Julianna Simon tallied 992 career points at Covington.

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APRIL 7, 2012 - COVINGTON
Julianna Simon, a senior at Covington High School, signed recently to play basketball at Wilmington College, fulfilling a dream she had as a little girl.

"I started playing organized ball in the fourth grade and I fell in love with basketball," she said. "I had so much fun that I knew then that I wanted to play in college."

So Simon would use any opportunity she had to work on her game, even it it meant asking her mother to keep a shot chart while Julianna shot the basketball at the middle school courts.

"Every summer she was out there shooting," said Julianna's mother, Kelli Simon. "She would take a minimum of 100 shots and she'd usually stay to work on other aspects of her game. She would always drag me along to keep track (of her shots). I didn't mind because I've always supported her in everything she's done."

The hard work Simon put into her game never went unnoticed by her high school coach, Chris Besecker.

"She worked hard," Besecker emphasized. "I'd drive by he courts and she'd be out there shooting the basketball. That's what it takes (to get good)."

Simon's hard work paid dividends as she put together an outstanding career at Covington High School. As a four-year starter, she tallied 992 career points, 472 rebounds and established a new school record with 152 three-point field goals made.

"People always look at numbers, but she did a lot of little things that made her better and made the team better," said Besecker. "She led by example - was always the first one in the gym shooting."

Setting records didn't mean anything to Simon either.

"I never thought about setting records," she said. "It didn't matter to me. I wanted our team to win more than anything and I had so much fun playing with the girls."

And the wins came as she helped lead her team to the district finals as a senior.

"I was happy to play with the girls I got to play with," Simon continued. "We had fun together and that's the most important thing. I had good coaches who I enjoyed playing for. I had a great career."

Which has led to an opportunity she has dreamed about - playing college basketball.

"We are very proud of her," Julianna's mother said. "We're thrilled she is going to a great school (Wilmington). It's a bonus she gets to play basketball too."

Julianna had a tough decision to make when it came to deciding on her college of choice.

"Southwestern College in Kansas was very interested in her," Kelli Simon explained. "They saw her play and really liked her. We (her parents) told her she needed to do what's best for her and we would support her."

Julianna's family support runs deep with her mother Kelli, father Doug, a sister Janell, brothers Justin and Josh, along with sister-on-law Jamie. Plus, she has grandparents, uncles and cousins she is very close to.

This made her decision to play at Wilmington an easy choice.

"She told me, 'Mom, if I go to Kansas then nobody will be able to see me play'," Kelli continued. "It means a lot to her that she has her family there, so she decided to stay closer to home."

What Wilmington had to offer also factored heavily in her decision.

"Wilmington felt like home," Julianna said. "I really like the coaches and the players on the team. I also like the small-town environment. I feel like I fit in."

She will also have a cousin, Darren Clark, with her at Wilmington. Darren will be playing football.

"It will be nice to have him there with me," she said. "I know we will both make new friends and be doing our own things, but it will be comforting to have him there."

For Chris Besecker, seeing another one of his pupils move on the the collegiate level is a proud moment.

"It's nice to see another kid from our program going to the next level," he said. "She's earned it (the opportunity)."

Still, Besecker knows the college game is played at different level and that Julianna has to stay focused over the summer to prepare herself for that level of competition.

"The thing about the college game, they spend a lot more time on the game," he said. "She needs to get stronger physically and stronger with the basketball. They'll work with her on that, but she'll need to do some things on her own too."

Which Simon is already doing as she works out at Enhance U in Huber Heights - a program designed to improve speed, quickness, power and explosion. And she works out with the boys, who push her past her breaking point.

"She knows it's going to take a lot of work, a lot of effort," said Kelli. "She decided it (Enhance U) is something she wants to do to get stronger. Whatever it takes, we'll support her and back her up in everything she wants to do."

Even if it means filling the gym with family members while Julianna plays - at Wilmington.