April 28, 1999

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Shinika Parks, a 5-9 junior guard from Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, signed a National Letter-of-Intent today to play for the Purdue women's basketball team beginning in the fall of 1999. Parks, who will have two years of eligibility with the Boilermakers, chose Purdue over Florida and UNLV. She is the first recruit signed by Kristy Curry, who was named Purdue's head coach April 2.

"Shinika will definitely be a complement to next year's team as a person and a player," Curry said. "I know what she can do on the basketball court, but team chemistry and a good fit as a person were equally as important. In addition, she comes from a place that has been successful, so she shares our expectations."

Parks, whom Curry recruited out of high school while she was an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech, will bring more balance to Purdue's backcourt following the graduation of seniors Ukari Figgs and Stephanie White-McCarty.

"Shinika's versatility to play the 2 or 3 position will give us much needed depth," Curry said. "And she has all the tools offensively and defensively to be an impact for us on both ends of the floor."

A native of Suisun City, Calif., Parks averaged 12 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists last season, helping Trinity Valley win the junior college national championship in an undefeated season.

Parks joins Purdue's heralded junior class of Camille Cooper, Candi Crawford, Katie Douglas, Mo-nique Langston and Connie Murdock. In addition, she joins Elisa Inman, who signed with Purdue on Nov. 18, as a newcomer to the NCAA national championship-winning program.

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