The Temple High School senior just wanted a place where she could continue playing basketball while receiving an education.
Hewins found that home with Southwestern Christian College in Terrell and signed her NJCAA letter of intent at Wildcat Gym to play for the Lady Rams.
“If I can go play and do what I need to do, it works for me,” said Hewins, who will major in nursing and criminal justice.
Southwestern Christian, a member of the Northern Texas Junior College Athletic Conference along with Temple, had a 5-11 league record and finished 13-15 last season.
Hewins said she didn’t know too much about the program and never toured the campus. But once SWCC coach Stanley Giddings visited and talked with Hewins, her decision to join the Lady Rams for a fresh start was finalized.
“I like it because I don’t know anybody but I’d be coming in and earning what I do,” said Hewins, who also was considering Ranger, Texas-Tyler and Paul Quinn. “I like that, because they know something about me but to start over we can start a trend for ourselves.”
At 5-7, Hewins averaged 12 points per game and played several positions while leading the Tem-Cats to a 15-17 record as a senior. Her experience as a three-year starter and ability to score and rebound should translate well to the next level, where she’ll likely play shooting guard.
“I believe her skills will get better if she works at it,” said Temple coach Tamarah Sanders, who played at Oklahoma State for a year before transferring to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, where she enjoyed an illustrious career.
“Even when I went to college I didn’t get better until college. Even though we seem like we’re good basketball players, we always want to grow. If you have the will to learn, and she does, she’ll fit right in.”
Aside from playing basketball and volleyball, Hewins has spent much of her time taking care of her mother, Corin Teverbaugh, who attends dialysis three times a week to battle lupus and is recovering from recent hip surgery.
For that reason, Hewins initially looked to remain closer to home before Teverbaugh, whose eldest daughter, Caska, attends Temple College, wanted Hewins to focus on her future.
“She didn’t want me to not go somewhere because she thought that I would be worried about her. If I had to go, I had to go,” said Hewins, who will graduate with high honors and was voted Temple’s top girls athlete. “It’s just exciting to get to go to another place and play basketball.”
cmeister@temple-telegram.com
