100% of Mark Oates players graduate and go to college, February 22, 2011

Leesburg's Jaleesa Blue (seated) along with (left to right) Ethel Blue, Demond Blue, Melva Blue (mother), Leesburg coach Mark Oates, Sandi Rackley and Leesburg assistant coach Heather Connelly

Leesburg Head Coach Mark Oates has just earned his 3rd State Final Four appearance with his Lady Jackets, but that not the number he is the most proud of. In order for a young lady compete in Oates program they are not only required to graduate from high school but to enter into college after graduation.

Oates has produced a 100% graduation rate and every one of his players have gone on to college. I asked coach Oates about some of the details of the programs that he has instituted in order to produce such staggering numbers.

WANETA CARLISLE AND LATOYA FOSTER SIGN WITH AUGUSTA STATE AND BREVARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN 2009.

"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." 

LaToya Foster at Brevard Community College

Oates runs a squeaky program his record is impeccable and speaks for itself. Oates puts in 14 hour days in on non game days and up 20 hours on game days. He is a tireless worker and loves the kids and the Leesburg community. He never seems to stop teaching his players about life principles and how to be a success after basketball. He understands the tradition and the history of Leesburg Basketball and does a good job of instilling that pride among his kids. I asked him to give me details on what a typical day is like running the Lady Jackets basketball program.

Former Lady Jackets Standout Danielle Harris at Missouri Southern State University

"During the season on a regular practice day I leave home at 6:45 a.m. and usually get home around 8 p.m.," said Oates. "On a game day I leave at same time and depending on where the game is played I might get home around midnight, grade film and do stats until around 2:30 a.m. and then back at it again."

Former Lady Jackets Standout Shericka Ward at Villanova University

Oates certainly has set the standard for girls high school basketball in Lake County. His program is modeled by many in the state of Florida. 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."

Lady Jackets All Time Scoring Leader Pearl Johnson at Chipola Community Colleges

Mark Oates Players In College

Jordan McDonough Class of 2004-Florida State University

Danielle Harris Class of 2004-Missouri Southern State University (Basketball)
Shyvette Wilmot-Class of 2005 Bethune-Cookman University 

Ashley Taylor Class of 2005 Bethune-Cookman University (Softball)
Sharece Taft Class of 2006-Dodge City Community College (Basketball)
Brianna Gaston Class of 2006-Florida A&M University

Samantha Games Class of 2006-Lake-Sumter Community College

Amber Bradley Class of 2007-Warner Southern (Basketball)
A'shyia Haugabrook Class of 2007-Bluefield State (Basketball)
Pearl Johnson Class of 2008-Chipola College (Basketball)
Angie Felton Class of 2008 (Gulf Coast Community College) National Champions 2010 Louisiana Tech University Present

Shericka Ward Class of 2008-Villanova (Track)
Tenia Manuel Class of 2008-Troy University (Basketball)

Keyoshia Wright Class of 2008-Bluefield State (Basketball)
Tanera Gaston Class of 2008-Florida A&M University
Jazmine Slyke Class of 2008-Florida A&M University
Brittany Holman Class of 2008-Florida A&M University
April Hall Class of 2008-Lake Sumter Community College

Latoya Foster Class of 2009-Brevard Community College

Waneta Carlisle Class of 2009-Augusta State (Basketball)

Tiffany Cosgrove Class of2009-Everest College

Alonti Richardson Class of 2010-Bethune-Cookman University

Sherita Carter Class of 2010 Fireman School
Khayla Cardinales Class of 2010- Lake-Sumter Community College
Alexa Dejarlais Class of 2010 Lake-Sumter Community College
Jaleesa Blue Class of 2011-Signed with Florida A&M University
Ashley Lanier Class of 2011-Has offers but has not made a decision

Resources
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer

Carver Heights Quarterback Club
February 22, 2011

Article provided by:
www.leesburgladyjacketsbasketball.com

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