The girl’s basketball fans in the state of Indiana know all about UConn-bound guard Kelly Faris. She led Heritage Christian High to four state championships in her career and was the runner-up for the state Player of the Year honors to Notre Dame-bound guard Skylar Diggins.
Tomorrow night, the nation will get a glimpse of Faris’ abilities when she competes for the East team in the McDonald’s All-American game at the Bank United Center in Miami. The game will air live on ESPNU at 5:30 p.m.
“It’s a higher level of game and I’m going up against the best of the best,’’ Faris said. “But that’s what I love doing. I enjoy being challenged. It’s not that fun going out there and killing some team. Hopefully, I’ll have fun and it will be a great experience. Very few people have this opportunity. I’ll give it all I have.’’
Once Faris returns home from Miami she will begin preparing for life as a member of the Huskies. She plans on working on her shot, creating her own shot and maintaining her level of conditioning.
It is also expected that Faris will earn an invitation to the USA Women’s U-19 National Team trials May 14-17 at the U.S. Olympic Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The 2009 FIBA U-19 World Championship for Women in Bangkok, Thailand July 23-Aug. 2.
Faris helped the U.S. win the gold medal at the FIBA Americas U-18 Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina last July. Depending on what happens with USA Basketball in the coming weeks will determined whether or not she will attend summer school at UConn.
“There’s not been one kid that has come here for that six-week summer session that has ever been prepared for it,’’ UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “You’re going through things unlike anything else you’ve done. I want Kelly to keep finding ways to help teams win, which is what she does well. Every time I think of her I think of how little fanfare she causes on the floor, yet her team always wins. It’s amazing.’’
Rich
