NATCHEZ — One Natchez HiGh School Lady Bulldog will soon make a transformation of sorts to a Lady Tiger.

Lady Bulldogs senior Kiana Jones signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play basketball at Grambling State University.

Less than a month ago, Jones and her teammates stormed the floor of the Mississippi Coliseum after a 54-51 win against South Jones High School for the MHSAA Class 5A state title.

Jones was only one of two seniors on the team, and Grambling State assistant basketball coach Chauncey Harris was closely watching the Lady Bulldogs during their journey to the big house.

Natchez High head coach Alphaka Moore said it was a great feeling as a coach to see her player go to the next level.

“When you first get into coaching you have to make a decision of what is your goals,” Moore said. “My goal is to always make sure that the young ladies that play for me have an opportunity to go to school, that’s what (basketball) is for, to further education. To see one of my own sign with a Division 1 scholarship and a 3.6 GPA, it’s a proud moment.”

Jones said the work she had to put in for Moore on the court and the work she put in to maintain her good grades would help prepare her for life as a college athlete.

“This year, I have been taking all advanced placement classes and it’s been helping me get ready for college,” Jones said.

Moore said she would work extensively with Jones to make sure she is fully prepared to play.

“(Jones has) worked so hard so far to get to this point,” Moore said. “We will work hard to make sure she makes an impression when she gets there, and we’ll start working on that very soon.

“In college you have to be quicker, stronger and smarter. She doesn’t want to go and just be a part of the team, she wants to play.”

Jones will play guard for the Lady Tigers and plans to major in kinesiology with aspirations to become an athletic trainer.