MOBILE, Ala. – This upcoming season, the South Alabama women’s basketball program will welcome six newcomers to the squad.  The fifth newcomer, one of five incoming freshman, is Brianna Wright, a 6-2 forward from Greenville, Miss.  A four-year letterwinner at Greenville-Westin High School, Wright averaged a double-double in each of her final two prep seasons, recording 20.7 points and 16.7 rebounds per game as a senior.  Recently Wright sat down with www.USAJaguars.com.

You’re coming to South Alabama after playing your prep ball in Mississippi.  Have you always lived in Greenville, Miss?  What was it like growing up there?

“Yes.  That’s where I was born and raised.  Growing up there was both good and bad.  It’s not a small place, but it’s not big as some other places, so it’s kind of hard at times.”

In high school, you ranked as one of the top rebounders.  What do you attribute you being so good at rebounding to?

“I just think about my teammates.  We can’t score and they can’t score if we don’t get the ball, so somebody has to get it.”

When did you start playing basketball?  How did you get involved with the game?

“I started playing when I was three.  My dad was big on basketball.  All I wanted to do was swim or something, but he wanted me to play.  He used to always take me to the park and have me dribbling, so I guess that’s how I got started playing.”

Did you start out as a post player or at another position?

“I started as a post player in elementary, but in middle school, our guards weren’t as good, so I was kind of the ‘all-around player’.  When I got to high school, I went strictly post, but this past year (senior year), our team was young, so I had to play just about everywhere on the floor.”

What do you believe is a strength of your game and why?

“Defense and rebounding.  As a high school player, my coach would always tell me defense first.  You have a lot of girls (at the high school level) who want to be the star and play offense.  I did what I was best at, which was playing defense, blocking shots and rebounding.”  

What factors led to your decision sign with South Alabama?

“When I came here, I just felt so comfortable and it felt like a family.  I felt like I had known everyone for a long time.  Other schools, just didn’t have that family feel and I could tell that I wouldn’t like it.”  

What are you majoring in here at South Alabama and what do you are plan on doing after graduation?

“I’m majoring in business.  Hopefully I will be able to play pro ball when I’m done with school.  If I go pro, I want to start my own clothing line or something and open up a small store back in Greenville.”

How long have you known that you wanted to do that as a career?

“When I was in eighth grade, I thought about the fact that we didn’t have that much in Greenville and all the businesses started leaving the town.  I decided that I wanted to comeback one day and help my hometown by bringing business back and help the economy out.  At the same time, help a lot of people get jobs.”

What kind of player can fans expect to see when they watch you this season?

“They’ll see me doing whatever the coaches ask me to do.  I come to play ball, so whatever they ask me for, I’m just going to try to go out there and do.  They can look for an all-around type player.”

Being one of five freshmen on the team, how has the transition from high school to college life been for you so far?

“It’s been kind of hard.  I mean, it’s kind of hard to keep up with classes and work outs and then find the time for myself. Everything has been at a whole different speed, so I just try to stay on top of it.”

What do you think will be your biggest adjustment to adapt to the college game?

“The biggest adjustment is keeping up with everybody else and the speed of the game.  I’m used to doing things at a slower pace.  Plus, a lot of the players I have played against have been way smaller than me.  I’m used to getting what I want on the court.  So it’s going to be an adjustment.  I know I can keep up physically.  I just have to get mentally stronger.”

Have there been any upper classmen you that you have sought out for advice to help you with the transition? How have they helped you?

“Yeah.  I would have to say Mansa (El) and Camille (Reynolds).  When I first got here, work outs were tough.  Camille just kept encouraging me and telling me that I was going to get better at them.  Mansa gave me advice on some things to do to help me not get as tired and try to keep my focus.  They both helped me out through the whole process.”

What are your goals for the upcoming season – both individually and for the team?

“My goals for the team are to do whatever it takes to help us all get better and win. I’m tired of seeing all of the big schools like Notre Dame and Baylor get (championship) rings. I want to see someone out of the Sun Belt go get one.  For myself, I want to get mentally stronger and stay focused.”

Some incoming freshmen like to ease their way into their college careers and some like to come in and make an immediate impact.  Which type would you say that you are?

“I think I’m kind of both.  At first, I like to lay back and just watch and see how things play out.  I know the coaches are expecting different and for me to come out and make an impact.  My high school coach always said ‘Don’t sit back and worry about anybody else.  You got to play your game.  I’m trying to watch, but at the same time I want to get out and be that freshman that makes a difference.  I don’t want to be a freshman that just sits on the bench and starts in a couple of years.  I want to come out and make a big impact.”

What professional or collegiate player do you try to pattern your game after and what is it that you like about their game?

“I don’t know.  I can’t say that there is really one that I try to model my game after.  My favorite player is Candace Parker, but I’ve never tried to play my game like her, I just play my own game.  We are both different.  Things that may be good for her game may not be good for my game.   I just try to play my game.”
 
Who would you say has had the biggest impact on your life, either as a person or as a player? Why?

“I can’t really say that there has been one person.  I kind of learn as I go.  I mean, everyone has had a big impact on me, even the people who put me down for this and that.  I basically just use everything as my motivation to keep me going and better myself.”

What things do you like to do off the court?

“I like to relax, hang with my friend and family when I go home.  Other than that, I like playing ball all day.”

Do you have any talents other than basketball?

“Track.  I was ranked No. 1 in the shot put in Mississippi when I graduated high school and No. 2 in the discus.  So I would say track and field is second nature to me.”  

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

“I would say competing in track.”

Who was the main assistant coach at USA to recruit you?  What did you like about the coach during the recruiting process?

“Coach (Aisha) Stewart.  She was funny.  She would constantly call me.”

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Off the Court with Lady Jag…
Brittany Webb (July 13)
Taylor Jenkins (July 27)
Diamonisha Sophus (Aug. 3)
Sharon Sanders (Aug. 10)
Brianna Wright (Aug. 17)
Meghan Dunn
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