Selma High School forward Brenna Porter will find herself among the state’s best rising seniors come July.

Porter was recently selected to the South All-Star team to play in the North-South All-Star basketball game in July’s Alabama All-Star Sports Week in Montgomery.

Anthony Harris, head girls basketball coach of Selma High School, said Porter was a force in the paint for the Lady Saints during a 20-12 finish this past season.

“She worked hard for us in the post this year. She played and she started every ball game this year, and she did a good job rebounding and scoring,” Harris said. “She did a tremendous job, plus she’s a tremendous student — It’s always yes sir, no sir. She does what you ask her to do. Sometimes she get’s a little frustrated, but she had a great impact for us this year.”

Porter is the seventh Lady Saints player to be selected to the North-South All-Star game since 2004.

After the graduation of Selma High post players Jasmine Peeples, now playing for Alabama State University, and Jameneshia Caver, now at Wallace Community College-Selma, Porter had to step in a provide immediate help in the paint.

Harris said he admires how Porter took the initiative to play hard in the post this past season.

“Over the years in our post play we’ve had quite a few young ladies to step up. They come in their first two years and sometimes you’re growing, you’re learning,” Harris said. “And I guess she took all the bumps and bruises behind some other post players and she decided, well, this is my time to step up. That’s the way I feel about it. She took the initiative and knew we were going to need help this year, and like I said, she stepped right in there.”

Harris said Porter’s worked hard since coming to Selma High School, and he’s expecting bigger things from her next season.

“She’s been working hard ever since she got to Selma High and this year she just blossomed because of hard work,” Harris said. “She’s dedicated, she works as a team player. She’s a jewel and she’s got another year with us. We’re hoping we can get bigger and better things from her.

“As a coach, you watch the players daily, see their work ethic. Her post moves are great on the inside. She’s been working on that. Next year, we’re going to try to spot her up a little bit instead of posting. She’s undersized for a big girl at 5’8 down there, but she still made a great impact.”