On Monday, CCHS senior Taylor Guess signed to play basketball at Lindsey Wilson, a private United Methodist-related college in Columbia, Ky.
Lindsey Wilson competes in the NAIA’s Mid South Conference alongside other schools such as Bethel, Campbellsville, Freed-Hardeman, Cumberland University, Thomas More, University of Pikeville and Tennessee Southern. The Lady Raiders are led by 33-year head coach John B. Wethington, who ranks No. 2 on the NAIA's active all-time wins list with 634 career victories. He has guided the team to a 94-59 record the past five seasons and four trips to the NAIA National Championship Tournament in the past six seasons.
Coach Wethington told a large group of supporters during Monday’s signing that he chose Guess for her athletic ability, but also because of her tenacity and strong personal values.
“I watched her play. Yeah, I see that she scores twenty-something points, but I want to see how she reacts when something goes wrong,” the coach said.
Wethington spent time talking to other coaches around western Kentucky, vetting Guess before signing her.
“I have heard nothing but great things,” he said as about 60 supporters looked on for the formal event.
Last weekend, Guess played in the annual Ohio-Kentucky All-Star Basketball game. She scored a half dozen points, grabbed six rebounds and had some steals as her team beat Ohio.
A 5-foot-9 guard, Guess completed her high school career as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,643 points, which is also the Fifth District career scoring record.
She was Player of the Year in the Second Region this past season and was a three-time all-region performer in basketball. Five times she was chosen as an all-district player.
Guess has also excelled at soccer where she was a four-time all-district player, twice the team MVP, scored more than 50 goals in her career and was an all-region performer as a senior.
Guess is playing softball for the first time this spring and has won a job in the starting lineup at first base.
“She’s proven herself on different playing fields,” said CCHS basketball coach Shannon Hodge, pointing out that Guess is indeed arguably the school’s greatest female athlete.
“I believe her game is going to elevate when she gets to college,” Hodge added. “Her future is bright for sure. She has all of the tools necessary to continue to excel and develop as a player.”
Guess said she was proud of the support experienced at CCHS and thanked her teammates and others during the signing at Rocket Arena.
PICTURED WITH GUESS ARE are (front from left) her mother Ashley Smith, Guess, her father Tyler Guess, (back) Lindsey Wilson coach John Wethington and Lady Rocket coach Shannon Hodge.
Watch the Signing Ceremony Below
