Maddie Dorris never thought her basketball career would land her in West Texas.
Having attended a 6A high school in Weatherford for four years, Dorris never thought she would be a member of the South Plains College women’s basketball team.
Before attending SPC in the fall of 2016, Dorris thought she would be going to a university instead of a two-year college.
“My junior year of high school,” says Dorris,” “there were some people who talked to me about going to play basketball.”
According to Dorris, when being recruited, your junior summer when you play basketball is when many colleges start talking to you and recruiting you.
“As senior year came around,” explains Dorris,” I wasn’t getting the calls anymore, or the texts, or letters. I was thinking, ‘Man, if I’m not getting the attention anymore, then basketball might be over for me if nobody is offering it to me.’ Junior college never crossed my mind, and we even have a junior college back home. So, it’s not like I didn’t know about them. It was just something I didn’t want to do.”
According to Dorris, her senior year was when she spoke to Cayla Petree, head women’s basketball coach at SPC.
“She was asking me to come up for a visit,” says Dorris. “I thought, ‘Maybe I didn’t want to go JUCO. That wasn’t going to be for me.’ But I came up here, met coach and she had faith in me that I was going to be a good player. Seeing how dedicated Coach Brock Kimball was and everyone being so nice, the decision was easy after that. I ended up loving it here. I said this to everyone, but the people in West Texas are the nicest people you’ll ever meet.”
Dorris has been around sports most of her life. When she was growing up with her two older siblings, her parents tried to keep them out of the house.
“I grew up playing all the sports,” says Dorris. “I played soccer, volleyball, swim team, anything with a ball. But basketball just had this thing for me. It’s always been a thing for me. I think it’s because of the physicality of it. I think it got my aggression out. You know when your brother or sister annoys you? I played three years of varsity volleyball, track, but basketball has always had my attention.”
Dorris always played the post position when playing basketball, and she plays the same position for the Lady Texans.
“It’s like you always get into a little fight whenever you’re playing the position,” says Dorris.
Dorris is the only sophomore playing this season on the women’s basketball team. She explains that it’s different from last year coming in as a freshman.
“Coming into this year as a sophomore,” says Dorris, “I didn’t know how it was going to be. There is a lot of youthful energy in the locker room. Everyone is excited to be there. I tried to take a leadership role and show them the ropes, because I know being a freshman is really taxing. We have to get up and have 6 a.m. practices every morning. It’s exhausting. I try to be there not only on the court, but off the court to just say it’s going to be OK. I’ve stepped up and hopefully been the person I need to be for them.”
Dorris is majoring in kinesiology, which is the study of the human body. She plans to become an occupational therapist.
“It’s like physical therapy, but you teach life skills,” explains Dorris. “So, if someone had a stroke, you would reteach them how to use that side of their body, or kids with special needs and you help them with fine motor skills. And my mom was a special ed teacher. So, I’ve been around kids. I’ve always enjoyed kids. I want to help people. I think that’s something I will really enjoy.”
Dorris plans to graduate in the spring of 2018, though she doesn’t have any other plans for her future yet.
“We’re going to see how this season goes to see where I’m going after that,” explains Dorris. “Let’s see if I get any offers.”
PHOTO BY: AUTUMN BIPPERT
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