Senior forward Destini Texada persevered through two knee injuries in high school to make her way to UH. | Caitlin Hilton/The Daily Cougar
Becoming one of UH’s best players didn’t come easy for Destini Texada.
The senior forward has been working on earning it since in high school, after choosing to continue following her dreams despite enduring two ACL injuries on her left knee. Now, Texada is one of the Cougars’ most dependable players — she has started all 15 games, is second on the team in rebounding and averages five points per game — but battling knee injuries was difficult for a young player, she said.
“I tore my ACL for the very first time going into my freshman year of high school,” Texada said. “When most players were excited to see if they would be that one freshman on varsity, I was coping with the fact that I would be the one freshman sitting on the varsity bench, unable to play at all.”
“I worked hard to get my knee back healthy and strong, only to tear it again within three months of being released from my doctor.”
It took 21 months for Texada to recover from both injuries, but she said she never lost sight of planning the next four years of her life after high school. Her senior year came with multiple offers from accomplished programs to play college ball, but she initially decided on Houston Baptist University instead of UH.
“She stands out a great deal. She works hard at everything she does,” said women’s basketball head coach Wade Scott. “She’ll give you 110 percent out there on the floor and really is just a great energy player for us.”
Scott said it’s the energy in Texada as a player and her desire to win that prompted his recruitment, which is also noticed by other members of the team.
Senior forward Te’onna Campbell transferred to the University from New Mexico Junior College and has built a strong relationship with Texada.
“We know what it takes to be the best team physically and mentally, because of the adversity. And we have similar hunger to prove others wrong coming from schools who have been underdogs for a while,” Campbell said. “On and off the court our relationship is somewhat of what you see on the court: We have each other’s back, we can communicate with each other differently and we are hustlers.”
After transferring from HBU, Texada sat out the 2012-13 season. The coaching staff wanted to give her a chance to be fully healthy for her last year of collegiate basketball, during which she has become a solid player on the team.
“I don’t consider myself as one of the team’s best players. I consider myself as just another player on a talented team,” Texada said.
“I know my role and try to execute my role to the best of my ability.”
