Email This Story

Freshman launches a new era

Nov. 3, 2009

Griner has Lady Bears aiming high for the 2009-2010 season

Courtesy Photo Freshman Brittney Griner impresses fellow athletes as she dunks during practice Thursday at the Ferrell Center.

By Matt Larsen
Reporter

The 7-foot-4-inch wingspan, the quadruple-double against a second-ranked College Park team (36 points, 15 rebounds, 15 blocks, and 10 assists), the National Federation of State High School record 25 blocks in a single game: Take your pick for the most jaw-dropping statistic from Houston freshman basketball player Brittney Griner.

Unanimously tabbed the No. 1 recruit in the nation by all recruiting services, the 6-foot-8-inch Griner committed to Baylor as a high school junior and will make her debut today at the Ferrell Center.

Griner's out-of-scale statistics were not limited to single game stats, either.

She averaged 33 points, 15.5 rebounds and 11.7 blocks as a senior at Nimitz High School.

And, oh, by the way, she can dunk.

As a senior in high school, Griner dunked 52 times in 32 games and set a single-game record with seven against Aldine High School.

So great was her hometown clout that Houston Mayor Bill White declared May 7, 2009, Brittney Griner Day.

Despite the long list of honors and awards that trail her all the way from Houston to Waco, the freshman manages to keep a down-to-earth nature.

"When you have an athlete that has gained so much attention sometimes, as coaches, you don't want to be around them," Head Coach Kim Mulkey said. "[They] think they're prima donnas. Teammates can't stand them, but Brittany Griner is not anything like that. She comes out there and tries to do what you ask her to do. She's not a finished product, but boy when she gets to be a junior and senior it's going to be even more special than it is today."

Griner was not available for comment, but team captains junior Melissa Jones and senior Morghan Medlock sounded off on their excitement to see Griner display her prospective talent since her arrival.

"The ability and potential that she has is just incredible," Jones said. "She lacks that experience from the college level so far, but were just excited about what she'll bring to the table."

Medlock looks forward to seeing the whole team benefit from Griner's presence down low.

"I know she'll draw a lot of attention, which will open up the floor for everybody," she said.

Griner is expected to draw attention from more than just the visiting St. Edwards Rams today.

Mulkey noted the fact that it is still football season but believes that the heralded recruit will bring more fans to the Ferrell Center than is customary for an exhibition game.

"People want to see Griner dunk," she said.

According to Mulkey, even the No. 1 recruit in the nation has a learning curve, but for Griner, the learning curve looks to be shorter rather than longer.

"Just like any other freshman, a lot of things are foreign to her and I'm sure her head is spinning," she said. "But the thing I enjoy about Brittney Griner is her eye contact. Her mannerisms that [say] 'I want to get better.'"

Brittney Griner: Griner enters her freshman season as the No. 1 recruit in the country according to Rivals.com. Footage of her dominating performances have made local and national attention, drawing 4 million YouTube views from a local news segment. Her inside presence brings coaches a new challenge, though Coach Mulkey has remained adamant in keeping the 6-foot-8-inch freshman's expectations in perspective.	Melissa Jones: The 5-foot-10-inch guard played a significant role in Baylor's Big 12 championship run, scoring 23 points off the bench throughout the tournament. Her hard-nosed style of play demands respect and allows Jones to lead by example, Mulkey said. Jones also sank 20 of 51 three-point attempts, the highest percentage among last year's squad (minimum 20 attempts). Adding that to an intimidating post presence gives Baylor many scoring options.	Kelli Griffin: The junior guard from Houston gave the Bears solid numbers as a reserve last year, averaging roughly seven points per game and netting 32 percent of her three-pointers. Her 92 of 116 free throw shooting was third on last season's team and should boost the starting five's percentage as opposed to the 2008-2009 squad, who struggled at times from the charity strip.

More News ...