This upcoming season, the South Alabama women’s basketball program will welcome six newcomers to the squad.  The first newcomer, one of five incoming freshman, is Brittany Webb, a 5-2 point guard.  A four-year letterwinner and two-year starter at Heritage Christian High School in Indianapolis, Ind., Webb averaged 14.7 points, 3.7 assists a game as a senior.  She left HCHS as both the career and single-game records for three-pointers.  Recently the Whiteland, Ind., native sat down with www.USAJaguars.com.

When did you start playing basketball?
“I started playing at the age of four.  My older brother played sports all the time.  I wanted to be just like him, so my mom put me into basketball, started coaching me and it went from there.”

You originally signed with Indiana last fall, but after a coaching change, asked for your release and reopened your recruitment.  What led to you deciding to sign with South Alabama this spring?
“South Alabama had recruited me before I signed with Indiana and I had a really good relationship with the coaches.  I chose IU originally, just because it was closer to home.  After (the coaching change at IU), South Alabama still had an offer for me.  I came down on a visit and I loved it.”

One of the common perceptions is that Indiana is known for producing basketball players.  Why do you think that is?
“There are good players that come out of Indiana.  It’s a basketball state.  It’s kind of what we are known for, so a lot of people play the game.  I think being the “Hoosier” state and with IU (Indiana University) helps that.  The movie “Hoosiers” just showed the history and what led up to it, so people keep it going.”

How does living in Alabama differ from Indiana?
“It’s different in kind of every aspect.  It’s always hot and the humidity.  Indiana has its hot days, but not like down here.  The food is different too.  Southern food is a lot better.”

During your AAU career, you were part of six Indiana AAU state championship teams.  How do you feel that experience has helped you develop as a player?
“I think that experience helped me develop a lot, because of the pressure situations that I was put in.  It’s a one-and-done situation so you have to keep winning.  You are put in a lot of different situations that you have to perform in, so it’s helped a lot.”

What are you majoring in here at South Alabama and how long have you known that you wanted to do that as a career?
“I’m going to do elementary education and specialize in special education.  I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but really started thinking about going into special education my freshman year of high school.  My cousin has autism and we really get along well when I baby sit for her.  Our high school offered internships and I interned at her school where I worked with her class.  I just fell in love with all of the kids and knew then that it was something that I wanted to do.”

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 a lot different.  It’s a lot harder, but knowing that I have four other girls with me who are going through the same thing makes it a lot easier.”

With all five incoming freshmen already on campus, has the group’s relationship developed?
“Yeah, there’s two (players), Sharon (Sanders) and Taylor (Jenkins) that I hang out with all the time.  We get along really well.  Brianna (Wright) and Diamonisha (Sophus) are fun to hang out with as well.  We all get along, so it’s really nice.”

Have there been any upper classmen that you have sought out for advice to help you with the transition? How have they helped you?
“Actually, all of them have helped me in their own way.  If I need something, they are all there.”

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 would like to come in and make an immediate impact.  I feel that if I work hard I can accomplish that.  It would be nice to do that.  I don’t want to just sit back and wait.”
 
What do you think will be your biggest adjustment to the college game?
“I would probably say the speed of the college game.  In high school, we went from slow to fast.  Mostly slow though.  The college pace is just completely different.”

What are your goals for the upcoming season – both individually and for the team?
“As far as the team, my goal is for us to win the Sun Belt Conference.  I think that would be an awesome accomplishment.  Individually, I would like to contribute and just do what I can in my role to help get us that far.”

What do you believe is a strength of your game?
“I feel that I’m a good shooter and ball-handler.  I like seeing the floor, so those are my main strengths.”  

What kind of player can fans expect to see when they watch you this season?
“I’d say that they can see someone who can contribute to the team and help make the right pass or the right play.  As a point guard, that’s something that I’m expected to do.”  

What do you enjoy most about playing the sport?
“It’s just something that’s fun for me.  If I don’t know what to do or need to clear my mind, it’s something I can just go to.”

What professional or collegiate player do you try to pattern your game after and what is it that you like about their game?
“Steve Nash is one of my favorite players to watch.  He’s a point guard like me.  He looks for his shot, but also likes to pass.  He’s just an all-around good point guard.”

Who would you say has had the biggest impact on your life, either as a person or as a player? Why?
“I would say it’s been my dad for both.  As a player, he has pushed me through everything and worked me out my whole life.  As a person, he has just made me the person who I am today, just by his actions.”  

What things do you like to do off the court?
“I like to lay out in the sun and go swimming.  I also like to read.  That’s about it.”  

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?
“I played volleyball all through elementary and my junior year in high school where we made it to the state finals.  I was pretty good at that, so it was fun.”  

Who was the main assistant coach at USA to recruit you?  What was your relationship with that coach during the recruiting process?
“Coach (Eric) Wise.  He was really funny and goofed around with me, but he also meant business.  It was a best of both worlds type thing.”

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  
Sharon Sanders
Diamonisha Sophus
Brianna Wright
Meghan Dunn

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