Cassandra Hair signs her letter of intent to play women’s basketball at San Diego Christian College with her parents, Michael and Anita, at Whittier High School in Whittier on Wednesday April 22, 2015. (Photo by Keith Durflinger/Whittier Daily News)

By Stephen Ramirez

WHITTIER — What happens to former Cardinals? They become Hawks.
At least that’s the scenario for Whittier High School girls basketball player Cassandra Hair, who officially went from being a Cardinal to a San Diego Christian Hawk when she signed a letter of intent to attend the NAIA school on Wednesday.
“I’m sticking with the birds,” Hair joked “I feel really blessed to be given this opportunity (at San Diego Christian). I’m really excited for my future as a Hawk.”
Hair was one of the top players in the area this past season. She was first team All-Area and All-Del Rio League while helping Whittier to a 17-11 record and a second-place finish.
San Diego Christian competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference. The Hawks were 9-21 last season.
“It was time to make my decision, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do,” Hair said. “I was given this opportunity to come to a try-out, and I did very good. I was really impressed with the team.
“I’m just really looking forward to playing there, and that’s why I’ve made this decision. It’s in a beautiful area in San Diego, and I’m just really looking forward to the next couple of years.”
The past few years have been good for Hair, who averaged 9.5 points and 7.1 rebounds a contest this past season. She also averaged 7.3 and 5.6 as a junior.
“I’m really glad that I was able to accomplish most of my goals (in high school),” Hair said. “I made first team All-Area, first team all-league, led by team in scoring and rebounding. I was pretty happy with this past season, and now I’m looking forward to improving more and getting even better.”
Here family also won’t have to venture far to see here. San Diego Christian plays road games at nearby Biola (La Mirada), Concordia (Irvine) and Vanguard (Costa Mesa).
“Yes, some of the games are close,” Hair said. “My parents will get to see me play. I’m very excited.”