Three Shelburne high school grads offered spots on college basketball teams

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Three Shelburne Regional High School graduates will be suiting up for the Saint John Seawolves, the Holland College Hurricanes and the University of Kings College Blue Devils basketball teams next season.

Chloe Goucher, Reese Smith and Halle Williams were all offered spots on the three teams that play in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association.

“It’s a big deal and pretty rare for a small school to have three girls from the same class moving on to play basketball at the post-secondary level,” says SRHS Coach Nick Gray.

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“I think it speaks to the level of commitment and passion from the girls. They have been huge factors in our team’s success over the past few years and have helped establish a culture for our girls’ basketball team in Shelburne,” Gray says. “I am extremely happy that they will have the opportunity to play out their dream of playing college basketball. I couldn’t be more proud of them as I know the amount of work it has taken to get to this point.”

CHLOE GOUCHER

Chloe Goucher has been playing basketball for six years. She was a shooting guard/small forward for the Shelburne Rebels.

In the fall she will be attending the University of Kings College where she be taking the Foundation Year Program for a Bachelor of Science and suiting up for the Blue Devils.

“My high school coach, Nick Gray, played a big role in helping me get here. He sent basketball video and took me to visit some schools I was interested in, which led to a workout at Kings College with coach Chris Holland. I toured campus and did a basketball workout at Kings last summer. I was offered a spot on the team and I committed last Fall,” says Goucher.

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“I like that Kings is a fairly small campus and that it is in Halifax, which will make visiting home easy. The UKC Blue Devils have helped me believe in myself. I really like the athletic environment and Coach Chris has shown me that he is invested in helping me grow and become the best player I can be. I knew I wanted to study and play at Kings as soon as I toured campus and met coach Chris.”

Goucher loves to play the game and is “motivated to learn more and to keep improving. It’s all about personal growth and pushing my limits.”

Coach Holland says the Blue Devils are thrilled to have her join the team “Her hard work, enthusiasm, athleticism and team-first focus were some of the attributes that stood out when we recruited Chloe to the team. We’re looking forward to working with Chloe for the next four years while representing the blue and white.”

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Goucher has been playing basketball with Smith and Williams since the beginning. “Getting to know these girls was what truly brought out my love for the game. Our chemistry was amazing over the years.”

REESE SMITH

Reese Smith has been playing basketball since she was 11 years old as a member of the Shelburne Thrashers U12 team. She played small forward for the Shelburne Rebels.

In the fall she will be attending the University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ) where she will be studying for a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Radiography, and suiting up with the Seawolves.

“My high school coach, Nick Gray helped connect me with many different colleges and universities and coaches in my senior years of high school. I visited and explored many different places and teams,” she explains.

“I started playing with the Halifax Fury in the summer of Grade 11 and my assistant coach had connections with many university coaches as well and also sent off some video of me playing. Coach Moira from UNBSJ connected with me last summer and invited me up for a campus visit and workout with the team last September,” says Smith. “I absolutely loved it there. The school offered the Radiography Program that I was very interested in. Late last year, I was thrilled to be offered a spot on the team and found out this spring that I was accepted into the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program. I knew Saint John and the Seawolves were the right fit for me. I loved the smaller campus, the great atmosphere and all the campus had to offer.”

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Smith says basketball has been a very big part of her life ever since she started playing it.

“It has taught me so much and lots of very valuable life lessons that I continue to carry with me. Basketball drives me to be my absolute best, work hard and have grit. For a big part of my life, it has been an escape from reality and a safe place,” she says. “Getting the opportunity to play post-secondary was something I couldn’t pass up. I am so excited to see what the future holds and start a new journey playing the sport I love most. My family and friends have been so supportive. I couldn’t be here without them.”

Seawolves Coach Moira Gagnon says the team is looking forward to having Smith join their program.

“Her physical style of play will fit well into the ACAA league. Reese will bring additional offensive production to our team with her ability to score and distribute the ball to her teammates. She is a strong player with a passion for the game and a positive attitude that should contribute to our future success.”

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Smith and Halle Williams started playing together in U12 and have been playing together ever since. “We started playing with Chloe in grade 8,” Smith says.

HALLE WILLIAMS

Halle Williams has been playing basketball for as long as she can remember.

“I grew up in a family that really values the game so it’s always been a big part of my life. I used to watch my older siblings play and that really inspired me. Whether it was in our driveway, at school, or in local leagues, I wanted to be out there too,” Williams says. “Basketball has been more than just a sport to me. It’s where I’ve built friendships, learned discipline and found confidence.”

Williams was a guard/forward with the Shelburne Rebels. In the fall she will be attending Holland College where she will be studying Kinesiology and suiting up for the Hurricanes.

“When I started thinking about playing basketball after high school, I felt a bit anxious and overwhelmed. I talked to a few schools and colleges, but Holland College stood out as the right fit for me both academically and athletically,” she says.

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“Coach Gray here at SRHS reached out to coach Connolly with my highlight reel and full game videos. Then my mom, coach Gray and I visited the campus, did a workout with the team and learned more about the programs. I left feeling great about it. Coach Connolly must have felt the same because he offered me a spot for the 2025-26 season. Since then I’ve had several conversations with him and he’s made the whole process easy, positive and exciting,” says Williams.

Williams says what really drew her to Holland College was the balance between academics and athletics.

“From the start, it felt like a place where I could grow not just as a basketball player, but also as a student and person. I’ve always loved playing basketball and knowing that I’ll have the chance to continue playing after high school feels great,” she says.

“Coming from a small school and a small town, going to college is a big change. I wanted to find a place where I’d feel supported both on the court and in the classroom. The programs Holland offers line up well with my interests and academic goals. When I visited the campus it felt like somewhere I could really see myself adjusting and thriving. The team was welcoming and the atmosphere during my workout made me feel at home. Meeting coach Connolly, and seeing how much he cares about his players’ success – not just in games, but in life – really stood out to me. Holland feels like the right place to take on new challenges, stay grounded and continue doing what I love,” says Williams.

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“I love basketball. It’s always been a huge part of my life and I can’t imagine being without it. There was a time when I didn’t think playing at the post-secondary level would be possible for me so I’m really glad it is. It means a lot to be able to keep doing what I love while also focusing on my education.”

Hurricanes Coach Connolly says the team is excited to be adding Halle to its program. “Her rebounding and ability to guard multiple positions will be a great asset to our team moving forward. We can’t wait to welcome her to campus in September and get to work.”

Williams has been playing with Smith since they were 11 when she finally convinced her to give basketball a try. She’s been hooked ever since. “We’ve been teammates every year and summer since then. Chloe joined us in Grade 8 and the three of us have played together on both our high school and summer teams.”

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