Athlete Spotlight: Chanta Wright

EAST PEORIA — In 2013, Illinois Central College women’s basketball guard Chanta Wright, a freshman at the time, had an exceptional season, averaging 15.7 points per game and leading the Cougars to a 31-4 record.

After the season, because of these accomplishments, she was named the NJCAA Division II National Player of the Year, an honor that she says meant a lot to her. But she keeps her focus on the future not the past.

Wright is now in her sophomore year, and has continued to be one of the key elements to the Cougars success. But she is more focused on her teams accomplishments this season than her own.

Wright is a Peoria native, who graduated from Manual High School in 2012. Her senior year she was named the most valuable player in the Martin Luther King tournament.

Her motivation came from her older sister Candice. Wright looked up to her sister and wanted to be just like her when she grew up.

Wright fell in love with the game of basketball when she was in fifth grade.

“I love the fact that I can be myself and that I can just be able to play the game,” said Wright.

Before each game Wright has a few pre-game traditions to prepare her mentally and physically. She maintains a good diet especially on a game day, then takes a nap to keep her well rested, and lastly she listens to music that will keep her focused and inspire her to play her hardest the entire game.

Wright has high hopes for her team and believes that they have more potential this season than last because they have grown and learned to play as a team.

Majoring in sports management, she plans to transfer to a four-year college where she will continue to pursue her basketball career.

Wright has yet to decide where she will take her basketball talents next fall.