On paper, the potential of Princeton senior Bella Alarie is obvious.
The 6-5 Alarie is just as capable of bringing the ball up the floor and facilitating as she is dominating in the post. Her fundamentals around the basket are as sound as her shot from the perimeter. There's a reason she's won three straight Ivy League Player of the Year awards, and why most consider her the odds-on favourite to win a fourth.
Even so, for her new head coach Carla Berube, there's understanding Alarie from afar, seeing her within the USA Basketball system, and then there's the reality of experiencing her every day, up close.
“She's been awesome in practice,” Berube said, following a recent Princeton game at Seton Hall. “There are days where she can just take over and nobody can guard her, and those are always fun to watch. I'm just excited to watch her this year and be able to coach her and help her achieve all the goals that she set for herself.”
Those goals are ambitious ones, befitting a ceiling that has been revised dramatically since Alarie was a 5-9 guard her freshman year of high school. The growth spurt, combined with weight training and relentless dedication to the craft, has turned her into one of the few players in the world with her combination of size and skills.
Denne historien er fra January - February 2020-utgaven av Slam.
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Denne historien er fra January - February 2020-utgaven av Slam.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
The SUMMER THAT WASN'T
Playground entry fences chain locked. Rims removed. Leagues canceled. Summer basketball just stopped in 2020. And as its effects extended beyond the blacktop, we were reminded why it's so important.
METAMORPHOSIS
The sport of basketball speaks to so many people in so many ways. Dan Peterson, the founder of Project Backboard, has teamed up with artists to use the beauty of the sport to turn local courts into works of art that are accessible to all.
WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S Fire
For former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, the last three years have had their ups and downs. Now that he and the Phoenix Suns are back on the way up, DA wants everyone to know that's where they're planning to stay.
Now What?
As North Carolina rapper J. Cole transitioned from up-and-comer to full-blown vet, he came to a realization: staying sharp and fighting off complacency ain't easy. Inspired by his love for basketball and his desire to remain on top of the game, the 36-year-old has been treating music like a competitive sport while he readies his next project: The Off-Season.
ONE STEP AT A Time
NBA and G League vet Jeremy Lin and Loyola Marymount's Anthony Yu speak candidly about the ups and downs of being Asian American in the basketball world.
THE GARDEN Blooms
The Knicks are back. Deadass, they're back. A return to the tough, gritty, resilient style that made the teams of the past so dominant has allowed Saba Julius Randle and RJ Barrett and the Knicks an opportunity to compete for homecourt advantage in the 2021 playoffs. Facts.
CITIZEN OF THE World
Congolese native Yannick Nzosa played for professional teams in Italy and Spain before he turned 17. Now that his name is moving up the 2022 pre-draft boards, the former soccer player has one thing front and center in his mind—succeeding for his family back home.
STRONG Island
Mental fortitude and physical toughness are what's helped Long Island's Arella Guirantes make it all the way to the W.
KICK IN THE Door
The WNBA, now in its 25th season, is the longest-running women's sports league ever. SLAM sat down with four of the most influential players of all time Diana Taurasi, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Sue Bird to discuss their part in making the League the force it is today.
Can't YOU SEE
It ain't hard to tell that supernatural vision has established Nuggets star Nikola Jokic as a clear candidate for the 2021 MVP Award.
