MOBILE, Ala. – This upcoming season, the South Alabama women’s basketball program will welcome six newcomers to the squad.  The fourth newcomer, one of five incoming freshman, is Sharon Sanders, a 5-8 guard from Vestavia Hills, Ala.  A four-year letterwinner at Vestavia Hills High School, Sanders averaged 14.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game as a senior.  Recently the Vestavia Hills, Ala., native sat down with www.USAJaguars.com.

You’re coming from the Birmingham area in Alabama, have you always lived there?  
“Yes I have.”

When did you start playing basketball?
“I started playing basketball around seven or eight years old.  My mom took me to basketball camps at our church.  That was the first time I had ever touched a ball.  The camp was with all boys.  I got experience on the game quick.  I actually was the only girl on the first team that I played on at the YMCA youth leagues.”   

What do you believe is a strength of your game and why?
“I feel that two strengths of my game are shooting and defense.  I also hustle.”

Have you put in a lot of time developing your shot or did it come natural?
“I’ve put a lot of time into it.  I started out as a post player.  When I knew I wasn’t going to grow any taller, I had to put a lt of work in to developing my shot.  I would probably put in a good two or three hours a day shooting.”

What do you enjoy most about playing the sport?
“I love the competitiveness and the teamwork.  I love the energy when you are winning.”

What factors led to your decision sign with South Alabama?
“I knew I wanted to stay in Alabama, but I also knew that I didn’t want to stay close to home at the same time. South Alabama was a great location and area.  When I came here for summer camp, I recognized how the team had bonded and the energy that they had.  On my visit, I saw the same type of energy at practice and how they always encouraged themselves.  That’s what I love most about teamwork.  When you are encouraging yourself and people are trying to help you get better.”

What are you majoring in here at South Alabama and what do you are plan on doing after graduation?
“Exercise science.  I want to become a personal trainer.  My sister and I have talked about building our own studio.  She just got her exercise science degree and now she’s working on her master’s degree at Auburn.”    

How long have you known that you wanted to do that as a career?
“Me and my sister started talking about our plan after I graduated from high school and she graduated from college.”

What kind of player can fans expect to see when they watch you this season?
“They will see a dedicated player.  Someone who hustles.  The most important thing about the game is hustling and wanting to win and the fans will see that in me.  I’m very competitive and I will sacrifice my body.”

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 way smoother.  This summer, I only have one class instead of having seven classes a day like I did in high school, so it’ way much smoother.”

What do you think will be your biggest adjustment to adapt to the college game?
“The tempo and strength.  The players are all bigger up at this level.”

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?
“Most of the players have sought out advice.  I know when I first got to South Alabama, Mansa (El) was helping me a lot, telling me how college is and how to deal with people.  Rachel (Cumbo) and Breanna (Hall) both told me how they felt when they first got here and how it isn’t going to be that bad.”

With all five incoming freshmen already on campus, how has the group’s relationship developed?
“Yes we have.  We are always together.”

What are your goals for the upcoming season – both individually and for the team?
“My first goal is to win the NCAA.  I’m still trying to get a ring.  I’ve never got a ring and I really want one.  I want to be a contributor.  I want to make sure I show what I can give to the team throughout my whole four years here.”

What professional or collegiate player do you try to pattern your game after and what is it that you like about their game?
“Yes, Ray Allen.  I try to model his shooting and his patience.  He knows how to play his role and doesn’t step outside of it.  I also like Rajon Rondo.  He gets a lot of people involved.  I especially like Kobe (Bryant) because he is a good leader.”

Who would you say has had the biggest impact on your life, either as a person or as a player? Why?
“I would say my step-father, who is now deceased.  When he died, it really had a big impact on my life.  I knew I had to do a lot of things on my own.  Also, my mother, because she taught me how to handle things, so she made me stronger.”

What things do you like to do off the court?
“I like to sing gospel, shop, watch TV and sleep.”

Do you have any talents other than basketball?
I would say singing is my other talent.  I love to sing gospel and love singing in the church.”

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?
“It would probably be volleyball or track.  I was a middle hitter in volleyball and ran the 200 meter dash and 100.  I did both in middle school, but quit when I got to high school to focus on basketball.”

Who was the main assistant coach at USA to recruit you?  Describe your relationship with that coach during the recruiting process.
“Coach (Eric) Wise.  He was concerned about making sure that I was making the right decision, because it was want I wanted to do. When I first got here to South Alabama, he was advising me on how I should present myself.  We got real close during the recruiting process.  It was almost like it was family.

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
Meghan Dunn
-- USA --