DAPHNE, Alabama — Versatile Daphne basketball guard Amber Yelding signed scholarship papers to play for Shelton State Community College next year. The four-year starter decided on the Buccaneers based largely on their winning record and winning coach.

“All the coaches were nice, so were the players I met and the facilities are really nice up there,” she said. “But, of course, their reputation is great. They go to nationals every year. They win their conference every year and they have a lot of players graduate who go on to play at Division I schools. That’s what I want. I don’t want to just play somewhere, I want to be part of a team that wins championships. So I’m excited and I feel, definitely, that coach Thompson knows what she’s doing.”

The Bucs went undefeated at home and undefeated in conference play, and averaged a whopping 86 points per game to finish at 33-4 and sixth in the nation. They were the 2011-12 Alabama Community College Conference champions.

Yelding broke the 1,000 point mark as a junior and consistently led the team in many categories offensively and defensively each of her four years. She helped lead the Lady Trojans to the 6A Area 3 title and the 6A Southwest Regionals as a senior under first-year coach Tereance Pinkney.

“We are excited to sign Amber,” Thompson said. “We have big plans for next year and I think she will help us accomplish our goals.

“I feel like Amber can help us out a lot the next two years. She is so versatile. Her primary role early will be at the two guard, but I hope and I believe she will develop into a point for us.”

Yelding’s father, Cedric Yelding, played for his father Bailey Yelding, Jr., at Fairhope High. He then played for the University of South Alabama. He now coaches the boys team at Daphne.

“She’s been wanting this and working for it,” he said. “We just wanted to find the right place where she could continue to develop. And Shelton is a wonderful place for that and it’s also a successful program and she will be pushed to play at their level. But she always has pushed herself, too. As a dad, I’m proud of her. She's always been pretty consistent. Always made good grades and been responsible and respecting of others and, you know, her mom and I just want her to be happy and continue to be that way when she’s away from us a little bit.”

Yelding said her father and grandfather helped her learn the game, but that she inherited most of her natural athletic skills from her mom, Phyllis Yelding.

“Yes, basketball is my blood, I guess,” she said. “My dad helped me a lot and my grandfather, too. He was basically like my own personal coach behind my dad. They both know a lot about this game, for sure. I respect that. But my mom was a good athlete, too. She did soccer and track and basketball. She did everything. My whole family has helped me so much. They inspire me to do my best. I could not have done this without them.”

Her younger brother, C.J., plays basketball and baseball at Daphne High. She plans to major in pre-pharmacy.