Livingston Academy senior guard Emma Poston enters her final season with clear goals in mind: To prove the Wildcats can be one of the toughest defensive teams in the Upper Cumberland, and to show her community how much the program means to her.
Poston said she looks to prove this season along with her Wildcat teammates that they can shut opposing teams down.
“The things people say just give us more motivation,” Poston said. “We share the ball really well as a team, where everybody’s looking to score where we don’t just have to say, one team’s shutting one person down, there’s other people that can do that as well.”
That team-first approach has long been part of Poston’s identity. A guard who can play both shooting guard and point, Poston brings years of experience with her this season. Poston has AAU experience with Tennessee Flight Select and has drawn attention on college recruiting platforms like NCSA and Prep Girls Hoops.
Now, Poston said she is ready to elevate her game one more time.
“My emotions right now are just pure joy,” Poston said. “I’m excited to get to go on and play.”
Poston’s career at the varsity level began with overcoming some adversity. Poston overcame a major setback when she broke her hand at the end of her freshman season. Poston, who has avoided any major injuries since then, said her senior year is about giving everything she has left to the Wildcats.
Poston said she is also aiming to take another step as a leader in multiple ways.
“I’m hoping to be more of a leader this year vocally and through my actions,” Poston said. “If I’m out there hustling every play, that everybody else builds off that and they give it their all as well.”
Poston said she wants the community to feel her effort and her gratitude beyond the stat sheet. A student involved in National Honor Society, Beta Club and FCA, Poston will pursue a medical career at Bryan College while continuing to play basketball there.
Poston said before she moves to college, she is locked in on leaving her mark at Livingston Academy. Poston said last season, she left a lot on the court. Now in her senior season, Poston said she hopes to give everything she has.