Port Arthur Memorial teammates Darius Harris and Shaq White have been staples of the Titans basketball program since their sophomore seasons.

Soon, they will become friendly foes as Harris, a 6-7 post, and White, a 5-9 point guard, will join opposing teams in the Southland Conference.

The two players made their collegiate destinations official Wednesday afternoon at Memorial High School, as White signed his letter of intent with the University of Texas-Arlington while Harris made his allegiance with the Lamar Cardinals.

And the smack talk has already started with White and Harris stating their cases for which of their teams will win future battles.

Neither player is all that concerned with that future date, however. Both, being starters since their sophomore seasons, have more immediate plans for the final year as Titans.

And it's a plan that has been a process for two years and counting. Port Arthur missed out on the playoffs by one game in 2007-08. In 2008-09 the Titans won District 21-5A and marched to the third round of the Class 5A playoffs behind Harris' 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks a game, as well as White's 11 points, 7 assists and 3 steals per contest.

The Titans rattled off a 26-8 overall record last year and are picking up where they left off earlier in the spring by working the Ozen Panthers over in Tuesday night's season opener, which Memorial won 75-56.

With that promising start, each player is excited about Port Arthur's prospects of a deep playoff run and possibly a trip to Austin.

"So long as we all play our part, I don't see why we can't get there," said Harris, who got plenty of attention from Lamar coach Steve Roccaforte through the summer. Harris later said that he is more than pleased with getting the offer from LU and that he chose to be a Cardinal because of their style of play, the academic opportunities, and that his family will be close by.

"They play a fast pace and they are a physical team. That's what we do here (Memorial)," Harris explained. "I think that is part of the reason coach Roc wanted me."

His' current coach, Terrul Henderson, said Roc is getting Harris on the way up.

"He has grown from 6-2 to almost 6-8 since he came to us as a freshman," said Henderson, whose team will take on Brazosport Friday at 7:30 in the old gym. "He came to us uncoordinated and lanky. But he is filling out and has improved his skills and ball handling each year. He's become a solid basketball player and I think Darius may have another growth spurt in him."

As far as White goes, Henderson said UT-A is getting a steal with the senior guard's decision.

"Some polls have Shaq rated as one of the top two or three point guards in the state," he explained. "They did a great job recruiting him and I think Shaq made a great choice. They have a senior point guard there averaging 30 points a game and the coach has targeted Shaq to be his next guard."

Shaq said he chose UT-A because he has family members in the Dallas area.

"If I need anything they will be there to help me out," explained the speedy guard, who is first cousins with the Kansas City Chiefs Jamaal Charles. "Dallas and the school has a good environment and it's the center of the country."

White and Harris both said hard work should earn them the chance for playing time in their freshmen seasons.