Monica Pope,

a member of the Creekside High School varsity girls basketball team,

signed a national letter of intent to play basketball next year for

the Lady Paladans of Furman University.

Pope signed

early because she was ready to get the process over with and to concentrate

on sharpening her skills during her last high school season.

"There

were so many good schools recruiting me," Pope said. "It was

through a lot of serious thought and prayers that I was able to make

my decision to attend Furman. Now that the recruitment phone calls have

stopped and the pressure has been released, I feel like a new person.

I just want to relax and have fun this season."

Pope began

her high school career at Woodward Academy, where she joined the varsity

team during the season. She transferred to Creekside High School in

her sophomore year. She has played varsity for the Seminoles all three

years and has been named Most Valuable Player in both her sophomore

and junior seasons, as well as a member of the All County team and Atlanta

Tip Off Club and AJC Girls Prep team Player of the Month.

She also

was named to the GHSA Girls AAA All State First team last year, and

was named Creekside Volleyball Most Valuable Player of the Year last

year.

On top of

her many athletic accolades, Pope has been on the honor roll since her

freshman year. She is involved in the Peer Mentoring Program and the

Beta Club, has maintained a grade point average of 3.5 and above and

has been named Most Outstanding Student in geometry and Algebra II.

Pope looks

forward to a successful season with the Creekside basketball team as

well as to starting a successful college career at Furman University

next fall.