It is not often that coaches trust sophomores to take on team co-captaincy roles but that was the case for Heard this past season with 5A Division 2 Nation Ford. The Falcons’ season concluded with them being one win shy of the Upper State finals. In the playoff game that Nation Ford did win, Heard reached the 1,000-point mark for her career as the Falcons dispatched Hillcrest by a final score of 56-39. That contest would see Heard tally 12 points, grab seven rebounds and collect four steals in 25 minutes of play. Heard averaged 11.8 points, five rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.6 assists in 23 games this past season. Nation Ford will drop in classification to 4A beginning next season.

We first became familiar with heard last season when she was an eighth grader. As a freshman, she is poised for even bigger and better things with 5A Nation Ford. At the Bob Dillon Thanksgiving Invitational, her team was locked in a tight contest with host Spartanburg and pulled off a 58-51 victory over the Vikings. Heard finished with 21 points which led all scorers that game and Nation Ford advanced to the championship game of the tournament against Byrnes. She gives defenses problems with her ability to ferociously attack the rim and is able to fuse together speed, quickness and superb ball handling skills. Heard also draws attention from defenses and that opens things up for teammates. 

Given that Nation Ford earned a Top 10 spot in the preseason 5A Division 2 coaches’ poll, the Falcons entered 2024-25 with raised expectations. Nation Ford has played like it at the Bob Dillon Invitational. Following the Falcons opening the season with a win over Blacksburg, Heard and her team followed it up with a 58-51 victory over host school Spartanburg. She scored 21 points to lead all scorers. The 5-foot-4 guard is a ferocious attacker of the rim and has no problems drawing contact to get to the free throw line. As potent a scorer as she is, she will draw double teams which will open things up for teammates. She also will combine ball handling capabilities with speed.