Ben, Tangle sign to play ball
Two area basketball players have signed to continue their college basketball careers at four-year colleges.
Neshoba Central graduate Taylor Ben has signed to continue her basketball career at Mississippi College. And Leake Academy graduate Sydni Tangle has signed with Loyola University New Orleans.
Both played last season at Southwest Community College.
A 5-foot, 7-inch tall guard from Neshoba Central High School, Ben averaged eight points a game for the Lady Bears in 2021.
“I chose to sign with Mississippi College,” Ben said, “because head coach Greg Long and assistant coach Maggie Proffitt welcomed me with open arms the minute I stepped foot on campus. (Coach Long) runs the program like a D-I school so I know I’d have the opportunity to develop even more as a player.”
“Academically,” Ben continued, “(Mississippi College) is one of the top colleges in the state so I’m looking forward to that challenge. Another part that played a role (in my decision) was being able to have my support system at all of my games for the next three years. My family will drive across the country to see me play if they had to. I will also be joining my brother TJ (a former Southwest basketball player) who also plays for MC, so I’m definitely excited about that.”
Tangle, a 5-foot, 7-inch tall guard, is a graduate of Leake Academy. She averaged 10.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game during the 2021 season. She is the former princess of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.
“I couldn’t have made any better decision than choosing Southwest,” Tangle said. “There are so many good things that came out of these two years that I have been here. I built lifelong friendships with my teammates. Being around them was always the best part of my day.”
Tangle said she chose to sign with Loyola because “I had a great experience being around the team on my visit. I personally feel like I connected really well with the coaches and (players) there. Also, the coaches did a really good job on taking the extra step to check in on me from time to time throughout the season.”