COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Over the years, the Upper Cumberland region has been a hotbed for high school girls basketball, and Tennessee Tech has seen many of the region's best stay home and make their mark on the Golden Eagle program.

On the first day of the national signing period, Tech secured a huge home run with the signing of 5-11 All-State guard Reagan Hurst from Upperman High School (Baxter, Tenn). A three-year standout for TTU Sports Hall of Famer Dana McWilliams' Lady Bees, Hurst has put up tremendous numbers heading into her senior campaign and has helped win an astonishing 92 games with two trips to the TSSAA state tournament. 

"I chose Tennessee Tech because it was the perfect fit for me," Hurst said. "Tech checked all the boxes for what I was looking for in a basketball program, as well as meeting all of my academic needs. Tech feels like home to me."

During her junior season, Hurst averaged 17.9 points per game, while collecting 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.8 steals. She put up strong shooting numbers as she hit a 50.5-percent clip from the floor, including 54.5 percent inside the arc and 35.5 percent from 3-point range. She broke the 1,000-point mark in her prep career on December 13, 2019 and was a finalist for the TSSAA Class AA Miss Basketball Award.  In addition to receiving Upperman's Most Valuable Player, Hurst was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's (TSWA) All-State Team for the second consecutive year as well as being named to the District 8-AA first team and Region 4-AA all-tournament team.

Hurst collected her first TSWA All-State nod during the 2018-19 season. As a sophomore, she averaged 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals per game while also being named the Offensive Player of the Year for District 8AA.

As a freshman, she helped the Lady Bees to a 37-0 record and a TSSAA Class AA state title. Selected to the District 8-AA all-freshman team, Hurst also earned a spot on the Herald-Citizen's All-Upper Cumberland Team as a member of its all-freshman squad.  The rookie put up big numbers as she averaged 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.2 steals.

Hurst played travel basketball for Coach Brent Stallings and the TN Flight Select out of Knoxville.

"Tennessee Tech has gotten a winner, in every sense of the word, in Reagan Hurst," Rosamond said. "Reagan has played in one of the most elite high school programs and for one of Tennessee's most successful high school coaches in Dana McWilliams. Reagan is a competitor who thrives in big games and pressure situations.  She knows how to win, and I love her championship mentality."

"Anytime you can convince a great player to stay home, it's a huge win for your program. Reagan is extremely versatile.  Her size and athleticism at the guard spot will be an important addition to our roster. Reagan is such a smart and explosive player with the basketball in her hands, and she has a way of making everyone around her better with her unselfish play. She has the ability to affect the game in so many areas, and her impact is felt on both ends of the floor. As excited as I am about the player she will be at Tech, I am just as thrilled with the outstanding young woman we have signed."

In addition to her efforts on the basketball court, Hurst has also been a fantastic performer on the diamond for UHS softball head coach Dustin Williams, earning District 8-AA Freshman of the Year honors, a District 8-AA Offensive Player of the Year nod as a sophomore and spots on the district all-tourney team both seasons.

Hurst also follows in her family's footsteps as both parents were student-athletes at Tennessee Tech. Her father, Mike, played baseball for the Golden Eagles from 1993 to 1996, while her mother, Carrie, played volleyball from 1992 to 1996.

Tech will tip off the season by traveling to the Music City on Nov. 25 to face the Vanderbilt Commodores. Season tickets for the 2020-21 campaign are on sale. Seating will be limited in accordance with NCAA and Ohio Valley Conference guidelines. Order your tickets by calling (931) 372-3940, visiting TTUsports.com or visiting the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office.