With Corban seemingly misplaced, Wyllie checked out different universities, however nothing regarded proper. Sadly for Wyllie, she was working out of time to decide. And simply as she was beginning to lose hope, she lastly acquired the decision she thought would by no means come.

Wyllie’s telephone rang and on the opposite finish was Invoice Pilgeram, Corban’s head basketball coach. Pilgeram knowledgeable Wyllie {that a} spot on the checklist had opened and her identify was on the prime of her checklist. It did not take lengthy for Wyllie to simply accept his supply of a partial observe and discipline scholarship. On March 2, she formally signed as much as attend Corban and play basketball.

“I felt reduction,” Wyllie stated. “Corban has all the time been my # 1 selection for going to high school and for some time I assumed it was going to work after which all of COVID-19 occurred. I did not know what I used to be going to do. I had a couple of choices, however nothing felt fairly proper. After I lastly acquired that decision, I knew instantly that this was what I wished.

So what’s particular a few small non-public Christian school positioned nearly 600 miles (a few nine-hour drive) from her residence in Valley Springs? Nicely, this is not the primary time {that a} Wyllie has signed as much as play sports activities in school. In 2017, his older sister, Maddi, agreed to play softball for the Warriors and is now in her freshman 12 months. Alyssa noticed firsthand how a lot her older sister loved faculty and wished that very same feeling.

“She was telling me about her courses and the setting there and it made me need,” Wyllie stated. “I am so excited to be round her once more. I will in all probability reside together with her once I stand up there. I miss her lots. We FaceTime day-after-day and discuss on a regular basis. I’m completely satisfied to have the ability to go there and share my new life experiences together with her.

For Maddi, the thrill is mutual.

“I’m very happy that my sister goes to Corban,” Maddi stated. “I’m so pleased with his exhausting work and it’s nicely deserved. It is such a particular faculty and it is the proper place for her to develop as an individual, in addition to a tremendous athlete.

As a lot as Maddi wished her youthful sister to affix her in Salem, she additionally did not need the attract of a sister reunion to be the principle cause Corban was her college of selection. Maddi made certain his sister weighed all of her choices earlier than making a call.

“I wished to verify she wasn’t going to Corban for me, however that she was going as a result of she cherished the setting, the workforce and the college normally,” Maddi stated. “I will not be right here for her 4 years, so I wished her to verify she loved being right here at the start.”

Faculty was nonetheless on Wyllie’s plan, however athletics was not. As a teenager, she loved taking part in each volleyball and basketball, however believed her profession would finish when her senior basketball season ended. Issues began to vary after a memorable freshman basketball season and the varsity basketball seed started to develop after Wyllie noticed her older sister compete on the varsity degree.

“I had an incredible workforce bond throughout my first 12 months and it made me fall in love with the sport once more,” stated Wyllie. “It made me wish to play in school. My sophomore 12 months I noticed my sister play school softball and the way a lot enjoyable she was having. I did not wish to miss this chance.

Wyllie was referred to as as much as the varsity workforce in his sophomore 12 months and, in 15 video games, averaged 3.9 factors and 1.6 steals. As a junior, she averaged 8.4 factors per recreation, 2.3 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.2 assists. Nevertheless, a damaged foot ended her season and she or he was pressured to look at the Sac-Joaquin CIF Part Playoffs and CIF State Playoffs from the bench. And with COVID-19 doubtlessly ending any hope of a senior season, Wyllie by no means had the grand finale she dreamed of.

“Wanting again, I actually want it wasn’t my final recreation,” Wyllie stated of the evening in Jackson the place she broke her foot. “My second 12 months, I acquired actually sick so I could not play all season. Then I broke my foot my junior 12 months and could not play within the playoffs, which actually turned me on. So this 12 months was going to be my 12 months. The truth that I did not end my profession in highschool does not do me good.

With no senior season to play and no school residence, Wyllie started to fret about her future. However as a substitute of panicking, she did what feels most snug: she prayed.

“For some time I felt fairly dangerous,” Wyllie stated. “I did not suppose I might have the chance to play in school. My household and I prayed for this and I stated that God had a plan and the whole lot was going to be good. That week I began having faculties that me and made me completely satisfied. Lastly, the final name I obtained was from Corban. ”

Whereas Wyllie is thrilled to have a spot to name residence subsequent fall, she is aware of the circumstances surrounding her place on the basketball workforce aren’t precisely the identical as each different participant’s. She was the final participant chosen. If a participant hadn’t left the squad, Wyllie would not be sporting a Warrior jersey subsequent winter. With that in thoughts, Wyllie is aware of she has to show herself and has to get right down to enterprise.

“I actually really feel like I’ve lots to show there,” Wyllie stated. “Not solely was I the final to be chosen for this workforce, however I’m additionally the smallest of the workforce. I do not appear to be a university basketball participant. I’ve to go and present them what I can do. I feel I’ve what it takes to do that.

Whereas at Corban, Wyllie plans to check kinesiology or diet and hopes to pursue a profession in sports activities, presumably in sports activities psychology. Inside a matter of weeks, Wyllie went from not figuring out her future, to being accepted into her faculty of selection, to touchdown a spot on the basketball workforce, to reuniting together with her large sister and having the chance. to develop his religion.

“All the schools I checked out have been Christian universities,” Wyllie stated. “It’s actually essential for me to proceed to apply my religion and study extra exterior of my residence setting and to be surrounded by individuals who wish to study the identical issues as me.”

Above all, Wyllie lastly needs to return again to a basketball court docket and play the game she loves.

“There are occasions once I’m nervous about going up there, as a result of it is an entire new degree of basketball,” Wyllie stated. “However one other a part of me feels actually prepared and that I’ll slot in completely on this setting. I practice and practice lots to arrange myself. A part of me actually seems like I will be good to go.