Abi Oates’ legacy: A track record of success on the court
Photo courtesy of Abi Oates
Jesus Arce, Staff Writer
Abi Oates is a senior basketball player here at North Greenville. Her records have raised the school’s name in any of the areas an athlete could reach. Her commitment to the game and her influence on the court have left a mark.
To understand the reason for Oates’ success, we have to go back to her childhood, which was marked by the influence of her family.
“I’ve been playing since I was five or six years old. My dad was a basketball player, so I grew up with that,” Oates said.
This early influence in her life marked her development through her passion for the game, which would end up making her a high impact player for the university’s women’s team.
“I was thinking of playing basketball in a committed way in my time in high school, and that’s when I got more involved in the game,” Oates said.
This made her realize she should play in college, where Oates chose to play for the Crusaders because of coach Kelvin Long, who has been a significant influence on her. According to her, she felt that God was calling her to stay here, where she has played four seasons to date.
Oates describes that her time at North Greenville has been a learning experience. Her gratitude for the good and difficult things was her approach to her experiences, because that has made her a better person.
“I’ve become the person I am today, so I wouldn’t change a thing about it,” Oates said.
Due to the experience and hard work Oates acquired these four years, she has big plans for the future. Among these plans, the fact that there is a possibility that she would return to play one more year for the basketball team stands out.
“I’m excited, and I have an opportunity. So I want to take it and get the most out of it. I plan to practice and work hard during the off-season so I can prepare. Because I hope this year will be the best one yet,” Oates said.
This has been a surprise for many fans of this sport, including Long, who describes his player as a fundamental piece of his game plan.
“She’s an elite shooter, and she’s the kind of athlete that gets into the gym. She works hard, she works at our craft and she is a girl who will spend time improving. She’s going to sharpen our sword. She’s an elite teammate,” Long said.
Long not only refers to her player as a great player but also as an excellent person, which has left a mark on the people around the basketball program.
“If I could describe her, she has a big heart and a big smile. She loves people. She will do anything to help anyone. She has been great for our program. It’s a joy to be with Abi. I wish we could get many more players like this,” said Long.
Long wanted to leave a few words for his player, who has been with the coach in the good and bad moments of the program, which has generated memories that will remain for years to come.
He said, “I wish her nothing but greatness, and she is going to achieve it. It’s just a matter of time for her because she’s going to find a way to be great in everything she does. Greatness is written all over it.”
