By Matt Wiley
For many high school athletes, the last season of play as a senior is their one last shot to get noticed by scouts and hopefully catch a full ride to play at the college level. For one Freedom High basketball player, it’s a chance to breathe a sigh of relief and focus on having fun on the court.
On November 13, Freedom’s 5’9” shooting guard Taylor Emery signed a letter of intent to play college hoops at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, during a small ceremony at the New Tampa Family YMCA, located off Compton Dr. in Tampa Palms. Unlike many athletes who sign letters to play in college at their respective high schools, Emery decided she wanted to do the signing a little differently.
“I signed at the YMCA because the school ceremony would have had to have been in the morning,” Emery explains. “But, I wanted my closest friends and family to be able to make it (to the ceremony).”
Emery’s signing is the culmination of a standout high school basketball career and a stellar beginning of the season for the Freedom girls. So far, the Patriots are cruising through their season undefeated 5-0 (1-0 in 7A-8 district play). To call some of those games “blowouts” is an understatement. For example, on November 21, the Pats embarrassed the Gaither High Lady Cowboys 88-10 at Freedom. Emery led the Patriots with 40 points, while junior Nari Garner contributed 17.
But, on November 14, the Pats went to Brandon High and held the Lady Eagles to just 6 points for the entire game! Freedom scored 84, with 40 coming from Emery, who also grabbed eight rebounds. The Eagles didn’t score in the second half!
“Signing has made me less nervous for games,” Emery says. “Nothing’s changed. I think I actually play better because there isn’t a college scholarship to worry about.”
She might be right, as she’s currently averaging 39.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Emery says that her time at Freedom has helped prepare her for the next step in her career at Tulane.
“Our coach (Laurie Pacholke) pushes us really hard and treats high school practice like college (practice),” Emery explains. “I think I’ll bring another scorer mentality, energy and motivation to win (to Tulane).”
Emery also says that a summer trip to Tulane was all she needed to know that she wanted to attend the school.
“I fell in love with the people, the campus and New Orleans,” Emery says. “It felt like home and like I belonged there. I also had Seton Hall University (South Orange, NJ), Ole Miss (University of Mississippi in Oxford), and Georgia Tech (Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA) as my top schools.”
Although college is knocking on her door, Emery says that she’s all about the right now.
“I’m so happy to have the (signing) process over with and to continue into my senior season just having fun,” Emery says.
Best of luck to the both Taylor Emery and the Freedom High Lady Patriots this season from the New Tampa Neighborhood News!
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