FCity’s Hoof signs letter of intent with community college
Lady Mustang headed to Waco, Texas
Forrest City senior Charnelle Hoof is headed to Texas. More specifically to McLennan Community College in Waco.
Hoof, a senior this year, has been a leader on and off the basketball court for the Lady Mustangs basketball program, on the track for the Lady Mustang track team, especially in the distance races, where she excelled, according to Lady Mustangs track coach Donesha Williams-Wilson, and in the classroom.
Hoof transitioned from Memphis to Forrest City as a 2018 seventh grader and the rest, as some would and did say, is history.
Hoof inked her basketball letter of intent with the small twoyear Waco college during a formal signing ceremony Wednesday inside Dwight Lofton Mustang Arena.
Hoof's letter of intent comes with a full-ride basketball scholarship.
Why Waco, she was asked, after hearing from 16 other colleges over her final senior year, that answer for Hoof was simple and to the point.
"When I first walked onto the campus, it just felt like home," Hoof said when asked. "Everything seemed right, the players, the school and trip to the college. I thought the girls coach, Coach Candice Thomas was really cool, and I liked the way everything felt with the team and the chemistry on the court."
While most of the 16 colleges courted Hoof for most of her final senior season, especially during the three-day Thanksgiving Rumble on the Ridge tournament held each year at Forrest City, McLennan chose to remain in the background.
Traditionally a three-day, eight-team boys tournament, last year's Rumble for the first time, featured four girls teams playing for their own tournament title. One of those four, Hoof's Lady Mustangs, finished second losing to North Little Rock in the girls final.
Hoof finished with 14 points against NLR and was named to the Rumble on the Ridge AllTournament team.
"McLennan were not the first school to make me an offer," Hoof added. "Their offer actually came toward the very end of the recruiting process. Finding out the offer included the full ride clause, which I wasn't really expecting, was huge, but I can't say I was surprised either."
Besides McLennan, there were at least 15 other colleges keeping their collective vision trained on Hoof with full paid offers.
That list included Trinity Valley Community College, Garden City Community College, University of Illinois-Springfield, Tyler Juco, Coahoma Community College, Connor's State, John A. Logan Community College, Northwest Mississippi Community College, SAU Tech, Odessa College, Shorter College, Harris Stowe State University, National Park College, Dodge City Community College and Santa Fe College.
During Wednesday's signing ceremony held inside Mustang Arena, Hoof was asked by her head coach Caronica Randle Williams to name all 16 colleges that had offered scholarships. It took a few minutes for Hoof to remember each one, but in the end, she completed the list to a roaring applause from her teammates and the Forrest City High School staff.
When asked how special Hoof was as a member of the Forrest City Lady Mustangs, head coach Caronica Randle Williams replied "Very special. Players and girls like Charnelle don't come around every year. She is a great kid and I'm excited about her future. I'm hoping our taking a different approach to her signing ceremony let her know the words of encouragement from her coaches, the staff and her teammates. Maybe those words will get her to the top of her game and to a very exciting life," Randle Williams offered.
Williams-Wilson, Hoof's track coach, spoke about Hoof's
dominance in the distance races while several other staff members, including assistant Lady Mustangs coach Shonda Moore, Athletic Director and boys track coach Donnie Willis, high school principal Aundra Bohanon and superintendent Dr. Tiffany Hardrick also took the time to talk and remind Hoof to be humble and always remember her Forrest City family is always available.
At Waco, Hoof, besides being part of the basketball team, is planning to major in physical education.
Up next for Hoof will be next month's graduating ceremony as Hoof leaves the school as a 1,000point scorer, and as an All-State and All-Conference selection for the just completed prep basketball season.
"I scored my 1,000th point during the Christmas break last year, but I knew it wasn't going to be my last point," Hoof added. "I knew we had regionals coming up and I knew we had to get through regionals to get to the state bracket, and we did."
About choosing McLennan and making the upcoming move to Texas, Hoof said her parents are okay with her decision.
"My mom loved visiting the campus and being in Waco," Hoof added. "I have two sisters who live in the area as well and are not
far from where I will be."
The Waco girls basketball program returns everyone from last season's roster. "Every last one of them," Hoof added. "It's going to be crowded and I'm going to be the only Arkansas player on the team roster."
There were seven players from Texas on the McClennan roster, one each from Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana and Minnesota and now one from Arkansas in Hoof.
McLennan completed their 2023-24 season with a 25-6 record through 31 games played, 14-2 in their conference and averaged just more than 71 points per game
When Hoof was asked if she saw herself as the next Caitlyn Clark, she responded "No sir, I picture myself as me, but better. I want to make my own legacy."
Hoof, originally from Memphis, found it hard growing up there, which brought with it difficulties each day.
Hoof was hit by a truck in 2018 at age 12, which sidelined her for six months and kept her from playing basketball during her recovery stretch.
"Having to heal, I did not have the time to get back on the basketball court in the seventh grade, until Forrest City coach Teraye Lee handed me a chart
and from then on, just started pushing me to study the chart, practice and get better, andthat's what I did. And now, the injury doesn't affect me at all, in fact there are times when I really believe it has made me a better player. Actually, making the move to Arkansas made me a much happier person."
When asked about Hoof during her first year at Forrest City, Lady Mustangs track coach Donesha Williams advised her team and the staff to keep their eyes on Hoof. "She is going to be a special athlete," Williams added.
Her brother, a year younger than Charnelle, made the move to Arkansas as well and played Forrest City football.
As an ending note to her Forrest City Lady Mustang career, Hoof has also been nominated for the upcoming summer high school All-Star Game. If chosen, Hoof will get to play one more game with her Lady Mustangs head coach, who was also nominated to be on the All-Star coaching staff.
"Charnelle is one of those girls who plays within herself and her abilities on the court or on the track," according to Lady Mustangs coach Williams.
"I know coach is right. I know what I can do, and I know what I shouldn't try to do on the court in
a game," Hoof added. "I know when I'm comfortable in a game and I know when I'm not."
Hoof is also tedious about working through her skill shots.
"I'm in the gym early every morning," Hoof added.
McLennan was established in 1965 by the citizens of McLennan County. McLennan was the first junior college in Texas to incorporate the word "community" in its name. For 50 years, McLennan has been serving Waco and the surrounding areas.
By the way, Hoof moves from being a Lady Mustang to being a High Lassie while the men's program is named the Highlanders after a Scottish warrior in full battle dress with sword and shield. At local events, the mascot is known only as "Mac."
The McLennan tartan, the wool fabric with the distinctive plaid pattern serves as the official college banner. The McLennan crest, depicted by a human heart pierced by passion nails is the official college seal. The McLennan colors displayed through their sports teams are black against an orange and white background.
Over the past 30 years, the school has won nine NJCAA national championships.