Dionne Dotson selects Clinton JUCO

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne graduate Dionne Dotson recently committed to play basketball for Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill, SC.

Dotson, a point guard, was impressed by the family atmosphere at the JUCO school.

"Coach (Roderick) Woods is a cool guy. He showed me a lot of love when I went down there," Dotson said. "I met some of the girls. They seem real cool."

Dotson said she was offered a scholarship by Division II Livingstone College, but turned it down after visiting Clinton. She likes the options going to a JUCO will offer following completion of her two-year degree.

"I went to the campus (at Livingstone) and worked out, and a few days later they offered me a scholarship. It has a historical environment and I liked it," she said. "I was thinking about the future and playing Junior College will help me to play for a division one in a couple of years. It will give me a chance to develop more as a player."

"Clinton liked the fact that I'm quick. They plan on doing a lot of pressing on defense."

Eventually, Dotson would like to follow in the footsteps of a former teammate and Lady Saint, Nikko King -- currrently playing women's hoops for Elon University.

"She (King) was definitely the best player I played with," Dotson said. "I would like to play Division I one like her."

What will she miss the most about high school basketball?

"My teammates and coaches," she said.

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on June 23, 2005 01:46 PM