Former Texas guard Lauren Flores to play for Houston

Texas head coach Gail Goestenkors dismissed Lauren Flores, a first-year player from Houston, from the team for an unspecified team rules violation in May. The University of Houston announced Friday that Flores transferred from Texas and would play for the Cougars. She will sit out the upcoming season before becoming eligible to play for 2011-12.

“Lauren brings immediate credibility to our plan of recruiting the city of Houston and making sure that local kids understand the new vision of this program, which is Houston kids first,” said first-year Houston head coach Todd Buchanan.

“I am elated to have her in our program and back home. Having her as a part of this team will reveal an extension of me on the floor as well as off the court. In practice, having another voice in the locker room and her lead by example attitude will help make us better every single day.”

The statement Goestenkors released about Flores this past spring was terse and gave no indication of why the guard was thrown off the team.

“Lauren Flores has been dismissed from the Texas Women’s Basketball team effective immediately for violation of team rules. We have spoken with Lauren and her family and will assist with the transfer process.”

In her time at Texas, Flores played in 25 games, averaging 10 minutes a game and 2.4 points per contest. She finished the season with 60 points, 24 assists and seven steals. She tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee during practice in March and did not play for the remainder of the 2009-10 season.

Flores is North Shore Senior High School’s career scoring leader with 2,319 points and guided the Lady Mustangs to the Class 5A quarterfinals.