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April 28, 2006
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Eight members of the Virginia women’s basketball team spoke to female students at Charlottesville’s Burnley-Moran Elementary School on April 27.
The players shared their basketball skills and study habits with the students in the After School Extended Day Program which provides an interactive sports activity for girls in second, third and fourth grades.
“Our girls have been practicing since January on basketball drills,” said Debra Rogers, the physical education teacher who runs the program. “I thought it would be a great way to end class with what they’re aspiring to be and to see the real thing and find out what they need to do to continue to aspire to be future basketball players.”
The experience was rewarding for the UVa players as well.
“It means a lot, seeing that they know who we are and see how they interact and play with us,” said captain Sharneé Zoll (Marlboro, N.J.). “They have no cares in the world really, so it’s just fun. It makes me act like a little kid.”
“Just to know that there are a lot of little girls out there that want to play basketball when they get older,” added captain Siedah Williams (Cleveland, Ohio). “I think it’s inspirational for the younger kids to see that we’re on this high level, and they can be at the same place.”
The Cavaliers were also influenced by guest speakers when they were younger.
“My sister’s high school team came to see us,” Williams said. “It wasn’t often that we had a lot of people speak to us, but I think this is very meaningful for the younger kids.”
“I would see more (speakers) when I went to basketball camps,” Zoll shared. “I would see people that I really looked up to, and it meant a lot to me just seeing that they took the time out to come and talk, to see that they were regular people.”
More than just basketball skills was shared between the Cavaliers and Burnley-Moran students in the short time they spent together.
“Just to work hard in anything you do,” Zoll said of the main message of the day. “It doesn’t matter (what). All these kids- you can tell how smart they are. Maybe not book smart, and maybe they can’t sit and concentrate for long, but some of the comments and questions they asked were pretty much beyond their years. If they just keep their minds on something and work hard, I think they will be very successful.”
Here are some of the comments from the students:
Hannah M., age 9, third gradeFavorite player: Brenna McGuireDo you come to UVa games: Yes.What do you like best about our games: I just like seeing them shoot hoops.Do you play: Not really.Do you want to play: Yes.
Mackenzie C., age 9, third gradeFavorite player: Sharneé ZollWhy: I’m not sure.Do you come to UVa games: Yes. I’ve seen them once.Do you play: Yes, I’d like to play basketball when I grow up.
Sheshia T., age 10, fourth gradeFavorite player: Michael JordanWhy: Because he’s so tall, he can shoot the ball by jumping up a little bitFavorite wbb player: Takisha GranberryDo you come to UVa games: Yes.Do you want to play: Yes.Do you play: I used to.