Above All: Lady Sharks Forward Ashley Wilkes reaches for a rebound against defenders from Daytona State College on Nov 1.
Ashley Wilkes, a sophomore power forward on the Miami Dade College women’s basketball team is having a standout season.
Wilkes, a 20-year-old psychology major, is ranked first in rebounding, with an average of 11.7 per game, and third in scoring, 16.5 points per game, in the Florida Community College Athletic Association.
“She leads by example, always looking to make the extra pass to us to help the team,” said sophomore point guard Tory Stephens. “She’s very unselfish.”
With 117 rebounds through the first 10 games this season, Wilkes has been creating second scoring opportunities for her teammates.
Despite her early season success, Wilkes said she can get better.
“I am trying to be more focused early before games and my coaches are pushing me harder to prepare better,” Wilkes said.
Head Coach Susan Summons, who recruited Wilkes from Ontario, Canada, said she is a leader with good character.
Wilkes came to MDC from Catholic Central High School with the hopes of playing Division I basketball. She finished her freshman campaign averaging 18 points per game, good enough for third in the region. Her hopes of playing on a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I program after graduating from MDC has become a reality.
Wilkes signed with Canisius College—in Buffalo, N.Y.—during the early signing period, according to Summons.
“She’s one of the top rated power forwards in the nation,” Summons said. “The type of player that will always be better and stronger than her last game.”
