From Cy Fair to Final Four in One Year
ST. LOUIS, MO -- Nnemkadi Ogwumike is a tremendous basketball player as well as a tremendous young woman. Last season, Nneka helped her Cy Fair Bobcats when the Texas 5A state high school girls' championship. This season, Nneka is a freshman for the Stanford Cardinal. Stanford has made a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Women's Final Four; and, Nneka is very glad to be part of the experience.
"Definitely, amazing!" said Ogwumike, 6'2", freshman forward. "I'm glad I chose to come Stanford first of all. I love my teammates. I love my coaches. To end my freshman year like this would pretty much be my dream. Right now, it's happening and that's a lot of fun."
Nneka explains why she chose to attend Stanford University and play basketball for head coach Tara VanDerveer.
"Stanford definitely has a really athletic program. A really good basketball program; but, I was also looking ahead to really figure out what I would like to do with my life after basketball. I'm not going to be able basketball for the rest of my life even though I would love to be able to.
"I felt that Stanford would definitely open doors of opportunities; so, it was academics packaged with a wonderful athletic program."
Ogwumike has played in 37 games thus far this season and started 13. She's averaging 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and shooting 63.0% from the field; so, it's safe to say her freshman season has gone well.
"I'm fresh into the starting line up -- a few games into it. In the beginning, I felt that I was trying to understand all the plays; get everything down and know what I'm doing. Now, I feel like I'm incorparting my game into how Stanford plays. At this point right now, I just do whatever I can to contribute -- rebounding; finishing inside; whatever it takes is on my agenda.
"It's hit me at how the tempo of the game changed from high school to college. It's definitely a drastic change. If you do what you need to do in high school it really prepares for your college -- a lot of discipline, a lot of studying. Balancing your time is definitely important.
"Overally, I wouldn't say there have been too many huge surprises other than to say how exciting college life is!"
Nneka mentioned her teammates have described to her what the Final Four experience is like.
"Of course. We never want to look too far ahead; but, when the time started rolling around, they were telling me how exciting it is and to understand it's just four teams and if you're up there, you're the cream of the crop and people start getting down to business. They said it's definitely a wonderful experience in your lifetime."
Owgumike also sees similarities between her high school coach, Ann Robique and Coach VanDerveer.
"Yes, in the fact, that we run. (laughing) I have not stopped running since high school. "She doesn't give up. They're both relentless."
Coach Robique and Nneka's family will be in attendance for Sunday's matchup versusn Connecticut; and Ogwumike offered a concise game plan for the Cardinal when they face the Huskies.
"We need to do what we have to do to stop them from doing their favorite things. Play as a team and have fun."
"Definitely, amazing!" said Ogwumike, 6'2", freshman forward. "I'm glad I chose to come Stanford first of all. I love my teammates. I love my coaches. To end my freshman year like this would pretty much be my dream. Right now, it's happening and that's a lot of fun."
Nneka explains why she chose to attend Stanford University and play basketball for head coach Tara VanDerveer.
"Stanford definitely has a really athletic program. A really good basketball program; but, I was also looking ahead to really figure out what I would like to do with my life after basketball. I'm not going to be able basketball for the rest of my life even though I would love to be able to.
"I felt that Stanford would definitely open doors of opportunities; so, it was academics packaged with a wonderful athletic program."
Ogwumike has played in 37 games thus far this season and started 13. She's averaging 10.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game and shooting 63.0% from the field; so, it's safe to say her freshman season has gone well.
"I'm fresh into the starting line up -- a few games into it. In the beginning, I felt that I was trying to understand all the plays; get everything down and know what I'm doing. Now, I feel like I'm incorparting my game into how Stanford plays. At this point right now, I just do whatever I can to contribute -- rebounding; finishing inside; whatever it takes is on my agenda.
"It's hit me at how the tempo of the game changed from high school to college. It's definitely a drastic change. If you do what you need to do in high school it really prepares for your college -- a lot of discipline, a lot of studying. Balancing your time is definitely important.
"Overally, I wouldn't say there have been too many huge surprises other than to say how exciting college life is!"
Nneka mentioned her teammates have described to her what the Final Four experience is like.
"Of course. We never want to look too far ahead; but, when the time started rolling around, they were telling me how exciting it is and to understand it's just four teams and if you're up there, you're the cream of the crop and people start getting down to business. They said it's definitely a wonderful experience in your lifetime."
Owgumike also sees similarities between her high school coach, Ann Robique and Coach VanDerveer.
"Yes, in the fact, that we run. (laughing) I have not stopped running since high school. "She doesn't give up. They're both relentless."
Coach Robique and Nneka's family will be in attendance for Sunday's matchup versusn Connecticut; and Ogwumike offered a concise game plan for the Cardinal when they face the Huskies.
"We need to do what we have to do to stop them from doing their favorite things. Play as a team and have fun."
posted by Kris G @ 3:10 PM
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