Many area athletes have spent time honing their skills at the junior college level before realizing success at major universities and beyond.

A few examples:

* San Jacinto College has produced such NBA talents as Steve Francis, Sam Cassell, Alton Lister, Walter Berry and Ledell Eackles. Their list of players who went on to play college at four-year schools also is quite impressive.San Jacinto not only touts one of the area's top basketball programs, it is home to several outstanding sports teams.

The softball team has two NJCAA All-Region XIV Team members, catcher Alissa Bollich from Angleton and infielder Janet Rendon from Houston.

The Gators baseball team is the nation’s winningest junior college baseball programs with five national championships to their credit. Their roster is full of area players with several impressive accomplishments too numerous to mention.

Their volleyball program has also enjoyed great success over the years and has a national championship to its credit.

* Alvin Junior College does an outstanding job attracting local talent. Each of their three sports teams - baseball, softball and volleyball - have rosters loaded with area talent.

Lindsay Perry from Alvin was an outfielder on the softball team and has an impressive resume including 2004 Offensive Player of the Year. The Alvin roster features many players with numerous awards and honors.

Adam “Dane” Lucas, a first baseman on one of the recent Alvin baseball teams, won a conference batting title with a .488 average. Both Perry and Lucas are continuing their careers at four-year colleges.

* The Lee College Rebels women's tennis team won the 2007 NJCAA national championship, their second since 2001. Natalie Araya was a member of the 2007 championship team and is set to help lead this year’s Lee tennis team to another national title.

Araya advanced to the national semifinals last year and teamed with Stephanie Rodriguez to reach the championship match in doubles.

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