kentucky.”

Today’s editions of The (Louisville) Courier-Journal quoted Western Kentucky Coach Paul Sanderford as saying: “She is one of the few high school prospects in the country who can step right in and make an immediate impact on a program. She is the kind of player who can put us back in the hunt for a national championship.”

Said Mann: “I don’t worry about starting, I just want some playing time, like my freshman year (at Point Loma).”

Mann worked her way into the Pointers’ starting lineup midway through her freshman season.

She said part of her decision to attend Western Kentucky was based on the Hilltoppers’ playing style, which is similar to Point Loma’s. Both schools play a run-and-shoot offense and employ a strict man-to-man defense.

Mann also said her college choice would allow her to become more independent.

“I want to get away from the big city for a little while,” she said. “I feel like I could try to do something on my own, without having everybody helping me.”

Mann, who plans to major in recreation, also set San Diego Section records in career scoring (3,188), season scoring (1,174), career steals (652) and season steals (250).