Greenville cager Ashley Abbott to play for Dallas Christian College
May 17, 2011

By David Claybourn
Herald-Banner Sports Editor

Ashley Abbott will learn from one of the best collegiate basketball players around when the Greenville senior joins the Dallas Christian College Crusaders for next season.

Dallas Christian returns post player Titan Chuma, a 6-2 senior from Nigeria who earned first-team honors in the National Christian College Athletic Association after averaging 17.5 points, 21.3 rebounds and 4.9 blocked shots per game during the 2010-11 season.

Abbott, who earned second-team All-District 13-4A honors this past season for the Lady Lions, will start off at the post position for the Crusaders, according to Dallas Christian coach Sean O'Connor.

"She's strong already coming in and that's going to help us," he said. "She's not afraid of contact. To start off with we'll work on her skill level. We'll work on some footwork. She's got to get faster."

O'Connor said Abbott and another new recruit will go up against Chuma in practice, which will definitely get physical.

"With Ashley coming in those two will get a chance to beat up on her and she'll beat up on them," he said. "The biggest thing is getting them strong."

Abbott, who also played volleyball for the Lady Lions, said she "can't wait" to go to college and play basketball, a sport she loves. What does she enjoy most about the game?

"Rebounding, stealing the ball from people."

Abbott said her main goal is to get an education.

"Get an education, degree and do physical therapy," she said.

Former Lady Lion volleyball and track and field coach JoAnna Vaden drove in from Corsicana at Abbott's invitation to attend Monday's signing ceremony at GHS. Vaden now coaches at Corsicana Mildred.

Bill Garrick, former KGVL-AM and KIKT-FM sports broadcaster, is the new sports information director at Dallas Christian and also attended the ceremony along with O'Connor and Abbott's mom, Dawn Abbott.