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Lady Bulldog Atkins Signs with Freed-Hardeman Basketball

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GLEASON (September 6) — Family, friends, teammates, coaches and teachers gathered in the Gleason High School gymnasium Friday to see senior Kenady Atkins put pen to paper and commit to play basketball for the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions.
The Lady Bulldog standout led her team in numerous categories last season, including points (374), points per game (12.1), three-pointers (52), free throws (96), free throw percentage (83 percent), assists (85) and assists per game (2.7). She shot 40 percent from the field, including 35 percent from beyond the arc, and had 86 total rebounds, 31 steals and five blocks.
Atkins’ path mirrors that of her mother, Kara (Sanders) Atkins (now an elementary teacher at Gleason), who earned Miss Basketball honors as a Lady Bulldog and First-Team All-American honors as a Lady Lion.

FHU Head Coach Dale Neal said of Kenady to media members that he saw a lot of her mother in her. He called her a player who “makes others around her better.” He added that he likes to get kids from good basketball areas, who are way ahead of others. In comments to all gathered, he said that he looks for talent in recruits, but also at what kind of person they are and how hard they work.
Speaking to media, Lady Bulldog Head Coach Sean Stephenson called Atkins a hard worker that he was fortunate to see develop. He credited her for her “tremendous” work ethic and attitude, noting that she was hard on herself, but learned to play through mistakes. A “great competitor” and “great in the classroom,” he expressed his excitement for her and that he’s glad she’ll be close enough at FHU (in Henderson) for friends and family to go see her play.
Kenady spoke to the media about her choice. She said she went to an FHU camp in the summer and really connected with the “welcoming” girls on the team. Of Gleason, she said, “I love playing here. There have been rough times, but we’ve gotten through it as a team.”
She plans to major in Occupational Therapy.

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