Kellyann Averill, surrounded by family and coaches (photo by Robert Ford)
Surrounded by her fellow players, coaches and family, Saugerties High School senior Kellyann Averill signed a letter of intent to attend St. Thomas Aquinas College in Rockland County on a full basketball scholarship.
Averill, a three-sport standout, has always loved playing basketball.
“We’ve known this since she started playing Biddy Basketball here in Saugerties,” said her father, Tom Averill, the high school principal.
She was contacted by a number of colleges that wanted her to come and play basketball for them, but “this college has so many great things to offer.”
She cited the school’s honors program and sports teams.
She wants to major in biology with an eye toward physical therapy. “But I’m not really sure yet,” she said.
“One of the best things is how close it is to Saugerties,” Averill said. “All my biggest fans will be able to come and see me play.
“I’m really excited to be able to go and play at this Division II school,” she added. “The school’s basketball coach came to see me play with my AAU [Amateur Athletic Union] team, took me on a tour of the campus and talked about the program.”
During a short speech after signing the letter, Averill thanked her parents, her teammates, her younger brother, and her coaches, especially high school basketball coach Mike Melville. “He’s the best,” she said. “He’s helped me get to this point, and he’s always been there for me.”
Her dad, who has two other daughters playing college sports, said, “It’s always been her goal to play basketball,” even though she has been a soccer and track standout as well.
“Her work with the Triple Threat AAU team really got her to the top, and those coaches really helped get her name out there to colleges,” Tom Averill said.
“I’m really looking forward to continuing my basketball life and taking it to the next level,” Kellyann said.