Auburn, Alabama – Coach Johnny Harris’ second year of preseason practice began Tuesday as he looks to rebuild Auburn’s women’s basketball program. Harris hopes to pick up a deeper and more talented roster for the 2022-23 schedule.
Recalling the start of practice last year and comparing it to what he saw Tuesday, the coach said the Tigers are “much” ahead of where they were before when it comes to strength and conditioning. I needed that to do it,” she said.
“We have eight players who didn’t play last year and they can help us,” the coach noted.
Last season, the Tigers finished 10-18 overall, went 2-14 in the SEC, and after taking over a program that had won just five games last season and failed to win a single SEC, were at league standard. had a roster that had not reached Terry Williams-Fournoy. The Tigers upset four teams in the top 25 during his 2021-22 season, but their lack of depth and height was an issue in most games.
Honesty Scott Grayson, a senior redshirt and second-leading scorer last season, said he has higher expectations for his team. She played a big role in her last season’s success for the Tigers as she scored 13.0 points and averaged her 5.7 rebounds per game.
“I feel a lot more prepared this year than I did last year,” said the 5-foot-9 guard. I feel that we are all doing our best.”
Harris said one of her challenges last year was developing the all-around hustle and work ethic she wanted from the team. Coaches say the Tigers have made progress on that front, and Scott Grayson says it’s true.
Commenting on the Tigers’ goals for 2022-23, the senior guard said:
The Tigers start the season on November 8 at home vs. Sam Houston State. The SEC schedule begins December 29th at Ole Miss.
One of the reasons for this season’s high hopes is the return and continued growth of 6-foot junior Aicha Koulibaly, after a team-best breakout season averaging 17.1 points and 7.5 rebounds. She did so even though she was often double-teamed by her opponents.As a freshman, she averaged 5.1 points and 3.1 rebounds. An effective inside scorer, her Coulibably’s combination of quickness and strength made her one of the SEC’s better all-around performers last season.
The Tigers have eight rookies on their roster, but lost one during the season when freshman guard Odea Young suffered a torn Achilles tendon in summer training. The daughter of former Tiger All-American his guard Carolyn Jones-Young is from Tallahassee, Florida.
A healthy and well-prepared freshman guard ranks 43rd overall in the 2022 signatories class with a 5-9 record at the Sydney Show. hoopgles.
“I think I’m leading as a point guard,” Shaw said. “My main role is to be aggressive and make sure my teammates know what to do.”
When asked what it takes to be an effective point guard, a freshman from Miami, Fla. said: , and make sure everyone does what they’re supposed to do and brings in the right energy. “
Other rookies include 6-1 Maya Pratchett of Bartlett High School in Memphis, Tennessee, and 6-2 freshmen Carissa Richardson and Jakaira Johnson of New Manchester High School in Douglasville, Georgia. Jones of Mississippi was a national security guard at his junior college.
Johnson is coming back from a knee injury that prematurely ended her sophomore season.
Romi Levy, a 6-3 junior forward who was named to the 2020-21 SEC All-Freshman Team, has also returned from injury. Levy had surgery on both knees and missed the entire season last season.
Levy is part of what Harris calls an “excellent core group” that includes senior guard Sania Wells and sophomore guard Marshawn Bostick.
The Tigers also return 6-5 junior center Precious Johnson, a late addition to last year’s roster that improved late in the season. She averaged 5.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. Johnson will be the tallest player on the team until December when Oindamora Akimborawa, her fifth grader from Lagos, Nigeria, joins the team.
