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Maryanna Garrett signed a basketball scholarship with Snead State. Pictured are Snead State Coach Jarrod Plummer, Garrett and Winterboro Coach Sheroderick Smith. Photo by Bob Crisp
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Winterboro's Garrett signs with Snead State
WINTERBORO - History was made in the Winterboro High School Auditorium on Wednesday when Maryanna Garrett signed her letter of intent to play basketball for Snead State Community College in Boaz.
By signing, Garrett became the first female athlete to sign an athletic scholarship in Winterboro’s girls’ athletic history.
“I did some research and so far I have not found one female athlete that has signed a basketball scholarship,” Winterboro girls basketball coach Sheroderick Smith said. “I believe that Maryanna Garrett will be the first one (female athlete) in (Winterboro) history to sign an athletic scholarship.”
Garrett was elated about having the opportunity to continue playing basketball on the next level.
“It is exciting,” Garrett said. “I am glad that I found a place that I could go to continue my basketball career.”
Garrett came on the scene late as she only began playing basketball two years ago when Smith arrived to take the helm in Alpine. Garrett gives her coach a lot credit for making this opportunity possible.
“He helped me out a lot,” she said. “He worked with me individually and helped me with my skills. He took me to different colleges to work out. He was a big part of this.”
The transformation within the last two seasons has been an impressive one for the Lady Bulldogs. After a winless season in 2007-08 the Lady Bulldogs have won three and nine games respectively in the past two seasons. With the rapid growth of the program Smith believes that this signing is just the beginning for the girls athletic program at Winterboro.
“The thing is there have been athletes here in the past,” Smith said. “But now with the new breed of athletes that we have now I believe they are willing to put in the work like Maryanna did and she came back with a new passion this year.
“She was one of our good players and to get her to be the first player signed at this school and the first one in history that sets a great tone for the rest of the years. We are going to have more girls following right behind her in a few short years, so she will not be the only one or the last one if I am here.”
Snead State Coach Jarrod Plummer believes that Garrett has the possibility of becoming a great player by the time that she leaves Snead State in a couple years. One of things that caught his eye during her tryout was her presence on the defensive end of the court.
“She has a lot of work to do, but she has a lot of upside to her,” Plummer said. “That’s the reason I wanted to go ahead and sign her. It is hard to find girls with that body style at that height. She came and worked for me. I have another 6-foot-1 girl that is going to be a sophomore this year; she kind of gave her fits on the defensive end.
“One of the things that she will have to sharpen is her offensive game, finishing around the goal and stuff like that. She is a great shot blocker and a great defender. I expect a lot of big things out of her. It is going to take her a while to get used to the college system, especially coming from a smaller school and playing that level of competition is always a bit of a different pace for them. I think in about a year and a half she will be a great player.”
Smith said Garrett’s versatility at the center position and her businesslike attitude on the court will help her become a successful player for Snead State.
“The great thing about her is that she played the center position for me, but she was able to defend a one (point guard),” Smith said. “I was able to create match up problems throughout the season and allow some of my best players to defend other girls. Maryanna is probably my first or second defender. I know in one or two games this year she had 10 offensive rebounds. I remember Maryanna taking it coast-to-coast five times this year. Centers don’t do that.
“She was definitely a team leader; she has an aggressive attitude on the court and when she means business she means business. She will be able to help Snead State once she learns the ropes and once she gets in shape.”
Read more:The Daily Home - Winterboro s Garrett signs with Snead State
