Zion Neat is an extremely recognizable name when it comes to Goshen College basketball. After leaving GC last year, her sporting career hasn’t slowed down.

She recently signed a professional contract with Juvemaia Basketball Club in Portugal. This makes her the first ever women’s basketball player from GC to do so. 

Neat explained that until a couple of years ago, she had planned to continue her education and gain a master’s degree in social work. However, after a conversation with a close friend, she decided it was worth pursuing an opportunity to play abroad. 

“[I] peaked a little late in basketball. I went to a really big high school and didn’t get to be a star there, so it was kind of a new thing for me in college. I want to live in that a little more if I can,” she said. 

The opportunity came through her agent, who had an existing connection with Juvemaia. They wanted another American to join their roster, and after viewing her highlights, Neat was the perfect fit.

After what she described as an “awful” process to get her visa to relocate to Portugal, Neat is hopeful to be able to join her team by the first week of February at the latest. Currently she is waiting for her visa to arrive, and will then be on the next flight out.

At this time, Neat is still at home in Austin, Texas, where she is working with a trainer and a group of other athletes, who also play internationally. “We lift together, condition together, all the things … [my trainer] definitely helps me to be more prepared, because she’s done it a million times,” Neat said.

Neat is spoken very highly of by current women’s head basketball coach at GC, Tyra Carver. “From the day we met, Zion mentioned to me that she wanted to go pro after finishing her collegiate career,” Carver said. “Most people say they want things and never follow through. Zion was different … The ability to stay consistent and continue to grind, put her on another level.” 

Neat describes spending a lot of extra time in the gym with Carver, even after she wasn’t technically a Goshen player anymore. 

Not only is this a big step for her career, but Neat is also excited about the chance to live overseas. “I’m super interested in other cultures and how people operate, so I’m really excited about that,” she said. 

She also spoke about how exciting it is to be a full-time athlete, and that despite enjoying her time studying in college,  she is looking forward to experiencing high-level athletics without having to worry about studying at the same time. 

Neat expressed how grateful she was for her time at GC, and for the support of her teammates, trainers and coaches at various stages of her life. She mentioned that she had recently caught up for dinner with her coaches from high school to celebrate her recent success. “There’s a long, long list of people I could thank for this,” she said. 

Juvemaia Basket Club plays in the second division of basketball in Portugal, and are mostly a Portuguese team, with Neat being the second American to join the current roster. 

When asked about how she would describe Neat, Coach Carver said “Zion is one of the most kindhearted and lovable people you will ever meet … Incredible human.” 

She went on to give some advice to Zion in her new endeavor overseas. “Be strong and stay mentally locked in. You have all the tools needed to be successful overseas,” Carver said. These tools include over 2000 career points in college, multiple All-Crossroads League honours and clearly an incredible work ethic according to her teammates.