USF women’s basketball signs forward Odeth Betancourt to NLI
Forward Odeth Betancourt signed a National Letter of Intent during the spring signing period, USF women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez announced Wednesday in a press release.
The @USFWBB Twitter account also made a post announcing the news.
𝙒𝙀𝙇𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀 𝙏𝙊 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝘼𝙈𝙄𝙇𝙔 Odeth‼️ 🏀🌴🌊💚💛
📰 https://t.co/GLhDle5Mx7#HornsUp🤘 pic.twitter.com/10FxEfce61
— USF W. Basketball (@USFWBB) April 21, 2021
Betancourt is a 6-foot-2-inch Venezuela native who excels on both the offensive and defensive sides of the court. During her two-year tenure in junior college with Panola College in Carthage, Texas, she averaged 11.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game in 41 appearances.
The commanding forward thrives in transition and can score in the paint as well as from long distance. Those features played a prominent role in USF’s recruitment, according to Fernandez.
“Odeth’s athleticism and versatility on both ends of the floor is what stood out for us in the recruiting process,” Fernandez said. “She plays with great energy and passion, and we look forward to her getting on campus.”
The new recruit will join a loaded frontcourt for the Bulls, who are returning seniors Bethy Mununga and Shae Leverett.
Betancourt has also represented Venezuela on the international level.
She helped Venezuela to a gold medal in the 2018 South American and Central American championships. Her team managed a silver medal in the 2017 U17 South American Youth Championships, and she took part in the 2018 Olympic Youth Games 3×3 Tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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