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Moriah Jefferson "can't wait" to get to UConn
When Moriah Jefferson was 5 years old, her parents looked on bemusedly as she was able to dribble a basketball. When she was 11, her dad told her the sky was the limit in her basketball career. Jefferson, considered to be the top guard in the Class of 2012, took a step towards making her dad's prediction come true when she became the third prominent high school junior to commit to UConn.
"I very relieved," Jefferson said of the aftermath of going public with her intention of playing for UConn. I can focus on basketball instead of worrying about colleges."
Jefferson went up to Connecticut twice. The first time she took in the exhibition game between the U.S. and Australia teams in Hartford. Then she headed to Storrs for the "First Night" festivities in mid October along with some of her future UConn teammates.
"They are a hard working team," Jefferson said. "I got really close with all the players there. Breanna (Stewart), Kaleena (Mosqueda-Lewis) we all have a close bond. When I went on my visit the coaching staff was really nice so that kind of attracted me."
Jefferson becomes the first Texas native to commit to UConn. The decision was not a surprise to her mother.
"Once we sat down and talked, I said ‘are they on your list?’" Robin Jefferson said. "She said ‘yes.’ I asked her where and she said ‘high up.’ That is how we left it. Then with a series of events and her praying about it, it became evident what she wanted to do. Bonding with Breanna Stewart and Kaleena Lewis, not talking basketball just talking together and bonding with them, she realized what she wanted to do.
"I am happy for her because Moriah is a child who likes to be pushed. Geno is going to get to her and she is up to the challenge, it is her makeup."
Jefferson joins 6-4 forward Breanna Stewart, the player she is vying with for the honor of being the top-rated player in her class, and 6-2 forward Morgan Tuck as part of what is shaping up as a potentially sensational class.
Jefferson spoke with both Stewart and Mosqueda-Lewis on Thursday, one of many phone calls Jefferson made on Thursday.
"They were screaming, they were wildly screaming," Jefferson said with a laugh.
"I am really excited. I can’t wait for it. There are a great group of people who I will be playing with so it will be fun."
"I very relieved," Jefferson said of the aftermath of going public with her intention of playing for UConn. I can focus on basketball instead of worrying about colleges."
Jefferson went up to Connecticut twice. The first time she took in the exhibition game between the U.S. and Australia teams in Hartford. Then she headed to Storrs for the "First Night" festivities in mid October along with some of her future UConn teammates.
"They are a hard working team," Jefferson said. "I got really close with all the players there. Breanna (Stewart), Kaleena (Mosqueda-Lewis) we all have a close bond. When I went on my visit the coaching staff was really nice so that kind of attracted me."
Jefferson becomes the first Texas native to commit to UConn. The decision was not a surprise to her mother.
"Once we sat down and talked, I said ‘are they on your list?’" Robin Jefferson said. "She said ‘yes.’ I asked her where and she said ‘high up.’ That is how we left it. Then with a series of events and her praying about it, it became evident what she wanted to do. Bonding with Breanna Stewart and Kaleena Lewis, not talking basketball just talking together and bonding with them, she realized what she wanted to do.
"I am happy for her because Moriah is a child who likes to be pushed. Geno is going to get to her and she is up to the challenge, it is her makeup."
Jefferson joins 6-4 forward Breanna Stewart, the player she is vying with for the honor of being the top-rated player in her class, and 6-2 forward Morgan Tuck as part of what is shaping up as a potentially sensational class.
Jefferson spoke with both Stewart and Mosqueda-Lewis on Thursday, one of many phone calls Jefferson made on Thursday.
"They were screaming, they were wildly screaming," Jefferson said with a laugh.
"I am really excited. I can’t wait for it. There are a great group of people who I will be playing with so it will be fun."
Labels: Breanna Stewart, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Morgan Tuck, Moriah Jefferson
posted by Jim Fuller at
11:27 PM
4 Comments:
Driving around the Dallas – Fort Worth area in my SUV with UConn decals on 4 sides and an UConn flag finally paid off with Moriah Jefferson. :) Time to move on to Norcross, GA and Diamond Deshields. :)
Jim, what your thoughts on the 2012-13 rotation, assuming there are *no* de-commits, transfers, injuries, surgeries, and recovering from surgeries? Thanks!
2012-13 team could have a 10 player rotation on paper. Is it possible that Auriemma will use a 10 player rotation instead of his usual 7 or 8 player rotation? Is it possible to keep all 10 players happy?
Freshmen – Breanna Stewart, Moriah Jefferson, Morgan Tuck
Sophomores – Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Brianna Banks, Kiah Stokes
Juniors – Bria Hartley, Stefanie Dolson
Seniors – Kelly Faris, Caroline Doty (possibly)
I intentionally left off Michala Johnson, Lauren Engeln, and Heather Buck. They should see more playing time in 2011-12 than this past season. Do not see how these 3 can be part of the regular rotation in 2012-13 *if* the above mentioned 10 players are injury free, not recovering from major surgery, and are as good as their *hype*.
Jim, are there any concerns that UConn women’s basketball team will be impacted by Auriemma coaching Team USA prior to and in the 2012 Olympics? Tara VanDerveer took 1 year off from Stanford to coach Team USA in the 1996 Olympics. Thanks!
It's too early to project who the minutes will be split up but they had deep teams before including the 2000-01 squad, probably the most talented of Auriemma's squads. I would not be so quick to write off Michala Johnson. I think with a full year of conditioning, something she did not have a year ago because of her injuries, should help her start realizing her potential.
Jim, thanks for your reply. I added Michala back into "my" rotation. :) I certainly do Not qualify to coach.
I remember that fully loaded 2000-01 UConn team. Sad to see Svetlana Abrosimova end her career with an injury in January. Sad to see Shea Ralph end her career with an injury prior to March Madness.
1998 class of TASSK plus the 2000 class of DT3 won 2 NCAA championships around 1 Final Four loss.
There will be immense pressure on the 2011 + 2012 classes to win at least 1 NCAA championship.
I might have a few positions incorrect, but the 2012-13 lineup is insanely loaded.
PG – Banks & Jefferson
SG – Hartley & Doty
SF – KML & Tuck
PF – Stewart & Johnson
C – Dolson & Stokes
DS – Faris (Defensive Specialist)
2012 - 2016; five straight NCAA championships, maybe 2 - 3 losses on the way. Women's college basketball is discontinued after 5 rules changes all intended to stall UCONN fail miserably.
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