Sale Creek Senior Will Play Basketball at Covenant

December 4, 2020

Sale Creek, TN --  Sale Creek senior Samanta Derlak signed scholarship papers with Covenant College recently.  Samantha had made the decision back in September, but made it official with signing of papers.  Samantha had plenty of support with coaches, family, teammates and friends in attendance.  Samantha is still looking to get on the court for her senior year.  She is still nursing an injury, but she is looking to get back in action by end of December.  Samantha has been a trooper with several injurines over her career.  She plans on taking courses toward a medical field career in the future.

 Samantha played 3 years at Dayton City School before transferring to Sale Creek High School in her Freshman year.  Samantha began playing as a middle school player and credits her coaches for helping with her development.   She has been playing AAU basketball for 8-9 years. One of her coach/mentors was her mom, Chrissy Derlak Aiken, who was a very good player at Rhea County High School and then at Florida State.  Surprisingly she did not encourage her daughter to follow her footsteps, but has been there to make the journey better with encouragement and basketball tips.  Another AAU coach and basketball mentor was Roy Pankey, who she credits with not only basketball but spiritual relationship mentoring over the years.

Coach Pankey said, "Sam has played in our organization for years and this last year she played on the team I coached.  She provided offensive punch and I was very pleased with her work on the boards.  Samantha will be an asset to Covenant.  She is a very fine young lady."

What were major factors in choosing Covenant College?

Samantha said, "Covenant really made me feel like part of the family.  They are very player friendly.  I felt like I was at home.  I wanted to go to a school where could worship with others."

"The program is really built up.  Coach Sky is all about team bonding and following Christ. "

Were there any other colleges you considered attending?

"I consider Berry College, but it was really Covenant all the way."

Talk a little about your high school basketball career.

"I played freshman through junior year.  I missed part of my freshman year due to foot injury.  Came back to play well in sophomore year but had back injury in junior season and presently I have torn acl that is in process of healing.  I hope to be back on the court by end of December."

What will you be taking course-wise in college?

"I plan on taking courses in biology and pre-med and enter the medical field.  My mom works in the medical field and seeing what she has done made me want to help people."

What were some of the influences that led you to play basketball?

"My mom never encouraged me to play basketball but when I chose to play, she was there to support me.  She was a very good player at Florida State and Rhea County High School.  She has really made me the player I am today."