Humboldt native and Iola High basketball standout Gabi Sharp signed her national letter of intent to play basketball at Friends University in Wichita next year.
Sharp played her senior season of basketball on the Iola JV team. She was homeschooled before that.
Sharp said that adjusting to public school and participating on the basketball team was a challenge that came with many rewards.
“I’ve grown up here but I haven’t gone to public school until this year so a lot of the people I met here I didn’t know until last August,” said Sharp. “Everyone welcomed me so well and were so kind and wanted to make me feel like part of the community here. I’ll really miss the little taste of the community I got here but I’m excited to start college.”
Sharp brought her talents to Iola when she realized her basketball skills could be a step to college. Through long hours of practicing and committing to the court, Sharp made a name for herself.
By practicing and playing with the JV Mustangs, Sharp was able to expand her game and work on live situations. The lone season on JV was valuable for Sharp, but she knows that college basketball will be the real deal.
“It wasn’t until my junior year that I was improving and I thought that with hard work and dedication I could go play somewhere,” said Sharp. “I’ve kind of had a rocky road with playing high school basketball and I needed to keep playing.”
Sharp said that her older sister, Danielle, who played basketball for Neosho County Community College, serves as an inspiration to dedicate herself to the sport.
“I’m not the most athletic or the most talented but I’m going to work harder than anyone else on the court,” Sharp said. “I think that’s what sets me apart as an individual. I’m going to do whatever it takes to become better. As long as I continue to grow, I’m satisfied with that.”
“My hard work and hustle is definitely going to translate,” Sharp said. “I’ve also been told I’m a coachable player and I want to continue to utilize that as a strength. I’ve been working a lot on my mid-range and three-point shots.”
Sharp said the short period she’s been at Iola High School, both in the classroom and on the court, will stay with her forever.
“I’m very sad to be leaving this place. I loved practices, I loved games, the time that all of us girls got together, I’ll miss it a lot,” said Sharp. “I just hope I can continue those relationships after high school.”
