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LYMAN — Harrison Central seniors Nitesha Pierce and Niesha Pierce decided to take their basketball talents to the court at Southern Miss.
The twin sisters signed with Southern Miss and coach Joye Lee-McNelis on Wednesday morning.
“It was a package deal,’’ Nitesha Pierce quipped at their Wednesday signing in the Red Rebel gymnasium.
The 5-foot-10 twins were recruited by more than 48 schools and had solid scholarship offers from 11 schools. Niesha, who plays guard, averaged 18.2 points as a junior. Nitesha, who plays guard/forward, averaged 18.0 points and 8.6 rebounds last year. Harrison Central was the Class 5A state runner-up last spring.
Their parents — Winston Fairley and Patricia Pierce-Fairley — said they received so much recruiting mail that they had to use a neighbor’s mailbox.
Among the schools recruiting the twins were Ole Miss, South Alabama, Louisiana Tech, N.C. State, South Carolina, Brown, Tulane, Alabama, Louisiana-Monroe, Nicholls State, Jacksonsville (Ala.) State, Kentucky and Georgia Tech.
“I think we will play as freshmen,’’ Niesha Pierce said. “We like the campus, and the academics at Southern Miss.’’
Lee-McNelis said she has followed the progress of the twins for years.
“Harrison Central’s twins are expected to bring double excitement to the Lady Eagle program,” Lee-McNelis said in a statement. “We have been recruiting them since they were in the eighth grade.
“Both of these young ladies are first-class people and have dreams to reach their full potential. The versatility of these two to play on the perimeter and in the paint gives us a great one-two punch.
“It is a great opportunity for their family and friends to able to share in their college experience.”
USM also signed Raymond’s Janairrika Bland, a 6-3 center and 5-6 point guard Jamierra Faulkner of West Palm Beach, Fla.
Southern Miss returns to action on Saturday hosting South Alabama at 2 p.m.
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