May 13, 2011

COLUMBIA, S.C. – University of South Carolina head women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley announced that Jackson (Miss.) Academy guard Shelbretta Ball has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University and play for the Gamecocks. She will have four years of eligibility beginning with the 2011-12 academic year.

“We are excited to have Shelbretta join our Gamecock family,” Staley said. “She adds athleticism and height on the perimeter and has the ability to create her own offense. She also comes from a family that is no stranger to the SEC with two aunts (Ruthie Bolton and Mae Ola Bolton) who played at Auburn.”

The 5-foot-11 Ball helped Jackson to the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) Class AAA Girls’ State Championship and a spot in the title game of the MAIS Overall Tournament. She netted 11 points in the championship game of the Overall Tournament after posting nine points and 11 rebounds in the Lady Raiders’ two-point semifinal victory. In her senior season, Ball averaged 10.9 points per game, earning All-MAIS first team honors and a spot on the MAIS North AA-AAA All-Stars roster. The niece of 2011 Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Ruthie Bolton, who played with Staley on the 1996 and 2000 Olympic teams and played eight seasons in the WNBA.

Ball joins a signing class that in the fall was ranked No. 12th in the nation by Blue Star Basketball and 23rd by ESPN HoopGurlz. The group includes spring signee Sancheon White (Hammond, Ind./Central Arizona College) and fall signees – Elem Ibiam (Fayetteville, Ga./Fayette County), Tina Roy (Kaplan, La./Kaplan) and Aleighsa Welch (Goose Creek, S.C./Goose Creek).