"I Bleed Green"

Stars playing for summer league teams often have teammates try to convince them to transfer or move high schools, so they can team up in the fall. When a player is on a high school team that hasn't won in a while, the thought of moving can be tempting. But Van Buren senior point guard Erin Gatling stayed true to her colors. "I have been in Van Buren my entire life ... I bleed green," Gatling said. "No one could ever persuade me to move. I knew we were capable of success I knew we were capable of competing, I wanted to give my community that chance, these are girls I have played with my entire life, they're my best friends and I wouldn't change that for the world." There are many things Gatling wouldn't change. She wouldn't change her height (5-foot-4), she wouldn't change her style of play, she wouldn't change the team she plays for or the team she is going to play for in the future as she signed last month with Southern Mississippi. "I love Southern," Gatling said. "I fell in love with the coaches, the players, the campus just the entire community and the whole atmosphere, they really welcomed me and my family and I could really see myself thriving in that atmosphere." After finishing second in the 7A West in scoring last season with an average 16.2 points per game and 6 rebounds per game and leading the team with 83 assists and 73 steals, Gatling attracted numerous programs' attention. However, it wasn't just her basketball skills gaining all the attention. "I have been recruited pretty hard by lots of schools for track but that wasn't my love," Gatling said. "At Southern Miss, I really think I am going to fit into that program. The coach really pursued me." Track may have helped Gatling get noticed as a premiere athlete, but it wasn't really something she wanted to pursue. "Not too many people just like to go out and run," said Gatling, who finished second in the 800 meters at the state meet last spring. "I was pretty successful in track but when you win who do you share that with? I like having teammates to share stuff with, to me that means more. When Gatling isn't running or playing basketball she said she likes to do the typical teenage girl things, like shop and hang out with friends. Her favorite places to eat are Chili's and The Olive Garden. She likes just about any kind of candy, especially tropical flavored Skittles, but she tries to stay away from sweets. Her favorite movies include Remember The Titans, along with any other sports movie and The Sound of Music, which according to Gatling one should watch at least once a year. Overall, Gatling couldn't be happier with her present team, her future team and what basketball has in store for her. In a word, Gatling describes herself as "blessed."