By Michael Lindsay
Clay County High School’s Abby Head made her college basketball commitment official Wednesday afternoon as the senior point guard officially signed with Johnson University.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Head said. “This is going to be a new journey for me and I’m excited to be in the program that coach (Bryon) Lawhon is putting together.”
Located in Knoxville, Johnson is an NAIA program that competes in the Appalachian Athletic Conference under head coach Bryon Lawhon.
“The fact that Abby can shoot the ball the way she does is a huge advantage,” Lawhon said. “We want to run multiple point guards with different skill sets, and Abby brings that. She is a hard worker and can defend the ball really well. That will bode well for her going into our program.”
Multiple factors led Head to the Royals.
“Of all the places that talked to me and I went and visited, Johnson felt like home,” she said. “Coach Lawhon has really put it together. For one, my paw’s last name is Johnson, and that hit home to me. I’m going to be majoring in psychology and minoring in education. My nana got her bachelor’s degree in psychology and we’re a lot alike. The whole field interests me.”
Head’s decorated Clay County career includes the District 7A Tournament MVP and Region 3A All-Tournament team as a junior, District 6A honorable mention as a sophomore and District 6A All-Freshman team in 2019-’20.
Head has been part of back-to-back state tournament appearances, is a 3-sport athlete and currently holds a 4.0 GPA.
“It’s exciting for everybody,” said Clay County head coach Matt Walker. It sets her up for the rest of her life and is a great opportunity. Her teammates and our community are super proud. Her work ethic is great; the way she watches film and competes. Her athleticism is top-notch. You can put her on the other team’s best girl and let her defend.
“It’s great for our underclassmen and the junior high girls to see somebody having so much success and hopefully want that for themselves one day,” Walker added. “Success breeds success.”
Head’s journey has had plenty of help along the way.
“My parents (Kim and Gary Head) were always really good about making sure I put school first,” she said. “My dad says if you’re going to do it, you better be the best at it. My past AAU coaches really showed me what potential I had.”
College basketball wasn’t always in Head’s plans.
“I never really thought about playing college basketball until this last summer,” she said. “I was pretty nervous thinking about what I wanted to do. College basketball is a really big deal. Getting signed and making my decision is calming for me. I don’t have to think about anything other than getting back to Murfreesboro.”
A signee at point guard, Head wasn’t always fond of the position.
“I did not want to be a point guard,” she said. “In 8th grade, my coach made me because there was nobody else. But then I actually started working at it and getting a feel for it. Having that role really excites me; knowing I control the offense and can go at my own pace. My decision-making and knowing when to take good shots are important.”
Head knows she has room to get better before college.
“The three-point line is farther out, so I’m going to have to work on my shooting a lot,” she said. “I need to work on ball handling to make sure I’m where I need to be for college.”
Head and the Clay County Lady Bulldogs are currently 21-4 overall and 7-0 in District 7A play. Clay County hosts Macon County for senior night on Thursday and travels to Clarkrange on Friday.
