Stats: Averaged 13 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game for 39-2 DeSoto, the 5A state runner-up.

About Carter: Co-MVP of 8-5A. Second-team all-area as a junior. Signed with Texas A&M.

Did you know? Carter made 13 of 15 free throws in a 63-56 overtime victory against Mansfield Timberview in a regional semifinal that put DeSoto on the path to its first state berth.

Stats: Averaged 22.2 points and 7.9 rebounds, 6 steals and 5.8 assists per game while leading Kennedale to the 3A state final.

About Hughes: Had a career-high 38 points in a 74-39 victory over West on Jan. 4. Co-MVP of 12-3A. Named a McDonald's All-American. Signed with LSU.

Did you know? Hughes, an aspiring veterinarian, has a sugar glider named Pocket. And yes, Pocket will head to Baton Rouge with Hughes in the fall.

Stats: Averaged 25.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 5 steals per game for Liberty Christian, which won its second consecutive TAPPS 5A state championship and third in four years.

About Hand: MVP of the Arlington Classic and Mansfield Rotary tournaments. Signed with OU. Her 3,650 career points is second in state history.

Did you know? Hand is in Trinidad this week on a religious mission, which involves skits and other activities designed to spread Christian ideals.

Stats: Averaged 24.9 points, 12.6 rebounds, 5.7 steals and 3.6 assists for 7-4A champs.

About Pope: Was first-team all-area as a junior. Named a McDonald's All-American. Signed with Rutgers.

Did you know? Pope writes poems and rap lyrics, and her career goal is to be a music producer. By attending Rutgers, Pope will be on the doorstep of New York, the hotbed of the music industry.

Stats: Averaged 25.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists.

About Sims: Scored a career-high 49 points in 79-76 overtime victory over Irving on Feb. 1. 7-5A MVP. Committed to Baylor as a freshman but may re-open the recruiting process.

Did you know? The four persons Sims would love to meet are all professional basketball players: Allen Iverson, Sue Bird, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.

Stats: Averaged 20.4 points per game.

About Adamson: Finished second in the nation with 139 3-pointers in 38 games. Averaged 20 points per game on Rockwall's JV last season.

Did you know? Adamson's nickname as a child was "Squirt." Her father, Chris, later began calling her "Bulldog" as a way to inspire the mild-mannered Peyton to be more aggressive. Now, Peyton's teammates and classmates call her "Bulldog," too.

Notable: Led Naaman Forest to a 30-7 record and its first state tournament berth, a first for a Garland boys or girls basketball team. Namaan Forest shared the 10-5A title with Rockwall.

About Short: Spent 2006-07 at Red Oak (10-21) and was boys varsity basketball assistant at Allen from 2003 to 2006.

Did you know? Short had accepted a position as the varsity assistant boys coach at Humble Kingwood last summer when Namaan Forest invited him for an interview. He declined at first, but reconsidered a week later and interviewed in hopes of getting the job and staying near his four daughters.