 Shelly
Sparks
2005 Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: Basketball
Parent: Arlene Sparks
Shelly Sparks began school in the Flint School District
at Scott Elementary on Flint’s South side. Afterwards, her
family moved to the Beecher School District where she attended Dolan
Junior High and graduated
from Beecher High School.
After graduation, Shelly entered Southern University at Baton Rouge,
Louisiana where she excelled in basketball.
When Shelly started playing basketball, there weren’t many girl’s
teams around, so she played basketball with the boys. The experience
she gained playing with the boys would prove to be an asset to her
in later years.
At Beecher, Shelly played on the Girl’s Varsity Basketball Team
under Coach Dave Hollingsworth where she was called the unquestionable
top player in Beecher’s girls basketball history. She scored
13.26 career points, average, 18.9 in scoring and 10.3 average in rebounds.
She was also named three times to Michigan Class B All State First
Team at guard position. She earned three unanimous selections to the
All Big Nine first team, after guiding the Buccaneers to their third
straight conference title and Class B Championship. “It will
be a long time before another Shelly Sparks comes through here,” said
coach Hollingsworth. Shelly had offers from 22 colleges including the
University of Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina State, and Maryland.
Shelly accepted a scholarship to Southern University,
Baton Rouge. At Southern, she started on the girl’s basketball
team and in her senior year (1984-1985 season) she made the All SWAC
Second Team.
Shelly now lives in Houston, Texas. Congratulations! You have made
Flint proud of you.
Congratulations, you make Flint proud!
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