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National Scouting Report softball prospect Keely Edwards is arguably the best high school female athlete in Arkansas. The three-sport Harrisburg High School senior is an all-state performer in softball and tennis and an all-conference player in basketball.
Yet, Robby Wilson, NSR’s National Softball Director and Area Director in Arkansas, had never heard of her. That’s highly unusual because Wilson has a reputation for being everywhere at the same time.
“In the Spring 2014, Keely’s high school coach sent me an email saying she might possibly have one of the best shortstops in the South on her team, and highly recommended I come to watch,” Wilson recalled. “So I came to scout her a few days later. She went 3 for 3 with two triples and a double, five for five in stolen bases, and a couple of big ESPY-type defensive plays that left me in awe. I called her parents the next day and, after chatting with them, went a couple days later to sit down and interview her.
“She and her family were so green to the recruiting process and Keely didn’t know exactly how good she was. It blew my mind when I mentioned college softball and she got all excited saying she didn’t care what level or division, she just wanted to play.”
How good an athlete is Keely? Check this out:
- 2012-13 (Freshman): All-Conference basketball, All-State tennis, All-State tournament team softball.
- 2013-14 (Sophomore): All-Conference basketball, All-Conference tennis, All-State tournament team softball, All-State softball.
- 2014-15 (Junior): All-State tennis, All-State tournament team softball.
- 2015-16 (Senior): All-State softball (to date).
While her honors continue to pile up in tennis and hoops, softball is her first love. She recently signed a National Letter of Intent to play shortstop for the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.
Not surprisingly, Wilson can’t say enough about Keely’s softball talents, especially defensively.
“When you see Keely play, you are instantly impressed with her defensive skills. They are extraordinary,” said Wilson, Area Director of Scouting in Arkansas. “She is a shortstop with a rare hunger on defense. She attacks the ball. Her movement to the ball and quick exchange allow her to gun down faster runners. She has great footwork and a great glove. Her knowledge defensively allows her to make difficult plays look routine.”
Jerrad Hardin, one of the nation’s top softball evaluators, agrees.
“I thought Keely Edwards was one of the top players I got to see last year in the entire country,” he said. “This would number in the thousands. To further that point, she was the best defensive infielder I have seen in my 20 years in softball. I’ve just never seen a player move with such fluidity who always has her feet in the correct position wherever/however she catches the ball.”
Keely is no slouch at the plate, either. Her junior high school stats were as solid as they come. She hit .506 with 26 stolen bases, six home runs, 10 doubles and four triples, producing an on-base percentage of .674 and a .974 slugging percentage.
In her essay to college coaches, Keely said: “I do enjoy competition and the many challenges of sports, but my first love has always been softball. My goal is to play college softball and ultimately represent the United States in the USA softball Olympic games.”
Part 1 of her mission has been accomplished. After being recruited by numerous NCAA Division I schools across the country, Keely decided to stay close to home.
“It’s really exciting with all the hard work I’ve put in, and it’s finally coming true,” Keely told an Arkansas television station prior to signing her NLI. “Arkansas is amazing. It’s one of the best programs I’ve been to.”
Playing three sports and keeping up with her studies was no easy task, said Keely, who sports a 3.1 grade-point average.
“I had to wake up at six o’clock in the morning and hit before I go to school,” she said. “I went to camps every weekend. It took away my summers, but it was all worth it, and I’m glad I did it.”
National Scouting Report is dedicated to finding scholarship opportunities for athletes who possess the talent, desire, and motivation to compete at the collegiate level. We’ve helped connect thousands of athletes with their perfect college.