NATCHEZ &045; Don’t ask Natchez High senior Delequa Drake to tell you what she’s involved in unless you’ve got some time on your hands.

School clubs, basketball, community service, a part-time job and schoolwork are just some of the things she’ll start listing off.

Those activities and her leadership in the school immediately brought Drake to mind when it came time to nominate a student for the Wendy’s High School Heisman, Guidance Counselor Iris Myles said. &uot;I thought she was the ideal person,&uot; Myles said. &uot;She’s one of those athletes that doesn’t put athletics first. She always puts academics first, but she is also dedicated to the basketball team.&uot;

Community service, grades and sports are all requirements for the High School Heisman award, loosely modeled after the collegiate Heisman recognition.

&uot;I was kind of surprised she chose me considering all the good female athletes here,&uot; Drake said. &uot;But I really appreciate the nomination. It is an honor.&uot;

Drake will go through five more phases ultimately competing to win the national award. She will be judged on ACT score on the state level and judges nationally.

Drake said the nomination process included an essay outlining how she overcame an obstacle in her life. Her essay focused on the death of her basketball coach last year, Mary J. Irving, and the death of her cousin soon after.

&uot;Both were very dear to me and I know they wouldn’t want me to just sit around. I’ve dedicated this season to both of them.&uot;

Drake, who is a center on the NHS team, said basketball this year has been a big change without Irving and has sometimes been hard.

&uot;I’m not used to not having Mrs. Irving around,&uot; she said. &uot;But I am looking forward to the season. We have a coach that is going to push us.&uot;

Drake has attended basketball practice from 2:20 to 5:15 p.m. each day since October to prepare for the season, which starts Friday.

On weekends and sometimes after practice she works at the Tracetown McDonald’s for extra money.

A couple of times a week she goes to McLaurin Elementary School to tutor fourth-graders and hopes to add sixth-grade soon. She also runs errands and does various tasks for her elderly neighbor.

And she has a 3.8 grade point average. She’s debated trying for both academic and athletic scholarships at several major colleges, but has decided for now to let God direct her path, she said.

&uot;Mississippi State would be my first choice, but of course I’d love to go to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and play,&uot; she said. &uot;If everything goes well, I plan to get a basketball scholarship, and hopefully go somewhere and help the team out.&uot;

Drake credits her success to her family and to God.

Twelve national High School Heisman finalists will be chosen for an all-expense paid trip to New York Dec. 10-12 for Heisman weekend activities. The finalists will be featured on ESPN2’s awards ceremony to air on Dec. 12.