Lady Vol commitment an all-around player

ALCOA — One way or another, Shekinna Stricklen will find a way to impact a basketball game.

Such was the case Monday for the University of Tennessee women’s basketball commitment in the AAU Junior Olympics basketball tournament.

Although the shots weren’t dropping for the long and lean 6-foot-2 standout from Morrilton (Ark.) High School, Stricklen snatched 16 rebounds and handed out five assists to lead the Arkansas Mavericks to an 83-71 win over the North Carolina Force in the 16-under tournament.

Stricklen, despite a 6-for-16 performance from the field, added a quiet 17 points as the Mavericks won their fifth game in as many tries in the tournament.

Mavericks coach Benny Brown said Stricklen is well known for her all-around game — like the one she showed off Monday at Alcoa High School.

“The best thing about her is she can do it all,” said Brown.

Stricklen, who averaged 26 points and 10 rebounds as a junior at Morrilton, displayed her versatility against the Force.

She played inside, brought the ball up the court and broke down the North Carolina team’s defense on several occasions with the high-post pass.

“We play her as a shooting guard most of the time,” Brown said.

“She can stay outside and hit the three or go to the basket off the dribble. When we put her inside, she either puts it in the basketball or kicks it back outside.

“The best thing about her is she’s so unselfish,” he said. “She just has that gift of knowing what it takes to win.”

Brown said without question that Stricklen’s best asset is her relentless rebounding.

“I’ve coached basketball for 28 years and she is by far the best rebounder I’ve ever coached.”

Stricklen, who said she picked Tennessee over Baylor, Arkansas and Georgia, racked up numerous awards as a junior.

She scored 30 points, grabbed 16 rebounds, handed out four assists and blocked four shots in last season’s Class 4A Arkansas state championship game. Stricklen was named a third-team Parade All-American.

Given her love of the up-and-down style of basketball, Stricklen said the Lady Vols were an obvious choice.

“I really like how they push it, run and go with the fast-paced game,” said Stricklen, who committed to the Lady Vols in June.

While she is the star of the Mavericks, the Arkansas squad is by no means a one-player team.

Guard Julie Inman, who will be a senior at Carlisle, Ark., next season, is headed to the University of Arkansas on a basketball scholarship. Inman scored 12 points for the Mavericks on Monday.

Point guard Meoshia Bradley also is drawing a lot of college interest. The Pine Bluff-Dollarway product is being evaluated by Arkansas, Texas A&M and TCU among others, Brown said.

Opening Ceremonies: A torch-lighting ceremony was held Monday night at Chilhowee Park.

The ceremony is conducted near the middle of competition in order to have the largest number of athletes in town.