ESPN to feature former Kaplan star, current South Carolina player Tina Roy

KAPLAN — South Carolina basketball player Tina Roy, a Kaplan native, will be featured on ESPN during an NCAA tournament pre-game show next Thursday, March 24.
South Carolina (31-1) is a No. 1 seed and a favorite to reach a second straight Final Four. Roy has been a key contributor to that success, so it is no surprise that ESPN would want to highlight her.
Roy had one request of ESPN for her segment....feature her home town.
The sports giant obliged, as producers arrived at Kaplan High School Wednesday morning to interview Roy’s family and friends.
“This is so exciting!” exclaimed Marcelite Hopkins, Roy’s mother. “It is exciting to be able to talk about how successful Tina has become because it shows that hard work and dedication pays off.
“You can dream, but you have to stay focused on that dream.”
Roy, a 2011 Kaplan High graduate, certainly has. She has already earned degree in interdisciplinary studies. She is averaging six points a game and has started in 13 games and has played in all 32 games.
“I am so proud of her,” Hopkins said. “It takes sacrifice for what she has accomplished. It was a big sacrifice to go away so far for school. She had to leave behind her family and everything familiar to her.
“She had to leave that.”
Roy may have had to leave Kaplan behind, but she has not forgotten where she came from.
“She wanted to make sure that her hometown was part of this,” Hopkins said. “She wanted people to know that from this little town, even though there may not appear to be a lot of opportunities, you can be successful.”
Kaplan High Principal Dr. Janet Guerrini was not at the school during Roy’s four years. Still, Guerrini is grateful for Roy including the school.
“I don’t know Tina personally,” Guerrini said. “Something that was very important to Tina is that her high school was highlighted. Obviously Tina has a lot of admiration and respect for her high school, which means that the people who were her for her four years played a big part in her life and where she is today.
“That tells me a lot about Tina Roy, the fact that she is remembering her school and her teachers, and wants them to know that this place was huge in her success.”
Guerrini said Roy’s success and bringing the ESPN story back to Kaplan can have a profound effect on current students.
“She is dedicated and has a great work ethic,” Guerrini said. “That has to be because she is managing her classes and an intense basketball life, and she is successful doing it. She did that while she was here at Kaplan. That’s what I want our kids to understand, even though you may come from a tough background, you don’t quit. From what I understand, Tina faced some challenges, but she did not quit. She stepped up and she overcame those challenges. Sometimes it’s easier to quit than face challenges. I think sometimes in our life we need a hometown hero to come back and let the kids know, you can overcome challenges.
“Tina Roy is that, a hometown hero.”
Those closest to Roy see that.
“She is an inspiration for me,” Hopkins said. “I see the things that she is doing and it makes me want to do some of the things that I put aside in my own life. One of my other daughters came to me and told me that because of what Tina is doing, she wants to go back to school.
“Tina is an inspiration for all of us.”
Family, friends and fans will hope to be an inspiration for Roy and the rest of the top-seeded Gamecocks, as they begin their journey to Indianapolis and another Final Four. South Carolina lost 66-65 to Notre Dame during last year’s Final Four in Tampa.
“Tina grew up watching all of these great players in the Final Four,” Hopkins said. “She always told me that one day she would be playing in it. When they made it last year, that is when it really hit me that Tina accomplished what she worked so hard for.”
The mission is not complete. A national championship would tie a nice bow on Roy’s story. While defending champion UConn is a favorite, Hopkins has a good feeling for her daughter’s team.
“I think they are going to be motivated and driven by doubters,” Hopkins said. “I was watching experts say that no one can beat UConn. Sometime it takes that to fuel you.
“We are going to be behind them all the way.”