By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
SPRING GARDEN – The first day 6-foot-1 center Chloe Rule arrived at Spring Garden two years ago, girls basketball coach Ricky Austin had a question for her.
“I asked her what her aspirations and dreams were,” Austin said. “I didn’t get it out of my mouth good enough and she was like ‘I want to play college basketball.’ I said ‘I kind of had that thought about you. That’s why I asked.’”
Rule also remembers that first conversation two years ago with Austin. She knew immediately they were both on the same page.
“He looked like a man who was determined to win at any cost, and I was willing to be the cost,” Rule said. “The first time I talked to him it was like ‘Wow, this guy loves basketball. He knows what he’s talking about.’ I loved it. I was like ‘I would love to play for somebody like this.’”
Soon thereafter, Rule did, and Austin saw just how serious she was about playing basketball.
“When I saw her run down our court one time from baseline to baseline, I was like ‘We’ve got something to work with,’” Austin said. “You go back to that moment and think of all the plays where the rebound was to Ace (Austin), Ace hits Chloe in stride for a layup, that was a play that would break people’s back all year. When Chloe would outrun their big and get a layup on the other end after they scored and we’re shooting a layup on the other end in less than four seconds, even on a missed shot and scoring on the other end, I think that had such an impact on other teams trying to keep up with us.”
Not many teams could keep up with Rule and the Lady Panthers the past two seasons. Last season, Rule averaged 12.2 points, five rebounds, an assist and 1.4 steals per game for the Lady Panthers (33-1) as they clinched their second straight Class 1A state title.
On Thursday afternoon, Rule secured her basketball future by signing a scholarship with Wallace-Hanceville. She becomes the school’s 10th girls basketball player to sign a college basketball scholarship.
“It’s what I’ve always worked for,” Rule said. “This was the dream since I could put a basketball in my hand. The fact it’s reality now is just surreal honestly.”
The past two basketball seasons have been surreal for Rule also. She transferred from Hokes Bluff prior to the 2022-23 school year, but fit in with the Lady Panthers almost immediately.
“These past two years have probably been the best two years of my life,” Rule said. “This team, the coaches and this community, it’s such tight-knit people. They all want the same outcome. They hold us to the same standard as all the past teams and we meet expectations. I just love that about us.”
It’s that kind of standard Spring Garden has that Wallace coach Allen Sharpe looks for when recruiting basketball players.
“When you’re recruiting, there are a lot of boxes you want to check, but one of them that’s really important is the program they come from,” Sharpe said. “Obviously what they’ve done here, the tradition and the success speaks for itself. When you can get someone who’s been somewhere like this, that’s used to winning, that’s been coached, it makes my job so much easier. She’ll understand how to practice, be on time, work hard and handle coaching. We think we got a steal by getting her. We’re just really excited about it.
“She is athletic, but you also need skill. She has length and size and some athleticism, but she also has skill to go with it. She brings a lot more options than just be limited to a post player. She does have some versatility in her game. That’s hard to come by. A lot of times if you get a big girl she’s limited to just being underneath the basket, but Chloe has the ability to do some other things as well.”
Rule feels she’ll fit in with the Lady Lions and be able to contribute.
“They’ve got a great work ethic. They’ve got girls who want to fight. I love their style,” Rule said. “Coach Sharpe does an amazing job with the guys and the girls. I think I can help by being another big body on the court. That’s what my job has always been, to get in there and cause disruptions when I can. I love that.”
Austin feels Rule is going to the right place to continue her basketball career.
“This is a great fit for her,” he said. “She had other options, other choices, but with what Wallace is doing right now, they’ve really got an uptick going.
“They were down two in the state championship game and had a shot at the buzzer. They could’ve gone to the national tournament if the ball would’ve gone in. They’re starting to get there. I hope Chloe can take something to them. Maybe the two years she’s been here can benefit their program.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds for her. I know she’s going to a good program that has an expectation. They’re wanting to take girls who love basketball and go forward with it.”