Last summer, the scar on Alexis Dillard鈥檚 surgically repaired right knee was still fresh鈥攁 painful reminder, quite literally, of how quickly hopes and dreams can disappear.
Now, it was a waiting game.
Nearly a year removed from her last game as a star forward on the 91福利社 women鈥檚 basketball team, with the game she loves seemingly slipping away, the waiting was nearly unbearable. First, you should know that Dillard is an eternal optimist. It鈥檚 a mindset that, when combined with an unrelenting work ethic, led to success at every step in her career. But she鈥檇 finally hit an insurmountable obstacle.
鈥淚 was just kind of down,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 guessed it just wasn鈥檛 going to happen. I thought, at least I gave it a try and gave it my best. Maybe it鈥檚 time to just move on from basketball and accept my time was finished.鈥�
It isn鈥檛.
, who graduated from the 91福利社 College of Health Professions with a degree in kinesiology, is finalizing a contract to play in a women鈥檚 professional basketball league in Africa. It鈥檚 the realization of a dream that began when she was just a kid, and it has far exceeded expectations. After all, it started with a pretty modest goal: make the middle school varsity team
鈥淎t each phase of my life, I鈥檝e always set goals and visualized where I want to see myself,鈥� said Dillard, who grew up in Taylors, South Carolina. 鈥淚n middle school, I just wanted to play on the team. Then, moving to high school, I set a goal of making the varsity team as a freshman. And I did. Throughout high school, I thought if I played as well as I could, and kept progressing, I could in college. I made it my mission to earn a scholarship.鈥�
isn鈥檛 surprised that Dillard鈥檚 career didn鈥檛 stop there. She was the South Atlantic Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2018, capping off a career that included accolade after accolade. CoSIDA Academic All-District. CoSIDA Academic All-American. All-SAC first team. SAC Defensive Player of the Year. AU鈥檚 all-time career rebound leader.
鈥淥n the court you couldn鈥檛 find a young lady that brought more energy and passion,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he worked hard on both ends of the court and was a great example of an all-around player. She definitely left her mark here at Anderson and we are really proud of her.鈥�
Of course, moving from NCAA Division II to the professional leagues is a big step. Few make that leap. Part of it is the talent level, sure. But there鈥檚 also the sheer number of players trying to make the transition. Even the logistics are difficult.
Dillard participated in three player combines. They are held each year throughout the country; think of them like a giant tryout, with hundreds of recent college graduates or those trying to get back into the game hoping to catch the attention of professional scouts and player agents.
Last year, an agent saw a video of Dillard at a combine in Ohio. He called her up and invited her to his own showcase, scheduled for June in Atlanta.
鈥淚 thought, 鈥榃hat is there to lose? Why not?鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚 participated and everything went well.鈥�
The deadline for participants to get a contract was August 27. But all summer, she didn鈥檛 hear anything. Then, right at the August deadline, she got the call she鈥檇 been waiting for.
鈥�(My agent) said, 鈥楲ooks like we have an offer.鈥欌�� She put him on hold and patched her mother through on a three-way call.
鈥淚 told her, 鈥楳om, I think it鈥檚 happening!鈥� I can hear her screaming on the other end of the phone. I鈥檓 screaming, she鈥檚 screaming, my heart is racing. Then it was a matter of figuring out flights, housing and all of that.鈥�
That鈥檚 where things stand today. She鈥檚 waiting again. Until the meantime, she鈥檚 making travel arrangements, getting housing figured out and preparing mentally to join her new team in Morocco.
鈥淚鈥檓 willing to make that transition, to put in the hard work,鈥� Dillard said. It鈥檚 a lesson Coach Barbaree and the entire culture at AU helped instill in her.
鈥淧laying for Anderson, and the coaches there, prepared me to take my talents to the next level,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey helped me grow as an individual and as a leader. (Coach Barbaree) exemplified that approach. It鈥檚 all about work ethic, and helping motivate your teammates to want to practice at your level and play hard.鈥�
For Dillard, being a Trojan was more than athletic competition. She learned life lessons off the court, too, none more important than the inherent value AU鈥檚 campus community places on each student.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I fully realized how much people at Anderson really care until I got hurt during my senior year,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 witnessed first-hand just how much love and support and encouragement they offer. It鈥檚 not just about games and competition. It鈥檚 about the people. They want to make sure you feel comfortable and supported as a student-athlete. It鈥檚 those one-on-one relationships that really make a difference. They are willing to do whatever they can to help you prepare for the future.鈥�
Today, Dillard鈥檚 future is bright.
鈥淚鈥檓 just waiting to see where my next journey will take me.鈥�