Class of 2000
School Copperas Cove HS, TX
Height and Weight 5'11 145lbs
Position Guard/Forward
99-00 Ratings #10 (BS)
98-99 Ratings #9 (BS), #10 (SS)
Academically Eligible Yes
Status Signed Purdue
2-26-00...The clash between Erica Valek and Shereka Wright materialized on Friday night
with the favorite coming away the winner. Coronado fell to the Lady Bulldogs of
Copperas Cove 72-60 in the regional semifinal of the Region I-5A tournament.
The key to Coronado's success this season has been their ability to force
turnovers from their pressure defense, a defense that has forced as many as
40 turnovers in back-to-back games this season. At times it worked against
Copperas Cove, but the aggressive defense forced Valek to sit for periods of
time because of foul trouble. Valek eventually fouled out with 22 points.
Wright finished with a game-high 42 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 24-of-31
shots from the freethrow line. Coronado's season ends with a record of 27-6,
while Copperas Cove moves on to the Region I final against nemesis Mansfield
(33-2) today (Saturday) at 1:00pm. Manfield ousted Copperas Cove from the
tournament last season and is the defending Texas 5A champion. Complete game
summary: [Lubbock Online]
2-24-00...Shereka Wright scored 33 points and pulled down 20
rebounds in a 65-42 win over DeSoto. Copperas Cove is now 27-1. Next game: 2/25 vs.
fellow Purdue signee Erica Valek and Coronado.
2-20-00...Copperas Cove opened up tournament play with
a 51-37 victory against Flower Mound Marcus in Texas 5A Region I area play.
Shereka led CC with 20 points as the team used a 33-23 margin in the second
half to pull away. Next game: 2/22/00 vs. DeSoto (29-5)
2-15-00...An update on Copperas Cove, who just finished their regular season
schedule and are looking forward to the state tournament..."The Lady Dawg
seniors made their final curtain call of the regular season, finishing a
remarkable team career which saw them win 37 straight district games going
back 4 years. On Tuesday night they beat the Leander Lady Lions 62-44.
Shereka Wright scored 17 in the first quarter along with 6 blocked shots
(4 against a 6'2 Texas A&M bound post). Wright scored 4 more in the first
two minutes of the 2nd period before being undercut on a drive to the hoop
and being carried off the court with an ankle injury. She returned for a
minute in the 4th period and finished with 21 for the night. She says she
will be fine and ready to roll as the state tournament begins on the 17th."
(summary provided by anonymous)
2-06-00...What more can I possibly say about Shereka? Here's the latest...
"The Lady Dawgs moved to 22-1 on the season (8-0 in District play) by turning
back a tough Temple team 66-46 on Tuesday night. Trailing by 5 midway in
the 3rd period, Shereka took charge, with her scoring, rebounding and
leadership. Scoring 24 in the second half, Wright brought the Dawgs charging
back. She finished with 39, and once again, played big in a big game. On
Friday, the Lady Dawgs pushed their record to 23-1, and clinched their fourth
straight District title with a 72-47 win over the Killeen Ellison Lady
Eagles. Shereka scored 32, going inside easily against a pair of 6'3 post
players most of the night. She played about 2 1/2 quarters and had 21 at
the half. The season finale is this Tuesday night against Leander. Last game
at home for a spectacular senior class." (summary provided by anonymous)
01-30-00...Shereka continues to get rest, while Copperas Cove continues to
roll..."Lady Dawgs moved to 21-1 with by whipping the Killeen Lady Roos,
97-41. Shereka Wright had only 12 while playing just a half a game. Another
reminder of why scoring 3,000 points so far is remarkable, when the team can
score 97 and she gets 12. Dawgs moved to 22-1 Friday night by demolishing
the Waco Lady Lions 100-17. Shereka lead 7 players in double figures with a
quiet 20 points, including the only 2 3-pointers she attempted, then sitting
out most of the 2nd half. It was the first time this group had scored 100
points since Junior High, and something they often work hard at NOT doing.
State tournament begins the 14th of February, and Cove will receive a first
round bye, which means they will probably begin on the 17th. It takes 5 games
to win it all, with the toughest in the Regional, where they most likely will
face their nemesis from a year ago, Mansfield, the defending state champion.
Prior to Friday night's game Shereka was presented the game ball from her
3000th point, scored a week ago against Leander." (scouting report by anonymous)
01-23-00...Shereka passes another milestone against Leander..."Shereka Wright
continues to reach milestones. She led the Lady Dawgs (Number 1 in the State
of Texas, Number 3 in the Nation) to their 20th win against Leander, 60-38.
Wright went into the game needing 21 points to reach 3,000 for her career,
trying to become only the 36th player (4th in Texas) to reach that mark,
according to the National Federation of State High School Associations'
record books. Wright reached 3,000 before halftime and she alone outscored
Leander 21-7 in the opening half as the Cove went into the locker room
leading 36-7. She had three first quarter blocks against 6'2 post Alaina
Johnson, who is headed for Texas A&M. Wright finished with 28 points and
left early in the third period for the remainder of the game, with her
career total sitting at 3,007. What is interesting about Wright's point
production is that she scores within the context of the team offense, and
from the full court press. One news source made a point of saying that she
scores "big" in big games, as evinced by her performance the past two years
in the Santa Barbera tourney, where she has average around 30 a game. She
scores big in these games because she spends more time on the court.
Throughout her career, Copperas Cove has overwhelmed so many opponents that
she has spent a great deal of time on the bench during 3rd and 4th quarters."
(scouting report by anonymous)
Some more info on the Leander game...Wright scored 16 points, had three
blocked shots, two rebounds and a steal in the first quarter alone. Along with
her 28 points, she also finished the game with 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots.
All in about 19 minutes of playing time.
01-21-00...A scouting report on Shereka, as Copperas Cove continues to be
the No. 1 team in the state of Texas, ranked 3rd nationally by USA Today...
"Copperas Cove moved to 18-1 at home by whipping Killeen Ellison 79-36. The
game was 12-10 early in the 2nd period before the Cove went to work. The
starters sat out about the last quarter and a half while the bench
continued to outscore the Ellison starters. Ellison started 6'3" and 6'2"
in the post, but Wright and company (using their quickness and athleticism)
had them in foul trouble early and the height advantage was never a
factor. Shereka scored an easy 20 (16 at the half) before sitting down in
the 3rd period for the remainder of the game. The team goes on the road
Friday at Leander which will mark the halfway point of district play."
(scouting report by anonymous)
01-21-00...A scouting report on Shereka from Texas..."The Cove Lady Dawgs are
currently 17-1 and are three games deep into a 10 game District schedule.
They opened with a win over Killeen at home, 74-40. Wright scored 26. The
team then went on the road to Waco and won 71-26. Wright was sick and only
played about 7 minutes, scoring 8. For the first time in her career she
wasn't in double figures. They were on the road against Temple, probably the
only challenge in the District, and won 38-28 as Temple tried to slow the
game down. Wright scored 18. I don't think the team is as strong as the past
two years, but her game really has moved to another level. She's playing more
on the outside, and getting more assists by drawing defenses outside. As she
proved in the Santa Barbara tourney, the best "big people" in the country
can't stay with her speed and quickness. She gets about 3 or 4 blocks a game
and has NEVER fouled out, a tribute to her court sense and awareness. Copperas
Cove full court presses and Wright plays up front on it, again because of her
speed and quickness." (scouting report by anonymous)
12-22-99...Although Copperas Cove finished third in the TOC, besting Buena 49-47,
Shereka Wright finished a unanimous #1. For the second year in a row, Shereka
was named the tournament MVP. She is only the second player since the beginning of
the tournament back in 1979 to win back-to-back MVP awards. Lisa Leslie won MVPs
in 1988 and 1989.
12-21-99...Copperas Cove will not repeat as the Tournament of Champions
best team, but Shereka Wright established herself as the best player in the senior
class. Playing against two of the top players in the nation, Narbonne's 6'2 forward
Ebony Felder (rated the third best senior by Blue Star) and 5'10 junior guard
Laurie Moore (rated as the sixth best junior by Blue Star), Wright scored 43 points
and carried three fouls for most of the game. Felder, Moore and Narbonne teammate
Amber Pruitt all fouled out of the game. Copperas Cove led at the end of the first
half, but a 23 point third quarter by Narbonne was too much to overcome. Narbonne
moves on to the TOC final game, winning 61-58. Copperas Cove will play in the
third place game at 6:30pm Wednesday against Buena.
12-19-99...Down five at the half, Copperas Cove swept past Brea Olinda over
the course of the rest of the game to a 55-44 victory. Wright scored 24 points.
The victory sets up a Monday game against Narbonne of Harbor City. Narbonne
will put their #1 national ranking (USA Today) and 16 game winning streak up
against 4th ranked Copperas Cove at 8pm on Monday.
12-18-99...Copperas Cove won their first round game against Berkeley, 62-51.
Wright led all scorers with 33 points, hitting 18 of 21 from the freethrow line.
Copperas Cove now advances to a 5:00pm game Saturday against Brea Olinda, a
team ranked ninth among teams from the northwestern part of the US. Win or
lose, the team will have Sunday off, then begin competition again on Monday.
Tournament play will wrap up Wednesday.
The following are articles on the Tournament of Champions through Friday...
12-17-99...Copperas Cove will attempt to defend their Tournament of Champions
title this weekend as they travel to Santa Barbara to fight their way through
this year's tournament. Wright is also the reigning MVP, but will have tough
competition this year from several top ranked players, with as many as ten
teams in the sixteen-team division field with legitimate shots at winning the
title. Copperas Cove is due to tip off today against Berkeley. A total of
64 teams will participate in one of four 16-team divisions. Copperas Cove
will play in the Championship Division.
12-11-99...Shereka scored a game high 29 points, 25 of which came in the
first half, to lead Copperas Cove over state power St. Micheal's.
St. Micheal's has won the last two Texas Class 4A state championship games.
In just 16 minutes, Wright scored 29 points, five steals, seven rebounds
and had six assists. For a game summary, check out this article from the
American-Statesman.
12-10-99...An article in the Austin American Statesman on Shereka's
game, plus a short preview of the 99-00 Copperas Cove team.
11-15-99...Coach Curry on the addition of Wright..."Shereka's quickness and
athleticism make her one of the best forwards in the country. She comes
from one of the best high school programs in the state of Texas and she
knows how to win. Her versatility should help her become a great player
at Purdue."
11-14-99...Curry has completed her first recruiting class with a concensus
top 25 player. 6'0 scorer Shereka Wright has signed with the Boilers
over Kansas, Texas and Arkansas. Wright has been honored as an all-american
by most recruiting magazines, including Street & Smith (second team) and
Parade (fourth team). Wright will finish her high school career at Copperas
Cove, a team in search of a state championship after three previously
failed attempts. Street & Smith ranks Copperas Cove as a pre-season #11 in
the nation. At #2 is defending Texas 5A state champion Mansfield High, who
is on a 38-game winning streak. Copperas Cove again threatens, returning four
senior starters from a 34-2 team.
DATE MIN FG FGA FT FTA 3P 3PA RB A B S PTS
--------------------------------------------------
01-23-00 8 4 28 Won 60- Leander 38
12-21-99 43 Lost 58- #1 Narbonne 61
12-18-99 24 Won 55- Brea Olinda 44
12-17-99 18 21 33 Won 61- Berkeley 52
12-12-99 32 Won 74- Dallas Skyline 40
12-10-99 16 7 6 5 29 Won 71- St Micheal's 59
12-03-99 21 Won 54- Boca Ciega 41
11-17-99 32 Won 68- Westlake 49
99-00 season Street & Smith All-American Second Team
Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions MVP
98-99 season Parade All-American Fourth Team
Central Texas Player of the Year
All-State First Team (Texas Basketball Coaches)
Santa Barbara Tournament of Champions MVP
97-98 season All-State First Team (Texas Basketball Coaches)
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