TA Star Kirby Burkholder Signs with James Madison University

winnersKirby signs, flanked by her parents Jennifer and Kenton Burkholder, as TAHS head coach Rob Lovell looks on

Turner Ashby High School's Kirby Burkholder took advantage of the NCAA's early signing period and secured her college plans for the next four years as she inked a Division I scholarship to play at James Madison University for Kenny Brooks's women's basketball squad. Signing early puts this major decision to rest so she can zero in on her senior hoops season at TAHS, attempting to lead her team to yet another berth in the State AA Tournament where they advanced and fell just short in the title game in the 08-09 season.

Through three seasons for the Knights and a strong summer of AAU play, the 5'11" forward amassed a portfolio of stats and awards that attracted a flurry of attention and offers from other D-1 schools besides JMU including Hartford, Lafayette, North Carolina-Asheville, Radford, Richmond and Wofford. Kirby has been selected Massanutten District Player of the Year (07-08), Region III First Team selection (07-08 and 08-09) and was Second Team all state in 08-09. She currently ranks third on the TA Girls Basketball all-time scoring list behind Marsha Kinder and sister Jordan Burkholder yet stands poised to take over the top spot by season's end. Since she has been a varsity player, TA's record is 80-5 with two state final four appearances.

"We are certainly proud of Kirby and all that she has accomplished in her basketball career so far. Her scholarship from JMU is a product of countless hours of hard work on her part in an effort to reach her maximum potential. She is obviously a tremendous athlete, but more importantly she's a terrific young lady who is a positive role model for the younger players in our program," praises Turner Ashby Coach Rob Lovell.