Sparkman Basketball Players- Best Of Friends
HARVEST- Among the second-ranked Sparkman Senators girls basketball team is a “sisterhood” like no other in the Tennessee Valley. The team’s Co-Captains are also team leaders, top performers on the court and best friends. Seniors Laryn Scott and Jamya Griffin have what Sparkman head coach Jarvis Wilson called “a unique bond,” as they’re always together on and off the court.
“She is always there to make me laugh and I know she’ll be there to back me up should I ever need here in that way,” said Scott of her best friend. “I know she would have my back if I got in trouble,” added Griffin of her best friend.
As seniors and Nicholls State commits, both Scott (C-PF, 6-1, Sr.) and Griffin (SF, 5-10, Sr.) are team leaders. Last season Griffin scored 6.2 points per game while Scott pulled down 8.2 rebounds per outing and were frontline commanders of the squad which made it to the Class 7A Championship Game before falling to Hoover 57-44. Wilson has been looking to the best of friends to set the tone for the Lady Senators who are currently ranked No. 2 in the state rankings with a 11-5 record (at deadline date).
“Laryn is undersize but plays big at her center position as she gives extra efforts that are not shown in the statistics,” said Wilson. “She does the small things and is unselfish and very humble. She is the team favorite and a role model who has great parents. I’d say she’s the perfect kid, if there is one.”
“Jamya is a workhorse and stepped in when we needed her last year and grabs lots of rebounds down low,” said Wilson. “She was uncomfortable with her position but was able to offer great contributions on our ride to the State Championship Game. She’s a 5-10 point guard for us and pulls a lot of mismatches for us. She hustles, is gritty and grinds to the finish to get the best of herself. She plays great defense and usually guards our opponents’ best player as we utilize a lot of man-to-man defenses.”
The two met and began playing basketball with one another in the ninth grade at Sparkman, although not knowing they actually played against one another in middle school when Griffin played at Sparkman Middle and Scott suited up for Monrovia. “We met through a mutual friend, and I had no clue who she was as I wasn’t big on making new friends at the time, but I’m glad I did with Jamya,” said Scott, who carries a 3.8 grade point average and wants to study animal science in college with thoughts of becoming a veterinarian.
“I didn’t like the girl at first,” said Griffin. “She talked too much as she just wanted to talk and talk. We began a true friendship in the tenth grade and are best friends now. We spend a lot of time together away from basketball as we drive around the area together in Laryn’s 2016, white Nissan and eat out a lot.” Griffin is undecided about her course of study once at Nichols State as she heads into her final months at Sparkman with a 3.4 grade point average.
Both girls first tackled the sport of basketball at a young age. Scott played within the recreational leagues at Monrovia and Griffin hitting the hardwood floors at the Harvest Recreational Center. They also played other sports with Scott a 10-year veteran of playing softball as an infielder/outfielder. Each of the talented athletes are on the Sparkman track team with Scott throwing the javelin and Griffin a sprinter running the 200, 400 and 4×4 relay.
“They have an ability to get along and play off each other,” said Wilson of their “sisterhood.” “They are good youngsters who are both active in their churches. They play AAU Basketball together and even their parents are friends. They have a unique bond and I enjoy coaching them.”
Their friendship is more than just the beating hearts of close friends. They were both born on the same day of April 18, 2006 as both are 17.
Griffin has a distinctive talent as an artist as she loves to draw and displays in her bedroom about 40 medals she has earned in a variety of ways through art and athletics.
“Jamya is always there to make me laugh,” said Scott. “We’re both smart, but in different ways as I feel I’m more book smart while Jamya is more street smart. We balance out in our friendship with those qualities.”
“We share everything. Clothes, makeup, just everything,” added Griffin.
