Harriton senior guard Sophie Grady is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The senior guard became Harriton’s all-time girls’ basketball scorer Jan. 18, breaking the record of 1,091 points set by Heather Barrie in 2002. Last winter, the Narberth native was a first team All-Central League selection, and a first team All-Main Line pick for the second consecutive year, averaging 14 points per game. A National Honor Society member, she is a two-sport athlete at Harriton and received second team All-Main Line field hockey honors last fall. She also plays AAU basketball for the Philadelphia Comets. Her father, Tom Grady, is the mayor of Narberth.
Q: What does it mean to you to be the all-time Harriton girls’ basketball scoring leader? Do you know, or have you heard from, the former record-holder, Heather Barrie?
A: This record really means a lot to me. Knowing that my name will live on at Harriton High School after I leave makes me extremely happy and proud of this accomplishment. Heather Barrie, also from Narberth, went to Harriton in 1999-2002 and was the first girl to reach a 1,000 points. It is pretty awesome that 15 years later I was able to reach then break her record. Although I have not heard from Heather, it would be awesome to hear where her basketball career has taken her and what she is currently doing.
Q: Tell us about the moment after you sunk the free throw against Strath Haven, when you realized that you had become the all-time leading Harriton girls’ basketball scorer. What was your first reaction? What were your thoughts when Coach [Kacy] McNichol called time-out and the game was stopped?
A: When I made the free throw, Coach Kacy called a time out and I was caught off guard when the announcer said with that point I had become the all time scorer in Harriton girls basketball history. I had no idea that I was so close to this milestone and hearing the announcer say that sounded surreal. This was such an exciting moment, I still cannot believe it.
Q: You had mentioned that there were a lot of family and friends at the game where you scored your 1,000th career point. Was there a similar turnout Jan. 18?
A: The night I reached 1,000 points so many people were there. My prior coaches, all my cousins, friends, even my friends’ parents were all there to support me. It was a really exciting evening. On [Jan. 18], the night I needed one point to break the record, my mom did a great job of keeping it a secret. My parents, grandma, uncle and sister were there to support me, along with my middle school coaches and teachers who have been adding my points since then. Definitely less people than when I scored the 1,000th point, but still so nice to see everyone there.
Q: Tell us a little about your AAU basketball career with the Philadelphia Comets – what (to you) has been your most memorable experience with the Comets?
A: My AAU career with the Philadelphia Comets has been one of the best experiences in my life. The past six years being coached by Coach Murphy has strengthened my basketball skills and has helped me become the player I am today. My Comets teammates are such an amazing group of girls. I really enjoyed competing, traveling and visiting places that I may not have had the chance to see otherwise. My favorite memory would have to be going to Chicago this past year with them. Since it was one of our last tournaments, we all bonded so much and had a lot of fun around the city.
Q: Where did you get your start playing basketball? Who have been your most important basketball mentors, and what was the most important thing you learned from each of them?
A: I started playing when I was really young, since both of my older siblings (Tom and Ali) played the sport. I would always go to their games carrying a basketball and shoot around. Overall all of my coaches have been amazing mentors. My prior basketball coaches at Harriton always pushing me to limits I never thought I could reach really developed my basketball mindset and made me the player I am today. I also am thankful for my current coach Kacy for her support and teaching me a lot about the game even though this her first year coaching at Harriton. The most important thing I have learned from all of my coaches is that hard work beats talent. If you work hard and put your mind to something the rest will come naturally.
Q: You wear uniform No. 10 for Harriton. Is there a reason you chose that number – does it carry any special significance to you?
A: My lucky number is originally 5, but as a freshman at Harriton that number was already taken, my coach suggested No. 10 and that has been my number since.
Q: Who are your favorite basketball players?
A: Elena Delle Donne is definitely one of my favorite basketball professionals. She is an amazing player but I also like her positive attitude off the court.
Q: What is your favorite basketball venue and why?
A: My favorite basketball venue has to be the Narberth Basketball Courts. Since we live right across the street from them, my two neighbors (and best friends) Meg, Matt and I would spend days at the courts when we were as little as 5 years old. Also I love that it is an outdoor court so in the summer when it gets nice there is always so many people playing pick up, along with the Narberth Basketball League games. To this day it is my favorite basketball league to play in.
Q: What do you think you might like to major in at college? Is there a career path that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: At this time, I am unsure of my exact career path, but I do know it will be something in the medical field.
Q: What extracurricular activities are you involved in at Harriton other than basketball and field hockey?
A: I am a member of the National Honor Society, a Freshman Mentor, a member of SpeakUp!, and captain of the communications branch for Mini-Thon. I participate in multiple clubs such as the Stock Club, Kiva, and the Optimal Club.
Fun facts – Sophie Grady
Favorite book: Orphan Train.
Favorite TV shows: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, American Horror Story.
Favorite movie: Grease.
Favorite place to visit: Ocean City, N.J.
Favorite pre-game meal: “Tacos or spaghetti and meatballs, and I always have a pre-game banana.”
Favorite color: Green.
Birth date: Nov. 5, 1998 in Narberth.
Family members: Tom (dad), Theresa (mom), Tom (brother, age 25), Ali (sister, age 22.)
To view a gallery of the Main Line Girls Athletes of the Week from 2013 to date, click here
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
