RUSSELLVILLE — The city of Tuscaloosa will soon play host to another Russellville High School grad.

Ayanna McCullough, a senior who played on the Lady Golden Tigers’ basketball team, signed with Stillman College on Monday.

Just a few days ago her teammate, Amber Elliott, signed with Shelton

State Community College, so two of Russellville’s finest female basketball players will soon be found playing in Tuscaloosa at the collegiate level.

“It’s going to be fun,” McCullough said. “It will be great experience,

and my college will be paid for.”

While McCullough had some choice as to where to further her education, it was Stillman College head women’s basketball coach Cassandra Moorer

that made her want to attend the institution.

“Coach Moorer is a good, Christian lady,” she said. “She’s involved with her team. She never yells at you, she encourages you.”

Russellville head girl’s basketball coach James Bostick may be sad to see such a good player leave his ranks, but he is certain what the future holds for McCullough.

“It’s going to be great for her,” he said. “She will be able to further her education, and it should be four years of good times.

She got better every year she played for me, so she’s going to be successful.”

McCullough said she is looking forward to moving off to college, but her mother, Yashica Nelson, has mixed emotions about her daughter moving off to college.

“I’m excited, proud and speechless,” she said. “I’m nervous and sad at the same time. She’s very independent and mature, and she’ll adjust well.”

Nelson made no mistake about her approval of her daughter’s choice in where to attend college, and part of that lies again with Coach Moorer.

“One of the reasons I am glad [Ayanna] chose Stillman is the coach,” she said. “She is a motherly figure, and I feel comfortable turning Ayanna over to her.”