Foley High School girls basketball coach Shanece McKinney Sims has been listed as a candidate for the NBA's Coaching Development Program, a selective initiative designed to help former and current professional basketball players advance or start their coaching careers through training and exposure.

Run by NBA Player Development, the program provides participants with instruction in practice planning, player development, scouting, leadership and the use of professional basketball technology commonly used at the NBA and G League levels. Coaches also gain access to mentorship and networking opportunities with current and former professional coaches.

Yes, you heard that right — this program is for current and former professional basketball players. Many in Baldwin County may not be aware, but McKinney Sims starred at LeFlore where she developed into one of Alabama's top girls basketball players. She led LeFlore to a Class 5A state championship as a junior and earned 5A Player of the Year honors as a senior.

Her high school success led to an invitation to USA Basketball's U18 national team trials and a national ranking by ESPN. She went on to play four seasons at LSU, from 2010 to 2014, and was a regular starter by her senior year, averaging 7.5 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game.

McKinney Sims went undrafted in the WNBA but played professionally in the United States and overseas. She spent the 2014 season with the New York Liberty and later had training camp stints with the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever. Her global career included time in the EuroLeague, where she played for teams in France, Turkey, Spain, South Korea, Romania and Lebanon, highlighted by helping Cankaya win a Turkish league regular-season title.

The multi-month coaching development program typically selects former athletes who are already working in coaching. In addition to her time as a high school player and her current role with the Lions, McKinney Sims has also coached at the junior college level at Coastal Alabama. Acceptance into the program is competitive, and would place the Foley head coach among a small group chosen from across the country.