Born: June 26, 1921 (Manchester, Tennessee)
Biography:
Alline Banks Sprouse was a prominent figure in the world of basketball and a member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Born on June 26, 1921, in Manchester, Tennessee, she had an exceptional basketball career marked by numerous achievements and contributions to the sport.
Growing up in Manchester, Sprouse began playing basketball during her grammar school years. However, when she reached high school, her local school, Manchester High, did not have a girls team. Determined to continue playing, she made the decision to stay with family members in Murfreesboro, approximately 30 miles away from her hometown. There, she enrolled at Buchanan High, which boasted a successful girls basketball team.
During this period, the game of basketball was played on a court laid out according to the rules established by the game’s founder, Senda Berenson, in 1891. These rules divided the court into three equal sections and required players to stay in their designated section. Given her height and unfamiliarity with her abilities, Sprouse initially played in the center section. However, when one of the forwards fell ill, Sprouse was given the opportunity to showcase her skills in the forward position. In a game that proved to be a turning point in her basketball career, she scored an impressive 42 points. From then on, she established herself as a forward on the team.
Sprouse’s talent and dedication to the sport led her to become a starter for all four years of her high school career. In her senior year, she averaged a remarkable 36 points per game. Her exceptional performance gained recognition and set the stage for her future success in basketball.
After completing high school, Sprouse made the bold decision to enroll at Nashville Business College at the age of 16, even before graduating. She joined the college’s Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) team, which provided her with valuable opportunities to further refine her basketball skills. In her first year as part of the team, she earned the prestigious All-American honorable mention.
Over the course of 12 years, from 1939 to 1950, Sprouse was named an All-American 11 times, a testament to her exceptional talent and consistent performance. In 1940, at the tender age of a teenager, she played a key role in Nashville Business College upsetting the top-seeded Galveston Anicos in the semi-finals. Despite an eventual loss to the Little Rock Travelers in the finals, Sprouse’s outstanding performance resulted in her being awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors for the tournament. Throughout her career, she would go on to win the MVP honors a total of seven times.
Sprouse’s dedication to basketball was evident not only in her exceptional performances but also in her remarkable resilience. On one occasion, she injured her right shoulder during a game, leaving her with limited mobility in her arm. Determined to continue playing, she instructed the doctor to tape her right arm tightly to her body. Even though she was right-handed, she managed to play the next day with her arm bound against her body and scored an incredible 56 points.
Despite the challenges she faced, Sprouse’s talent and determination paved the way for her success and garnered her a spot in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Her contributions to the sport, both on and off the court, have made a lasting impact on the world of women’s basketball.
Awards:
– Inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000