In the 127 years the Carrollton High School has held valedictorian honors, no one has ever signed to a athletic scholarship and won the award-until now. Daija Preston is leaving her legacy at Carrollton after achieving this accomplishment.
Preston was a two-time team captain on the girls basketball team (junior and senior seasons). She also was a two-time first team all-region selection and was named co-region player of the year this past season. Additionally, she was an Atlanta Tip Off Club honorable mention this season and was a GACA All-State selection the past two seasons.
Preston wants to do what she can to represent Carrollton at the next level.
“I am so thankful for the journey I had at Carrollton High School. The Carrollton community is such a family-oriented, unmatched culture, and I loved my time there. I will forever be grateful to all my teachers and coaches who pushed me to achieve this distinction. I’m excited to take what I have learned on the court, and in the classroom, to the next level.”
Her storied career ended with her totaling 1,032 points, 421 rebounds, 308 assists, and 203 steals. She helped lead the Trojans to a 22-8 record and a 6A quarterfinal appearance in her senior season. Ever since she entered the Carrollton halls, head girls basketball coach Shon Thomaston knew she was going to be special.
“The very first day I met Daija, I knew she was first class in everything she did. You could feel from her family that settling for second was not a part of her DNA. Her determination to be the best student-athlete, male or female, was only matched by her determination to be the best student-athlete. That speaks volumes about how she was raised and the standards she holds for herself. No one has done better; she is the total package.”
By the end of her Carrollton journey, she had more than 30 scholarship offers, totaling more than $4 Million dollars between academic and athletic scholarships. Carrollton High School athletic director Elizabeth Sanders said Daija’s drive and commitment set her apart, maintaining academic focus even during athletic moments.
“Daija was the epitome of a student-athlete at Carrollton High School. During the region tournament at East Coweta, I looked up and saw her doing school work in the stands before stepping on the court to help the team win the region championship.” Sanders continued, “She is one of the most focused individuals I have ever met, and will be an example to young Trojans for years to come. If anyone ‘just gets it,’ it is Daija Preston.
Despite having to make such a difficult decision, Preston decided to continue her athletic and academic career at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she will major in engineering and play for the women’s basketball team. She is taking classes this summer and is getting settled into life as a Division one student-athlete.
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