USF Athletics

Hall of Fame Profile: Shantia Grace

November 11, 2019

USF Athletic Hall of Fame Profile Series
Senior Writer Tom Zebold takes a look at the next USF Athletic Hall of Fame class that will be inducted on Friday, Nov. 15 at the Marshall Student Center on the USF campus. The sixth class of inductees includes Shantia Grace (women's basketball, 2005-09), Sara Nevins (softball, 2011-14) and George Selvie (football, 2006-09).
Purchase tickets to the Hall of Fame induction dinner and ceremony HERE.
 
Name: Shantia Grace
Sport: Women's basketball
Years at USF: 2005-09
Position: Guard
Hometown: Sarasota, Fla.
 
By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, NOV. 12, 2019 – With a women's college basketball resume filled with stellar stats and accomplishments, Shantia Grace is definitely worthy of USF Athletic Hall of Fame status.

Still, the Bulls' all-time assist leader (610) and 2009 WNIT MVP was shocked when she received the call to the Hall from USF Vice President of Athletics Michael Kelly on the way to her head coaching job at Booker High School.

"The world froze. I was shaking. I was yelling. I was trying not to yell too loud in his ear, but I was at a loss for words. I didn't know what to say," Grace said. "It was a phone call I've been waiting on but when it came, I couldn't think."

Friday evening should be another emotional time for Grace, who will officially enter the USF Athletic Hall of Fame with Sara Nevins (softball, 2011-14) and George Selvie (football, 2006-09). Each member of USF's sixth Hall class was remarkable in their respective sports and Grace's feats stand the test of time.

Ten years after her stellar USF career came to a close (2005-09), the Sarasota native still tops the Bulls' career charts in assists (610) and starts (129). Grace also ranks third all-time in scoring (1,941 points) and games played (132), and fifth in three-point percentage (.356).

"I've seen a lot of great athletes come through, especially Courtney Williams," Grace said. "Just seeing them play and seeing my records still kind of up there at the top five for most of them, it was just a feeling I got, thinking to myself, 'Maybe I did do something great at the school besides winning a championship for the girls' program.'"

On the way to the WNIT title, Grace achieved greatness early in the 2008-09 season when the former guard set the USF single-game record with 44 points against Coppin State.

"Nov. 23, 2008, I always remember that day," she said.

Grace won't forget the exchange with head coach Jose Fernandez at the end of her stellar performance that included 16 made shots on 24 attempts and eight three-pointers in 28 minutes of the 97-43 home victory.

"After I did get out, I was wondering how many points I had because I had no idea. He's like, '44,'" Grace said. I was like, 'Well, can I get 50?' I didn't press it too much. I just kind of laughed it off and cheered on my team."

Grace and Fernandez shared another special moment at the end of her senior season when the Bulls were declared WNIT champions. Grace had 16 points in the 75-71 finals victory at Kansas and capped off her collegiate career with tournament MVP honors.

"I wanted to pick a school where I could make a difference," she said.

Becoming a Memorable Bull at USF and Beyond
Grace was once a star prep player at Riverview High School who "felt home" at USF when it was time to take the next step in her career.

"Coach Fernandez made me feel comfortable," she said. "It wasn't all about who I was on the court. It was about who I was off the court. His promise was to make sure I get a college degree and that was big."

Special support, along with her superb skills, helped Grace become the total package as a Bull. The three-time All-Big East selection led the team in assists in all four of her seasons while she also posted two of the top-10 scoring seasons in program history (593 points in 2007-08, seventh; 550 points in 2008-09, ninth).

Grace just wasn't a go-to player on offense. She played lockdown defense, ranking seventh in career steals at USF with 194.

Aside from school records, top WNIT feats and now Hall of Fame honors, Grace fulfilled her goal of crossing the academic finish line. After playing professionally in Poland, the communication major received her bachelor's degree in May 2011 before returning to the game.

Following one year at Dunedin (Fla.) High School, Grace went back home to Sarasota to become the head girls basketball coach at Booker High School in 2017.

"Even though I was at the rival school (Riverview) when I played in high school, I just felt like being home was the best decision for me, giving those girls, those young ladies, a chance that I had to be able to further their basketball career and their education," she said.

"Staying consistent in what you believe in," is a motto Grace got from Coach Fernandez, which has led to solid success in her current role. Since Grace took over, Booker has registered a 37-17 record and reached the regional final in her second season in 2018.

"(Fernandez) never switched up. He always was hard on us. He always believed in us. He always supported us and kept his word," Grace said. "That's what I bring to my girls today. I just tell them to stick with it, stayed focused. Always believe in yourself and always believe in what you're doing."

Keeping the faith certainly has paid off for Grace, who will become the third women's basketball player to be inducted to the USF Athletic Hall of Fame, joining Wanda Guyton (Class of 2009) and Jessica Dickson (Class of 2012).

 
About USF Women's Basketball
To stay up-to-date on the latest USF women's basketball news, follow the Bulls on social media (Twitter | Facebook | Instagram).
 
USF notched its eighth consecutive 19-win season and eighth straight postseason appearance in 2018-19. The Bulls celebrated two all-conference honorees in Enna Pehadzic and Sydni Harvey.
 
USF has made 15 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez's 19 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to nine 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 350 games.

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