by press release –
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — TsaLiDi Sequoyah, an incoming freshman from Cherokee High School (NC), has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Northeastern State University this fall. Head coach Larry Gipson made the announcement earlier this week.
Sequoyah, a 6-9, 230-pound forward/center, will be retracing the footsteps of his Cherokee ancestors from Cherokee, North Carolina, to Tahlequah. NSU was established as the Cherokee Female Seminary in the 1850s and is the second-oldest institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River.
“We requested film on TsaLiDi and after watching him play it was quite evident he has a lot of talent,” said Gipson. “We were impressed with what we saw and believe he will be a great addition to our program.”
A highly-decorated prep player, Sequoyah led the Braves in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots as a senior. He posted a double-double in every game but in 2011-12, and finished the year averaging 21 points per game, 16.9 rebounds and 4.9 blocks. He was the top rebounder in the state, second in scoring and eclipsed 1,000 career points on Jan. 27. His post-season honors included All-District, All-State and he earned the Charlie Stamper Academic Athlete of the Year award.
The son of Brenda and Gary Sequoyah and the late Melissa C. Welch, Sequoyah says he plans to major in Cherokee Studies at NSU. He also would like to become the first Native to play basketball in the NBA.
http://www.goriverhawksgo.com/sports/mbkb/2011-12/releases/Sequoyah_Signing
