One of five true freshmen on the roster, Alexis Sykes signed with the University of South Alabama women's basketball program in the spring. A graduate of Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn N.Y., she helped the Kingsmen to a New York State title as a sophomore. She recently sat down with USAJaguars.com to talk about winning a state title, her journey to be a Jaguar, and her experience on the trip to Canada.

When did you start playing basketball?
I started playing basketball when I was in the third grade. I started playing because my principal thought I had a lot of potential. He saw something in me that I didn't see.

Take me on your journey to South Alabama.
I ended up at South Alabama because of Coach Yolisha (Jackson). She was the coach that recruited me. I felt really connected to her every time we talked. She didn't force a relationship, she actually built one which was important for me because I was able to see what coaches were invested in me and which one's weren't when they were recruiting me. Coach Yo and I would talk for hours and I was able to open up to her about more than just basketball. 

Tell me about winning a state title in New York.
Winning the state title in New York has been the greatest accomplishment in my life so far. We won it my sophomore year and my coach only played five players the entire tournament, me being one of them and the only underclassmen. It felt great contributing to a state title. Playing with only five girls was difficult, but we knew we could make a difference every game and we became state champions.

Describe your playing style.
I like to shoot the ball and I think I'm very creative on the court. I'm a crafty player with a high-IQ.

Who do you model your game after?
James Harden. He is my favorite player and I love the way he plays. He's crafty and I try to play the same way he does with a little flavor to my game. 

What are you trying to improve for this season?
My defense. I struggle on defense, but I always tell myself showing effort and trying to improve is better than doing nothing at all. 

Who has been the biggest influence on your basketball career?
My coaches in high school, my mom, my father who passed away, and my grandparents that raised me have been the biggest influences on my life. I would describe it as my family in general. They invested their time and money on me and I am very greatly for that because not everyone has this opportunity that I do. All of this though is because of my father. I know he is happy and always smiling down on me because this was his dream – to see me play college basketball – and do what I love to do.

How was your experience on the trip to Canada?
It was fun. It opened up my eyes. Not playing made me more humble. A lot of people have it worse than me and I was just grateful for the opportunity to go to Canada. It helped me realize what I need to work on with the team and helped myself and the team grow.

What was your favorite part of the trip?
My favorite part was learning about other people's environments and lifestyle. It was very different compared to the United States. You realize there's a lot more in the world than just America. 

QUICK HITS
Favorite TV Show: Grey's Anatomy/Power/How To Get Away With Murder
Favorite movie: "Love and Basketball"
Favorite basketball team: San Antonio Spurs
Favorite basketball player: James Harden
Favorite musical artist: Future
Favorite class: English
Favorite social media: Snapchat

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

Join the Hardwood Club, the women's basketball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All gifts to the Hardwood Club go directly to support the South Alabama women's basketball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/hardwoodclub.