Local shooting guard continues her career at Penn State Hazleton

Hazleton, Pa. - The Hazleton Nittany Lion women's basketball program welcomes Ashley James from Weatherly, Pa. to incoming class of 2021-22. Ashley was a multi-sport athlete at Weatherly Area High School where she played and was named captain for the Wrecker basketball, softball and volleyball teams.

James wrapped up her illustrious high school basketball career with numerous accolades to her credit. After helping the Wreckers to back to back District XI championships in 2018 and 2019, Ashley went on to lead her team as a senior by averaging 14.8 points per game along with 6.2 rebounds per game. She finished the year with a total of 326 points, including a career high 30 point outing and went 117 for 147 at the charity stripe. Her efforts solidified her place as one of the area's top guards and landed her several post-season awards including first team honors on the Standard Speaker All-Area Girls Basketball Team and second team honors by the Times News.

"A goal of mine of mine has always been to go to Penn State," stated James. "When offered a position on the basketball team it allowed me the opportunity to further my education at Penn State but also to represent them on the court while playing the sport that I love the most."

Ashley's excellence extends off the court as well. In addition to a stellar athletic career, James earned top-five averages in numerous academic courses leading to her position as the 2021 Salutatorian for Weatherly Area High School. Ashley also received a first place finish in the American Mathematics competition and was a National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society member while in high school.

James plans to major in Biomedical Engineering at Penn State with a focus on biochemical solutions in the field of medicine. Her goal is to complete her major and put that degree to work by finding a cure for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, a neurological tumor typically found in children ages 5-10.