Marquetta Dickens enters her second season as an assistant coach for the North Carolina Central University women's basketball program after a successful basketball career of her own.
Dickens started her career in Tarboro, N.C., where she led Tarboro High School to countless conference championships and state championship runs. She was named Miss Basketball of North Carolina during her junior season and went on to become the first female in Tarboro history to have her jersey retired.
Her talent caught the eye of many scouts nationwide. She was named one of the Top-25 high school players in the nation and went on to continue her basketball career at North Carolina State University, under the leadership of the honorable Kay Yow.
Dickens graduated from North Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree in parks, recreation and tourism management with an emphasis in sports management. She also graduated with a minor in business.
As a freshman, Dickens earned a starting spot for the Wolfpack, where she remained throughout her career at N.C. State. While at N.C. State, she was known as one of the most versatile and intense players on the team, playing three different positions.
When asked about Dickens, her former college coach Jenny Palmateer describes her as a tenacious player who was always the hardest worker on the team. She also stated that Dickens had explosive offensive skills and was a big time scorer and rebounder.
Dickens was the type of player who was willing to do whatever was asked for the sake of the team. She was a great defender, who was willing to give up her body. She loved to compete and is very competitive. She was one of the best all-around players to come through N.C. State.
She ended her college career with 989 points and more than 500 rebounds. Dickens led her team to the Sweet Sixteen during her final campaign. When asked about her experience at N.C. State, Dickens expresses how much basketball knowledge she was taught, but more so, how she was given the tools to become a better person.
After her colligate career was complete, Dickens was invited to attend a few closed tryouts for the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Although Dickens did not earn a spot on a final roster, she stuck with it and found herself playing professionally in Europe.
During her first season as a professional, she played in Rybnik, Poland, where she led the Utex Row Rynik team to a Final Four and it's first-ever playoff appearance. She left Poland as the second leading scorer on the team and dished out the most assists.
Dickens' debut season landed her another season in Povoa de Varzim, Portugal, where she led the CD Povoa/Monte Adriano team in assists, points, and steals. While playing in Portugal, Dickens lost her mentor Kay Yow to a long battle with breast cancer, and her thought process began to change.
Shortly after Yow's passing, Dickens decided to place her own professional dreams on hold. She wanted to pass on the knowledge she was given from a very inspirational Kay Yow. Dickens decided to start her own company, GIT HYPE (Gathering Individuals To Help Youth Prosper & Excel), with some of her former peers. It was a way for her to pass on life lessons and skills that she was taught.
When asked to be a part of the Lady Eagles program, Dickens was very excited and eager to share all the things she was taught by her legendary coach, in hopes that it would help carry this program to its highest potential.
She resides in Raleigh, N.C.
