TOP PHOTO:  Lady Cougar Emily Ellison is all smiles just before she signs to play college basketball at Maryville College.

Emily Ellison (right) grins as her Campbell High Coach Brad Honeycutt (left) sings her praises at Ellison’s college signing day on Friday at CCHS.

JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – “It’s all she’s ever wanted to do, and it just comes to her naturally,” said Andy Ellison, father of Emily Ellison.  “It” is playing basketball, and “she” is soon-to-be Maryville Lady Scot Emily Ellison.

Friday morning at 11 am, Ellison was surrounded by friends, family, coaches and teammates as she signed scholarship papers to play college basketball at Maryville College.  The sharp shooting, gritty Lady Cougar basketball player was all smiles as coaches and teammates shared kind remarks about her toughness on the court and her kindness off the court.  Culinary Arts instructor Angie Bostic even shouted out, “She’s good in the kitchen, too.”

Emily Ellison, behind the basketball, has been playing basketball since she was four years old.

Dad Andy said, “This is a culmination of a lot of hard work from Emily,  her coaches and teammates.  We’re hoping she can make a difference at Maryville, too.”  The girl Andy calls Sis has been welcomed with open arms by her future teammates at MC.  He added that they all texted congratulations to her when she decided on becoming a Lady Scot.

Emily’s been playing basketball since age four and has played all the way up through the ranks.  She played for Coach John Philpot at Jacksboro Elementary School and Coach Wanda Snodgrass at Jacksboro Middle School.  Even though she played with a hamstring injury during her 8th grade year, she was not able to as a freshman at Campbell High.  The recovery time kept her out of every game that 9th grade year except three, according to her dad.

Lady Cougar Coach Brad Honeycutt said, “She’s one of the most coach able kids to’ve played for him.”  The 6th year head coach called her fun to coach and expressed how proud he is of her.

Andy said, “She’s planning to become a pediatrician.”  Honeycutt added, “E is great with kids.”

Longtime teammates Madison Brady (left) and Emily Ellison (right) try to figure out how far back they go playing basketball together.

Even though Maryville has the promise of Emily on its team next season, there is still unfinished business for the Lady Cougars of CCHS.  Emily and her Lady Cougars hit the hardwood tonight at six to take on the Beavers at Karns and hope to have a lot of good basketball still ahead of them this season.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/17/2020-NOON)

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