Called an "underestimated player" by scout Dan Olsen, Chantel Poston has quietly risen to be one of Tennessee's best players. A superb athlete, Poston brings a slashing game and the ability to score around and over taller defenders. Blessed with an impressive vertical on her jump shot, Poston converts over half of her shots. Her slashing ability is supplemented by a 76-percent shooting percentage from the freethrow line. Poston ended her Milan career with 2,010 points and 989 rebounds. Milan’s record over the five seasons pre-Poston was 36 wins and 102 losses. Milan’s record with her help was 99-29 and was the first time in twenty years that Milan advanced past the region semifinal and first time in 27 years Milan reached the state tournament.
As a senior, Poston averaged 18.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, shooting 53-percent from the field, 76-percent from the line, and 37-percent from the perimeter. Milan lost in the state championship game 44-35 to Marshall County, finishing with a 29-6 record. Poston was named to the all-tournament team, and finished second in the Tennessee Miss Basketball voting.
As a junior, Poston averaged 19.2 points and 8.2 rebounds, leading the team in both categories and helping Milan to a 24-6 record. She also led the team in filed goal percentage (.530), most points in a game (32), most rebounds in a game (15), double-doubles (9), and blocked shots per game (1.0). Her AAU team finished fifth at AAU Nationals and Poston was named an AAU All-American.
As a freshman playing post for Milan, Poston averaged 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks, shooting 60-percent from the field and 63-percent from the freethrow line. Local media could not remember a freshman player ever being named District MVP before Poston. She came into her high school career as the West Tennessee Junior High Player of the Year in eighth grade.
Poston gave a verbal committment to Purdue during a weekend visit on August 5th, 2007, and signed during the early signing period. She has scholarship offers from Vanderbilt, Indiana, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, Arkansas, Louisville, Memphis, Mississippi State, Western Kentucky and others. She plans to major in early childhood education.
Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp..."She's really going to get after people on the defensive end; really help our full court press and our half court. She's going to be a scorer. She can shoot the three; she can go off the dribble. She can play down low if we need that. She will continue to grow learning the game, but she's just a natural talent."
(April 1, 2008, Purdue Exponent)
Purdue head coach Sharon Versyp..."Chantel will be one of the most athletic players to ever don a Purdue uniform. Her athleticism is amazing and one of the greatest assets she brings is her work ethic. She will strive to out work and out hustle everyone. Chantel is a great rebounder and can play close to the rim, even though she's just 5-foot-10. Her ability to get by defenders to get to the hole, combined with a great pull-up jump shot, creates problems for anyone that guards her. Another strength she will bring to Purdue is her defensive presence, where she utilizes her quickness and athleticism to cause havoc for the opponent." (November 14, 2007, Purdue SID)
Milan head coach David Hart..."She has a tremendous future ahead of her. Every SEC school has called me and I've talked to most of the major colleges. Many college coaches said they'd take Chantel over other players because she's unselfish and works on defense. She made eight or nine three pointers during the week and showed coaches she could shoot that shot. Her upside is huge." (August 2, 2007, Milan Mirror-Exchange)
Lexington HS head coach Terry Clement..."She’s very athletic; she runs well, catches the ball well, jumps, blocks shots. She plays with a lot of energy. I see great things coming out of her over the next three years." (February 4, 2005, Milan Mirror-Exchange)
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