Junior Samantha ‘Sammie’ Sullivan wakes up at 5:30 a.m. every morning. She goes to school, often lifts weights after school, attends basketball practice, then goes home to do hours of her homework. With her hard work and dedication throughout the years, she has set herself up for success in her future basketball career. 

“I was definitely not good when I first started,” Sullivan said. “I was pretty bad, actually really bad in elementary school, but eventually I got better.”

When Sullivan is not playing basketball, she spends her time doing homework.

 Sullivan, an AP student, “truly defines what it means to be a student athlete,” said friend and teammate junior Brooke Wilson. 

“Well, basketball obviously consumes a lot of time, so I have to get my work done in school sometimes,” Sullivan said. “I try to get my work done in classes but I just have to find a way to do [homework].”

With her senior year approaching, Sullivan knows that now is certainly not the time for her to disregard school. Her basketball skills attract colleges, but her academic transcript is the cherry on top. With offers from Stonehill, UNH, Northeastern, Bryant, and Providence, Sullivan is “hoping for more offers in her future.”

Despite her impressive talent, playing a sport comes with losses. 

“I get upset when I lose,” Sullivan said, “but as long as we learn a lesson from the [game], that’s all that matters.”

Sullivan’s teammates say she plays an important part in making the team whole. They truly value her in all aspects. 

“Sammie definitely puts in a lot of hard work on and off the court,” Wilson said. “She looks out for everyone on the team and has a big role in scoring. She is a well rounded player.”

According to her teammates, Sullivan is “an encouraging teammate” and “always makes sure to give everyone positive reassurance.” 

 “She doesn’t just care about herself: she cares about her team as a whole,” Wilson said.  “She often gives constructive criticism and wants every player to be the best version of themselves.” 

“I really like the connections I’ve made with all my teammates,” Sullivan said. “I’ve met some of my best friends through basketball.”

Friend and teammate mean the same thing to Sullivan. Her teammates are her family and she loves spending time with them on and off the court. This is especially true for junior Brooke Eacrett, a long time friend of Sullivan’s. They have shared many moments of hardship, celebration, and anger together. 

Aggressive playing is no secret to Sullivan. From her famous “spin move” to get out of a situation on the court, to her drive and determination, Sullivan is not afraid to do what it takes to win. 

“Sometimes she can get a little feisty on the court,” Eacrett said. “Especially when she accidentally broke an opponent’s nose on the court. “That’s just because she wants the best outcome, though.”

Beyond her own team, Sullivan cares about her community and the future players to come. She often volunteers her time to help around the community in hopes to be someone that younger girls can look up to. 

“She’s definitely one of the players that a lot of people can look up to,” Wilson said. “She is very talented and is going to go far in basketball.”