SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Danielle Garroutte, a 6-foot forward from Northwest High School in Germantown, Md., signed an NCAA Division II National Letter of Intent with Slippery Rock University, Rock Head Women's Basketball Coach Tanya Longo announced Wednesday.

A second-year member of the Northwest varsity team, Garroutte is the first player to join The Rock program for the 2011-12 season.

Garroutte averaged 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game during the 2009-10 varsity season and helped lead Northwest to a 14-9 final record and a berth in the Class 4A Region West quarterfinals. She scored a season-high 16 points against Laurel (Md.) High School during a 2009 Christmas tournament game and is currently averaging 10 points and 10 rebounds per game in Northwest's fall league.

“We are thrilled Dani has decided to join our program,” Longo said. “She is a versatile forward who will fit into our up-tempo style with her ability to run the floor.”

In addition to her high school career, Garroutte played three seasons as the starting center for the Germantown Lady Panthers “Silver” club team. She averaged 10 points and eight rebounds per game in club-team competition last summer and was selected as the Best Inside Player at the Keystone State Basketball Camp at Slippery Rock.

Garroutte is currently enrolled in advanced placement and Honors classes at Northwest and carries a weighted 4.0 grade point average in the classroom. She is a four-time recipient of the school's Scholar-Athlete Award and has been a member of both the National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society since her sophomore year.

Garroutte has also participated in the American Indian Education Program, provided community service as a YMCA volunteer and been active with her school's Literary and Arts Magazine, as well as reached the pre-black belt level in Tae Kwon Do.

“Dani is a high character young lady who comes from a wonderful family. She will be a great addition to our basketball program and to the campus community,” Longo said.

The daughter of U.S. Army Colonel (Ret.) Kevin Garroutte and his wife, Emma, Danielle is proud to be “a military brat.” She was born in the Republic of Panama and has both Cherokee and Hispanic ancestry.

Garroutte plans to major in business at SRU and hopes to follow in her father's footsteps as part of the University's Army ROTC program and ultimately join the military.

In addition to Slippery Rock, Garroutte received scholarship offers from Lock Haven University and the University of New Haven.

The Rock opens its 2010-11 season Monday with a 7 p.m. home game against Tiffin University of Ohio in Morrow Field House. Click here to view the complete 2010-11 schedule.