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Thursday, May 1, 2008
"The Wright Stuff"
Western Arkansas, AR
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By: Will Flowers
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Photo(s) By: Will Flowers
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What was once the empty parking lot of Tucker Elementary School in Lowell magically springs to life this time of day. Like Cinderella late to the ball (or just “to ball”), girls leap from their chariots as if late for their moment to dance with the prince. It’s not the Magic Kingdom, but for many of these princesses, Lowell seems just as far away, an indication that these girls aren’t here to play dress-up; they’re here to play some basketball. And at a time of year when most athletes move their game outside, these players show their commitment to making it at the next level by playing indoors the “Wrightway.”
The Wrightway Hoopsters, Northwest Arkansas’s newest Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) girls program, was founded in September 2007 with the goal to help female basketball players continue to hone their game outside of their high school teams.
“It’s a great situation for me to be able to help these young ladies achieve what they want to do and that is to play at a high level and get more exposure so that they can play at the college level,” said head coach Scott Wright.
Wright has over 11 years of coaching experience ranging from high school all the way up to the collegiate level. His teams, specifically in AAU, have held national ranks as high as sixth in the nation. But it’s his passion for the game over his success that put him in this position.
“I love coaching, I love the kids and the atmosphere,” said Wright. “It’s a part of who I am.”
Wright joined with team sponsor and girls basketball guru Michael T. White to establish the Wrightway Hoopsters, a team just beginning its inaugural AAU season.
The Hoopsters’ elite roster is compiled of 10 freshmen and sophomore ladies from Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. Ft. Smith Northside’s Mannasha Bell, Chauntel Terry and Taylor Caldwell Green are three athletes who make the trip up I-540 to develop their game.
“We don’t just focus on the games, we focus on the development of the players,” said Wright. “We want each player to get better; we don’t just focus on their strengths but we also want to focus on the things they can improve on.”
Each girl is sacrificing much of her free time to help improve her skill. And the future looks bright for this young team.
Huntsville Sophomore Martha Robinson recently won a state championship in which she scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. She is the type of player with whom the sky’s the limit. Greenland’s Hanna Qedan is a combo guard/forward who is versatile and can play any position. Berryville’s Elise Holman is the type of physical player that can hurt opposing teams in many ways with her jump shot and rebounding capabilities.
Players to keep on eye on like Robinson, Qedan, Holman and the Ft. Smith Trio Tenille Briney, Jessie Van Wyhe and Linsey Wilkinson are from schools in the northwest corner of the natural state. These players have a great attitude, which is one thing that Wright feels is a difference maker for his team.
“Our saying is: Be focused, play hard and stick together,” said Wright. “We want them to carry that attitude back to their high schools. We don’t just roll out the ball and run out there and play.”
They may be the new kids on the block, but these Hoopsters have the “Wright” stuff to compete among the nation’s elite.
Wright believes that if you’re talented enough to potentially play at the collegiate level and you want to be part of a solid-core team-oriented basketball program, then that is what “Hoopsters” is all about.
“We are looking for players that are committed and want to have fun,” said Wright.
Having fun while improving the way to play the game — that sounds just about right.
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