UHS basketball standout Ella Simpson commits to College of Rio Grande

MORGANTOWN — After incomes Class AAAA first-team all-state honors final season, College women basketball senior guard Ella Simpson gave her verbal dedication to play for the College of Rio Grande, situated in Rio Grande, Ohio.

As a junior final season, she averaged 16.8 factors, 6.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and a couple of.1 steals per recreation, main the Hawks to a 16-8 document that included an upset of then top-ranked Wheeling Park, 65-57, in the midst of December.

“I selected Rio due to the lecturers, coaches, and total setting of the varsity,” Simpson mentioned on Monday. “One in all my journey coaches from this summer season, Brandon Bias, is definitely the coach at Rio so I noticed how he coached and we developed an excellent relationship, and with head coach (David) Smalley additionally, which is de facto essential to me.”

Ella says the household really feel is one thing she sought throughout her recruitment course of and that whereas nerve-racking and typically overwhelming, staying centered on setting and teachers all through helped her come to her choice.

“The biology program there’s robust and that meant quite a bit to me as a result of teachers come first,” she mentioned. “Discovering the issues that had been most essential to me was my essential focus whereas making my choice.”

UHS head coach Nick Lusk mentioned that Ella has a significant position to his crew each along with her efficiency on the courtroom and her management off of the courtroom.

“I can’t say sufficient about Ella and what she has meant to this program since I began right here three years in the past,” he mentioned. “Clearly what she does on the courtroom and her stats converse for themselves, but it surely’s actually what she does off of the courtroom that makes her so particular. She works exhausting on her recreation individually, figuring out and such, but in addition by no means misses a crew work-out or assembly. Her mindset is so robust and she or he is particular to our program. That’s the form of participant they’re getting at Rio Grande and I couldn’t be extra excited for her.”

Having now dedicated to play on the subsequent stage earlier than the highschool season begins, Simpson says it looks like an enormous weight has been lifted off of her shoulders.

“Attempting to resolve was nerve-racking and I really feel actually proud of my choice and excited for what’s to return,” she mentioned. “I can deal with utilizing this upcoming season to assist my crew win and as a possibility to get higher and have enjoyable, as a result of it’s the final time I’ll be enjoying highschool basketball.”

Cherishing her time at UHS is essential to Ella, however she says enjoying in school is one thing she has regarded ahead to since she was younger.

“I believe it’s so particular with the ability to proceed enjoying the game I like after highschool ends,” she mentioned. “I’m excited to play with new teammates and in opposition to nice competitors. Though one chapter shall be closing, I’m so excited for the brand new one to start.”

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