In the Spring, coaches are formulating plans for summer basketball and for what they think will make the team successful in November. During this process, coaches are thinking about possible starting lineups, and possible substitution rotations. Usually the coaches planning is based on where the players were in terms of ability at the end of the season. Every June when we start camp, there is a player who is clearly a better player- it jumps out to the coaches and to the team. At that point, as a coach you excitedly rethink the possibilities. You realize, "This player is going to be a real factor, and they are going to make us a lot better than I anticipated we would be."
While there were many players who "surprised" me in June, Sara Wood and Antonia Kisler. Sara Wood had started as a sophomore but was not a very good shooter. Molly Watson was a year behind her, and I projected Molly to take Sara's place in the starting lineup. When we started camp in June, Sara had not only improved her shot, she was automatic- she never missed.
After Antonia Kisler's sophomore year, I figured she would be able to play on the varsity as a junior, but I figured she would be a "role player". I envisioned Antonia playing maybe 8-10 minutes per game. She had committed to the weight room and had not only gotten stronger, but her weight room work improved her vertical jump significantly and improved her quickness. Her improved ability and her high energy the very first day of camp, changed my thinking completely. As coaches, we excitedly began to change our plans.