Court to Classroom – Eadon is a winner

Leila Oliver “Doll” Eadon grew up with a basketball in her hands.

From the time she could walk, Eadon was dribbling and shooting a basketball with her older siblings, sisters Ceci and Marion, and brother, Jules.

“I remember when we lived on Thames Street, I’d get on my bicycle and pedal to the gym at Manning High School,” Eadon said. “I’d sit on the bleachers and watch Jeannie Harvin and Jeri McCord practice and I idolized Coach Harriett McCord.”

Eadon said she developed her style of play from watching Jeri McCord on the court.

“I modeled myself after her,” Eadon said. “I emulated everything she did. I even took her number, number 3.”

Eadon got her tenacity for basketball from playing one-on-one in the backyard night after night against her older brother, Jules.

“He would come outside and shoot with me,” she said with a laugh. “He’d knock me around good. I could handle anything on the court after playing against Jules.”

Eadon remembered her days on the court at Christian Academy.

“I played with Bert (Campbell) Rush. There was Angie (Jackson) Johnson and, of course, my sister Marion,” Eadon said. “I also played with JoAnne Moore and Debbie (Dinkins) Thompson. We used to call her Duck. They were a little older than me.”

She also reminisced about the days playing alongside Vikki Brogdon.

“These girls loved to play basketball,” she said. “They were good and I learned from them on the court.”

Eadon remembered one game when she scored for the opposing team.

“I was almost their high scorer,” she said with a laugh. “When I first started playing we were playing three on three and then roving. I forgot we changed ends and I scored two layups, back-to-back, for the opposing team.”

At Christian Academy, Eadon racked up award after award. She was a member of the All State Team for four years and for three years she was named the Most Valuable Player. She scored 696 points over the course of three years and during her senior year, she dropped in 426 points.

From CA, Eadon moved on to Anderson Junior College and the tutelage of Coach Annie Tribble.

Eadon was one of only a handful of players invited to speak when Anderson Junior College named its floor after Tribble earlier this year.

“I couldn’t have found a better coach than Tribble,” Eadon said. “She played strictly by the rules. She was a smart, motivating coach and she’s a good Christian lady.”

Tribble applauded her former player’s skills on the court.

“Doll played basketball for me at Anderson Junior College during the years of 1973-74 and 1974-75,” Tribble said. “During that time Anderson won two consecutive National Junior College titles and Doll was a starter for both teams. She was an outstanding rebounder and always gave 110 percent.”

The tall, blonde haired kid from Manning who rode her bicycle to watch older girls playing basketball down the street, became the first woman athlete to sign an athletic scholarship at Clemson following her stint at AJC.

Not only did Eadon sign with Clemson, but she played for the Tigers in her first year there.

“Doll won the MVP award and best defensive player award during her first year at Clemson, 1975-76,” Tribble said about her star player.

Tribble followed Eadon to Clemson.

“I became the head coach at Clemson in July 1976,” Tribble said, “and had the privilege of coaching Doll again for her senior year. I can’t say enough about Doll’s value to our teams. She was very outstanding.”

After a successful collegiate career, Eadon took some time off before entering the ranks of basketball coaching. When she did, she was just as successful as a coach as she was a player.

Eadon coached at Laurence Manning Academy, where she was named 5AA Coach of the Year. She took the Lady Swampcats to the conference championship in the 1985-86 season and was named the 1985-86 Coach of the Year. The next year, Eadon led the Lady ‘Cats all the way to state champs and was again named Coach of the Year. She was also named coach of the 1986-87 All Star Team.

Eadon gave up coaching for a different leadership role – that of teacher, K-5 teacher to be exact.

“Coaching was a hand full,” said Eadon who is still  a kindergarten teacher. “But, it’s nothing like a classroom of 27 five-year-olds.”

Eadon said she had no idea why Bill Brewer was calling her.

“I tell you, I don’t have the words to express my feelings. I was sitting in my car and I don’t remember anything after he told me I was nominated and accepted for the Clarendon County Athletic Hall of Fame.

“I am very honored and humbled by the selection. If it wasn’t for my great teammates and coaches, I never would have received all the awards and recognition that I’ve gotten throughout my career.”