ALBANY, GA -- The glue of the Dougherty High School girl’s basketball team has found her spot for college.

Shawntal Byrd, along with her trademark defense and distribution, will be making a trip to Alabama. The point guard signed with Alabama Community College Lurlene B. Wallace Friday afternoon.

During the 2011-12 season, Byrd was often placed on the opposing team's top player. Dougherty coach Charlene Jackson explained Byrd’s contributions best by referring to the guard “as a gnat always on top of the top players”.

While most in Southwest Georgia understand that illustration, Alabama will now get a taste of what Byrd can offer.

“Recently, I had started giving up, but then my coach…she brought (the offer) towards me. I sat down and I talked about it, and went for workouts and I made my final decision. I wanted to experience a new life and a new state and just experience different things with different people,” Byrd said about her decision.

The Trojan guard graduated from Dougherty with a 3.3 GPA. She plans to continue her basketball career after her two years with the community college.