Post by rainman on Oct 19, 2007 8:44:28 GMT -5
Pride and Joye
By Christopher Marshall for MSNsportsNET.com
October 18, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – If there is one word to describe Lateefah Joye’s game on the basketball court it is exciting. The flare for the dramatic, the ankle-breaking crossover dribbles and the nifty no-look passes that are staples of Joye’s game were all forged in her youth. The 5-11 guard spent much of her childhood playing basketball on the playgrounds of Brooklyn with current Minnesota Timberwolves guard Sebastian Telfair.
“Where I’m from it wasn’t all about scoring - it was about how bad you can embarrass the person that’s guarding you. That’s what my game is based on,” Joye said. “When I get the ball you are at my mercy. That’s how I see it.”
The challenge of playing against men on a regular basis - not only improved Joye’s game - it also gave her toughness and a resolve that she believes provides her with an edge every time she steps on the floor.
“Playing with Sebastian and all those guys helped me get where I am. They didn’t take it easier on me because I was a girl. They just played against me like I was any other dude,” Joye said. “That made me a lot stronger to play now because females are not as strong playing with me. You have to work extra hard when you’re playing with men so it just seems a little easier playing with females. Sebastian was a big help because most of the moves I do I got from him. We were good friends growing up.”
Naturally Joye’s game is more geared toward taking her opponents off the dribble and driving to the hoop, but as she approaches her senior year in Morgantown, she is determined to work on her mid-range jump shot.
“Playing with the girls has helped me a lot. They play hard and make you work on the things you need to work on for the games,” Joye said. “If you are a driver, they are going to back off you and make you do the things that you are not comfortable doing in a game. In practice we do a lot of shooting drills also, so hopefully I can put it to work.”
Joye has made significant strides coming off her first year in the program. The former junior college transfer took advantage of a trip overseas, averaging 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds in her five games on the team’s Australian tour this summer.
“I looked forward to going overseas because that’s what I want to do after here. For me, changing schools and everything my stats aren’t what they’re supposed to be,” Joye said. “I had to step my game up over there and that’s what I did. I left it all out there. This is my last year. I don’t have another chance to come back and try to do it again.”
Head Coach Mike Carey has seen tremendous strides from Joye over the past year.
“Her work ethic and her attitude and the way she understands our system a lot better this year is night and day from last year. We’re very pleased with how she has progressed from one year to another,” Carey said. “When you get into junior college players that is usually what happens. The first year is an adjustment and the next year hopefully they are ready to go and that has happened for her.”
The adjustment was quite profound for Joye as she made a whirlwind basketball trip from Brooklyn, to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Okaloosa-Walton Junior College and then finally to Morgantown to play for the Mountaineers.
Joye had to get used to a structured, in-your-face coaching style that she had never been exposed to previously.
“The big change was trying to get used to Coach Carey,” Joye said. “I was not used to his coaching style. It’s interesting. I’m pretty used to him now.”
Joye, who has the potential to play a variety of positions for West Virginia this winter, says she looks forward to being a part of a team with expectations for success.
“This is the first time I’m actually on a team that is getting some recognition. Everybody is striving for the same thing,” Joye said. “We have seven seniors on the team and we all are on the same page. I’m really looking forward to this season.”
Whether it’s a no-look pass for an assist, a crossover drive for a layup or a critical leaping rebound, Joye will do whatever she can this year to help the Mountaineers succeed an achieve their lofty goals.
“I just want to produce any way I can. It doesn’t have to be scoring,” Joye said. “If it’s getting rebounds or passing or getting somebody open I’ll do whatever I have to do.”
Whatever Joye does on the court this season, West Virginia basketball fans can be sure of one thing: it will be exciting.
By Christopher Marshall for MSNsportsNET.com
October 18, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – If there is one word to describe Lateefah Joye’s game on the basketball court it is exciting. The flare for the dramatic, the ankle-breaking crossover dribbles and the nifty no-look passes that are staples of Joye’s game were all forged in her youth. The 5-11 guard spent much of her childhood playing basketball on the playgrounds of Brooklyn with current Minnesota Timberwolves guard Sebastian Telfair.
“Where I’m from it wasn’t all about scoring - it was about how bad you can embarrass the person that’s guarding you. That’s what my game is based on,” Joye said. “When I get the ball you are at my mercy. That’s how I see it.”
The challenge of playing against men on a regular basis - not only improved Joye’s game - it also gave her toughness and a resolve that she believes provides her with an edge every time she steps on the floor.
“Playing with Sebastian and all those guys helped me get where I am. They didn’t take it easier on me because I was a girl. They just played against me like I was any other dude,” Joye said. “That made me a lot stronger to play now because females are not as strong playing with me. You have to work extra hard when you’re playing with men so it just seems a little easier playing with females. Sebastian was a big help because most of the moves I do I got from him. We were good friends growing up.”
Naturally Joye’s game is more geared toward taking her opponents off the dribble and driving to the hoop, but as she approaches her senior year in Morgantown, she is determined to work on her mid-range jump shot.
“Playing with the girls has helped me a lot. They play hard and make you work on the things you need to work on for the games,” Joye said. “If you are a driver, they are going to back off you and make you do the things that you are not comfortable doing in a game. In practice we do a lot of shooting drills also, so hopefully I can put it to work.”
Joye has made significant strides coming off her first year in the program. The former junior college transfer took advantage of a trip overseas, averaging 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds in her five games on the team’s Australian tour this summer.
“I looked forward to going overseas because that’s what I want to do after here. For me, changing schools and everything my stats aren’t what they’re supposed to be,” Joye said. “I had to step my game up over there and that’s what I did. I left it all out there. This is my last year. I don’t have another chance to come back and try to do it again.”
Head Coach Mike Carey has seen tremendous strides from Joye over the past year.
“Her work ethic and her attitude and the way she understands our system a lot better this year is night and day from last year. We’re very pleased with how she has progressed from one year to another,” Carey said. “When you get into junior college players that is usually what happens. The first year is an adjustment and the next year hopefully they are ready to go and that has happened for her.”
The adjustment was quite profound for Joye as she made a whirlwind basketball trip from Brooklyn, to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to Okaloosa-Walton Junior College and then finally to Morgantown to play for the Mountaineers.
Joye had to get used to a structured, in-your-face coaching style that she had never been exposed to previously.
“The big change was trying to get used to Coach Carey,” Joye said. “I was not used to his coaching style. It’s interesting. I’m pretty used to him now.”
Joye, who has the potential to play a variety of positions for West Virginia this winter, says she looks forward to being a part of a team with expectations for success.
“This is the first time I’m actually on a team that is getting some recognition. Everybody is striving for the same thing,” Joye said. “We have seven seniors on the team and we all are on the same page. I’m really looking forward to this season.”
Whether it’s a no-look pass for an assist, a crossover drive for a layup or a critical leaping rebound, Joye will do whatever she can this year to help the Mountaineers succeed an achieve their lofty goals.
“I just want to produce any way I can. It doesn’t have to be scoring,” Joye said. “If it’s getting rebounds or passing or getting somebody open I’ll do whatever I have to do.”
Whatever Joye does on the court this season, West Virginia basketball fans can be sure of one thing: it will be exciting.
