By ROBERT CESSNA
Eagle Staff Writer

Texas A&M women’s basketball coach Gary Blair, who is trying to build a winning tradition, has added the daughter from a player who starred on one of the greatest collegiate teams of all time.

Fort Bend Hightower’s LaToya Micheaux, daughter of former University of Houston standout Larry Micheaux, has pledged to sign with A&M on Nov. 10, which is when the early signing period gets under way.

The 6-foot-3 post picked the Aggies over Georgia and Louisiana State University.

She visited A&M over the weekend and attended the Maroon & White game, then committed.

“ No. 1 was it was very close to home,” Micheaux said. “And I’ve known some of those girls for a long time. That started to bring back some old memories. We won the national championship with our AAU team, now we want to help bring A&M to the next level.

“ I’m here, ready to help put A&M on the map.”

Micheaux played for the AAU Houston Elite White, which won the Adidas AAU national championship in Atlanta this summer.

Current A&M players Micheaux has played with in AAU play or against are freshman forward Patrice Reado of Houston Madison, redshirt freshman Ogadi Chinweze of Hightower, freshman Morenike Atunrase of Shreveport, La., freshman Ashley Bolden of Spring Westfield and freshman A’quonesia Franklin of Tyler John Tyler.

Micheaux initially had Georgia as her top pick, but that was too far from Texas.

“ I wanted my mother [Annette] to be able to come to the games, so that wasn’t going to happen,” she said.

Micheaux’s father, Larry Micheaux, was part of the University of Houston’s Phi Slamma Jamma, which included Akeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Michael Young and Benny Anders

“ He’s making sure I’m making the right decision,” she said. “He’s making me understand the ups and downs of recruiting. Basically, what coaches are saying, what’s the truth and what’s not.”

Micheaux is listed as the state’s ninth best prospect by the Dallas Morning News and the 22nd best senior by Texas Roundball. Michael White’s All-Star Basketball Report has her rated the 68th best senior in the country and The Blue Star Report has her 72nd.

Micheaux is A&M’s fourth commitment, joining Humble guard Brittany Toran, Spring Westfield guard Takia Starks and Cedar Hill post Ashlaa Horton.

Micheaux said she has played against Toran several times, and is glad they are going to be teammates.

NOTES —Micheaux averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds last season for 24-10 Hightower, which lost to Houston Washington in the third round of the playoffs. Hightower went to the state tournament Micheaux’s sophomore year, falling in the semifinals to Georgetown. ... Micheaux, who has academically qualified, will major in journalism. She works on the yearbook staff at Hightower and for the school newspaper. ... She ran track through her junior season. ... Under NCAA rules, Blair is not allowed to comment on commitments. … A&M was 9-19 last season, including a 2-14 Big 12 record. …