Sarah Hope stands on the track overlooking the Medway High basketball court. She is relating the story of how she scored her 1,000th career point earlier this season against Dover-Sherborn. As she talks about her milestone basket, the story is coupled with a half-chuckle, half-cringe that perfectly encapsulates the attitude of a point guard capable of scoring at will, but unselfish enough to look for the pass first.
It is a mixture of confidence, self-belief, and modest humility. It is a blend needed to be both the best player on the team and the type of leader that teammates want to follow.
“See that line,” Hope says. She is pointing to a volleyball boundary that is at least 10 feet behind the three-point line (and at an angle that makes it an even longer shot). “That’s where I took the shot from.” She gives a quick shake of her head and wry smile before adding, “I don’t know why I took that shot.”
Mustangs head coach Joe Iannone passes by as he prepares for a midseason practice. He laughs and adds his perspective on the moment, “I saw her pull up and said, ‘No! No! No…Great shot!’ It was a great shot.” The shot taken in front of a packed gym, filled with Medway Youth Basketball players that were there to celebrate the accomplishments of their hero.
In four years at Medway High, Hope has developed the ability, the work ethic, and the understanding of the game of basketball that allows her to make memorable moments happen. In fact, her abilities and commitment to the sport have taken her farther than any other Mustangs player in the program’s history.
In November, Hope became the school’s first basketball player (male or female) to sign a National Letter of Intent to a Division 1 school.
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| Photos courtesy of Mike Hope |
“In the first game versus Millis, she was 4-5 from the three-point line and she was in the locker room after the game apologizing for shooting so much,” he remembers. “I looked at her like she was crazy and asked what she was apologizing for.”
Iannone continued, “When she signed her letter of intent, the message that I gave was if you have your heart into something, if you have a dream, and if you put your heart into it, then you can achieve it. That’s basically Sarah’s story.”
It is a story that has always been about basketball. Since a very early age, Hope has had the dream of playing in college and has worked year-round to ensure that she achieved her dream. There is no off-season for Hope. When she is not at Medway High, she plays for the Bay State Jaguars, an elite AAU team that boasts several D1 recruits.
It was her play with the Jaguars that first drew the attention of BU associate head coach Mike Leflar and began the process that led to November’s ceremony. According to Leflar, “We saw a lot of her play for the Jaguars. By the time that the varsity season had come around we had already built a comfort level. AAU was good for exposure.”
The recruiting process can be hectic, pressure-packed, and nerve-wracking for young athletes unaccustomed to dealing with the attention of college coaches. Hope admitted to struggling at the beginning with the interviews, but very early in the process it became clear that there was a front-runner had emerged.
“As soon as I went there and met everybody, I knew it was the place for me because they made it feel like home,” said Hope. “And it’s not that far away, so it was close to home. They’re very nice people and I knew it was the school for me.”
Leflar also felt the connection between Hope and BU very early on. He mentioned, “We visited with her and her dad [Mike]. Right away there was a real connection for us and I think for her as well.”Iannone took over the program the same year that Hope began her Medway career. The program made significant progress from a 6-14 record in the first season to 15-5 in year two. He credits his point guard for pushing the team to the next level, but cautions that the type of commitment that Hope has for basketball is not for every high school player.
“Sarah is the type of player that plays seven days a week, she works hard on her own, she practices on her own,” he explains. “I wouldn’t recommend that for every player. You really have to love it.”
Iannone believes the hard work throughout the year has created a complete player, but Hope still feels there are aspects of her game that need work, such as her quickness and the long process of becoming a better defender. (“When I was a freshman, I sucked at defense,” she laughs.) As accolades continue to come in (Hope has been nominated for the McDonald’s All-American game) it seems a case of being her own worst critic.
But what exactly is it that makes Hope such a dynamic player?
It seems everyone has a different answer.
“I think some people can score and some people can see the floor, not many people can do both,” said Iannone. “I think when she’s scoring and seeing the floor she is making everyone on the team better.”
He added, “There are a lot of players that score 1,000 points, but there are not many that can make the passes that she does.”
Leflar focused more on her personality and demeanor on the floor. “Personality is more important than just talent,” he argues. “One thing that stood out for me was her competitiveness on the court. Also, she was a very good teammate and always supportive.”
Leadership is the key ingredient for Hope, who calls herself a “vocal captain.” She described her role on the team: “I’m more of a leader now than I was. I had a different role as a freshman and now I am one of the main leaders as a captain. I’m kind of like a role model now. It’s nice to set a good example.”
Hope relishes the relationship that she has built with her Medway teammates and, while a lot of attention has been paid to her future, there is still a lot that she is determined to accomplish before she closes the book on her Medway career“We made team goals at the very start and it was winning the TVL [that goal fell short after Medfield clinched its fifth straight Tri-Valley League title] and winning a state title,” says Hope with a suddenly serious demeanor. “It’s not a ridiculous goal. We all know that we are a good team and it’s not unrealistic. That’s the only thing that’s left to accomplish.”
She continued, “We definitely should’ve won the three games we lost, but we’re doing well. The seniors need to realize that the writing is on the wall and that we’re running out of time.”
With Hope on the court, the Mustangs believe that they can make a deep postseason run.
Iannone believes that Hope’s influence will continue beyond this season and will, hopefully, lead to future generations of Division 1 caliber players at Medway High:
“It’s cool when you have someone that you coach that is inspiring. It’s a great example for the younger players. Hopefully, there are 30 kids out there that want to be the next Sarah Hope and I’ll be coaching for a long time. I think she’s done all she can at the high school level and now it’s time for her to take the next step.”
As the next step approaches, Sarah Hope reflects on her high school career, “I’m definitely going to miss it. I’ve had a good run here.”
With a smile and a quick glance back at that memorable spot, she turns and heads back down the stairs to join her teammates on the court.
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