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Ashton Judd can handle just about anything on the basketball court.
The West Plains senior earned Class Five All-State honors last year and helped the Lady Zizzers reach the state title game.
However, the recruiting process can be a little difficult, even for her.
“It’s been kind of overwhelming,” Ashton said.
She has become a popular contact for college coaches after recently winning a tournament championship with her summer team.
“It all happened in a day, and it was a lot. I had probably 10 to 15 calls that day so I was on the phone all day,” Ashton said with a smile.
She received six college offers in a 23 hour period, including one from a Missouri State conference foe – Illinois State.
“As a kid, you dream about going to play for a Division I school or Division II school,” Ashton said. “It’s cool to see it come to life.”
By now, she has received 12 offers in total.
The list includes schools as close as Drury and others as far away as UC-Davis in California and Providence College in Rhode Island.
“My mom really doesn’t want me to go too far so places like Providence and UC Davis she would bawl her eyes out,” Ashton joked.
Luckily, she has plenty of guidance on her upcoming decision as both her parents played college sports.
Her dad Eric played on the 1998-99 Missouri State Sweet 16 basketball team.
“My dad, going through that same process, he said ‘no matter where you go, you’re not going to be able to come home too much, so go out and enjoy the process and go where you think you will fit in and go where you genuinely want to go and enjoy the college experience’,” Ashton said.
As for a timeframe, Ashton says she wants to commit before her senior season.
That way, she can focus on the Lady Zizzers and their lofty goals.
“We want to state last year for the first time since ‘98 so I think about that next year and trying to get back,” she said.
With Ashton leading the way, West Plains may have as good a chance as ever.
