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Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of three stories highlighting Windsor High School student-athletes signing to continue playing a sport at the college level.

Windsor High School senior basketball standout Elizabeth Shaul formally committed during an April 2 signing ceremony to apply her talents on the court to the benefit of The Apprentice School.

Family, close friends, teammates and coaches were present as Shaul signed to play for the Builders during the ceremony, which was held in the WHS auditorium.

Shaul’s decade-long journey on the basketball court began when she was 8 years old, playing recreational hoops for Upward Sports. Her father, Dennis Shaul, coached her for four years on an Upward team, and he also helped coach her for one of the years she played on a team in a YMCA league.

While attending King’s Fork Middle School, Elizabeth played on its basketball team for two years. She moved to Windsor High School when she was in ninth grade, starting on the junior varsity team there. She moved up to the WHS varsity squad for her final three years of high school.

Shaul has generally played either point or shooting guard, and she settled into the point guard role for the varsity Lady Dukes.

When asked how long it has been a desire of hers to play college basketball, Shaul quickly responded, “Ever since I was a kid.”

She had other schools she was considering, but she said, “The Apprentice School definitely was the main one that caught my eye because of the coach over there.”

The head coach of the women’s basketball team for the Newport News-based Apprentice School is Ieshia Small.

Shaul described what it meant to be able to sign to play basketball at the collegiate level.

“It felt like a dream come true, to be honest,” she said. “It felt like all my hard work kind of paid off in the end, and it was awesome. I loved it. It was like, ‘OK, this is kind of crazy that my dream as a little kid is finally coming true,’ and so it was amazing.”

Her father shared what it was like to see her sign.

“It was very important, it was very heartfelt and warming and definitely a moment of pride, a few tears here and there to see that,” he said. “Her mother and I were very impressed, very happy for her, and I can tell you her grandparents and her (siblings) were very, very proud as well.”

Dennis affirmed that plans are firmly in place to go see Elizabeth play with the Builders.

“Oh, yeah, absolutely, I wouldn’t miss it,” he said. “We had a meeting with the coach and everything too, and we liked her, liked what her attitude was, what her game plan was, what her plan was for Elizabeth. Not only was she stressing the importance of basketball and having Elizabeth on the team as a primary ball handler and everything but also emphasizing to Elizabeth how important grades are and how important it is to be to work, be on time, do what you’re supposed to do. So that was really great to hear. I look forward to her time with the team and the coach.”

As for how Elizabeth will be used on the court by Small, Elizabeth said, “I think she would love to have me as a point guard, but I think also because of my (5-foot-3-inch) height, I might be leaning more toward the shooting guard position, but whatever position she wants to put me in, I trust her 100%.” 

Shaul will have a job at the Newport News shipyard and will be taking classes in addition to playing basketball while attending The Apprentice School.

“The trade I will be studying is insulator,” she said.

She had a large group of people she wanted to thank for helping her reach her current level of achievement as a student-athlete.

“I want to thank my family, my parents, my best friend and all the coaches that I’ve come across,” she said. “They’ve all taught me valuable lessons, and they’ve always told me to keep going. There have been a lot of different ways of coaching out there, but each coach has taught me something.

“And I want to thank Coach Ieshia for giving me the opportunity to show her what I can do and what I can bring to The Apprentice School team,” she continued. “And all the teachers at Windsor that have also helped me out with anything that I need, whether it was advice or just grades or anything I needed help with.

“And Coach (Lajuane) Gaddis also, for coming in and making my senior year one of my best years ever,” she said.

Anderson Peoples Jr., WHS varsity girls basketball head coach, was unable to attend Shaul’s signing ceremony, but Gaddis, the athletic director at WHS, stepped up to share insights into who Shaul is.

“I have the privilege of speaking on Ms. Shaul,” he said at the ceremony. “In our two years together, it’s been an interesting dynamic. We had some ups and downs…”

Shaul, speaking in an April 25 phone interview, chuckled about Gaddis’ commentary and said, “We had some bumps in the road, but we grew to understand each other, and we both realized we just wanted what’s best for Windsor, best for ourselves, best for each other.”

Gaddis told those present at the ceremony that he came to learn what Shaul was passionate about, and he indicated it had been a privilege to observe her skill on the court and her hustle and determination.

“I can say that you’ve been one of the few ladies that will come out here on a voluntary day for practice and put in a little extra work, and that goes a long way,” he said to Shaul. “This is not unnoticed at all. And that’s why I’ll go ahead and share this now with everyone — we haven’t had our winter sports banquet yet, but when we do, Ms. Shaul will be the women’s basketball Coaches Choice Award winner.

“So ladies and gentlemen, let’s give it up for Ms. Shaul,” he said, prompting a round of applause from the sizable crowd present at the ceremony.