Hundreds of fans strolled through the hallway at Georgia Tech's posh Alexander Memorial Coliseum, stopping at each station to get an All-American's autograph.
Souvenir programs, T-shirts, basketballs, whatever they wanted signed, Dominique Redding, one of 20 Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-Americans, affixed her practiced signature:
Dominique Redding #13 UTLADYVOL
The Tennessee signee's extraordinary career at Clearwater High was capped by some of the highest honors a prep player can achieve. She was selected for two prestigious national events this spring, the WBCA All-Star Game (for the nation's top 20 players) in Atlanta during the women's Final Four weekend and the famed McDonald's All-American Game (top 24 players) in March in Cleveland.
At the McDonald's event, she met a fellow prep All-American playing in the boys game - LeBron James.
"We all thought he was going to come in his Hummer and not stay in the hotel with us. But he didn't. He was just like a normal kid," Redding said. "He did everything we had to do, went to bed on time, things like that. He was a really nice kid to talk to. He was really down to earth. He was just like a normal 18-year-old."
Redding's side lost the McDonald's game, televised on tape delay by ESPN. She played better in the WBCA game (eight points and four rebounds), and her team won in overtime.
At both events, she enjoyed her dose of the royal treatment.
"It was crazy. Whatever you wanted, you got it," Redding said.
In the official program for the WBCA game, the Clearwater basketball team bought an ad congratulating Redding. It had a photo, cited her school-record 2,648 points and wished her well.
"Thanks for the memories! Next stop ... Rocky Top."
