Pickett County HS Star Signs with Bryan
October 31, 2007BYRDSTOWN, TN (10/12/07)— After being courted by multiple schools, Ashley Padgett sat in her gymnasium at Pickett County High School on Thursday and signed a letter of intent to continue her education and basketball career at Bryan College.
Padgett, a 5’11” wing player, was a Second Team All-Tri Lakes Conference Member as a junior while averaging 17 points and 8 rebounds per game.
“We are very excited to have Ashley joining our program,” said Coach Jamy Bechler. “She is a versatile player that has a real nice post-up game inside but can also step out and knock down the perimeter shot. We like her ability to run the floor and rebound as well. She also played on one of the better AAU teams in the nation (Tennessee Elite, coached by Gary Van Atta and Mark Odom), which has prepared her well. Ashley fit in very well with our current players on her visit and has kept in touch with them since. She should have a good experience at our school.”
Padgett said that she decided on Bryan College “because it was a life-long dream to play college basketball and that she just felt comfortable with all the girls and loved the program at Bryan and all the success they have had.”
The Lady Lions have earned a trip to the past four NAIA National Tournaments and are the defending Appalachian Athletic Conference Champions.
Padgett’s senior season will be the first for Brent Smith, a former boy’s coach at Pickett Co. The Lady Bobcats open the season with Grace Baptist Academy from Chattanooga, TN.
“As much as we are excited to get Ashley, I am sure she is relieved as well,” said Bechler. “Now she can focus on her season and not have to worry about college recruiters and making the decision as to which school to go to. That is a benefit of signing early. Now she can put her energies toward having a great senior season.”
Padgett is the daughter of Larry and Janet Padgett and plans on studying Pre-Law at Bryan College.
Bryan College is a liberal arts institution located in Dayton, TN. The athletic programs compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). It was founded in 1930 by former U.S. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan.