Captain Sydney Colson

I don’t have a lot of time to devote to covering high school basketball – boys or girls; however, every once in a while I get some time to catch a few games. A few years ago, I was at Barnett Fieldhouse watching a bi-district girls playoff game; and, one player really caught my eye during the game. Her name was Sydney Colson. Colson was a freshman that season playing for Westside High School’s varsity team; and, to me, she had skills and a presence on the basketball court well beyond her years.

Fast forward to March 2007 and I had a chance to see Sydney and her Westside teammates in the Region 3 playoffs. Her ability to take over a game had improved; and, Sydney still had that special “something” about her on the court.

Now, as the 2007 – 2008 college basketball season approaches, Colson (5’8) is a freshman on the Texas A&M Aggies. Apparently, Sydney has already made quite a positive impression on her Aggies coaches; her teammates; and, the A&M campus.

“I’ve really been impressed with Sydney Colson,” said Texas A&M women's basketball head coach Gary Blair. “Sydney, of course, is from Houston Westside (High School). She’s coming in and everyday going against (guards) Takia Starks and A’Quonesia Franklin. You get better through competition and repetition; but, Sydney Colson is the Martellus Bennett (tight end on the Texas A&M football team) of A&M on the women’s side. She hasn’t met a stranger, yet. She’s got a great personality. She’s a good student. She’s going to bring her game to the table and let her actions speak for her. I’m just proud of this young lady. She’s the first freshmen ever elected captain of her team; and, that just shows her leadership potential. I’m just a Sydney Colson fan all the way; and, I think the people of Houston are really going to enjoy having her represent the city of Houston particularly since we’re just an hour and half away. She’s going to play a lot of minutes for us as a freshman.”

Colson will spend a lot of her time this season backing up senior point guard A’Quonesia Franklin. Franklin welcomes the opportunity to “pass the torch” to Colson as the Aggies point guard of the future.

“Just giving her what I never got,” said A’Quonesia Franklin. “There wasn’t a point guard here when I came here as a freshman. I just want to give her what I didn’t get. Basically, just tell her everything I know to keep up the Aggies tradition that I’ve started the past few years.”

“Sydney’s here to give Aqua (A’Quonesia Franklin) a breather,” added junior center LaToya Micheaux. “Aqua’s a senior – this is her last season – so it’s time for a point guard to step. Hopefully, Sydney will be ready. She can shoot the ball. She can read the floor very well.”

Franklin gave a scouting report of Colson as well.

“Sydney is very vocal. She’s very quick. Off the dribble, she can handle the ball very well,” described Franklin. “She’s also a shooter. She can hit open shots. Shots with people in her face. She knows how to get her shot off against tight defense.”

Junior guard Takia Starks provided more insight on Colson.

“Sydney’s a personality,” said Starks. “I played with her in AAU. She’s going to be a point guard. Right now, she’s playing behind Aqua. It’s going to be tough coming from high school to college. You have to learn plays; learn technique; etc. She’s struggling a little bit right now; but, she’ll get it. Her shoot is pure. It’s excellent. When she just plays instead of thinking so hard, she’s going to be all right.”

“Sydney has a great personality. You can’t help but to like her. She didn’t come to school with and attitude. She didn’t say ‘This is my team; and, I’m going to do whatever I want.’ She came in with an open mind that she’s going to learn from everybody else. I took upon myself, with us both being from Houston, to help her out whenever she needs help – whether it’s in a drill or running a play and what to do. When we practice, she’s the point guard for me; so, when we go against the other squad, I have to be the voice to help her if she needs it.”

Starks elaborated on Colson being the only freshman chosen as one of the four captains (Colson, Franklin, senior guard / forward Morenike Atunrase and junior guard / forward Danielle Gant) on this year’s Aggies team.

“With Sydney, you’ve never had a freshman as a captain. I’ve never had that before; but, Sydney’s that type of player,” Starks said matter-of-factly. “She’s going to be the point guard. She has to be the general. She’s great encouraging her teammates. Coming in as a freshman, she’s not scared. Her personality is big for her. She likes to talk. She has a loud voice. She’s heard. I think she’ll do a great job.”

Big things have been expected from Sydney Colson for years; and, Colson has excelled in the past. From listening to her head coach and some of her teammates, Colson seems to be ready to excel in the present and in the future.