BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor and Contributing Writer
Feature Photograph: Brailey Major surrounded by family and coaches, signs a women’s basketball scholarship with Centenary University. (Photograph by Freddie Herpin.)
Brailey Major was prepared to enroll as a freshman at McNeese State or UL-Lafayette until the sudden chance to play college basketball changed that decision.
Major, an Opelousas Catholic graduate who established herself as one of the school’s most prolific career scorers, has a late opportunity to fulfill a goal that she wondered might never be fulfilled.
I guess you could say that at the last moment I’m now going to continue my career. I had always waited for that day to happen. It’s a surprise, but I decided this is a chance I didn’t want to pass up,” said Major, who has also become at St. Landry Now Athlete of The Week.
Major plans to attend college now at Centenary in Shreveport, where the coaches at the school expect her to play in the backcourt.
The transition shouldn’t be too difficult, since Major played guard positions for the Vikings throughout her high school career, scoring 1,302 points.Major said the route from that of a regular college student to a next-level basketball player came earlier this month when she participated in an all-star game.
“I think that’s what got the coaches thinking about signing me. I had a pretty good game and I showed what I can do. It was that type of game, where you get to display your talent,” Major said.
On Friday Major appeared with her family and members of the OCS coaching staff for a brief signing ceremony in the school gym.Major’s sister, Brittany Major, who scored 1,701 points at OCS, said she isn’t surprised Brailey eventually received a scholarship.
“I know she has worked real hard all during her career to get where she is now. (Brailey) is the type of player who is going to put her whole heart into what she does. She’s shown what she can do with her ball handling and scoring. Also she is good defensively,” Brittany Major said.
Brittany Major attended the recent all-star game where her sister’s performance on the court attracted the attention of college coaches.“I think they saw people on defense who were having trouble controlling her. The college scouts were there to watch people play who might have needed another opportunity to show what they can do,” said Brittany Major.
OCS girls’ basketball coach Connie Thierry said Brailey Major deserves a chance to play at another level.
“Brailey is really hard working and dedicated. This (scholarship) came at the last minute, but Brailey has put in a lot of hard work into her game. I was always hoping that someone would realize that and give her a chance to play in college,” Thierry said.
