Lyndra Littles: Freshman Leader

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Dec. 2, 2005

by Cathy Bongiovi-Stewart

When Lyndra Littles was nine-years old, sports became a daily part of her life. She and her cousin Rafael Deleon, who is five days younger than her, were inseparable.

“We grew up together,” Littles said. “Whatever he did, I did, whether it was football or basketball or baseball.”

Luckily for the Cavaliers, basketball won out. Rated the 25th best player in the country by All-Star Game Sports as a prep, the 6-1 forward from Washington, D.C., is continuing her education and basketball career at the University of Virginia this season.

“Academics,” Littles said as her first reason for selecting UVa. “It’s in the ACC, one of the top conferences in the country, and it’s not too far from home. I didn’t want to stay home, but I didn’t want to go too far away either.”

Hailing from an athletic family, the Street & Smith’s Honorable Mention All-American from Archbishop Carroll High School scored more than 1,000 points during her prep career. Listed as a “stock rising” player by USA Today after the All-Game Sports All-American Camp, Littles was one of three players in the nation considered for Sleeper of the Year by Superscout Scouting Service. She averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds per game en route to earning team MVP honors three times.

Inspired throughout her life by her grandfather John Littles, Lyndra Littles utilizes his wisdom and advice.

“He always made me push myself to the extra limit,” Littles recalled. “He’s always been my motivator.”

Now she relies on that advice to help her be a leader on the court.

“The leadership we have on the court doesn’t just come from upper classmen,” Littles shared. “It doesn’t come from one specific player. It comes from anybody. Anybody can step on the court and be a leader, and I admire that, because it makes everybody work harder.”

Perhaps Littles has had one of her dreams came true already. In the season opener at George Washington, Littles made her collegiate debut before her hometown crowd. More than 15 relatives were in attendance. She came of the bench for 15 minutes of action while helping the Cavaliers to a 66-53 win.

In the home opener against Wright State, Littles recorded her first collegiate double-double by racking up 16 points and 10 rebounds. At the Paradise Jam, the freshman continued to add to UVa’s success, netting 13 points and eight rebounds in the win over Alabama.

“I just want to go out there and play together and do the best that we can,” Littles said of her goals for this season. “Our greatest competition is going to be ourselves. If we can be the best that we can on the court and beat ourselves, then we can beat anybody.”

In her free time, Littles loves to sleep and to eat.

“I just love fried chicken,” she shared.

With many interests, Littles has not yet picked a major course of study.

“I’m either going to major in psychology or sociology,” Little said. “I’m not sure yet.”

With a lengthy and successful collegiate career ahead of her, Littles is off to a great start.

Lyndra’s Favorites
Food: Chicken
Ice cream: Chocolate therapy
Place: My bed
Movie: Lion King
Actor: Denzel Washington
Actress: Jessica Alba
TV Show: America’s Next Top Model
Book: Flyy Girl
Cartoon: Marvian the Martian

I love to cook …
chicken.

Three words that best describe me are …
hungry very often.

My advice to a young athlete is …
make sure you do all your work in school on time.

The best thing about being a Cavalier is …
the close family bonds we share.

I chose Virginia, because …
of the academic achievements andDebbie’s warmth and determination.

My goals for the season are …
that we reach our potential as a team.