Following a strong career with the E-gals, Shelbie Beatty is ready to play college basketball after signing with Campbellsville University.
Beatty was a key part in Apollo’s successful postseason run, helping them reach the 3rd Region Semifinal after a tough regular season. She was the second-leading scorer on the team, averaging 13.8 ppg while also averaging 4.6 rpg.
Beatty said that the recruitment process is not easy at all and that she’s glad the ups and downs and unknowns are behind her.
“There’s doubts, questions, what if’s but on the other hand it’s one of the best things you can experience in your life,” Beatty said. “Going on visits, meeting teams and coaches, touring campuses is something I’ll never forget. Now that my recruitment process is over it’s definitely a huge relief because I found my home for the next four years of my life.”
And now that the process is over, Beatty is thrilled and it is still setting in that she will be joining the program that she donned her dream school.
“I’ll never forget the day I received an email back from the assistant coach Miranda Denney,” Beatty said. “I was literally on cloud nine. I texted my mom and asked if I was reading the email right because I was in complete shock. After talking to the coaches more and finally visiting the school I got that feeling that this is where I needed to be because it checked all of my boxes and it was a top school for me.”
Campbellsville has found plenty of success in recent years, having won their conference, reaching the Sweet 16 in the national tournament and finishing as fifth in the nation as well.
“Coach Colvin and Coach Denney are doing great things for the program and have taken them to another level. After talking to the coaches and learning more about the team and the program they’re very serious whenever it comes to basketball but they’re also serious about being a family and I want to be surrounded by that. I feel the things I can learn from them will further my skill set to gain experience that will push me to my fullest potential. The visit went amazing, I love the coaches, I love the team, everything about the program is what I was looking for.”
While playing basketball Beatty plans on studying sports management in hopes of one day coaching or running her own AAU organization and events.
With the future inching closer and her high school career coming to a close, Beatty said that the time she had at Apollo made a huge impact on her life. The talented guard said she will always remember the memories and friends she has made along the way.
“The relationships I built with my teammates and coaches while at Apollo is what I’m probably going to miss the most because they became my second family and it’s hard leaving family behind,” Beatty said. “Me and Coach Payne’s relationship will be another thing I’m going to miss because she was there for me not just with basketball, but in life. She was the reason I got through school days or practices because the energy she brings to the table everyday is just something everyone should be surrounded by. The friendships I made over my four years at Apollo and the support that’s grown for me because of the students and staff at Apollo is something I’m forever grateful for and will miss as I move onto Campbellsville.”
