Missouri State women’s basketball head coach Nyla Milleson has made another addition to her 2008 recruiting class, as Jaleshia Roberson, a 5-7 guard from Kansas City’s Hickman Mills High School, has officially committed to join the MSU program for the 2008-09 season. Roberson’s pledge brings the total membership in the Lady Bears’ recruiting class to five, as Lacey Boshe, Casey Garrison, Jasmine Malone and Regan Soldner committed to MSU last November.

The Kansas City Star’s All-Metro player of the year, Roberson capped a standout prep career by averaging 19 points, six assists and three steals per game in leading Hickman Mills to a 29-2 overall mark in 2007-08, which culminated in a fourth-place finish at the Missouri Class 5 state tournament. She was a first-team all-state selection and the Suburban Small Six Conference MVP, as well as Metro Sports’ player of the year and a DiRenna Award finalist as a senior for head coach Steve Cassity’s Cougars.

"We’re very excited about the addition of Jaleshia," Milleson commented. "Her athleticism and offensive ability will be a tremendous asset to our team. On top of that, she comes from a strong program with a proven track record of success under Coach Cassity, and that’s always a plus."

Roberson, a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter, totaled 1,568 points in helping the Cougars compile a 101-11 record during a high school career. Hickman Mills captured conference titles in each of her four years and claimed district crowns twice, advancing to the state quarterfinals in 2007.

The Lady Bears will return two starters and seven letterwinners in 2008-09 after finishing 11-19 in 2007-08, Milleson’s first season as head coach.