Prince named to ‘Dandy Dozen’ list of stars

Prince named to ‘Dandy Dozen’ list of stars

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After her junior season, Miriam Prince had a vision of how she thought her senior year might go as she pursued Susan Byrd’s career scoring record at Leake Academy.

But Prince starting to have leg pain in the summer and eventually found out she had a stress fracture in the tibia of her left left. Prince eventually had surgery to repair the fracture, which put her out for the remainder of the summer.

With the season more than halfway gone, Prince has played in just nine games this season, scoring 177 points and averaging 19.67 points a game and helping Leake to a 19-1 record. 

Despite the injuries, Prince was recently named to the Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen, which is meant to signify the best 12 girls basketball players in the state of Mississippi. Prince appears to be the first player in school history to receive the honor.

“Miriam has been a big part of this team since she was in the eighth grade,” Leake coach Amanda Hatch said. “She has played a lot of roles. She came off the bench as an eighth grader. She has been a scorer, ball handler and a defender and she has been able to contribute to a program that’s been highly successful. I think we have over 115 wins in that time and an overall title and she has been a big part of that. It’s a huge honor for her.”

Prince was named the MAIS Class 5A player of the year last season after helping Leake to its second straight state championship. Prince currently stands at 2,344 career points, which puts her at fifth on the school’s all-time scoring list, behind her head coach who is fourth with 2,470 points. 

Prince said she was in the doctor’s office when she found out she had made the Dandy Dozen.

“I was actually in the doctor’s office when I found out,” Prince said. “It’s a huge honor and honestly a breath of fresh air. It’s an honor to get to represent my coach, my team and my dad. I couldn’t make it without them and am super thankful for them.”

Hatch said one of the most impressive things this season is to see Prince grow in her off-the-court role.

“I know this has been extremely tough on her but she hasn’t let it show,” Hatch said. “She has been a great teammate and that’s another role she has take on. She is excited for her teammates when they make big shots. She has been a great teammate and shown a lot of leadership.”

Prince recently had a second surgery to remove screws that were placed in her ankle. Hatch said she hopes that Prince returns when the Rebelettes resume district play in January. Prince said her leg feels “so much better” than it has in months but the injury has been tough on the senior guard who has taken on a self-appointed role as assistant coach for the Rebelettes.

“It has been very frustrating,” Prince said. “I set some personal goals for my senior year and I haven’t been able to do those because of the injury. I have been more of an assistant coach than a player. It hasn’t been fun but it has been a new perspective. We have worked extra hard in therapy. I think I will get out there in January but right now the main goal for me is to help my team win the Overall championship again. I think we still have a shot and that means the world to me.”






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