SPORTS

Vandy gets Dickson Co. star Lea Lea Carter

Adam Sparks
asparks@tennessean.com
Dickson County's Lea Lea Carter, the No. 8 player nationally in the 2016 class, committed to Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt women's basketball received a commitment from Dickson County junior guard Chassity "Lea Lea" Carter, ranked the No. 8 player nationally in the 2016 signing class by ESPN HoopGurlz.

Carter played for the gold-medal winning USA Basketball U16 national team in summer 2013 alongside Blackman's Crystal Dangerfield, a recent UConn commitment. Carter chose Vanderbilt over Tennessee, Louisville, Rutgers, Florida and Louisville, according to Dickson County coach Eve Hamilton.

"It's been crazy here," Hamilton said. "About two schools a day have come to see Lea Lea. All the SECs and Maryland and Louisville have made visits. When UConn came through my door, I told our staff that this was going to be big.

"But on Friday night, Lea Lea called me and said she was ready to go ahead and commit. (Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb) had just made such a big impression on her, and she likes everything about Vanderbilt. Plus, she is so close to her family, and she wanted to stay close so they could see her play."

Carter plans to sign with Vanderbilt in November 2015.

"Everyone involved with the (Vanderbilt) program made me feel like I was a part of the family," Carter said. "Coach Balcomb showed an extreme interest in me from the start of my freshman year. I believe I will fit in well at Vanderbilt and I will earn a quality education."

Carter is rated the top shooting guard in the 2016 class by ProspectsNation.com.

Carter, a 5-foot-11 guard, averaged 14.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists last season, leading Dickson County to a 23-8 record and District 11-AAA title.

Per NCAA rule, college coaches could directly contact Carter beginning on Sept. 1. Hamilton said Carter began getting phone calls that night from coaches "a few seconds after midnight."

Carter is the second player Vanderbilt has recently snagged from Dickson County. Current Vanderbilt freshman Rachel Bell, a Creek Wood High graduate, was rated the No. 19 guard nationally in the 2014 class.

"With Rachel already there and now Lea Lea going to Vanderbilt, this is an exciting time for our community," Hamilton said. "It's right down the road, and I know it's meant a lot that Coach B (Balcomb) got on her first and they came to see so many of her games. So Lea Lea decided she wanted Vanderbilt to be her home."

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

Lea Lea Carter was a member of last year's USA National U16 basketball team that powered their way to another FIBA Americas Championship gold in Cancun, Mexico. Marty Allison/The Herald Lea Lea Carter was a member of this year's USA National U16 basketball team that powered their way to another FIBA Americas Championship gold in Cancun, Mexico.