TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Kimberly Sparkman is not your typical star athlete. She doesn’t have the flair for the dramatics, it’s just not a part of her fiber. Instead, she posses the kind of consistency and drive that makes her a leader more by her actions, than just by her words.
The senior shooting guard from Columbia, Tenn., broke the FAMU all-time career record for made three-pointers in the Lady Rattlers’ three point loss to Hampton in Virginia on Saturday. But, don’t think for a moment that was what she set out to do when she came to FAMU. That goal only evolved once she was informed she was close to the record.
“I came here to FAMU, knowing there was an excellent tradition in women’s basketball and a long line of great players who had played here. I came here because it was a great opportunity to continue my education and my basketball career,” Sparkman said.
She now has 173 made three-pointers, eclipsing Tameka McKelton for the record. Last season, she captured the single-season three-point title, as she made 86 three-pointers on the season. She eclipsed McKelton’s mark of 171 for a career in setting the new standard.
Sparkman credits her coaches and teammates for making the situation possible. “I can’t pass to myself, so there’s no way I can take credit for this award by myself. My teammates know where I am and they make passes, run plays and set picks for me to get open. Then, they get me the ball so I can make shots. This is not really an individual award, because if all those things don’t happen, then there’s not a clear shot,” Sparkman said.
Head coach LeDawn Gibson credits Sparkman with being a leader and for her hard work. “You don’t make that many shots without putting in the work. Spark has been a leader on the team from the time she got here. Her consistency is something we can depend on and her pride in playing for FAMU is undisputed. As a coach, you know which players shake off a loss quickly and the ones that take it to heart. As we struggled to rebuild last season, you could see the fire in her eyes every night. She is a tough competitor and coaches love players who will do whatever they are asked to try to help us win games,” she said.
Sparkman came to FAMU from Volunteer State Community College, where she played significantly as a freshman. Prior to that, she attended Columbia High School, where she played basketball, ran track and cross country. Her brother, Fred Sparkman, played football for the University of North Carolina. In her spare time, she loves to sketch.
“When I got here, setting the record just was not one of my initial goals. I came here to contribute to the team. As I began to score my first season here and coach Gibson gave me the green light, sometime last year it became a goal. It’s not a conclusive goal, or my ultimate goal here. My ultimate goal is for us to win a MEAC championship, and go to the NCAA tournament,” Sparkman said.
The Lady Rattlers are much improved from last season. A tough three-point loss to the defending MEAC champion Hampton Lady Pirates in Hampton is an indicator that this team has improved, as the Lady Rattlers were blown out by 20 points last season when they visited Hampton. Sparkman will certainly be a key to the success of the team as they try to make a title run at the MEAC crown.