As senior Caylee Wright laces up her shoes for basketball practice, she realizes that she has a few important decisions to make. With senior year quickly coming to a close, Wright has to decide whether or not she wants to continue playing basketball during her college years.

“I’m trying to decide whether I want to be a student-athlete or just a student,” said Wright.

Basketball has been a part of Wright’s life since she was a baby. Caylee is the fourth generation Wright to pursue basketball, following in her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother’s footsteps.

“I would say my mom has been an influence on my basketball career,” said Wright. “It has been in my family forever, and I have grown up being around the game.”

In making the decision on playing basketball in college, Wright looks at the environment of the college in both the student and athletic aspect. In order to get the full college experience, she wants to picks a college that will offer her both paths, regardless of which one she chooses.

“I want a college that offers me the college life of a student, but also a good athletic environment,” said Wright.

Her mother, head girls basketball coach Sandy Wright, not only plays the part of Caylee’s mom, but also the role of her basketball coach. Coach Wright believes that she has had a big influence on her daughter’s basketball career.

“She’s been in the gym for most of her life,” said Coach Wright. “She understands the game better than most anyone.”

Being both Caylee’s coach and mother, Coach Wright tries to support her daughter as much as she can and prepare her for college. While it is sometimes hard to separate jobs, Coach Wright knows that her daughter is going to succeed.

“All we can do is teach Caylee right from wrong and help her to be the best that she can be,” said Coach Wright.

As Wright begins to research for college and make the tough decision about her basketball career, she knows that she has her family and her basketball team to support her.

“I do love playing the game so much,” said Wright. “It’s always been there for me and the atmosphere is amazing.”