Gardner – Hannah Perdue’s new home away from home won’t be far from home at all.
Thursday morning at PikeView High School, surrounded by coaches, teammates and family, the all-state guard signed her National Letter of Intent to play college basketball at Concord University.
The decision was an easy one for Perdue who gets to remain close to her family, specifically her sister. She’s also already built a rapport with many of the program’s players. As an underclassmen she played against future teammates Jaisah Smith (Bluefield) and Jazz Blankenship (Wyoming East) and had already formed a bond with current Concord point guard Maddie Ratcliff.
She also have Kenzie Shrewberry, a PikeView alum that she played with previously.
“Honestly when I first went there on a visit those coaches and those girls made me feel like family,” Perdue said. “I like how their program’s ran. I always talk to those girls. Maddie Ratcliff, Kenzie Shrewsbury, Jazz and Jaisah – I talk to all of those girls. They always make me feel really good about myself and I think I have team chemistry with them. That was big thing.”
Perdue is undecided in what she wants to study, though Social Work and Athletic Training are both on the table.
“I was leaning towards athletic training because after my four years of basketball I don’t want to just give up on sports. I’ve been leaning some towards social work but haven’t decided yet,” she said.
Perdue’s current coach, Tracy Raban, has been in Perdue’s shoes. A part of the historic Mercer Christian girls basketball run from the late ’90s to the early 2000s, Raban played her college ball at Glenville State. She’s seen exactly what it takes to play at the next level and has no doubts about Perdue’s ability to excel.
“They’re getting a special kid all around,” Raban said. “She’s a good kid that’s got a good heart, so they’ve got a special diamond. I told my dad when I came in here, and I think this is my 14th year coaching, but I said ‘This is the first kid I’ve had sign somewhere to go play basketball.’ There’s no better person to do it. She’s a special athlete and I’d venture out to say she’s the best athlete I’ve coached in my 14 years. No doubt.”
Perdue, who averaged over 25 points per game while leading the Panthers to their second consecutive state tournament berth last season, was a first-team all-state selection last year. As a result she’s seen numerous defensive looks thrown her way to neutralize her impact on the game.
It’s made her a more well-rounded leader and prepared her for the next level of play. She’s been able to help her team aside from filling the scoring column.
“Honestly I expected that from last year to this year,” Perdue said. “I expected teams to pick up defense on me, but I have four other players I also depend on and they do a great job as well. When they see I’m struggling they’re there. Everyone looks at me as a leader but they’re leaders too because when I’m not there they’re there to do it.”
Given Raban’s experience in the former West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, now the Mountain East Conference, she knows what to expect and has been able to prepare Perdue as she continues her career beyond this season, offering advice along the way.
“I’ve been trying to tell her what to prepare for,” Raban said. “Her big obstacle will be getting in the weight room. Skill-wise she’s right where she needs to be and she’ll fit right in with them. I think if there’s any weakness it’s just her strength and getting in the weight room. Hopefully she’ll get in the weight room with us in the offseason and be ahead of where she needs to be when she starts in the fall.”
Perdue concurs with her coach. Her strength is an area she wants to improve on before next season.
“I definitely need to get in the weight room,” Perdue laughed. “I need to be stronger. Speed definitely is a big thing and I need to work on my defense.”
Email: tylerjackson@lootpress.com and follow on Twitter @tjack94
