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Tuesday’s signing celebration was not necessarily something Maddie Richardson anticipated happening following her high school basketball career.

However, thanks to an acquaintance from a rival school, the dream of playing basketball at the collegiate level was reached.

On Tuesday, in front of friends and family, Richardson announced she would be continuing her academic and basketball careers at Roane State Community College.

“This definitely came out of the blue,” Richardson said. “It’s not something I necessarily expected to happen. It was always a dream of mine and now that it has happened I am very blessed and fortunate to be in this position.”

With her senior basketball season ending at the end of February, Richardson thought her basketball career was coming to a close. However, when a friend from Sevier County high school went to visit Roane State and mentioned Richardson’s name, they got in contact with her.

After a visit, the rest was history.

“It’s always exciting to get to see one of your players have the opportunity to play at the next level,” Jefferson County coach Bo Lewis said. “Coming into this season, Maddie told me she wanted to play at the next level. Thankfully, it worked out for her. I am excited for her just to have the opportunity.”

Richardson’s high school basketball career began at Northview Academy, where she played her first few years. Following her sophomore season, Richardson transferred to Jefferson County where she didn’t play much her junior season.

However, when Lewis came in for her senior season, Richardson stepped up her game and was a huge piece for this year’s Jefferson County basketball team.

“I wish I could have been here all four years, but it just wasn’t in the plans,” Richardson said. “I am very fortunate for the coaches at Northview that got me here, and for coach Lewis for getting me over the finish line.

“It was very frustrating, but I feel like I learned a lot those three years. Coach Lewis pushed me over the summer and then gave me a chance this season. He made me fall in love with the game again.”

This past season was a memorable one for Richardson and her teammates. The Lady Patriots entered the postseason as the No. 4 seed in the district tournament but pulled off two upsets to win the Title. The Lady Patriots then won their Region Quarterfinals matchup before falling to Sevier County in the Region Semifinals.

“This season meant the world,” Richardson said. “I will never have enough words to explain how much this last year meant. It made me love playing again.”

For Lewis, this season was special to him as well and one that could not have taken place without Richardson.

“Maddie is one of those players that I embraced having,” Lewis said. “She brought a lot of energy to the games for us, and we needed that kind of personality for this team. She was a vocal leader for us and always wanted to guard the other team’s best player. She wanted and asked for that assignment.”

With her senior year winding down, Richardson still has a little bit of time before she gets to Roane State. During the time, Richardson wants to work on her game but also work on herself as a person.

“A lot of people would say they want to work on basketball, but I would say I want to work on myself as a person and find out who I am and who I want to be,” Richardson said. “I feel like everything will fall into place after that.”