HICKORY, N.C. — Following in the footsteps of her sister, Ivy Eller is joining the Catawba Valley Community College women's basketball program.
The senior guard from Newton-Conover High School signed on Wednesday to continue her academic and athletic career with the Red Hawks during a ceremony held at the Tarlton Complex.
"I'm just glad I was able to have the opportunity," Eller said of her signing. "(CVCC head women's basketball) coach (Tisha) England is a really wise person in the lives of my family. I'm glad that I will be able to be coached under her."
A two-time all-conference selection and one-time All-Catawba Valley Classic tournament team member, Eller led the Red Devils to a 17-11 overall record and 9-5 mark in South Fork 2A conference play this past winter, including a berth in the 2A playoffs.
Eller also helped the Newton-Conover girls basketball team win a regular-season conference championship and two conference tournament championships during her four-year varsity career.
"I'm just excited to have her," England said of Eller. "She is a great person and brings energy to the team. To have someone from Newton-Conover High School is going to top it off. Newton-Conover has great pride and so does CVCC. I think she will fit right into the system, come in and make a great impact for us.
"She's going to bring speed," England added. "She runs the floor very well and has a knowledge of the game. Her intensity level is what we need. Ivy is going to be able to put the ball in the hole and score. She's going to be able to play defense. All of that is going to be vital to our success."
Ivy becomes the fourth Newton-Conover alumni to join the CVCC women's basketball program — a list that also includes Samiya Pitts (2011-13), All-American Kadesha Gibbs (2012-14) and Ivy's sister MaKenzie Eller (2015-16),
England, a 1988 alumnus of Newton-Conover, is excited to add yet another player from her alma mater to her CVCC program.
"The tradition of Newton-Conover — it was Samiya Pitts, Kadesha Gibbs and MaKenzie Eller who have already came through the program and graduated and went on two four-year schools," England said. "To have alumni come and be a part of our program is special."
Ivy said her sister's advice played a huge role in her ultimate following her path to Catawba Valley.
"She told me to really just to work hard and if I really want to pursue another college in the future then I have to work hard, stay focused and not slack off," Eller said. "That's what I've got to do."
Eller becomes the sixth member of the 2018-19 CVCC women's basketball recruiting class, joining Alexander Central's KeyKey Miller, Ashbrook's Trinity Jones, Chapel Hill's Aniya Taylor, Sugar Creek Charter's Shamicah Sturvidant and South Caldwell's Payton Kale.