Temple High's Ketara Chapel Signs To Play Hoops At Mississippi S - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Mississippi State head coach Vic Schaefer began the quest of building a championship program by signing Temple High School standout Ketara Chapel, the No. 1 senior power forward in Texas, to a national letter of intent on Wednesday.

Chapel joins fellow Texan Dominique Dillingham, who is averaging 21.3 points and 13 rebounds for Class 5AAAA Klein Collins High School, Super 64 recruit Breanna Richardson of Rockdale County High School in Conyers, Ga., and 6-foot-5 Chinwe Okorie, a Lagos, Nigeria, native who is currently attending Stoneleigh-Burnham Prep School in Greenfield, Mass., in Schaefer's first Bulldog signing class.

"First of all, give all the credit to my staff and our current team for an outstanding job this fall in helping recruit this class. We went 4-for-4 in official visits to campus, and that doesn't happen very often," Schaefer said. "So many people here at Mississippi State helped in the recruiting process. Our faculty and administration can take great pride in this class as well.

"I have often said that I have the A-Team as my staff, and Coach Harris, Coach Franklin, Coach Hudson and Maryann Baker, my Director of Operations, were instrumental in making this class happen," Schaefer added. "This is a very proud day for me personally and professionally, and it should be for Mississippi State University as well. The character of this class alone, not to mention their basketball skill set, will impact this University for years to come."

Chapel enters her senior campaign at Temple High School rated nationally by Dan Olson's Collegiate Girls Report. She was also rated a three-star prospect and 38^th nationally at her position by ESPN/HoopGurlz.

"I'm so excited to be coming to Mississippi State. I'm ready to come in and play and learn from Coach Schaefer. I want to come in and help the team with my defense and my athletic ability," Chapel said. "I love the other girls in this class. They love to laugh and have fun, but they know when to get down to business."

The outstanding on-ball defender and rebounder was also tabbed No. 100 nationally and Texas' No. 1 power forward in the Class of 2013 by Premier Basketball Report.

"Ketara brings something in every facet of the game, from leadership skills to confidence to a presence on the court and in the community," Schaefer said. "She is a tremendous young lady who is mature beyond her years. She possesses a skill set that will allow her to play multiple positions for us."

Earlier this fall, Chapel averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds as Temple went undefeated at the PBR Future Stars event.

"Ketara is a coach's dream. She is one of the hardest-working players I have coached," Tommy "Speedy" Gregg, Chapel's coach with the Austin Elite, said. "She will do anything to make herself and her teammates better. Ketara has great court vision and is a leader. She does a lot of the dirty work, getting to the rim as good as anyone I've seen."

Last season she helped the Tem-Cats reach the playoffs as she averaged 14 points, 9.3 rebounds and three steals. Her outstanding junior campaign under head coach Tamarah Sanders earned her District 12-5A Co-MVP and All-Central Texas Second Team honors.

She was also tabbed to the Waco Tribune Super Centex First Team after leading Temple to a 28-9 record during the 2011-12 season.

As a sophomore, the National Honor Society member collected all-district and Waco All-Super Central Texas Honorable Mention honors while leading Temple to a playoff appearance.