Ayano Shelton '16 Recruiting Profile

I am originally from Okinawa, Japan but I live in Mount Airy, North Carolina. I have been playing basketball since I was 7 years old. Ever since I began playing AAU, I knew that in the future I wanted to play at the collegiate level. I began pushing myself on the court to reach my full potential while balancing the most important things in my life which are God, family and school.

I am an active member of my church's youth group and enjoy helping out with activities such as service projects. My favorite bible verse is "Humble yourselves before the lord and he will lift you up"- James 4:10. I love that verse because it displays the principles that I have chosen to live by.

My family has been there for me every step of the way and I am thankful to have them by my side. They have motivated me and given me the best opportunities to do what I love.

I think that I have the determination and willingness to work hard which is needed to pursue this dream. I am a well-rounded player that possesses the ball handling skills and court awareness to run the offense and score based on what the defense gives me. I also have the height to post up small forwards and smaller guards if needed and score from inside the lane. Teamwork is a key ingredient for every good team but a good team also needs a leader. Leaders can lead their team on the court by giving guidance and also leading by example. I believe that by being vocal and working as hard as I can in everything that I do, I set a good example for others and inspire my teammates to do the same so that our team can be successful.

Academics play a big part in my life and I work just as hard at my studies as I do in the gym. My goal is to graduate with honors. I take honors and AP classes while still maintaining a high GPA.

During the Summer I spend my time mainly in gyms working on my game, playing in AAU tournaments and teaching at basketball camps for kids that range from third grade up to rising ninth graders. This not only helps the kids but it helps me improve my understanding of the game by being able to teach it to others. I also enjoy sharing my knowledge and passion for the game with others.

Playing college level basketball would be a fantastic opportunity and I would be very fortunate to be part of something that I have worked my whole life to achieve.