College Hoops
Holding Court at UCF
University of Central Florida Sports Information
4SHOT Hoops – Larry Williams
“The Lady Knights” of the University of Central Florida are quickly becoming the University of Central Florida at Georgia . First year UCF Head Coach Joi Williams will have no less than eight hoopster’s from the state of Georgia on her roster when the 2007-2008 season gets underway.
All eight of these players at one time or another appeared on the 4SHOT Hoops list of Top 40 Players. Each of this year’s incoming freshmen: D’Nay Daniels (GAC), Angelica Mealing (Avondale H.S.), Jelisa Caldwell (Westside Macon H.S.), Leah Paige ( Southwest DeKalb ), Tia Lewis (Worth County H.S.) and Jasmine Stovall (Central Gwinnett H.S.) all appeared in our inaugural 4SHOT Hoops Magazine’s last season. In 2005 Georgia State transfer Marcquitta Head (Forest Park H.S.) was a 3rd team 4SHOT Hoops Al-State performer.
On a follow up visit to UCF’s Athletics website: http://ucfathletics.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/ucf-w-baskbl-body.html to check-up on the girls I ran across a few question and answer sessions on three of the young ladies, Angelica Mealing, Tia Lewis and Jasmine Stovall.
Holding court with Angelica "Jelly Mealing
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| Former 4SHOT Hoops All-State performer Angelica "Jelly" Mealing |
What does the team's motto "Prepare and Compete" mean to you?
Jelly: It means a lot. You can't go out and expect to compete without preparing first. You have to work hard to get where you want to be. That's what we are doing.
How has this team started to come together?
Jelly: People talk about how we have so many freshmen on the team, but class doesn't matter. I don't think anyone in our conference is working as hard as we are. I've seen a big difference from when we first got here in June until now. We're really coming together.
What are you looking forward to most this season?
Jelly: I'm looking forward to the first game because it's my first collegiate game, against a big team. That's always exciting.
UCF head coach Joi Williams and the rest of the staff have already begun to involve the team in community service. What charity or social cause would you like to help?
I love working with kids so if we could maybe help out orphans around Christmas, giving out presents or something like that.
What is the best part of being on this UCF women's basketball team?
Jelly: I would say being around my teammates. Everyone is so cool. We're always laughing at something. I think have bonded well.
There are eight Georgia natives on this basketball team. What is it about the state of Georgia that breeds good basketball players?
Jelly: That's where the talents at, of course. (laughs) There is a lot of talent everywhere, but I guess Georgia is just where it's at right now.
You signed with UCF during the early period and opted to keep the commitment after the coaching staff changed. What influenced your decision to come to UCF?
Jelly: I had thought about transferring to a new school, but once I found out who the new coaches were, I decided to still attend UCF. They had been recruiting me at Murray State , but they came late in the process. Once I found out that Coach Williams and her assistants were going to be at UCF, it just felt right. It felt like God had placed them there to be my coaches.
What is the best part of having so many freshmen on this team?
Jelly: We are all going to learn and grow together. By the time we become seniors, it's going to be crazy.
What were your feelings heading into the first official practice?
Jelly: I really didn't know what to expect. Everyone always says it's more fast-paced and all that. I wouldn't say that I was nervous, but I was anxious just to see what is was like to be at a college practice.
What are you looking to pursue as a career?
Jelly: I want to get a degree in business. I am majoring in business right now and thinking of minoring in legal studies because I want to become a sports agent. If I don't get the chance to play professionally, I want to still be connected with sports in some way.
Holding court with Tia Lewis
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| Former 4SHOT Hoops All-State performer Tia Lewis |
What does the team's motto "Prepare and Compete" mean to you?
Tia: It means we have come into the gym everyday and be ready to compete and make each other better. Doing that will help make us ready physically and mentally to compete against other teams.
How has the team started to come together?
Tia: We started coming together during the summer. The more time we have had around each other, the closer we have become. I knew some of the girls from when we use to play against each other at the state championships. Now instead of playing against them, they are my teammates.
What are you looking forward to most this season?
Tia: I'm looking forward to the traveling. Many of the cities where we are going to play I've never seen.
What is the best part of being on this UCF women's basketball team?
Tia: For me, it's all about just being a student-athlete altogether. I'm not here for me, but I'm a part of a team. I like helping my teammates get stronger.
What influenced your decision to come to UCF?
Tia: The city is just so beautiful and sunny. The school colors are also the same as my high school - gold and black.
How does collegiate basketball differ from high school basketball?
Tia: College basketball is much more demanding. There is so much to learn and you have to learn it quickly.
UCF head coach Joi Williams and the rest of the staff have already begun to involve the team in community service. What charity or social cause would you like to help?
I'd like to work with the elderly. I helped out my grandfather a lot after he broke his hip and was unable to do too much for himself. When I was growing up, my mom worked in a nursing home and I liked going there to help her out.
What are you interested in pursuing for your degree?
Tia: Right now I am unsure. I think I would like to major in interdisciplinary studies. I want to combine coaching and communications with one other subject.
Holding court with Jasmine Stovall
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| Former 4SHOT Hoops All-State performer Jasmine Stovall |
What does the team's motto "Prepare and Compete" mean to you?
Jasmine: We're going to prepare every day for practice and be mentally and physically prepared to go out there and compete in the games.
How has the team started to come together?
Jasmine:I think we really started to come together this summer when all of the freshmen came to summer school. It was new for all of us and allowed us to form bonds and relationships with each other. Now we are ready to go out on the court and compete together.
What are you looking forward to most this season?
Jasmine: I'm looking forward to the games, traveling, being on the road - everything.
How did you feel heading into the first official practice last week?
Jasmine:I was really excited about it because it was my first collegiate practice. I was excited to see how it was going to go.
UCF head coach Joi Williams and the rest of the staff have already begun to involve the team in community service. What charity or social cause would you like to help?
I would like to give back to charities that help kids - kids in hospitals or kids who are less fortunate. I really like kids.
You were involved in a movie during high school. Talk about the experience.
Jasmine:In high school, I was in video broadcasting. As part of that, I produced and starred in a movie called Jasmine Bond. It was for kids and talked about getting three dairy servings a day. In the movie, my character was on a mission to find the cheese, the milk and the yogurt.
At the local level, the movie earned first place and went on to state, where it was 10th. It didn't go any further than that but it was a good experience.
Is filmmaking something you are interested in pursuing as a career?
Jasmine: I am looking to major in business administration with a minor in production.
Fellow "Lady Knights" from the Peach State
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| Other "Peach State Hoopsters" at UCF |
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