Monday, January 29, 2007

Inside hoops with UNT’s Brittney James

By Sonya Grogg

The transition from high school basketball to college is a challenge. The players are faster, smarter and more physical, so is the game. It didn't take UNT's freshman guard, Brittney James, long to realize the physicality of the game.

Standing at 5-foot-8, James used to be the tallest player on the court for West Orange-Stark High School. Her stature no longer dominates the court at the collegiate level. James is the smallest on her team.

"I know if I'm the smallest on my team, I have to be one of the smallest in the conference," James said. "I'm not used to being the little one."

No one wants to be the little one, especially when you're known as a scoring threat. James averaged 26 points and nine boards per game in high school. She was the district MVP two years in a row, hit 12 3-pointers, while scoring 57 points, in a game against Hamshire-Fannett last year.

Impressive, but impressive scoring isn't on the mind of Brittney James now. She knows she's in a scoring slump. Shooting 22 percent from beyond the arc isn't going to cut it. Now, she's elevating her game in new areas. James is second on the team in steals, 25, while only averaging 13.7 minutes a game. Plus, she's focusing on getting her teammates the ball.

The Mean Green (5-14, 2-7) are struggling to find something resembling consistency.

"At the beginning of the season a different people played well," James said. "Everyone needs to come together in one game. We can’t have everyone play well in one game and no one in another."

This season, James is learning how to play college ball. Fouls that were fouls in high school aren't fouls in college. The college game is a learning process. One that James feels her performance is increasing with every game.

The Eagles play Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Troy in the Super Pit.

FUN FACTS

Major: Criminal Justice

Favorite Food: Mexican

Song you can't stop listening to: "This is Why I'm Hot" by Mims

Desired superpower: "To read people's minds."

If you were on a deserted island.... "I would have to bring my mom, Sheila."

See more stories in:

• Colleges & Universities > University of North Texas
• Basketball > Women's College Basketball > Sun Belt > University of North Texas