SMU Recruit/Brittany Gilliam
Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 2:33 pmJOHN TYLER'S GILLIAM
VOTED ALL-ET MVP
By: HAROLD WILSON, Staff Writer April 22, 2005
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If nothing else, Brittany Gilliam knows about transition, and in more ways than one.
All season long, Gilliam excelled in the transition and halfcourt games like few others. But she did so while the John Tyler Lady Lions, rated one of the nation's best in 2004, endured a tough transition with her as the lone returning starter this past season.
Still, Gilliam, by putting up a collection of performances not to be ignored, in turn completed another transition from former All-East Texas Newcomer of the Year and first team member to the 2005 Girls' Most Valuable Player.
As a senior, the 5-11 Gilliam averaged 23.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.2 steals and 4.5 assists per game. She shot nearly 71 percent from the free throw line and 47 percent from the field. She scored 38 and 33 points in two district games, despite defenses collapsing on her.
"Starting in the second half of district play, teams started really focusing on me," said Gilliam, also selected to the TABC all-state team and as District 12-5A MVP. "But in a way, I liked it. It made me play harder."
Gilliam garnered the prized award over a field that included, among others, Winnsboro's Whitney Huffman, who helped the Lady Raiders reach the Class 3A state semifinals. Huffman earned a spot on the first team, along with Brownsboro's Shay Bowman, Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill's Kyla Turner and Nacogdoches' Eren McMichael.
Even though her team missed the postseason, Gilliam goes out a winner, having helped JT go 87-17 during her three varsity seasons.
"I had a good time at John Tyler," Gilliam said. "Some people think it's a bad school, but we have great athletes here."
As a sophomore, Gilliam burst onto the scene as she gained All-ET Newcomer honors. A year ago, she played a complimentary role, albeit a big one, to former teammate and 2004 All-ET MVP A'Quonesia Franklin. Gilliam garnered a spot alongside Franklin on the 2004 first team, vowing to keep the superlative in the Lions Den the next year.
As if she needed extra motivation, Franklin, who just completed her freshman season at Texas A&M, hinted to Gilliam she wanted the MVP award to stay at JT another year.
"She told me that I better get the award," said Gilliam about her former teammate. "Seeing her do it last year just made me want to do the same."
While dealing with Franklin comparisons, not to mention constant double and triple teams, Gilliam nonetheless prospered. She displayed the total package, playing all five positions and scoring inside, outside and on the fastbreak. Gilliam notched a triple-double during the preseason. Later in non-district, he nearly achieved the dubious quadruple-double when he totaled 22 points, nine steals, eight rebounds and six assists in a rout of White Oak before being pulled out late in the third period.
Prior to her senior season, Gilliam honed her game in AAU competition with Team Texas Express, which claimed the national 17 and under girls' championship. Her stock soared following the summer, leading to her signing to play at Southern Methodist.
Although the season ended on a premature note, being tabbed the area's best before making another transition to the collegiate game made amends.
"She deserves it with the type of season she had this year for us," said JT girls' head coach Kenneth Bickham. "Even though we didn't make the playoffs, we still won 24 games and most were on the account of her. You say one player can't win a game, but many times this year she stepped up and won games for us. I've never seen a box-in-one used so much in all my years of coaching. It says a lot about her."
.
VOTED ALL-ET MVP
By: HAROLD WILSON, Staff Writer April 22, 2005
Email to a friend Voice your opinion
If nothing else, Brittany Gilliam knows about transition, and in more ways than one.
All season long, Gilliam excelled in the transition and halfcourt games like few others. But she did so while the John Tyler Lady Lions, rated one of the nation's best in 2004, endured a tough transition with her as the lone returning starter this past season.
Still, Gilliam, by putting up a collection of performances not to be ignored, in turn completed another transition from former All-East Texas Newcomer of the Year and first team member to the 2005 Girls' Most Valuable Player.
As a senior, the 5-11 Gilliam averaged 23.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.2 steals and 4.5 assists per game. She shot nearly 71 percent from the free throw line and 47 percent from the field. She scored 38 and 33 points in two district games, despite defenses collapsing on her.
"Starting in the second half of district play, teams started really focusing on me," said Gilliam, also selected to the TABC all-state team and as District 12-5A MVP. "But in a way, I liked it. It made me play harder."
Gilliam garnered the prized award over a field that included, among others, Winnsboro's Whitney Huffman, who helped the Lady Raiders reach the Class 3A state semifinals. Huffman earned a spot on the first team, along with Brownsboro's Shay Bowman, Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill's Kyla Turner and Nacogdoches' Eren McMichael.
Even though her team missed the postseason, Gilliam goes out a winner, having helped JT go 87-17 during her three varsity seasons.
"I had a good time at John Tyler," Gilliam said. "Some people think it's a bad school, but we have great athletes here."
As a sophomore, Gilliam burst onto the scene as she gained All-ET Newcomer honors. A year ago, she played a complimentary role, albeit a big one, to former teammate and 2004 All-ET MVP A'Quonesia Franklin. Gilliam garnered a spot alongside Franklin on the 2004 first team, vowing to keep the superlative in the Lions Den the next year.
As if she needed extra motivation, Franklin, who just completed her freshman season at Texas A&M, hinted to Gilliam she wanted the MVP award to stay at JT another year.
"She told me that I better get the award," said Gilliam about her former teammate. "Seeing her do it last year just made me want to do the same."
While dealing with Franklin comparisons, not to mention constant double and triple teams, Gilliam nonetheless prospered. She displayed the total package, playing all five positions and scoring inside, outside and on the fastbreak. Gilliam notched a triple-double during the preseason. Later in non-district, he nearly achieved the dubious quadruple-double when he totaled 22 points, nine steals, eight rebounds and six assists in a rout of White Oak before being pulled out late in the third period.
Prior to her senior season, Gilliam honed her game in AAU competition with Team Texas Express, which claimed the national 17 and under girls' championship. Her stock soared following the summer, leading to her signing to play at Southern Methodist.
Although the season ended on a premature note, being tabbed the area's best before making another transition to the collegiate game made amends.
"She deserves it with the type of season she had this year for us," said JT girls' head coach Kenneth Bickham. "Even though we didn't make the playoffs, we still won 24 games and most were on the account of her. You say one player can't win a game, but many times this year she stepped up and won games for us. I've never seen a box-in-one used so much in all my years of coaching. It says a lot about her."
.