Sports > Schools
National Signing Day: Pair of Lewisville athletes Big 12-bound, Lasky signs for softball
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
LEWISVILLE - With one season still remaining in his high school baseball career, Lewisville shortstop Niko Buentello is already the Farmers all-time home run leader.
And while the senior has another season to add to his total, his previous accomplishments have already secured him a spot playing baseball after high school.
Last Wednesday, Buentello was one of three Lewisville athletes who put pen to paper on National Signing Day when he signed to play at Oklahoma.
Lewisville girls basketball player Jada Butts also headed to the Big 12 as she signed with TCU, while softball player Emily Lasky will continue her career at University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
"I'm very proud of Niko and for our program," said Mike Campbell, Lewisville baseball head coach. "This is always a big deal and is a special day. Oklahoma is getting a great player."
"I'm so happy," added Charlotte Jones, girls basketball head coach. "Jada has worked so hard and I couldn't be more proud."
While both will continue in college, the pair took different paths to their respective signings despite making their athletic prowess known at early stages in their high school careers.
Butts could have had her collegiate intentions thrown into disarray last year when she suffered a season-ending knee injury early in the year. It was the same injury her sister Aubree suffered during her final year at Lewisville.
"The injury actually wasn't that big of an issue," Butts said. "I was a little worried about the injury hurting my recruiting but that wasn't the case. When I rehabbed, I committed in the middle of rehab and [TCU] was accepting of it. They knew it would take a lot of hard work to get back on the court but we were both confident I could do it.
"Having a similar injury to Aubree really helped. She could tell me what to expect and what some of the right and wrong things to be doing were. She helped there and it was a lot easier if we were both rehabbing on our own."
Buentello, meanwhile, played on varsity his freshman year and is also Lewisville's single-season home run record.
"Niko is a really great hitter with a lot of pop in his bat," Campbell said. "There is no doubt a long time ago people would look at him and think it was possible. He's just one of those special players with a lot of ability."
He chose Oklahoma in part because of its proximity to the Metroplex and for its athletic and academic prestige.
"This is awesome," Buentello said. "It's a dream come true. Ever since I was little I dreamed about signing to play college baseball. When I first took my visit, it felt like home above any other college. I clicked with the coaches and the other players are great. It just felt right."
For Butts, TCU entered the mix later in the process.
"At first I didn't really like TCU, but then I went to their camp and started liking it," she said. "They actually gave me an offer then, but it took me a while before I realized it was something I really liked. But in the end, that's where I wanted to go.
"I like the campus and playing close to home was big. I'm the youngest child and am really close to my parents, so I didn't want to go too far. Fort Worth is just right there and is perfect."
Now Butts can shift her focus to the current season.
"It's been a while and I'm excited," she said. "I just want to be successful this season and make other people better on the team. Now that I'm taken care of, I want to help them out and trying to see us successful as individuals. We're going to try our best to get back in the playoffs."
Buentello is also hopeful having already signed will take off pressure entering the season.
"This was a big relief finishing this up and knowing where I am going," he said. "Now I just have to get ready for the season and see what happens when the draft comes. I'm hoping to put up big numbers but, most of all, we want to win and help the team. We're really confident this year and we can't wait to get started."
While the Farmers still have business this year, there is no doubt the loss of Buentello will be felt in the future.
"He's been starting since he was a freshman," Campbell said. "That's part of the leadership thing, but the other part is just leading by example. The way he plays and the way he works, those things are very important. We obviously miss that, but then somebody else is hopefully going to get it from him."
Lasky, who has been playing softball since she was five, also has time to gear up for her senior campaign.
The Lady Farmers' co-captain was named Newcomer of the Year following her freshman season and has also earned first team all-district honors twice and was named academic all-district last year.
And while the senior has another season to add to his total, his previous accomplishments have already secured him a spot playing baseball after high school.
Last Wednesday, Buentello was one of three Lewisville athletes who put pen to paper on National Signing Day when he signed to play at Oklahoma.
Lewisville girls basketball player Jada Butts also headed to the Big 12 as she signed with TCU, while softball player Emily Lasky will continue her career at University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
"I'm very proud of Niko and for our program," said Mike Campbell, Lewisville baseball head coach. "This is always a big deal and is a special day. Oklahoma is getting a great player."
"I'm so happy," added Charlotte Jones, girls basketball head coach. "Jada has worked so hard and I couldn't be more proud."
While both will continue in college, the pair took different paths to their respective signings despite making their athletic prowess known at early stages in their high school careers.
Butts could have had her collegiate intentions thrown into disarray last year when she suffered a season-ending knee injury early in the year. It was the same injury her sister Aubree suffered during her final year at Lewisville.
"The injury actually wasn't that big of an issue," Butts said. "I was a little worried about the injury hurting my recruiting but that wasn't the case. When I rehabbed, I committed in the middle of rehab and [TCU] was accepting of it. They knew it would take a lot of hard work to get back on the court but we were both confident I could do it.
"Having a similar injury to Aubree really helped. She could tell me what to expect and what some of the right and wrong things to be doing were. She helped there and it was a lot easier if we were both rehabbing on our own."
Buentello, meanwhile, played on varsity his freshman year and is also Lewisville's single-season home run record.
"Niko is a really great hitter with a lot of pop in his bat," Campbell said. "There is no doubt a long time ago people would look at him and think it was possible. He's just one of those special players with a lot of ability."
He chose Oklahoma in part because of its proximity to the Metroplex and for its athletic and academic prestige.
"This is awesome," Buentello said. "It's a dream come true. Ever since I was little I dreamed about signing to play college baseball. When I first took my visit, it felt like home above any other college. I clicked with the coaches and the other players are great. It just felt right."
For Butts, TCU entered the mix later in the process.
"At first I didn't really like TCU, but then I went to their camp and started liking it," she said. "They actually gave me an offer then, but it took me a while before I realized it was something I really liked. But in the end, that's where I wanted to go.
"I like the campus and playing close to home was big. I'm the youngest child and am really close to my parents, so I didn't want to go too far. Fort Worth is just right there and is perfect."
Now Butts can shift her focus to the current season.
"It's been a while and I'm excited," she said. "I just want to be successful this season and make other people better on the team. Now that I'm taken care of, I want to help them out and trying to see us successful as individuals. We're going to try our best to get back in the playoffs."
Buentello is also hopeful having already signed will take off pressure entering the season.
"This was a big relief finishing this up and knowing where I am going," he said. "Now I just have to get ready for the season and see what happens when the draft comes. I'm hoping to put up big numbers but, most of all, we want to win and help the team. We're really confident this year and we can't wait to get started."
While the Farmers still have business this year, there is no doubt the loss of Buentello will be felt in the future.
"He's been starting since he was a freshman," Campbell said. "That's part of the leadership thing, but the other part is just leading by example. The way he plays and the way he works, those things are very important. We obviously miss that, but then somebody else is hopefully going to get it from him."
Lasky, who has been playing softball since she was five, also has time to gear up for her senior campaign.
The Lady Farmers' co-captain was named Newcomer of the Year following her freshman season and has also earned first team all-district honors twice and was named academic all-district last year.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News