Botetourt, Va. native Kate Spradlin is a redshirt freshman on Longwood’s women's basketball team, and has gone on a rollercoaster journey from high school to her current role as a key starter for the Lancers.
Spradlin is well known by her teammates for being unselfish, caring, passionate. However, most important to her is her constant work ethic.
“I think the only thing I would take out of it is my work ethic. That’s one thing that if people noticed me for anything, I would want it to be that,” said Spradlin.
Spradlin was a high school standout at Lord Botetourt High School, averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in her senior year. She was a team captain, a team MVP, a conference player of the year, a two-time first-team all-district and first-team all-conference following her senior year.
But she didn’t receive any Division I scholarship offers after high school due to a late start to recruitment as well as the small size of the conference she played in, according to Spradlin.
“I was looking for them, and I wanted to play at a high level. I had some Division II offers, but I really wanted to challenge myself and prove to myself that I could do it.”
Spradlin’s confidence and motivation kept her from settling for the Division II offers.
“I knew other people going to play Division II, and it was a personal thing because I knew I could do better. So, I wanted to play at a higher level.”
Now the Lancers’ third-highest scorer, Spradlin added, “It’s been a long journey, but at the same time it feels like it’s gone by so fast that you have to look back at it and see that it is a little impressive.”
Majoring in business, Spradlin graduated high school with a 4.2 GPA and last year earned a perfect 4.0.
She wants to take continue on the business path upon graduation, saying, “My mom is a financial adviser, and I think I want do that or be a stockbroker.”
