Ella Merriman '26 Recruiting Profile

God is the most important part of my life. He is with me in every aspect of my life, from family to school to basketball. He has blessed me with the love of the game, which is the reason I work hard every day to get better. Not only has He blessed me with the ability to play basketball, but He has also given me the ability to be a good student as well. He has given me everything I have in life, and one of the reasons I play is to show people that God gives everyone a purpose, and He has a plan for everyone. I am out there to have fun, play the sport I love, and shine God’s light. 

Basketball has always been my number one sport, ever since I was younger. I love the team aspect of it, as well as all of the hustle and hard work that goes into it. I think the grind is honestly one of my favorite parts about the sport. When I was in third grade, I started playing organized basketball. Once I hit sixth grade, I started playing on both a traveling team and my school’s middle school team. Then, in eighth-grade, I was blessed with the opportunity to compete at the varsity level for my school. That was a really fun experience for me, and I learned a lot from the season. Since then, I’ve played at the varsity level, working hard to reach my dream of college basketball. 

Even though basketball is important to me, I believe in academics over sports. Right now, I want to major in communication and specialize in sports management.  I want to go to a college that has a very strong basketball program, but also an excellent academic program. 

My ultimate goal is to use my experiences with both athletics and academics to inspire the next generation of young women to achieve their own dreams. I want to show people that you can be smart and athletic at the same time. I know that my basketball journey into the collegiate level will help me accomplish that goal.