By: Kevin Moses
Gracilyn (Gracie) Ratliff
Twitter: @Gracilyn7237062
Instagram:@totally.gracilyn
Height: 5’’4,130
Class: 2029
School: Pike Central High School, KY
Ratliff is fierce off the bounce and a strong finisher around the rim. As a slasher, Gracile tries to attack the basket and either finish or get to the free-throw line. Ball handling and attacking the basket is Gracie’s greatest strength. Don’t sleep on her outside shooting ability as an outside shot, because Gracie is well able to punish the defense out there. A strong defender and can drop nice dimes.
Gracie’s AAU goals with the Lady Splash are to win a championship and get better on individual skills as a team while looking to improve the most on one play memory. Gracie understands if she messes up, just improve on the next play and don’t let one bad play impact how she plays the rest of the game. What fuels Gracie’s fire the most is when her team loses because she hates losing. The most motivating thing that happened last season that will push Gracie forward was the second round game during the A team tournament that they lost by 4 points to Valley and it motivated her to push to win the second round of the A team tournament this coming season. This adversity on the court has taught Gracie to keep trying to push to win and remember what she is capable of knowing that she can play with anyone because they tie their shoes the same way I tie mine. This will fuel her through the AAU session and in the upcoming season to win a county championship.
A coach can expect toughness that sets her apart from others. A scrappy fire that won’t be outworked by anyone on that court. Gracie sees herself playing at NAIA/ D3 because she feels like there is still some stuff she can improve on to make herself a better player. That humble drive keeps Gracie grinding hard to get better every day. Not thinking the work is ever done sets her up to stay hungry for more.