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| FORMER LADY JACKET ASHLEY LANIER SIGNS WITH ST. PETERSBURG COLLEGE ON APRIL 11, 2011 |
Former Leesburg standout Ashley Lanier signs with St. Petersburg College
By Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
April 11, 2011
Former Lady Jackets basketball standout Ashley Lanier has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at St. Petersburg College next season. The School is located in St. Petersburg, Florida and were Ranked #7 in State and the #2 Seed in the Southern Conference 2010-2011. Lanier will play under St. Peterburgs College head coach Denisha Davidson in 2011-2012. She signed with the school on April 11 at the Leesburg High School Auditorium in Leesburg, Florida.
I spoke with coach Davidson and she is very excited about signing Lanier and can't wait for Lanier to start her career as a Lady Titan.
“We are extremely excited to have Ashley Lanier join the SPC Lady Titan basketball family. Ashley will bring many positive qualities along with her determination to help continue to build this program. Her toughness and strength around the basket will definitely be a force to be reckon with. She does just a great job running the floor and posting up strong. Coach Oates, runs a great program and does a great job by molding and preparing his players for the next level. By signing Ashley we are just adding on to want Coach Oates started. Ashley has the opportunity to do and will do great both academically and athletically here at St Petersburg College and we are happy that she choose us for her next home away from home”
I spoke with coach Davidson and she is very excited about signing Lanier and can't wait for Lanier to start her career as a Lady Titan.
“We are extremely excited to have Ashley Lanier join the SPC Lady Titan basketball family. Ashley will bring many positive qualities along with her determination to help continue to build this program. Her toughness and strength around the basket will definitely be a force to be reckon with. She does just a great job running the floor and posting up strong. Coach Oates, runs a great program and does a great job by molding and preparing his players for the next level. By signing Ashley we are just adding on to want Coach Oates started. Ashley has the opportunity to do and will do great both academically and athletically here at St Petersburg College and we are happy that she choose us for her next home away from home”
Denisha Davidson, 28, has been an assistant at Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga., for four years. She was a Graduate Assistant at Austin Peay State University for a year, where she earned her master’s degree in sports administration.
She was a two-time All-American at Division II Kennesaw State University, just north of Atlanta. Her three-year career averages at Kennesaw State were 20-points per game and 10 rebounds a game.
“I have played with a lot of different players and for a lot of different coaching styles,” she said. “I have had a lot of opportunities to see what I liked and what I didn’t like.”
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| SPC's Women's Basketball Coach Denisha Davidson |
Lanier's mother Tori Lanier was there by her side as she signed the letter of Intent in front family members, friends and members of the coaching staff. She is the second Lady Jacket to sign with a college this past season. Jaleesa Blue signed with Florida A&M University during the early signing period.
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| Jonathon Lanier bends over and hugs his sister Ashley Lanier sitting second from the right next to her mother Torrie Lanier and coach Mark Oates, right, after signing with St. Petersburg College at Leesburg High School on Monday, April 11, 2011. |
Leesburg head coach Mark Oates feels that Lanier will have no problem to adjusting to the speed and intensity of the college game.
"These girls have played the best teams in the state," Oates said. "They played Lake Mary (a Class 6A state semifinalist) and Gainesville (a Class 5A regiona semifinalist). They know how to respond in pressure situations.
"We have bullseyes on our chests," said Oates "We are a state championship game for most of the teams we play. Our kids have to get used to that and respond to the pressure that goes with playing at Leesburg."
Lanier helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a 24-7 record this past season. Lanier was instrumental in Leesburg securing it's third Final Four appearance in five seasons and the programs fifth overall. She finished her high school career with 486 points (12th in school history) and 554 rebounds, good for fifth place on the school's all time rebounding list. She average 11.6 rebounds a game during the regional playoffs.
Lanier was placed on the Orlando Sentinel 2011 All Lake/Sumter Counties second team. She participated in the Lake vs Volusia All Star Game on March 11, 2011, the Lake squad won the game 90-40. Lanier had outstanding performance in a event featuring the best senior girls basketball players in Lake and Volusia County. Lanier also played in the Lake/Sumter versus Marion/Alachua All Star Game on March 31, 2011. The game was played at West Port High School in Ocala Florida.
Lanier had offers from the College of Central Florida and Florida State College of Jacksonville but decided to sign with St. Petersburg College.
Lanier has benifited from Oates academic standards placed on his players. His program prepares his players for college life starting as a freshman. In 2008 Oates team place in the top 10 in the state for G.P.A.s.
"We have mandatory study halls for all freshmen and all upperclassmen with GPA's below 3.5," said Oates. "We also tell our student/athletes that if they are gonna play for the Lady Jackets they have to go to college," said Oates. "This is done in their first freshmen meeting."
Lanier has benifited from Oates academic standards placed on his players. His program prepares his players for college life starting as a freshman. In 2008 Oates team place in the top 10 in the state for G.P.A.s.
"We have mandatory study halls for all freshmen and all upperclassmen with GPA's below 3.5," said Oates. "We also tell our student/athletes that if they are gonna play for the Lady Jackets they have to go to college," said Oates. "This is done in their first freshmen meeting."
At the end of the day wins and losses pale in comparison when he asked to elaborate on how he feels when a young lady comes into his office as freshman wanting play basketball and leaves the program a woman going to college.
"I think it feels like a a proud father would feel," said Oates. "I don't have any birth children of my own but I imagine that's what it feels like."
The 5' 11" F/C Lanier was a starter for the Lady Jackets' in 2010-2011. She averaged 6.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. She had her most productive games rebounding in the regional playoffs with a 13 and 16 rebound games. She will take her rebounding and defensive skills to St. Petersburg, Florida school. Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
www.leesburgyellowjacketsbasketball.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
Gerald is the CEO/President of Lacey LLC and OmariWholesale, Inc. He runs his entire business from his home where he is able to spend quality time with his family and friends. He is passionate about helping individuals to build and monetize their personal brand online.
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