MOULTRIE — The Columbus State women’s basketball team has a starting position open and Colquitt County coach Joe Parker says be may be sending just the right player.

Two-time first-team All-Region 1-AAAAA guard Ashley Stafford signed a grant-in-aid on Wednesday to take her basketball skills to the Lady Cougars program.

Parker sees no reason why Stafford won’t be in the lineup as a freshman next season.

“I think she’ll play right off the bat,” Parker said.

“They’ll see what she knows and when the see how athletic she is, they’ll need her out there.”

Stafford led the Lady Packers to a 21-10 record last year and a berth in state’s Elite Eight.

Colquitt County finished No. 6 in Class AAAAA and Stafford was a big reason.

She averaged 10 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. She led the team in assists and steals and was named to the all-region team for the second year in a row.

As a junior, her numbers were remarkably similar. She averaged 10.1 points and 6.4 rebounds to earn all-region honors after the 2004-2005 season.

Parker, who has led the Colquitt County girls team since 1997, calls Stafford one of the top five players he has coached.

“She can rebound, she can play defense, she can handle the ball,” Parker said. “She’s a girl you just don’t want to play against.”

Stafford also was an all-region player in softball at Colquitt County, but will concentrate on basketball at Columbus State.

Stafford said Columbus State began following her when the Lady Packers played in the Great Southern Shootout in December at Westside-Macon High.

She said she likes the campus and the living facilities at the school.

Columbus State, which finished 17-15 under coach Jay Sparks last season, plays in the Peachbelt Conference, which also includes Armstrong Atlantic, Augusta State, Clayton State, Francis Marion, Georgia College and State, Lander, UNC-Pembroke, North Georgia, USC-Aiken and USC-Upstate.

Two of the Lady Packers seniors now have a chance to play at the next level.

Dorothy Strong has signed with Darton College.