Photo courtesy University of Charleston
Former Parkersburg South all-stater Anna Hayton, pictured here making a bucket for the University of Charleston, has signed a contract to play in the Ireland Women’s Super League.

PARKERSBURG — Parkersburg South graduate Anna Hayton, a two-time first team all-Mountain East Conference selection at the University of Charleston, soon will be living out one of her dreams.

After finishing her degree in biology back in May, the 6-foot-2 post player signed with Gamble Sports Management out of Florida and as they say the rest is history thanks to her agent Charles Gamble.

“About a month ago I signed my contract to play in Ireland,” Hayton said. “It’s the top league in Ireland. If all goes as planned and COVID doesn’t set any delays, I’ll be there mid-September and I’ll be there until the end of April, early May.”

The former Patriot will be competing in the Ireland Women’s Super League, but she noted “I’m not allowed to give more details right now” as far as which of the 10 squads she will be competing with.

During her final season with head coach Becky Burke, who left to take a Division I coaching job at the University of South Carolina Upstate, Hayton nearly averaged a double-double a game.

“It was something I’ve always like dreamed of. I never actually thought I could be good enough to accomplish such a goal,” admitted Hayton, who had senior year averages of 19.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks per game.

“In the back of my mind I always wanted to and thought it’d be an awesome experience to tell my kids one day that I played professional basketball.”

Hayton said she really didn’t have to do much after signing with GSM.

“He takes over everything and takes care of all the business side of it,” she said. “He tells me the place and what the team has to offer and I sign the contract or I don’t sign the contract.”

Recently, Hayton has been working with Zac Grossenbacher at the Elite Sports Center as she continues to train and hone her skills.

“I lift every day and run just to stay in the best shape that I can with COVID going on,” she added.

Although time will tell exactly how long Hayton’s pro career will last, she has other aspirations.

“I only plan to do it for a year or two and hopefully go to dental school,” she said. “If I’m a hot ticket internationally I might reconsider it. I really had two dreams all my life and one was to play professional basketball and the other is I want to be an orthodontist and to help people have a pretty smile. I’m working hard to try and do both.”

When she finally got word her first dream had come true she admitted “it was really exciting, actually. Kind of like a surreal moment, even just getting an agent to begin with. It’s just so awesome.”

Even though Hayton only had coach Burke for her final two seasons, the Golden Eagle said that might’ve been the best thing to happen for her career.

“She really changed my mindset on basketball to where I did it differently and I work harder at it,” Hayton said. “It was my main goal to be the best player in the conference and I worked really, really hard to try and be the best.”

One thing her time at UC made clear is the mindset to be confident when she takes the floor.

“Confidence is the key to basketball,” she continued. “I think I will do good over there. I think I’ll be very successful, don’t have to be cocky about it.”

Hayton said her passport is in the works and she did it months ago, but was quick to point out “I know nothing about Ireland. Everyone says it’s really pretty and coach (Kenny) Riggs got me a book about the history of Ireland that I’m going to start learning soon. Maybe I’ll learn something from that book before I go.

“I don’t know a whole lot, but I do know they needed a post player that could guard in the post really well and also step out if needed to. They pay for all my expenses, my food, three meals a day and a place to live.”

Another aspect of Hayton’s game which didn’t hurt her profile was the ability to shoot the 3. She also made 81% from the charity stripe as a senior and converted 56.7% of her field goal attempts.

All in all, Hayton is more than ready for her next opportunity on the hardwood, but she dearly loved her time inside the Rod Oldham Athletic Center.

“It’s nice to come from like being a Patriot. There are so many people in Parkersburg that support you and have your back and always continue to watch your career,” she said. “Even the girls on the team, I’m still friends with them and their moms.

“It’s just awesome to come from such a good background, I guess, and go from being a Patriot to being at UC and have all my Patriot fans still care what I’m doing today. It’s really awesome for me.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com