LAUREN COX
School: Flower Mound (Texas)
Position: Center Height: 6-4
College: Baylor
Details: Averaged 21.8 points, 12.7 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 2.2 assists per game while leading her team to the Area playoff round and a 23-7 record. Has won gold medals with USA Basketball in the 2013 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship, 2014 FIBA Under-17 World Championship and 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Championship. Is also an all-state volleyball player and was a national AAU high jump champion when she was 11. Because she has Type I diabetes, she has to constantly monitor her diet and insulin levels. Favorite teacher: My anatomy teacher, Ms. (Demona) Shipman. She made the class fun and made learning fun. Second-best athlete in the family: Probably my youngest sister, Maddie, who’s 11. Best track and field event: I haven’t competed in a while, but I think I would still be pretty good in the shot and discus and probably the high jump. Toughest thing about competing with diabetes: Just trying to make sure I have a good (bloodsugar) number before the game starts. It’s different every time. We’re still trying to figure it out. On being 6-4: The best thing is the height advantage in sports. The worst thing is being stared at and hearing people whispering, “She’s so tall.” Favorite recent book: I like “The Body Finder” series (by Kimberly Derting). It’s about a girl who has this ability to sense echoes from people who have been murdered and the imprints left from their killers. Biggest basketball influences: Probably my parents (Dennis and Brenda) and my AAU coach (Justin Higginbotham). They helped me from Day 1. My mom played at SMU and dad at Central Methodist. First car: My parents’ Suburban. Dream car and color: It would either be white or black and probably some kind of Lexus. Season highlight: Spending my last year with some of my best friends on the team. I had a lot of fun. Second-favorite sport: Volleyball. I was going to try to play both in college, but that’s really difficult to do on the Division I level.