Ashley Hampton completes stellar prep career with mom along for the ride

Florida A&M University's incoming recruit Ashley Hampton named Ocala Star-Banner 2008 Girls Basketball Player of the Year, same award her Mom won in 1987.

OCALA, FL — It was one of those seasons you dream about as a little kid. Leading your tiny school to the big time with your mother and coach along for the ride. St. John Lutheran forward Ashley Hampton made it all a reality in 2008, willing her Saints to the private school's first-ever final four and filling her scrapbook along the way.

She did it with sheer talent - Hampton's 25.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 3.7 assists per game compare favorably to any player in the state. She did it with leadership - setting a standard for her teammates while never developing the ego that can easily haunt a star.

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More importantly, Ashley carries a 4.4 grade point average and plans to major in Pharmacy at FAMU. She will soon join a family legacy that have had seven other family members attend and graduate from Florida A&M.

Ashley Hampton leads St. John to the Final Four

Photo: Ashley Hampton blasted Merritt Island Christian with 29 points and 17 rebounds to move her team to the final four in Class 1A.

OCALA - The Ashley Hampton Express is headed to Lakeland.

The St. John forward and Florida A&M University Lady Rattlers basketball signee continued her postseason onslaught, hanging 29 points and 17 rebounds on second-ranked Merritt Island Christian Saturday night, and moving the Lady Saints into their first-ever Class 1A final four.

Sixth-ranked St. John (22-5) sprinted out to an 11-0 lead and cruised to the 57-45 victory in the 1A-2 region finals. "We're going to state," Hampton said after her fifth straight postseason double-double. "I'm unexplainable excited right now. "For three years we've been getting to the same point . . . but now we've got the determination and the drive, and the chemistry - it always goes back to the chemistry - we're just really lucky to have that."

St. John head coach Kim Pompey-Bell, who also happens to be Hampton's mother, couldn't hide her pride after leading the Saints to the final four in just her second season at the helm.

"It's amazing to watch (Ashley)," Pompey-Bell said. "I've taught her since she was 3-4 years old, so to see her grow and prosper and develop. She's amazing. And she gets better and better every game." "But it's a team effort. (Ashley's) got her talents and so do the other girls. Without the rest of them, she wouldn't be where she is now."

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Kim Pompey-Bell in her prep days was a basketball superstar at Vanguard High School, Ocala and at Division I, University of South Alabama, where she still holds the school record for 3-point shots made. In this case, the apple didn't fall too far from the tree for this blue chip student-athlete carrying a 4.42 grade point average.

FAMU recruit leads team to Regional 1A Finals

Photo: Florida A&M University basketball signee Ashley Hampton (#4), a 5-9 senior guard, St. John's Lutheran has taken the Saints on her back and averaged 30 points and 19 rebounds throughout the regional playoffs. Hampton has maintained a 4.42 grade point average while being the top player in Marion County, Florida in Basketball and Volleyball.

ONLY ONE WIN FROM FINAL FOUR

Region 1A-2

No. 2 MERRITT ISLAND CHRISTIAN (19-2) AT No. 6 ST. JOHN (21-5)

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Winner gets: The winner between Seffner Christian (15-10) and Sarasota Christian (23-5) in the Class 1A state semifinals next Wednesday at the Lakeland Center.

How they got here: Merritt Island Christian got past Central Florida Christian 56-45 and followed it up with a 51-44 over Foundation Academy; St. John downed Geneva 59-39and won on the road at Lake Mary Prep 58-52.

Notes: The Saints finally slammed the door on the regional semifinal round after three consecutive losses and look to get past the Cougars, who were winless in their previous five playoff outings before this season. Merritt Island Christian's only losses were against Circle Christian (56-50) and Heartland Christian (61-50) and hasn't lost since Jan. 25.

St. John has been hot of late as well thanks to the play of Florida A&M University Lady Rattlers signee Ashley Hampton, who has averaged 30 points and 19 rebounds in the regional tournament.

Hampton's finest hour came in Tuesday's regional semis against Lake Mary Prep, as she scored 31 points and grabbed 21 rebounds to help the foul-plagued Saints to the huge road win. Alexis Samuel and Amy Ergle have also had solid postseason efforts, while the rest of the supporting cast has stepped up when needed.

St. John, which has made the regional playoffs in six of the past seven seasons and 12 of the last 15 overall, last made the regional finals in 2002 when it lost to Gainesville Oak Hall. Merritt Island Christian, playing in its first regional final, won its first district title since 1999 and dominated its opponents by an average margin of victory of 31.5, but has come back to the pack in the regional round.

FAMU signs a diamond in ASHLEY HAMPTON

FAMU Coach Debra Clark has Lady Rattlers 3-0 on the 2007-08 season.

Florida A&M University Lady Rattlers basketball coach Debra Clark had successful surgery to remove her thyroid on Wednesday morning. Clark, in the final year of her contract did not let that stop her from moving the program forward and her assistants were able to keep the Lady Rattlers undefeated at 3-0 with a victory over Albany State on Wednesday evening.

On Thursday, Coach Clark signed to a national letter-of-intent Ashley Hampton, senior forward with St. John Lutheran, who is a top basketball and volleyball player in the Ocala, Florida region. Basketball was the sport that many took notice of the 5-foot-9 senior, as she also drew interest from Harvard and Princeton, thanks to a grade-point average of 4.42.

Seven relatives of Hampton has graduated from FAMU. She joins her uncle Whitfield Jenkins, as members of the family who have signed athletic scholarships with the Rattlers.

"They stayed in contact with me from there and also contacted my coach," Hampton said. "They kept up with me and then we had a home visit and then I went on my official visit and I was sold (on the school)."

As a volleyball player, Hampton started each of the past three seasons on the varsity, after moving up at the end of the freshman season. She played in three consecutive Class 1A Final Fours, including the state title game in 2006.

In basketball, Hampton plays the guard position and entered her senior season with a school record 1239 points. Last season, she received second team All-State honors, averaging 16.2 points and 10 rebounds per game, in leading the Saints to their third consecutive district championship and advancement to the regional semifinals. Hampton was also selected as the FACA's District 7 MVP for Class 1A.

Photo: All-Stater Ashley Hampton is expected to become a star in both the classroom and on the basketball court at FAMU, in 2008-09.

Her mother, Kimberly Pompey-Bell is the second year head coach of St. John Lutheran School Varsity & J.V Girls Basketball programs. She is pleased in her daughter's selection of FAMU. "She wanted to go where she could major in pharmacy, and she's real excited about this chance."

Ashley's mother is no stranger to Division I women basketball, having been a star player at Ocala Vanguard and the University of South Alabama, where she still holds the school record for most 3-pointers.

"A lot of people helped play a part in this," Ashley said. "I really enjoyed my time at St. John and I feel very prepared for what lies ahead."

FAMU currently has 15 players on its roster and Hampton will play the three-guard in college.

Two of the Rattlers' three players at that spot will graduate this season, so she will have a chance to get into the mix right away.

"They are a running team and their coach (Debra Clark) liked the way that I run the floor and finished on the fast break," Hampton said. "My main focus throughout school was academics and I also love sports. Why not use sports to help with my academics? It has really worked out well."

Due to Coach Clark's recovery period, she will miss the Lady Rattlers game with Savannah State University on November 20. However, with Ashley Hampton signed for next season, her recovery should be a little less painful and peaceful.

Congratulations to Ashley Hampton and her family for continuing the Rattlers tradition of excellence. Get well soon, Coach Clark! Go Rattlers!