Cottey College basketball announced the signing of five players for the 2008-'09 season Monday, all from Springfield, Mo.

The new Comets are Kindal Huctt and Diamond Hurst from Hillcrest High School, Alex Noble from Kickapoo, Amanda Sheets from Central and Rachel Duckworth from Glendale.

Huctt is a 5-foot-10-inch forward who averaged 9 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in her senior campaign at Hillcrest. She was a two-year starter and was named to the All-District team, the Ozark Conference Tournament Team and was selected as an All-Ozark Academic player.

Her teammate Hurst is a 5-foot-7-inch point guard and four-year starter at Hillcrest. Hurst averaged 4.5 points, 3.3 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. Hurst was a two-year All-Ozark conference player, All-District and All-Ozark Academic selection.

Head coach and Cottey athletic director Dave Ketterman said he was glad to bring in teammates as familiar with each other as Huctt and Hurst.

"Kindal (Huctt) and Diamond (Hurst) are best friends," he said. "They competed successfully in the Ozark Conference for an outstanding coach, Jeni Hopkins ... These young ladies know how to play the game and know how to make all the intangible plays. They will be a great fit in our motion offense and will have an impact on our program immediately."

Noble and Sheets add some considerable post-presence to the freshman class, measuring 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet 2 inches, respectively. Noble averaged 7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in her senior campaign and led the team in rebounds her junior and senior year. Sheets averaged 8.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and led her team in blocked shots.

"Alex (Noble) is a very athletic player who knows how to defend and rebound," Ketterman said. "She is tough-minded and a fierce competitor and will make us better immediately. Amanda (Sheets) will give us an inside presence on offense as well as a post defender and rebounder. With her height she gives us a decided advantage against our region opponents."

Duckworth adds even more size to the class at 5 feet 10 inches. As captain of the Glendale Lady Falcons she had the highest free-throw percentage and took the most charges on the team for three years. Duckworth never missed a practice or game for four years.

"She is an outstanding all-around athlete and a true blue-collar player," Ketterman said. "She possesses all the intangibles for becoming a good college player in that she can defend, rebound and loves to set up screens to open up her teammates."