South Georgia - In The Game High School Sports Magazine

There’s an old adage with which many of us are familiar that goes something like this: “If you’re gonna be dumb, you better be tough.” You could take that, change it a little, and have a perfect application for basketball players: “If you’re gonna be small, you gotta be fearless.” And that would be an apt description of Coffee High Lady Trojans point guard Vaneeshia Paulk. Vaneeshia stands just 5’4” and tips the scales at 117 pounds. Despite her size – or lack thereof – she has turned herself into a great basketball player who plays the game with a level of intensity that at times defies description.

Vaneeshia, a four-year starter for head coach Mandy Lingenfelter’s Lady Trojans, started playing basketball when she was a third-grader at Indian Creek Elementary School in Douglas. She was always one of the smaller girls on the floor, even in elementary school, but she managed to hold her own against older players. Her talent really became apparent when, as a sixth-grader, she made the seventh grade team at Coffee Middle School. At that point, she realized that she just might have some talent for the game.

As her skills continued to develop during middle school, Vaneeshia knew she could make an immediate contribution to the Lady Trojans once she entered high school. To do so, Vaneeshia would have to play hard. And that’s exactly what she did. “Fearless. That’s how she plays. She’s in charge when she’s on the floor,” says Coach Lingenfelter.

Vaneeshia has had a great career with Coffee High, to say the least. During her first three years, she scored 676 points, recorded 227 assists and 194 steals. She also hit 205 out of 350 free throws (59 percent). At the time of this interview, she had scored 185 points in 13 games (14 points per game) and was averaging five assists and four steals. She had made 71 foul shots in 115 attempts, a 62 percent average. “She runs our offense, and is great off the dribble. She attacks the basket and really is the coach on the floor,” says Coach Lingenfelter.

Vaneeshia doesn’t shy away from pressure and enjoys basketball the most when it’s late and the game is on the line. She knows how to read defenses, and she’s not a selfish player. Her main objective is to make sure the ball gets into the basket – and it’s not really that important who makes the shot. “I like to penetrate, and then watch the defense. I need to know when I can drive or when I need to pass,” she says.

During her career, Vaneeshia has played for some very good Lady Trojans teams. As a freshman, Vaneeshia helped the Lady Trojans advance all the way to the Sweet 16 round. During her sophomore year,  Coffee  High  made

the state playoffs but didn’t make it past the first round. Last season, the Lady Trojans won the 1-AAAAA region championship.

This year has been a tough one for Coffee High. The Lady Trojans are struggling to fill the void left by All-Region selection Jaquayla Berry. The obstacles are too numerous to list, but Vaneeshia and her leadership abilities have provided some much-needed stability for the Lady Trojans. “She’s kept her head up and kept playing. She’s always watching film and breaking down her performance. Vaneeshia is a real student of the game, and she has great basketball knowledge,” says Coach Lingenfelter.

Vaneeshia is driven by a goal she’s had since her freshman year: playing college basketball. “She will play in college, either as a point guard or a shooting guard. I’ve known that since she was in the ninth grade,” says Coach Lingenfelter. If Vaneeshia had it her way, she would attend school in the Atlanta area. She is, however, holding out for a basketball scholarship. “Her size would keep her from playing at a big school, but there’s no question that she could do very well at a smaller school,” says her coach. Right now, one college has come to the table – Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, Alabama. “I’m interested in Chattahoochee Valley, but I’d like to wait a little while before I sign,” says Vaneeshia.

She has a laundry list of awards, going back to her ninth grade season. Vaneeshia won Most Charges Taken and Most Improved as a freshman. The following year, she won Most Assists and the Captains’ Award, and was also named All-Region (Second Team). As a junior, she took Most Assists and was named Second Team All-Region once again. Since the 2009-2010 season isn’t over yet, the jury is still out as to what exactly she will bring home this year. However, she was named Most Athletic and made the Homecoming court.

Wherever she decides to go, Vaneeshia certainly won’t have any trouble getting accepted − her cumulative GPA is a little over 3.7. Vaneeshia knows she has to make good grades to stay eligible for basketball and has always done what she had to do in the classroom. “It started in middle school. I had to pass to be able to play, and the same was true in high school. Coach Lingenfelter is pretty tough on us about our grades,” she says. In addition to the athletic awards mentioned above, Vaneeshia has also won the Academic Award for the Lady Trojans each of her previous three years and appears poised to make it four years in a row. “I’ve never had to worry about her grades. She’s been no trouble at all in school,” says Coach Lingenfelter.

Vaneeshia lists math as her favorite subject, and her favorite teacher is Tina Cravey. She is considering several different careers, all of them in the medical field. Tops on the list is physical therapy, followed by nursing. Vaneeshia has experience assisting with infirmed relatives, and she enjoys helping others. “I just like taking care of people,” she says.

Vaneeshia has had a lot of fun playing basketball. Her love for the game has not diminished at all since she was in elementary school. There are few places she would rather be than on the basketball court running the show. But basketball has been more to her than just a fun activity. She’s learned the value of hard work, discipline and overcoming obstacles. Most of all, basketball has taught her teamwork and communication skills. “I’ve learned how to communicate with others, and I’ve learned to be a leader,” Vaneeshia says as she reflects on her career.

Coach Lingenfelter feels fortunate to have had her the last four years. “She’s a fantastic player and great person. I just can’t say enough good things about her,” she says. •