By Kyle LoJacono
Land O’ Lakes girls basketball player Shanel Sweet hoped to play in college and her fantasy became reality April 13.
That is when the point guard signed her letter of intent to play at Queens University of Charlotte, a Division II program in North Carolina
“It’s always been my dream,” Sweet said. “It’s overwhelming. … I went to visit a lot of schools, but when I went there I loved the community. Then when I started to get to know some of the players, and when we played a couple pickup games, we worked like we’d been teammates for years.”
Sweet’s basketball journey began at age 8 when her uncle Kelly McClellan introduced her to the sport. She played basketball at Gaither for three years before her family moved into Pasco County.
In her only season as a Gator she posted a team-high 18.4 points per game and 132 assists, while adding 91 steals and 57 rebounds. Land O’ Lakes went 24-3 and reached the Class 4A regional finals for the first time in program history. She never experienced a winning season or victory in a basketball district tournament while at Gaither.
“It’s been a long journey,” Sweet said. “When I came here I wasn’t expecting this. I was expecting us to just be ok again. When we started practicing, I knew we’d be really good.”
First-year Gators coach Laurie Fitzpatrick said Sweet added more than just stats.
“It took the whole team to get where we got, but she was our leader,” Fitzpatrick said. “She got everyone involved in the game and always gave everything she had. Every game she’d pick the team up.”
Fitzpatrick then added about Sweet signing, “She wanted this and this is her opportunity. We’re going to miss her. She’s worked very hard and has truly earned this.”
Sweet plans to study business, but is not sure what career to pursue. For now, she is just enjoying the chance to continue playing basketball.
“I’m relieved,” Sweet said. “Just knowing where I’m going for the next four years. It’s lessening the stress I’ve had the last year about what I’m going to do, where I’m going to go and if I’m even going to play basketball. I’m blessed to be able to go there on a full-ride (scholarship) and play basketball.”
–All stats as recorded by Maxpreps.com by coaches.
