ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) – The three newest members of the UCF women's basketball team arrived on campus for their first official workouts this week. Freshmen Diamond Battles, Britney Onyeje and Brittney Smith arrived on campus to begin summer workouts on June 25.
Two of the newcomers, Battles and Smith, hail from the Sunshine State.
"I chose UCF because I love the culture," Battles, a Winter Haven native, said. "The (team was) amazing. I felt like this was home."
For Smith, an Orlando native, staying close to home was important, but what the Knights, who posted 20-win campaigns in both seasons under head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, are doing on the court also played a major role in her decision.
"The coaches have really big aspirations for the future and I feel strongly that they're going to get where they want to go," Smith said. "I wanted to be a part of it."
All three also stressed the role education played in their decisions to sign with UCF. Onyeje plans to pursue a career in anesthesiology. Having the opportunity to play basketball while studying in one of the top health programs was important to the Texas native.
With one week of workouts in the books, the trio reflected on the difference in collegiate training. This week, the Knights followed a morning weight room session with individual workouts with their position coaches.
"It's really hard, but I know the harder I work, the better I'll get," Onyeje said.
UCF will continue its six-week summer training session through July.
Brittney Smith, Britney Onyeje and Diamond Battles joined the Knights for summer training.