Former Bethel Christian basketball star honored with jersey retirement

Feb. 2—Although it took 15 years for it to happen, Ashley Deaver Nesbitt can rest easy knowing no other Bethel Christian Academy player will ever wear No. 11 again.

The school honored Nesbitt for her record-breaking basketball career from 2003-07 during halftime on Tuesday, Jan. 24.

The recognition took a little longer than expected — 15 years longer, in fact — because of changes within the school distracted from her accomplishment when it happened.

"The year after I graduated, the school split and a group of people left and created Haywood Christian Academy," Nesbitt said. Usually, jerseys are retired at BCA at the awards banquet at the end of the player's senior year. Nesbitt's never came.

"I was a little hurt by it because I knew I was good enough for it to happen to me," she said. "My children and husband Logan were able to be there, so it was probably more special."

But Nesbitt's career justified recognition. She is BCA's all-time leading scorer — 1,553 points — in both boys and girls basketball. She also holds the single-game scoring record with 33 points.

"I strived to beat all the records," Nesbitt said. "I wanted to set an example for those that come behind me. I hope they want to beat my record. That's what records are for."

Part of Nesbitt's career success was how early she came to the program. She was asked by then-BCA head basketball coach, Rob Sims, to become his varsity point guard as a seventh-grader.

"He saw my ability and potential," Nesbitt said. And she came by her talent honestly — Nesbitt's mother played basketball and was an assistant coach during Nesbitt's playing days. Nesbitt wore No. 11 in honor of her mother.

"My mom plays by the book, and she never cut me any slack," Nesbitt said. "She expected a lot more out of me because she wanted me to earn all my stripes."

Even though she was a very young player on a varsity team, Nesbitt's attentive and aggressive defensive style quickly earned her a nickname.

"Coach Rob referred to me as his 'little flea' because when I played defense, I was doing whatever it took to get the ball," Nesbitt said. "He was a great coach. He was very level-headed and encouraged me to do my best all the time."

Although those first two years with BCA didn't count toward her high school records, they helped lay the foundation for Nesbitt's future success.

"Whenever I started playing for BCA, we didn't have a home gym because the school was below Bethel Baptist Church," Nesbitt said. "When I was in ninth grade, the school bought the old YMCA building, which gave us our first real home game."

It proved to be the spark the girls needed. They went on to win the state championship that season. And with wins came points, a lot of points, especially for Nesbitt.

And although some girls may have been content to own the girls' career points record, it wasn't enough for Nesbitt.

"I set out with the goal that I wanted to beat the boys' record leader," she said.

It just so happens that the record leader back in 2007 was "Little" Rob Sims, her coach's son. During an away game during her senior season, her coach pulled her out of the game.

"Big Rob said, 'You're about to beat Little Rob's record. Do you want to come out so you can do it at home?' I said I wanted to keep playing because I never wanted to sit on the bench," Nesbitt recalled.

She broke "Little" Rob Sims' record that night, and at the next home game, he presented her with a commemorative basketball.

So it was fitting that last Tuesday, "Little" Rob Sims also had his jersey retired alongside Nesbitt.

Nesbitt is currently a kindergarten teacher assistant at Hazelwood Elementary but will graduate from Western Carolina University this year with plans to become an elementary teacher. Her two children play basketball in the local youth program.

For now, the former BCA star is content just cheering on her kids, as her mom did for her, but it won't stop her from giving them a few tips.

"I hope to coach them in the future," Nesbitt said. "We have a basketball goal in our driveway, and whenever we can get to the gym, we're down there. And after practice, I'm giving them pointers."