North Platte – The North Platte Community College Lady Knights basketball team has signed Leilani Pinedo from Tucson, Ariz., to a national letter of intent for the 2018-19 season.

Pinedo, a 5’ 8” shooting guard, played her high school basketball at Cienega High School in Vail, Ariz.

Pinedo played half the season her senior season, playing in nine games.  She averaged 8.1 points per game and 2.1 rebounds per game.  During her junior season, she was named third-team all-state and honorable mention. In her junior season, Pinedo played in 21 games and averaged 6.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg.  She also had 1.7 assists per game and 1.8 steals per game.

Jeff Thurman, Lady Knight first year coach contacted Pinedo after she had turned down a previous offer.

Pinedo said, “I was pretty bummed about it, but wanted to still play, so I took the opportunity.”

Thurman said, “We are very fortunate to get Leilani at this late in the game.  She is a good shooter, a good student, a good person from a good family.”

Pinedo said that one of her athletic goals is to get this team going and start heading in the right direction..

Pinedo is majoring in nursing.

“I want to finish my general education classes for nursing and try to get some summer classes ahead so when I go back to the University of Arizona,” Pinedo said. “I want to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing.”

Pinedo said that she likes the campus, the size of the classrooms.

“I looked at some of the classrooms and I think some of the ratios will be really good.” Pinedo said. “I never want it to be like a huge lecture seminar.

Pinedo likes the gym and the weight room.  She said that she will definitely be on the treadmill.