Hoops star needs help to make Australian tournament
During her basketball career at Lakeside High School, La'Toya Coard scored more than 1,000 points, but in order to reach that milestone, she needed some assists along the way.
Now the Lakeside senior is looking for another kind of assist.
International Sports Specialists has selected Coard to play for its team in a summer tournament in Australia, and she is accepting contributions to help cover the cost for the trip down under.
While traveling to compete in the tournament, she will be in Australia from July 17-29.
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"I'm going to just have some fun and explore the sights in Sydney, Australia," Coard said.
La'Toya Coard -
shown with grandparents Ernest Coard Sr. and Ceciel Coard signing a
letter of intent to play for Albany State University - has been invited to a tournament in Australia.
Photo by Jonathan Ernst
Coard recently signed a scholarship to play basketball at Albany State University. She will join her college teammates this fall, and the summer tournament will help prepare the shooting guard for the collegiate level.
Lakeside coach Bill Richey believes Coard will make an immediate impact at Albany State.
"I think they'll try to utilize her quickness on offense and free her up for some shots," he said. "She's an aggressive offensive player. I think she'll get some playing time down there."
But before hitting the court and cracking the books in college, Coard wants to showcase her skills on the island continent.
Anyone interested in helping finance Coard's basketball excursion into the outback can mail funds to La'Toya Coard at:
Sun Trust Bank
Attention: Lorraine Griffin
2901 Washington Road
Augusta, GA 30809