The 2014-15 version of the University of South Alabama women's basketball team will definitely have a new look as second-year head coach Terry Fowler signed eight new players last fall and this past spring. Over the course of the summer, www.USAJaguars.com will sit down with all eight of the newcomers for a brief Q&A session. The second newcomer for Jaguar fans to get an inside look at is junior forward Simonne Potts.
Potts signs with the Jags in the spring after playing the 2013-14 season at St. Petersburg Community College in St. Petersburg, Fla. In her one season in St. Petersburg, Potts helped guide the Lady Titans to a 24-7 record and a 13-2 mark in the Southern Conference as she averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.3 rpg and scored double figures 17 times. SPCC finished the season ranked 14th in the final NJCAA Division I poll.
The 6-0 forward began her collegiate career at the United States Air Force Academy and played under current Jaguar assistant coach Yolisha Jackson. After redshirting the 2011-12 season, Potts played in 12 games, starting seven during the 2012-13 season before leaving the program in December. In her 12 games with Air Force, Potts averaged 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and shot 44.2 percent from the field. She also added 11 blocks during that time.
Potts played her prep career at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma Wash., where she was a three-time league champion with the Lions and earned first-team all-league honors as a senior after averaging 12 points, seven rebounds and two blocks per game.
You come from a military family with both your parents serving our country. Where all have you lived?"I was born in Italy and I then moved to South Carolina, then to Texas, then Florida, then Washington, then Virginia and back to Washington. Then to Colorado and Florida for school and now I'm in Alabama."
What branches of service did your parents serve in?"My mom and dad both were in the Air Force and my step dad is Army."
What do you believe is a strength of your game and why?"Probably facing up and attacking the basket. I can play both inside and out. I can mainly play in the short corner and at the free-throw line. I can play a little bit on the wing. Defensively, I get after it with rebounding and I'm big on blocking shots."
What do you plan on doing after graduation?"I would like to go into coaching at either the high school or college level. I've felt like going into that for probably a year or so now."
For all of the South Alabama fans that will read this on the web site, what kind of player can fans expect to see when they watch you this season?"I would say they can expect to see a team player and someone who gives complete effort out on the court."
Coming from the junior college level, what adjustments do you see for yourself at this level either academically or athletically? Do you feel that you have a step up on the other younger newcomers making the adjustment from high school to college?"I definitely think the level of play will be higher here. Academically, I've been in college for three years so I feel I have a step up knowing what the professors expect. Athletically, I had a great coach at my junior college, Denisha Davidson, who I feel prepared we me well for this level of play. She taught me good work ethic and how to work through things with no excuses both on and off the court. You just have to get it done. That's the biggest thing that she taught me."
You initially began your collegiate career at the Air Force Academy where current Jaguar assistant coach Yolisha Jackson was an assistant there. What has your relationship with her been like and what part did that play, if any, in you deciding to sign with South Alabama?"She started recruiting me right out of JUCO as soon as I left Air Force. She's a great person and I already knew she wasn't going to lead me in the wrong direction. Also when I met the other members of the coaching staff here at South Alabama – coach (Terry) Fowler, coach (Dan) Pressel and coach (Mallory) Luckett, I just got a great vibe from them. I feel that they are ready to take that next step and get the program where they have 20-plus win seasons.
"Coach Jackson is kind of like my second mom or my mom off the court. She took care of me at the Air Force Academy and I always go to here with anything that I'm going through. She's always there for me so I look at her as a second mom."
What do you expect of yourself this season, especially with so many post players coming in this season and really only one true returning post player? There are going to be a lot of minutes on the court up for grabs. "I just plan on working hard in practice every day and make sure I'm focused. I just want to focus on getting better every day. I just want to be the best teammate I can be and encourage others. Just do the little things. If the team needs me to just focus on rebounding, I'll do that. If the team needs me to just defend one particular play well, I'll do that. I'll do whatever the team needs me to do and I think that will go a long way."
What professional or collegiate player do you try to pattern your game after and what is it that you like about their game?"Honestly, I just try to do what I can and do whatever needs to be done. I don't think I have a specific player that I follow or try to be like."
If you could play any other sport, what would it be?"I would probably say volleyball. I've never played it, but I think since I have a little bit of hops that I could have really done well in volleyball if I had played it."
Favorite food? Pasta.
Favorite WNBA team? Atlanta Dream.
Favorite Athlete? Jasmine Thomas (Atlanta Dream).
Favorite thing to do off the court? Listen to music.
Favorite subject in school? Math.
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…Marquita Daniels – 6/19Simonne Potts – 6/24Charisma Matlock – TBA
Chyna Ellis – TBA
Genesis Perrymond – TBA
LaNeetra Guillory – TBA
Amber Yelding – TBA
Amanda Hoover – TBA
—USA—
