College basketball: Lane finds right fit for skills at Tenn.-Martin

Delrico Lane became the latest Odessa College player to sign with an NCAA Division I program Monday when the Wranglers point guard signed a letter of intent to play basketball with Tennessee-Martin for next season.

"I think the fit for me with the style of ball they play at UT-Martin, and the location, as well, helped make up my mind," Lane said. "Also, it fits in with what I want in academics.

"They had a two-guard playing the point last year, so Coach (Bret Campbell) said that I was going to see a lot of playing time and that if I wanted to start, that would be up to me and how hard I worked. I think that coming from Odessa College and the program that Coach (Dennis) Helms runs, I won't have a problem making the jump."

Odessa High graduate Jamel Guyton, another guard on the 2007-08 team, signed on April 18 to continue his career at Louisiana Tech.

Forward Jesse Joseph had committed to Georgia Southern in October.

Lane helped OC win the Western Junior College Athletic Conference regular-season title, but the Wranglers lost to Howard in the Region V Tournament semifinals.

He averaged 9.8 points and 6.2 assists, and he was fourth on the team at 5.5 rebounds.

"I think that's a good place for him to go," Helms said. "They are getting a good leader and a hard worker, and Delrico is someone that we are going to be missing in our program. He was probably our most improved player over the year."