CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Clarksville Christian School held its fall college signing ceremony Thursday, celebrating three athletes who made their college commitments official, including five-star power forward Lauren Hassell.
The Hassell name has been well known in Clarksville long before Lauren ever took the court, but she has carved out her own legacy with the Centurions under the guidance of her father, former Austin Peay standout and NBA veteran Trenton Hassell.
Having a decorated coach in her corner, someone she also gets to call Dad at home, has been an advantage for Hassell throughout her journey.
“It’s been amazing. He’s literally taught me everything I know. Being able to strive for a goal that he’s already reached and played at has helped me so much. Knowing what it takes to get to that level has been amazing,” Hassell told Clarksville Now.
For Centurions head coach Trenton Hassell, coaching his daughter has brought a different level of meaning to the experience. While he’s been there to guide her, he has also allowed her to navigate the recruiting process and make her own decisions.
“All the girls who play for me, I treat them like my daughters and their families like my own. But this is even more special because she’s actually my child,” Hassell told Clarksville Now. “I know the work she’s put in, and I know the ups and downs we’ve struggled through with the father-coach relationship.”
Ranked 11th in class, why she chose Vanderbilt University
Hassell is ranked as the No. 11 player in the 2027 class, according to 247Sports, and the second-best power forward in the country. Her success on the court has led to major scholarship offers from programs such as UConn, Duke and Louisville, but Vanderbilt ultimately stood out.
She credited her relationship with Vanderbilt head coach Shea Ralph and the connections she has built with the coaching staff over the years as major factors in her decision to become a Commodore.
“Coach Ralph is amazing, and I’m so excited to play under her. Her assistants have been talking to me since middle school, so the dynamic and connection I’ve built with them has been really special.”
Clarksville Christian School president: ‘Rising tide lifts all ships’
While the journey is just beginning for one of the most talented athletes to come out of Montgomery County, Hassell wasn’t the only Centurion to make her college commitment official Thursday.
Her teammate Caylee Botz committed to Trevecca Nazarene, while volleyball standout Kinsey Blount committed to Freed-Hardeman.
For Clarksville Christian School president Brad Moser, Thursday’s ceremony was a special moment not only for the school but for the entire Clarksville community.
“It’s been said that a rising tide lifts all ships. They’ve led the way for our athletic programs, and we’ve seen others follow that blueprint,” Moser said. “We hope that, not just for our school but for the entire Clarksville community, this is something that makes Clarksville-Montgomery County proud of the kind of people who live here and are growing up here.”
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