(Editor's note: Mississippi State sophomore LaToya Thomas, who led the SEC in scoring last season en route to landing a spot on the Kodak All-American team, will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.)

Nov. 20, 2000

	Thomas

We are in Memphis for our first road trip of the season.

Man, it takes a lot of organization to prepare for missing class for road trips (more like a pain in the neck). First, I had to get excuse notices from our academic office for every last one of my professors. Next, I had to make sure that I verbally communicated with my professors to make sure they knew I would not be in class on that particular day. I try to get my work for class before I leave so I don't get behind.

We have team study halls on the road, so it makes it easier to get the work done. So when game time comes, I don't have to worry about it and my mind can be focused on my best basketball.

Keisha "Pookie" Stringfellow and I did get to play spades on the way up here. And the outcome was the same as usual. We defeated the victims, Courtney "Cornbread" Graham and Cynthia "Ruthie" Hall.

Next week I will get to write about our trip to Albuquerque. I am looking forward to it. I expect us to make it out safely and for us to bond as a team because we will be on the road for four days. I haven't been out there before but I have heard it's beautiful.

I am excited about being in Albuquerque because I will get to see some family members who I only get to see a few times a year. My sister, Cassandra, and my nieces, Kiyama and Ronique, live in Kileen, Texas. My brother, Emmanuel, lives there, too. They will all get to see me play. My aunt Annette and her son, Corey, are from El Paso, Texas, so I will get to see them, as well.

I am excited about my teammate KiKi Westerfield coming back. She tore her ACL over the summer and has been working very hard in rehab. She isn't ready to go full court yet, but it is nice to have her back. She is my big sister ญญ my emotional leader. Without her, sometimes I might not make it.

With this week being Thanksgiving, I wanted to take some time to say thanks for some of the people in my life that have helped me this far.

I miss my family in Greenville, Miss., a lot when I am at school because I don't get to go home very often. I wish I could be home with them for Thanksgiving to eat turkey and dressing, but I will have other family members around me in Albuquerque.

I miss my friends back home, too, but I will get to see them for a few days at Christmas.

I am really thankful for my teammates at Mississippi State and I want them to know they are like a second family to me. Without them, I wouldn't even make it through the day sometimes.

On Thanksgiving, I will be thinking of all my friends and family and how much I love them. I am grateful for everything they have done for me through the years.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving, wherever they are.

C-ya ญญ Toya