Anissa Spurlock '24 Recruiting Profile

My Christian faith is important to me and what I’d like to accomplish in my life.  I hope to continue combining my love for basketball and my love for God in order to fulfill the plans God has for my life.  As a student-athlete, I’d like to major in sports broadcasting or marine biology in college.  After college, I’d love to play in a women’s league abroad or pursue opportunities in my major while participating in part-time ministry.  I love the example of Nick Foles in the NFL.  In the past and when he was not playing football during the season, he was involved in full-time ministry as a youth pastor at his congregation.  Similar to him, I am hopeful that the basketball skills I acquire from collegiate-level play combined with the relationships I develop will help me to eventually plant and pastor a church.  One of the ministries and programming that I’d like to develop in a congregation is a sports program where individuals of all ages can maximize their physical fitness as well as meeting their spiritual needs.

I have been playing basketball since I was three and played on my first school team in kindergarten.   One of the things that I enjoy most about playing on a team and that I think makes me different from other recruits is that I tend to learn the most about myself as a player when I’m playing with others.   So far, each of my coaches has always pushed me to my fullest.  He or she has believed in me, even when sometimes I have struggled to believe in myself.  I love the relationships that I have with my teammates, on and off the court.  We do our best to support each other and learn each other’s strengths/weaknesses.  These experiences help me to improve certain aspects of my game.  I also learn how to play more holistically and competitively in games from these experiences.  The feedback and perspective provided by my coaches and teammates helps me to become more motivated and to have more faith in myself.