Post-graduate Grace O’Gara, of Worcester, Massachusetts, signed her National Letter of Intent to play basketball for Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) on Tuesday, May 16.
O’Gara previously attended South High in Worcester, where she was a 1,000-point scorer. During her season with Marianapolis, she averaged 9.5 points to go with her team-leading 2.9 assists and 3.1 steals per game and brought intensity and focus to the team.
“I have been playing basketball ever since I could remember but started playing travel basketball in second grade on an all-boys team,” she said. “What I enjoy most about playing basketball is the sense of comfort it brings me. Every time I step on a court, I feel as if nothing else matters. I have dreamed about playing basketball at a high level ever since I was little, and now that time is finally here. My years of hard work and dedication to the game are paying off, and I couldn’t be more grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to play.”
O’Gara said she decided to sign with AUM “because I felt loved by all of the staff. I am ready to compete at a high level, and I knew when I saw the campus that this was the right decision for me. Yes, it’s far from home, but I’m excited to make new memories at a new place.”
“Grace has been absolutely fantastic for us,” said Wes Howard, girls’ varsity basketball head coach. “She moved so quickly through the adjustment period and really found a family here at MPrep, both on and off the court. She’s put in years of work for the chance to play ball at a school and program like AUM, and we couldn’t be prouder of her. I know that Grace is just going to keep getting better and better; she’s tenacious that way. It’s going to be really exciting to watch her career unfold at the next level.”
Auburn University at Montgomery, located in Montgomery, Alabama, is a Division II school playing in the Gulf South Conference.