July 13, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - While the UCF women's basketball team will technically have just one new addition to its roster for 2009-10, the Knights will have another welcomed addition to the court. Senior Jessica Hall (Tallahassee, Fla.), who transferred from Memphis following the 2007-08 season, will be eligible to play this season and brings experience to an already loaded UCF backcourt.
Hall was eligible to practice with the team a season ago but an early-season injury kept her off the court. Having also missed two full seasons due to injury while at Memphis, Hall is excited about her opportunity to contribute this year.
In the two seasons she played while at Memphis, Hall scored 496 points. She also led the team in scoring as a junior, averaging 13 points per game. That total included two contests of 21 points each against UCF. This season, she will be scoring points for the Knights.
Hall recently discussed the frustrations of sitting out a season ago and her excitement about playing this season in a recent Q&A.
What has been keeping you busy during the summer?
This summer, I have been busy doing basketball workouts and working the Joi Williams basketball camps.
After transferring, you were forced to sit out last season and also missed out on a chance to practice because of an injury. How difficult was it to not participate in the season, especially how it turned out? What did you try to bring to the team despite not playing?
Not being able to play for another season was very frustrating because I had already been through that for two previous seasons at the University of Memphis. Even though I wasn't participating on the court, I still brought encouragement and words of wisdom to my teammates. I helped them see things that they couldn't see while they were out on the court.
Can you give us an update us on the status of your health after being injured a season ago? Have you been able to get back on the court?
My shoulder is feeling great, and I am now back to full speed in the weight room and on the court.
With one season left in your college career, how excited are you for this upcoming season and what are you hoping to get out of it?
I am very excited about the upcoming season because it will be my last. I am hoping to contribute to the great guard play that we had last year and help the team win another conference championship and go further in the NCAA tournament.
Coach Williams has held a lot of camps this summer and the team has helped out a lot with all of them. What do you enjoy most about working camps?
I love kids and I enjoyed working with them and trying to help them gain more basketball knowledge and skill.
Now that you are eligible and freshman Gevenia Carter has joined the team, there are a lot of talented guards in the program. How has that competition been and do you think playing against each other makes you better players?
We have a lot of talent at the guard position and the competition has been great. Good competition allows all of us to get better and when we get better, we make the team as a whole better.