Allison Hightower To Conclude Remarkable LSU Career As A Graduate

It has been a banner year and career for Allison Hightower. From State Farm and Lowe’s Senior CLASS All-American to earning a spot on the Connecticut Sun’s WNBA roster, the Arlington, Texas, native has achieved nearly everything possible during her time at LSU.

On Friday, she will add another achievement to the list – LSU graduate. Hightower has earned her degree in Arts and Sciences and she is one of 36 student-athletes who are receiving their undergraduate degrees.

Hightower will not be able to participate in the commencement ceremony because she is currently with the Sun who play at the Atlanta Dream on Friday night. Hightower made the Sun’s roster as a rookie after being selected with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft.

“First of all, it speaks volumes about Allison Hightower and what she has achieved during her time at LSU,” said LSU head coach Van Chancellor. “She’s been an All-SEC player, an All-American and she is still going to graduate. She’s a great person away from basketball as well. It speaks well for the LSU program too. We are about educating our players, helping them reach their goals academically as well as winning on the floor. I am very proud of Allison.”

Hightower was LSU’s most valuable player the past two seasons, leading the Lady Tigers to back-to-back NCAA tournament second round appearances. She was a member of Final Four teams as a freshman and sophomore and she won 101 games during her career. She finished as the 13th all-time leading scorer in LSU history with 1,509 points.

Ashley Thomas, a member of four NCAA Final Four teams from 2005-08, is receiving her Master’s degree in business administration. Thomas started 92 games during her career and was a four-time Academic All-Southeastern Conference selection. She served as a graduate assistant on the 2009-10 Lady Tiger team.

Hightower continues an LSU women’s basketball legacy that has seen the program graduate its most prominent WNBA stars. Seimone Augustus, Temeka Johnson, Marie Ferdinand, Quianna and Elaine Powell have all walked away from LSU with academic degrees. Sylvia Fowles and Erica White most recently earned their degrees in May 2009. 

Posted by Bill Martin