This hard-nosed versatile player took her team all the way to the state finals this season. Next, she's bound for North Carolina.

A few weeks ago, Gballmag.com profiled Alexis Hornbuckle of Capital High School in Charleston, W.V. But she's not the only top-notch player in the state. Meet North Marion High School's Jessica Sell, who broke all her school's scoring records while averaging 30.2 points per game this season.

A 5-11 guard from Barrackville, W.V., Sell led North Marion to a 22-5 record and the Class AAA state finals (where they fell to Capital). Along the way, she also racked up 3.7 blocked shots, 4.7 steals, and 6.4 assists per game, showcasing a versatile game that attracted the attention of dozens of NCAA Division I schools.

In November, Sell signed a letter of intent to attend the University of North Carolina this fall. "I considered places such as Duke, James Madison, Ohio U, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, Florida State, SMU--more than 60 Division I schools across the country in no particular order," she says. "But I have wanted to attend UNC since Christmas of my junior season."

Sell and previous High School Hero LaTangela Atkinson comprise North Carolina's freshman recruiting class for the 2002-03 season. "Both LaTangela and Jessica are very highly-skilled players," UNC coach Sylvia Hatchell said in announcing their signings last November. "They have good size and can play just about any position we need them to play. Both can come in and contribute right away. I'm very excited to have them join our team."

Sell looks forward to playing for Coach Hatchell next season. "The thing I enjoy most about Coach is her enthusiasm and love for the game!," she says. "She is a fighter and a winner. You can't go wrong with that combination."

A 4.0 student who plans to major in education and minor in communications at UNC, Sell looks forward to contributing to the Tar Heels. "I really want to be a big part of the team and the success that is yet to come for them," she says. "To be a true competitor at this level, I feel I need to work most on my quickness. I will also continue to polish my shot and strength, along with every other aspect of my game."

Sell has been playing basketball since the fourth grade, when she was one of only two girls in a co-ed league. She played other sports such as track, cross-country, and softball before focusing on basketball in high school. "The thing I enjoy most about playing basketball is the spirit of competition," she says. "I am a huge competitor and want to win like crazy."

That's probably why she cites Michael Jordan as her favorite basketball player. "But instead of trying to do his moves, which I did try lots of times, I wanted his attitude on the court," she says. "He was a big role model for me, with his positive attitude and good character."

At North Marion, Sell was coached by her father, Rick Sell. "Playing for my dad in high school was an interesting experience; it definitely wasn't easy, but it was fun at times," she says. " We were able to learn a lot from each other and it taught me how to take a little extra heat. We did take practices and the games home to the dinner table each and every night. That tended to get a little old at times, but we made it!"

Her dad has similar thoughts on the topic. "Coaching your own children is a combination of pleasure and pain," he says. "I tend to have much less patience with them. I expect them to know the game, plays, moves, and execute everything well. And I expect them to be leaders and role models on and off the floor. I would always take Jessica out of a game before any other players, and that wasn't fair to her.

"[But] coaching Jess was a pleasure in that she was so versatile and consistent," he continues. "She could play any position from point guard to post and do well at all of them. She was our leading scoring for three years, as well as our leading rebounder. She always gave us everything she had with a no-nonsense, have-to-win basketball attitude."

Jessica also served as a good example to her teammates and fellow students, according to Coach Sell. "Jessica is a tremendous catalyst and role model on and off the floor, motivating and including all who surround her," he says. "She is a true champion from the 'old school' mold. She has played games with a broken ankle, broken nose, as well a ignoring pain from numerous sprained ankles and sore muscles."

Contributing to Jessica's hoops savvy has been her participation in AAU ball with the WV Glory. "AAU was definitely a huge factor in my basketball maturity," she says. "I feel that the summertime and AAU were when I really made myself a better player. It gave me a chance to play against some of the top competition in the country every summer, including UConn's Ashley Battle, and [UConn-bound] Barbara Turner."

For young hoopsters who aspire to earn a college scholarship someday, Sell has this bit of advice: "I would tell them to trust in God, work hard, and keep a positive attitude ALL THE TIME!"

Article written by Gball Associate Editor Jim Catalano.

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