By Sam Draut
Two years ago, Bria Smith and Sara Hammond stepped onto the University of Louisville’s
campus as the first McDonald’s All-Americans in the women’s basketball program history.
Now as the 2013-14 season begins, the two juniors continue to blossom as they look to
repeat last season, which ended in the NCAA National Championship game.
Smith is a two-year starter from Massapequa, N.Y. She came to Louisville ranked as the
number-eight player in the nation by ESPN HoopGurlz.
As a freshman, Smith started all 33 games and was selected to the Big East All-Freshman
team. She averaged 9.2 points per game and finished second on the team with 63 steals.
During her sophomore year, Smith switched to point guard midway through the season
and helped direct the Cardinal offense through their NCAA tournament run.
As she continues to transition to point guard, Smith will still see time at shooting guard
too.
“I’m still playing both, it is whatever is needed at the time, I’m a combo guard, so either
is comfortable to me,” Smith said. “I like playing point a lot because last year we went for a
good run, but it’s where ever I am needed I am willing to play.”
Smith displayed her mid-range jump shot throughout the season, but she continued to
develop it during the offseason.
“It adds another threat to my game, I’m already a good slicer to the basket, I can already
get to the basket quick, last year everyone was banking on me going to basket, that opens up
my pull-up jumper, which adds another threat to my game,” Smith said.
She scored in double figures in 17 games last season and finished fourth in scoring with
9.5 points per game.
U of L head coach Jeff Walz understands the importance of her development. Her jump
shot becomes a catalyst for the rest of her game.
“Bria has worked hard on her 10-to-15 foot jump shot. Her first step and her ability to
get to the basket is as good as anyone I have ever coached,” Walz said. “But for her to take
her game to the next step she has got to be able to consistently make a 10-to-15 foot pull-up
jump shot because it is going to be there for her. That first step is so good people are going
to back off of her and she has put the time in the gym and she has gotten better.”
Beyond scoring, Smith is a competitor on the defensive end of the floor. She led the team
last year with 78 steals and recorded a career-high seven steals against Rutgers.
Heading into her third year at Louisville, she is now looked at as a floor general and a
team leader.
”She is starting to get a little more mentally tougher which I think is a big step for her. I
have always appreciated how well she competes, how hard she plays. I really expect her to
take that next step and become a leader on the floor for us both on the defensive end of the
floor as well as the offensive end,” Walz said.
Despite coming to U of L ranked as the number-12 player in the nation by ESPN
HoopGurlz and the first McDonald’s All-American from Kentucky, the transition to the
college game was difficult for Hammond during her freshman year.
She debuted with 13 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks, but played sporadically as a
freshman averaging just 12.8 minutes per game.
Last year, Hammond made an early statement showing her transition from her freshman
year. In the season opener against number-12 Texas A&M, Hammond went for 20 points
and 13 rebounds in a 47-45 Cardinal win.
“If you want to be a great player you can’t be content where you are at. The coaches
challenge all of us to get in the gym in the summer and they tell us that is where the real
players are made, and I took that to heart,” Hammond said.
Hammond started 36 games last season, leading the team in rebounding with 6.4
rebounds per game and was second in scoring with 10.8 points per game.
This offseason, Hammond focused on her jump shot to improve her versatility as a post
player.
“I got in the gym every day and shot with the shooting machine mid-range jumpers. I
had a pretty good shot but I wanted to get more consistent with it. So it was a challenge to
myself to get in the gym and shoot 300 to 400 shots a day,” Hammond said.
“Sara is a gym rat, she is in the gym if not the most, and she is right up there with any of
our players. You will continue to see Sara’s mid-range game improve, her shot looks great,”
Walz said. “She brings the ability to play inside out, she has the ability to play the post.”
Hammond is left-handed, so she also worked on her right hand throughout the offseason,
but she continues to develop her off hand.
“That has been the biggest challenge, the coaches always make a comment about it if I go
up for a layup with my left hand or I’m in the post and use a left-handed hook instead of a
right-handed hook,” Hammond said.
“Coach says if you want to be a dominant player in the post you have to be able to use
both hands. So I’m continuing to work on it, using it with ball handling and lay up, but it is
getting better.”
With the absence of Sheronne Vails, the Cardinals are left without a true center, but will
be looking for Hammond to provide a presence in the post.
“I challenged her in the off-season to be more of a low post player for us. She has to be
willing to use her right hand on the right side of the basket,” Walz said.
