The personal decision came last week.
The official announcement came Friday.
Sandia High School junior Viané Cumber, New Mexico’s Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2019-20 girls basketball season, has verbally committed to Texas Tech.
“I already had a plan of what I wanted to do, and with all this (coronavirus) stuff going on in the world, I felt today was a good day to (announce),” Cumber said.
The 5-foot-10 guard had six official offers, including New Mexico, New Mexico State, San Diego State, Clemson and Arizona State.
Texas Tech offered Cumber last summer in Chicago, she said.
Cumber averaged 22.5 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.2 steals in 25 games for the Matadors. She hit 46 of 143 3-point attempts. She was the District 5-5A player of the year and first-team member of the Journal’s All-Metro team and the coaches’ 5A All-Metro squad.
And although Cumber was almost certain to gain many more official Division I offers in the offseason, she felt Texas Tech and its guard-heavy, up-tempo system suited her best.
“They’re very unique in their style of play and the one that I think I’ll be the most successful in,” Cumber, 17, said. She has already taken two unofficial visits to Lubbock, the latest one coming in February. “With all the choices I had, this was the best fit for me and my style of play.”
Although Cumber primarily plays the point for Sandia, she said she’ll be a 2 guard at the next level.
“I think my perimeter game is my best ability,” she said. “That’s always what I’ve been best at.”
Cumber has been doing workouts via social media with current St. Pius girls coach Brio Rode and is doing all she can to stay sharp, including finding local parks with a basket.
“It’s hard not having a gym,” she said, “but I think everyone is maintaining pretty well.”
