Fields will continue college career at ODU

PERKINSTON — In just over one year at Mississippi Gulf Coast, Simaru Fields has piled up accomplishments and recognitions at a dizzying pace. All the attention led Tuesday to her the sophomore guard signing to continue her college career at Old Dominion.

"It was the atmosphere," she said. "They're championship oriented. It's the relationships I have with the coaches. She treated me like I was already of her own when I came on my visit. Talking to the players, they spoke highly of her. I just feel like it was the right fit for me." 

The Gulfport High product averaged 15.3 points, 3.4 assists and 2.8 steals to earn a spot on the All-NJCAA Region 23 Team. She was the MACCC Freshman of the Year and selected to play in the prestigious NJCAA Top 40 event in Atlanta.

She's averaging 16.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in the Bulldogs' first two games this season.

"She's meant the world to Gulf Coast, and she's meant the world to me," Gulf Coast coach Hope Adams said. "She's a great kid. She came in motivated. She saw the vision given to her during recruitment and wanted to come here and make a difference. I think we can all say she has done that. She's definitely leaving her mark on our program by being Freshman of the Year, and we're chasing that All-American spot as well as MVP of the league this year."

Fields will head to Norfolk, Va., to play for a strong squad in the Division I Sun Belt Conference. ODU finished last season 22-12 and seeded fifth in the SBC Tournament. The Monarchs won twice to earn a spot in the semifinals, where they lost to eventual champ James Madison. They are coached by DeLisha Milton-Jones, a 2022 inductee into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Fields has more things she wants to accomplish at Perk, and she's thankful for what Gulf Coast has done for her.

"I'm just 30 minutes away from here, and I grew a relationship with Coach Hope," Fields said. "We talked about my goals and aspirations and who I wanted to become. Putting that onto the court, and her believing in me, has made me the player I am. I've been grinding with Coach (Carla) Bartee, getting extra work in, too."

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