Wednesday was fall’s National Signing Day for college recruits, and Durango basketball fans will be able to follow one of the school’s best athletes for the next few years.
Demons’ senior guard Katrina Chandler wanted to stay close to home and play basketball at the next level. She achieved both Wednesday, as Chandler signed a national letter of intent to play for Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction and play in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
“I just thought it was a perfect fit for me,” Chandler said.
“I went up there to visit and played up there some in the summer. It’s been my home away from home for a while and the chemistry with the team felt right.”
Chandler has been a standout for DHS at the point guard position, and her dominance earned first-team all-league honors in the 5A/4A Southwestern League as a sophomore and a junior. She led the Demons to a 16-8 record last season with an average of 15.4 points per game, and scored in double figures in 19 of the team’s 24 games.
“Katrina certainly has the talent to play at the next level,” Durango girls basketball coach Tim Fitzpatrick said.
“She brings so much to the table, and it’s a pretty big deal when a kid signs before the season starts. I think Katrina and some of the girls have big plans this year.”
For now, college can wait, and even though Chandler has already committed to playing ball, she feels like she still has something to prove with the Demons with the season fast approaching.
“It’s awesome for me to be able to do this now and get it out of the way before the season starts,” she said.
“This is our senior year, and this group has been playing together for so long. We want to go out with something special, and I’m ready to start playing ball.”
jfries@durangoherald.com
