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Aug 25, 2023

Audrey McElhaney celebrated for signing with Serbian basketball team

TIFTON — Audrey McElhaney is heading to Serbia to start her professional basketball career. Though the former Tift County Lady Devil will be half a world away, her hometown will be with her. A large

TIFTON — Audrey McElhaney is heading to Serbia to start her professional basketball career. Though the former Tift County Lady Devil will be half a world away, her hometown will be with her. A large group of Tift Countians with connections McElhaney, past and present, gathered Thursday, Aug. 24, to send her off in style.

The afternoon party was filled with coaches, school administrators, current Lady Devils, friends and family. Many others who were unable to attend sent their well-wishes, Dr. Eric Holland, Shan Garner and Kevin Tolbert recording video messages for McElhaney.

McElhaney is making the giant leap from college basketball to play professionally overseas for ZKK Duga, a Serbian team. She said she was leaving only a few days after the celebration, Monday, Aug. 28. Duga announced McElhaney’s signing on Aug. 16 on Instagram. Translated to English, their statement described her as their “latest interior reinforcement.”

“It’s an honor and privilege to celebrate you,” said Tift Lady Devils head coach Julie Conner-Johnson, who was McElhaney’s head coach as well. “So many people in the community wanted to be here.”

The room at Tift County High was packed to the walls. Among the guests were Superintendent Adam Hathaway, former TCHS principal Kim Seigler, coaches Anthony Dennard, Takeela Barron and Tyron Spearman presented her with a Think Tifton gift bag. Conner-Johnson noted that many others who could not attend send their best wishes, including Larry Mims, M.Jay Hall and Mayor Julie Smith.

McElhaney is one of a very, very small group of Lady Devils to play professionally.

Bishop Q.S. Caldwell offered a blessing for McElhaney, who is also his goddaughter. “She’s going to succeed and make up all happy,” he said, a sentiment shared by everyone in their speeches.

Conner-Johnson said McElhaney would represent South Georgia in Serbia. She thought back to McElhaney’s high school days. There was no ‘I’ to McElhaney’s game, said Conner-Johnson. “Audrey is the epitome of a team player,” she said.

Dennard had similar memories of McElhaney’s work ethic. At the height of coronavirus restrictions in 2020, Dennard set up an outdoor workout station at Beulah Hill Baptist Church. She was there every day, he said. “She showed me she had the tenacity,” Dennard said.

McElhaney has already beaten extraordinary odds statistically. Conner-Johnson quoted statistics that only. Citing the NCAA, she said that only 4% of women basketball players compete at the college level. Less than 1% of college players, she said, make it to the pros.

Many in attendance stood to share words about McElhaney after this introduction.

Current TCHS principal Dr. Chad Stone and former principal, Seigler, were the first. “My heart today is so full,” said Seigler. “You have reached the pinnacle of success.” Barron said “My heart smiles, my heart rejoices,” and “You set the bar so high.”

More support came in the video messages.

Garner said from the start “I could tell you had next level skill.” He also relayed congratulations from his daughter, Gabby, who played on the Lady Devils with McElhaney. “I can’t wait to see you on TV,” he said.

Holland’s first reaction was, “Wow!,” on his video. He reminded McElhaney to keep believing in herself and to keep God first. “Be strong, continue on.” Tolbert said he knows she’ll do great and offered advice beyond basketball: “Save your money.”

McElhaney scored 1,200 points during her days with the Lady Devils, graduating in 2017. She initially signed with Chattahoochee Valley, eventually making her way to Clayton State.

The Lady Lakers noted in a release that she becomes only the fifth player from Clayton State to sign professionally. She was named the Peach Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23 and earned 1st team All-Conference three seasons in a row. She finished with 966 points for the Lady Lakers, averaging 13.2 points per game.

At Tift she earned All-State honorable mention from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2016 and 2017 and was Region 1-6A’s Player of the Year in 2016 and named for the 1st team of Region 1-7A in 2017.

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