INSPIRED: Let This Game Take You Places

This past Monday, the country celebrated the birthdate and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Across the state people gathered to celebrate his heroism as they reflected on his mission towards equality for all. Throughout that day, one was able to reflect on our progress throughout this country and how we've come so far.   With that in mind, I too had an opportunity to reflect. Not only did the things that happened back then affected our outcome today, but also opened up possibilities for all of us. Now, women across our state are able to dream towards obtaining collegiate scholarships by playing the game of basketball. Some are fortunate to continue on to play in the WNBA or overseas. Dr. King's message may have been towards humanity, but it also laid the foundation towards equality for all things.   Basketball is a game of opportunity. Some may play it for fun, while others play for a means of survival or opportunity. This past weekend, I was able to stream ESPN and see past girls from our state suit up for their prospective colleges. From different parts of the country, I saw a Tennessee girl, right here from our own backyard contribute towards their teams' competition. It served as a shining moment that the state is rich in talent, and that we have some smart young people that walk on our hallowed courts within these borders. Looking at the bios, I was proud to see the different fields of study these girls were in. There is no doubt that they will go on to do great things and inspire the future generations of girls basketball.   Dr. King's famous speech “I Have Dreams” rings true throughout so much we do. His words provide a symbolism of opportunity that exists in today's world. We all have dreams of some sort. Plenty of them come to fruition if we embrace the hard, and keep our eyes affixed towards our prize. My dream is that all young ladies harness the opportunity of furthering their education using basketball as a platform to do so. Be like Nike, Just do it. Just try it. The doors of opportunity will open and you will be able to take part in a world of opportunities.   Below are some young ladies that I feel have been playing some inspired basketball. They too have a dream towards achieving greatness using  basketball as a platform. They have contributed to their teams success throughout the season and I would like to take the time to let them know to keep up the good work and their efforts go unnoticed. Here are some inspired hoopers across our state doing awesome things for their basketball clubs.   [player_tooltip player_id='290997' first='Kamaria' last='Murry'] (Jr./G/Rockvale)- An unselfish PG who knows how to command the offense. She's stepped up in a big way, leading the Lady Rockets attack. From making timely passes , to knocking down clutch shots, she has grown on the offensive end this year. Her hustle and heart are displayed on the defensive end, as she is energetic and active causing chaos. She's grown into a kid that can cause problems on both ends of the floor if you're not careful.    [player_tooltip player_id='409017' first='Ella' last='Ryan'] (So./G/Brentwood)- Plays the game with such passion. Willing to do whatever it takes to help lead her Lady Bruins to victory. A multi level scoring threat that also contributes in the assist and rebounds columns nightly. Isn't afraid to get after it on the defensive end. Has carved out her own legacy coming from a very talented family. She grinds in the darkness so her game can shine in the light, spending countless hours on her craft. She is a hard-working kid who has poise and great court awareness. Through it all, she most definitely is a kid who leaves it all out on the court. Such a heady player with a bright future.   [player_tooltip player_id='513232' first='Nya' last='Burns'] (Fr./PG/Gatlinburg-Pittman)- Inspired basketball player. There is something special about this kid as she plays the game with grit and hustle. Uses her motor to create chaos on both ends of the floor. A multi-level scoring threat who has poise on the floor at such a young age. Whether it's knocking it down from the arc or getting to the lane, she does it fearlessly. What I like most, she gets after it on the defensive end. Nya is a trooper is who going to leave her mark on the game one way or another. You can't take your eye off her because she is always in the mix. Energetic, relentless, such a hard working prospect who is determined and inspired by competition. She's a high level player that's going to blossom into something special.   [player_tooltip player_id='245306' first='Brittani' last='Wells'] (Sr./G/ Arlington) - This tremendous guard is leaving her mark on her senior season. She's trying to go out with a bang, as she leads the Lady Tigers attack. Displaying grit and toughness , she's a two way player that's creating havoc on both ends of the floor. A 3 level scoring threat, she gets after it on D just as well. Hard-working, tenacious, hungry, these are just a couple of words that describe the fire in her belly. She's grown through adversity and it looks like she is poised and ready to help her club towards state contention.   [player_tooltip player_id='821620' first='Lauren' last='Hassell'] (8th Grader/F/ Clarksville Christian)- She's a big deal in the Queen City, the Clarksville native is a phenomenal talent. She eclipsed 1000 points in her high school career and she is just in the 8th grade. Now she's been battling it out with some big time talent, so don't get it confused when you think of the mark she eclipsed. A multi-level scoring threat who is a beast in the interior. Has nice quickness and is blessed with size, she has a great understanding of the game on how to exploit an opponent's weakness. Uses her length to create chaos, she is phenomenal in creating extra possessions that lead to points for her club, whether it's getting steals or blocking shots. Definitely a force to be reckoned with for years to come.   [player_tooltip player_id='245311' first='Addie' last='Colvard'] (Sr./W/Whitwell)- Has been on it this senior season. Recently, dropped 33 points, sinking a game- high 8 threes from beyond the arc. Her senior leadership has come into play as she has been doing the little things to help her club compete. From grabbing boards, making timely assists, and of course finding the bottom of the net, Addie has helped wheel her team to victory numerous times this year. [player_tooltip player_id='245289' first='Olivia' last='Lee'] (Sr./W/ TCA)- The Union commit continues to thrive on the hardwood. She's athletic and very talented at sports in general.Earlier this month, she eclipsed 2,000 points for her high school career. She is just a go-getter that gives off infectious energy to her ball club. Relentless yet unselfish, she does whatever it takes to contribute to her clubs victories. A hustler, she is fearless when it comes to banging down low, but isn't afraid to unleash from deep. She's tough on the boards, phenomenal on D. Her ability to affect the game in so many  ways is crazy. Most importantly, she leads by example and is a great teammate both on and off the court. She is one of the reasons why her team continues to stack up wins.

This past Monday, the country celebrated the birthdate and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Across the state people gathered to celebrate his heroism as they reflected on his mission towards equality for all. Throughout that day, one was able to reflect on our progress throughout this country and how we've come so far.