Q&A with Erin Boley
This past March, Erin Boley from Elizabethtown High School in Elizabethtown, KY was named the Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Boley, who is now a freshman at Notre Dame, averaged 24.2 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 2.7 steals per game her senior year, leading her team to a 30-5 record. Off the court Boley maintained a 4.0 GPA, ranking 1st in her class. We asked her a few questions about her love of basketball and her transition to playing at the next level.
Q: At what age did you start playing basketball? What got you into the sport?
Boley: “I started playing basketball at age 4. Both of my parents played, so they originally got me into the sport.”
Q: How old were you when you played for a local Upward Rec league? What memories do you have from that time?
Boley: “My earliest basketball memories are of Upward basketball when I was in kindergarten. I remember playing at a local church and being very competitive for my age. “
Q: What athletes did you look up to most growing up?
Boley: “My favorite player growing up was Candace Parker. I'm also a huge fan of Elena Delle Donne. “
Q: As you enter your freshman year at Notre Dame, what adjustments do you think you'll need to make to play at the next level?
Boley: “As a freshman here at ND, I'm going to have to focus on playing smart. Defense, rebounding, and attention to detail are going to be key factors in my success as a freshman.”
Q: You're involved in several charities. Can you tell us about them?
Boley: “In high school, I volunteered at an after-school program for at-risk kids in my community. I was a volunteer art teacher. I taught art lessons during the week to elementary school kids. It was something very close to my heart because I love working with kids and art is something I'm very passionate about. The program pushed me to volunteer in a kindergarten classroom my senior year in high school, and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made! I also spent time volunteering with my family at a local soup kitchen.”
Q: What Bible verse means the most to you at this point in your life?
Boley: “Right now my favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11- "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to give you hope and a future."
2014 WNBA MVP Maya Moore presents Erin Boley with the Gatorade Player of the Year award.