Story Links
Jan. 20, 2004
by Dustin Lubertazzi
At the tender age of 13, LaTonya Blue could have easily given up basketball. For that matter, she could have given up everything after her father passed. Fortunately, she didn’t, and she has become a sensational basketball player at the University of Virginia.
“I started playing basketball in fourth grade when one of my teachers started a team,” explained Blue. “I wasn’t really into it at first, but all the people in my neighborhood did was play sports, especially basketball, so I just kept playing.”
Growing up, there was no WNBA, so Blue was a huge fan of the NBA.
“I watched NBA games all the time.”
She watched basketball legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.
“I liked watching Jordan, because you could see his desire. Playing the game made him happy. I always wanted that same feeling,” said Blue.
Athletes weren’t the only inspirational figures Blue had. Her father was her best friend; he was with her from the start and was always behind her, giving the support she needed to excel. The motivation and inspiration only grew after he died.
“It was really hard, but he has become my biggest motivation. As I get older, I know he would want me to keep playing and succeed,” admitted Blue.
While Blue gains a lot from her father, she gets plenty of support from her grandparents and the rest of her family.
“My whole family wants me to succeed and take it to the next level. I’m the first of all my siblings or cousins to go to college, so that is a huge part of my determination. I really want to make my grandparents proud. They’ve helped me out tremendously,” said Blue.
Blue selected Virginia over elite teams such as North Carolina, Duke and Connecticut. The Baltimore native wanted to stay fairly close to home and said that the coaching staff at UVa made that an easy decision.
“When Audra Smith and Nikki Caldwell came to my house to visit, they seemed so genuine. I knew these were people that I’d like to have as my coaches,” commented Blue.
The transition from high school to college was not as easy as Blue expected.
“Freshman year, we (the freshman class) had to play; our team was shorthanded. Coach Ryan had high expectations that I wasn’t ready for. I used to be able to get away with things on my old teams. Being disciplined became a problem,” Blue continued. “It’s gotten a lot better though. I’ve learned it’s a team thing; it’s not just about me. I respect Coach Ryan’s passion for basketball and coaching. She’s made this program fun and challenging. She’s definitely prepared me for life and the future.”
That future is basketball driven.
“I definitely want to pursue professional basketball,” explained Blue. “I want to make it to the WNBA, but if I can’t, I’ll go overseas. I treat basketball like a job – it’s part of my daily routine. I focus on it a lot, but I never let it overwhelm me.”
With a few games under their belts and a 7-7 record, the Cavaliers have realized that this season may not pan out the way they originally thought.
“We just have to stick together,” said Blue. “We all have to play a role; every player has to bring something to the table. We have to win games for ourselves, not for other people.”
Blue recognizes the importance of being a multi-dimensional player.
“I work really hard on my defense. I try to get to the free throw line when my shot is off. You can’t score 15 points and think your job is done. I try to do all the little things, too,” the junior explained.
Blue is third on the team in scoring (8.3 ppg), second in rebounds (4.6 rpg), second in assists (3.0 apg), and first in steals (2.8 spg).
Blue hit two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining against Georgia Tech to give the Cavaliers a one-point victory last Monday.
“Jocelyn (Logan-Friend) and Safiya (Grant-Fairley) really stepped up and made some big plays. I’m glad I had another opportunity to clinch a win; I couldn’t fail this time,” laughed Blue. Last year, Blue had the same opportunity against Clemson, but her efforts failed. “Yeah, Clemson came to mind.”
“My grandparents saw (the Georgia Tech game) on TV and called me after the game. I like seeing how happy they are when they get to watch me play,” summed up Blue.