River States Conference

The price of admission is talent and sweating through hard work, but residency in this exclusive club is permanent and the Eagles' Ashley Parker (Midway, FL/Amos P. Godby H.S.) has taken her place in the basketball record books among the most prolific scorers in Midway College history. With a layup in a win over Transylvania University on November 17, Parker became only the eighth player in team history to surpass the 1,000 point mark. Parker, however, is no stranger to record-setting performances. As the school's all-time leading rebounder, and approaching 1,100 for her career, Parker is the only player to have surpassed 850. Jill Potts, an Eagle from 1993-1997 hauled in 836 boards in her playing career and is second on the list. Ashley currently ranks third in career field goals made (414), second to former Eagle standout Natalie Dial (2002-2006) in career field goal percentage (48.6%) and fifth in career steals (192). "She's a major part of this team. She's a leader for us and she's definitely a player to watch" said Eagles' Head Coach Timothy Southers, who has known Ashley since she was in high school and played on a team he coached at a summer tournament. "I met Coach Southers at a National Tournament and we kept in contact. He kept telling me about the college, the team and really emphasized the family atmosphere," she explained. "Coach Southers is definitely the reason I came to school here!" A native of Midway, Florida, Ashley is a 2004 graduate of Amos P. Godby High School in Tallahassee, Florida where she was a huge success on the court, scoring over 1,000 points and putting herself atop the Lady Cougars' all-time rebounding list. She says her key to success has been giving 110% everyday.

Her basketball idol growing up, Shaquille O-Neal, would be pleased that Parker, commonly known as "AP" around campus, has taken on his demeanor of dominating play inside and working hard to improve her game. Parker admits though, that after she graduates, she would prefer to be remembered not as an opposing coach's nightmare or a terror in the paint for opponents, but as someone who's happy, outgoing and always positive. "AP is someone that we can all identify with. What she's been able to do isn't easy, but she is so tough and she just works and battles and she's focused on being a team player" said Coach Southers.