MADISON- Saying this was a “dream come true,” Tamia Yancey signed her name to an athletic scholarship to play college basketball at Wallace State Community College.

“I chose Wallace State from three offers I received and I’m excited to live my dream of playing at the next level,” said Yancey, who will carry at 3.23 grade point average to the classroom where she looks to earn a degree in maintenance engineering.

The 5-foot-10, 168-pound Yancey is the daughter of Troya Powers and Shawn Murphy. Along with her two siblings, Yancey and her mother moved to Madison from Ohio six years ago. She was a self-described short basketball player who took up the game at age five, but once arriving to the Tennessee Valley began to grow physically and emotionally as a young girl.

“I had coaches in Ohio always tell me to play the sport and enjoy myself doing so,” said Yancey. “Those coaches inspired me to keep going and not give up. Growing up I tried soccer and track, but those didn’t work out so I stayed with basketball and grew as a player and young woman.”

For the just completed season, Yancey averaged 8.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per outing. The All-Area selection star player was, according to James Clemens head coach, Capriee Tucker, “Lean, super athlete who played multiple positions and was a duel threat. She was our best athlete.”

Five years ago Yancey wasn’t sure her basketball career could continue after undergoing knee surgery, but her determination helped her make the move back to the court. “It was a grinding effort for me to get back and it took 18 months before I could,” said Yancey. “The total experience made me a better person and player.”