Brianna Farris of GPS shoots past Ensworth’s Becca Smith, center, and Kyara Byner.Brianna Farris long has been attracted to the bright lights of New York City. Next year she’ll get to embrace that passion.
The GPS senior guard recently committed to continue her basketball career at Long Island University’s Brooklyn campus, an NCAA Division I member. The Lady Blackbirds compete in the Northeast Conference and won 21 games last season.
“There’s nothing wrong with the South. I’ve just always been drawn to New York City,” Farris said. “When you’re up North, you get a lot of diversity and new trends, and I was drawn to that. The coaching staff was great when I went up there, and I loved the teammates. They’ve been one of the top teams the past few years, and I liked everything about the school; the location just made it easier to go.”
Her job on last season’s Bruisers team was to “fit in” with four seniors now playing Division I athletics. Two-time state Miss Basketball winner Chadarryl Clay is at Auburn, while Jeneh Perry plays basketball at Loyola (Md.), Simone Busby plays soccer at Evansville and Tory Kemp is a track athlete at North Carolina.
Farris averaged 8.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.5 steals as the Bruisers repeated their Division II-AA state championship. She and Chappelle Sharrock are the only returners with varsity experience.