Women's Basketball Newcomers Excited
9/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Sept. 3, 2006
WACO, Texas - Seven, count them, seven newcomers appear on the 2006-07 Baylor Lady Bears roster. All seven eager faces, ranked the top recruiting class nationally by the All Star Girls Report, were on campus this past summer to take classes and participate in strength and conditioning sessions.
Leading the crop of newcomers is senior forward Bernice Mosby (Brookville, Fla./Hernando HS), a transfer from the University of Florida. Although technically a newcomer, Mosby, a candidate for Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors, has a season of Lady Bear practices under her belt. In accordance with NCAA regulations, Mosby sat out last year's competition but was able to participate in practices. She was introduced to Lady Bear basketball by playing daily against former Lady Bear standouts Sophia Young and Abiola Wabara.
"I am very eager to get out on the floor this season, especially after I sat out for a whole year, it's been a huge learning experience for me. I'm ready to get out there and show what I can do, not only other people but myself as well, and also show how I've improved," said Mosby. "Coach Mulkey pushes me beyond the limits of what I think I can do. I love her intensity and I thrive on it. As a player, I have a lot of drive and intensity and having a coach with a lot of intensity makes me feel comfortable here," she added.
All six freshmen began classes this past summer. Whitney Jones (West Monroe, La./West Monroe HS) was the first to land on campus, enrolling in the first summer session while Haylee Abbe (Waco, Texas/Robinson HS), Jessika Bradley (Sacramento, Calif./Sacramento HS), Latara Darrett (Chino, Calif./IMG Pendleton Academy [FL]), Kaitlin Oberg (West Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) and Danielle Wilson (Bay Shore, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) all began classes in the second session.
After a brief return to their respective homes at the conclusion of the second session, all six freshmen traveled back to Waco to move into their campus suite and begin fall semester classes.
Upon completing their first day of classes on Aug. 21, the newcomers joined the five Lady Bear returnees for the team's first meeting of the season in the theater area of the impressive lockerroom. The Lady Bear returnees include senior LaToya Wyatt (Ft. Worth, Texas/McLennan CC/L.D. Bell HS), junior Angela Tisdale (Austin, Texas/Del Valle HS) and sophomores Rachel Allison (Jonesboro, Ark./Jonesboro HS), Jessica Morrow (Humble, Texas/Humble HS) and Jhasmin Player (Bay City, Texas/Bay City HS).
In addition to continuing strength and conditioning sessions, the Lady Bears will soon begin individual workouts which will be held in either the Ferrell Center or the newly completed Lt. Jack Whetsel, Jr. Basketball Practice Facility. Individual workouts will continue until the first day of practice, Oct. 13.
The general consensus of the freshmen class is: 1) time management is huge; 2) they miss their friends, family and home cooked meals: 3) they are amazed at the speed and physicality of the college game and 4) strength and conditioning is a giant adjustment.
According to Jones, "College is different, I have a lot of freedom. Time management is huge, you have to use your time wisely. But, I like being on my own and being independent."
Pickup games with teammates have been beneficial and an eye opener to the newcomers. "Everyone is much faster and you have to be much stronger," said Bradley.
Abbe likes the free play because "we have been able to play together before we're seen by the coaches."
Wilson mentioned, "I have learned a lot from Bernice, Rachel and Jessica, especially the physical play of the low post game."
All agree that the Lt. Jack Whetsel, Jr. Basketball Practice Facility is impressive and are eager to use it. "It is a blessing to have that new practice facility," said Mosby. "Now I can go in and work on my game, any facet of it, whenever I have some free time."
