| School: Jefferson | Graduation Year: 2008 |
Year Inducted: 2022
Sports Played: Basketball, Softball, Track and Field
Featured Member of the Month ~ June 2023
High School Honors: 4 Basketball letters, 1st team All-PIL last 3 years, Player of the Year as Junior and Senior, PIL Champions and 3rd in State as a Junior, undefeated PIL and State Champions as a Senior. McDonald’s All-American nominee, played in McDonald’s Oregon-Washington All-Star game.
2 Softball letters.
1 Track & Field letter.
Post High School Career: University of Utah full-ride scholarship, 3 year starter, 2011 MWC All-Defensive team and MWV tournament MVP, 2012 All-PAC Defensive Team Honorable Mention. Holds numerous Utah career records in assists, steals, defensive rebounds, and points. Played 4 years of professional Basketball (Germany, Spain, and Australia). In second year as Girls’ Basketball Coach at Ida B. Wells High School after stints at Putnam, South Medford, Grant and Roosevelt. In 2017, launched a non-profit mentor program in Women’s Basketball called Beauty and the Beast.
Commentary:
First of all, I’d like to thank God! Without him my life would be nothing. He blessed me with talents and the instincts to become the player that I was and along the journey allowed basketball to live in places most dream about visiting.
Secondly, my family. The support at every game never went unnoticed (not because they were loud and I could hear them, but the support was felt much deeper than heard) they pushed me and believed in me when I was unsure about myself. I know it takes a village and I was blessed with a family that cheered me on, every step of the way! To my momma and my Momo, my biggest fans… Thank you! “I am because you are” Their faith in God and their prayers pushed and inspired me on the court in many ways that you could only imagine! My Papa, uncle Willie and dad, I wish you were still with us but I know y’all in heaven cheering me on and telling me to keep going. To my sisters and all of my cousins, aunts and uncles, thank you for showing up at every game, literally felt like the best player whenever I was in your presence, and that’s whether I was winning or losing!
To my coaches and team mates that instantly became family, I thank you. But a special shout-out to Michael Bontemps… you are golden. You made sure I wasn’t lacking anything, you kept the gym open even when it was just me trying to work out. Even when I graduated, you made sure to never miss anything that I had going on and has continued to be a part of every pivotal decision I make! To my college coach Anthony who I met at the age of 15, thank you as well! Every position in life he’s succeeded in, he managed master it and then bring me along.
To my team mates, 33-0 and a state title is hard to top! We did what needed to be done, humbly!
Last but not least, I would love to thank the game of basketball. It quickly became my airplane mode, my safe zone and my place of meditation! When everything around me wasn’t going right, I could escape everything just by playing basketball. It taught me countless of lessons and it took me places that I could only imagine!
And thanks to the Hall of Fame; greatly appreciated.