Jameika Hoskins is now ready to focus all of her attention on helping the Aberdeen Lady Bulldogs win the MHSAA Class 3A state title that has eluded them in three straight trips to the state tournament.

Hoskins, Aberdeen’s 5-foot-10 guard, signed on to play basketball at Alcorn State on Tuesday.

Ole Miss and Mississippi State had also shown interest, but Hoskins didn’t want to put her playing future on hold.

“It’s a huge thing for me,” she said, “a big decision I had to make. Now I can get my mind on a state championship.”

When Alcorn and first-year coach Tonya Edwards offered Hoskins a full ride on November 1, the senior didn’t even need an official visit to make up her mind.

“To sign for a school that’s giving you a full ride, it’s a huge honor. That’s something you’ve got to take,” Hoskins said.

Without the offers on the table from the Southeastern Conference schools showing interest, Hoskins said she definitely feels a need to prove what they missed out on.

“I’ve got a lot to prove now,” she said. “I’ve just got to shown them what I can do on the court with another school.”

Hoskins is already averaging 27 points per outing through a 4-0 start in 2009. First-year coach Latorrence Bivens said she will bring more than scoring to the next level. He said he’s seen her game improve since her offseason work began during the summer.

“She brings the total package,” Bivens said. “We all knew she could score, but I’ve seen where she’s picked up. She’s on the offensive boards, on the defensive boards. She’s stealing. She’s getting assists.

“Alcorn is getting a great player. I kind of feel for the other schools that didn’t pick her up.”