Hot Springs High all but named Friday Shameka Christon Day. Just about everything the school did, from a pep rally to team speeches, was dedicated to a deserving alumna.
Between the girls and boys basketball victories over Magnolia Friday night, Christon had her No. 20 retired in a ceremony before a packed crowd at Trojan Fieldhouse. While she wore the black and gold, she helped the Lady Trojans win state championships as a freshman and sophomore in 1997 and '98 before becoming the Arkansas Gatorade player of the year.
"It's always great to come home, but this was definitely the highlight of my chances to come home," Christon told The Sentinel-Record. "Not everyone gets their jersey retired. Just the support I've gotten from my school and community is just amazing. I'm so proud to be from Hot Springs, Arkansas, and to be an alumnus of Hot Springs High. I'm honored. I don't think there's enough words to really describe how I'm feeling right now."
Since graduating Hot Springs in 2000, Christon has risen to heights on college and professional levels. Her Arkansas career brought many achievements, bookended by an all-Southeastern Conference freshman-team selection and a 2004 senior campaign that included SEC player-of-the-year and All-American honors.
That decorated season led to a No. 5 overall selection by the New York Liberty in the WNBA draft. Christon played for the Liberty for six seasons, earning her lone All-Star selection in 2009. She also played overseas in Israel, Spain, Russia and Poland before focusing solely on the WNBA once she arrived to the Chicago Sky in 2010.
She then played for the San Antonio Silver Stars from 2012-14 before playing for the Phoenix Mercury this past summer. All of her amateur and professional accomplishments led to her high school alma mater paying her the ultimate personal tribute.
"I'm appreciative of all the recognition," Christon said. "Every time I come back, it's nothing but love from my hometown, and that's why I love coming back here. Everybody supports me, they're always very positive and they're always very proud of me. And that feels so good for me because we're all from this community, and I represent this community whenever I'm elsewhere. And just for them to continue to recognize me and continue to support me, I'm eternally grateful."
This recognition comes at a crossroads for Christon, mulling whether to play one more year in the WNBA.
"Everyone is asking me whether I'm coming back, and I'm still trying to figure it out," Christon said. "I'm not sure. I've been in the league, I've played 11 seasons and I've been there for 12 seasons. So a part of me is wanting to move on to the next chapter of my life, but I am very passionate about basketball. It's showed me so much, it's taught me so much. I really love it.
"I don't know. We'll see what happens. I think this will probably be my last year."
She can take comfort in knowing both Hot Springs programs are loaded with fresh talent looking to follow in her footsteps. The Lady Trojans (19-2, 7-2 5A-South) won their first state title since '98 last year, and Christon saw them handle second-place Magnolia 69-50 with sophomore guards Imani Honey and Ariana Guinn scoring 25 points apiece.
"I'm so excited," Christon said. "I got a chance to speak to the young ladies after their game and give them a pep talk beforehand, but they really don't need it. They came out tonight and played hard. They played for each other, and they were having fun. A lot of times that's what it's all about. You don't have a care in the world. You just want to play a game you love to play, and you're playing hard and playing to the best of your ability. So I'm excited for the Lady Trojan basketball team as well as the men."
Christon always looks forward to seeing her nephews in action, already proud of senior KaJuan and junior Exavian Christon making all-state a year ago. Although coach Rodney Echols described the Christon duo as "all worked up" while committing uncharacteristic turnovers, Shameka Christon got to watch KaJuan Christon score 11 and Exavian Christon 10, including one of his many dunks on the season, in a 58-47 triumph over Magnolia.
"I am so proud of them," Shameka said. "It's amazing to see where they first started, when they were really, really young and then to see them tonight. Honestly, I just remember the basketball camps I used to have when they were like 3 and 4. They would just sit there in the middle of the floor and cry. I was like, 'OK, basketball may not be for them.' That's OK, but now they've proven me wrong and they're great. I'm so happy for them, and I hope they continue to have the success that they've been having and go somewhere with it."
The top-ranked Trojans get to stay in town as long as they're alive in the postseason, so a doting Christon could have several more opportunities to come home to the Spa City.
Sports on 02/07/2016