( This is the fifth in a series of articles about the new players on the University of Louisville women's basketball team. Since we are doing these in alphabetical order...Jessica Laemmle is up next.)
WALK ON, WORK IN, WANT IT...
" There was no doubt in my mind that, if I was walking on anywhere, I would walk on at UofL....I'm here and Coach Walz is giving me the opportunity and I'm just going to excel at it."
It wasn't like this was the only opportunity Jessica would ever have to play NCAA women's college hoops. There was interest from several NAIA and NCAA D II programs. She saw it this way:
"I'd rather be a small fish in a big pond than a big fish in a small pond. My family has been long-time season ticket holders and the Cards swim in the biggest of women's basketball ponds".
It's not like the Cards are bringing in a mascot or anything. Jessica was Louisville Catholic Sports Player of the Year. She shoots 80% from the free throw line. She's been described as a "tenacious defender" and " a player that leaves it all on the floor". Her coach at Mercy Academy...Keith Baisch...who was an assistant coach at Louisville from 1998-2001...was supportive when she was initially considering going for the preferred walk-on role. " I didn't see it as a negative. It's just a way of saying that it'll take a little more time to prove herself...and I think Jess can handle that."
A team is made up of all types of personalities, skill sets and roles. Laemmle contacted Walz...Walz made it clear that no walk-on is ever guaranteed an eventual scholarship and it is an uphill battle. Sometimes, people discount walk-ons...despite the fact that the Cards have has some pretty good ones in Shelby Harper and Dakota Weatherford over the years. That doesn't bother Laemmle.
"When someone tells me I can't do something, I try to turn around and do it. That is my role right now...being a walk on...so I can't dismiss it. I'll have to earn the respect."
We're pretty sure she'll fast become a fan favorite...because she's local, because she's fun to watch on the court and because of her hustle and dedication.
She'll also burn you right off the bat. I had the opportunity to see her play last year against J'Town. She made an impact just five seconds into the game...having the opening tip directed to her...driving down the court and sinking a mid-range jumper. We hope she has many opportunities to dribble, shoot and score with the Cards.
FIVE FUN FACTS ABOUT JESSICA
1) Doctor, doctor? Doing a Google search, I discovered there is a veterinarian in San Diego, CA named Jessica Laemmle. Leading a dual existence?
2) Floor Exercise...Jessica was a gymnast until the 10th. grade. Maybe she'll do a triple somersault and stick the landing after a layup! (We give her 10's already...)
3) No relation...some relation... During my days at UofL, I had a great Political Science professor named Phil Laemmle. Although not related to Phil, she is Louisville sports journalist Jody Demling's niece...
4) Hoops in the family. Her dad, Rick Laemmle, was a 6th. grade basketball coach at Mercy Academy in 2016. We're pretty sure she's a better free throw shooter than him, though.
5) Winner, winner...chicken dinner! Jessica lists chicken as one of her favorite foods. So do 2017 verbal Lindsey Duvall, Cortnee Walton, Myisha Hines-Allen and Sam Fuehring. Maybe CARDINAL COUPLE should open a Bojangles restaurant near campus...( I miss the Bojangles chicken in the area. You can still find them to the south of us.)
JUST FOR FUN...CAPTION THIS PICTURE
Lamar Jackson, UofL QB...has made the cover of Sports Illustrated, It's an interesting photo. Just for fun, feel free to caption the photo and put it in the comments section.
I put my "caption" in the photo below:
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| WHAT STARTS WITH AN "E" and ENDS WITH AN "E"? WHAT IS "ENDZONE, ALEX?" CORRECT. |
paulie
xxxxx
I am enjoying these feature on the new players very much. It was a very good idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Charlie and also to those of you who have e-mailed or texted me about the series. Considering keeping a version of it going after I go through the seven new players....with the rest of the WBB squad
ReplyDeletePaulie
Caption: Nobody in front of me again? Sweet!
ReplyDeleteBlue Lou
I am scoring again? Sweet!
DeleteEither my eyes are deceiving me or that appears to be the goal line in front of me!
DeleteLaemmie's attitude alone makes her a force. Nice to know more about her and that she can play the game too. Dakota Weatherford was terrific for us last year.
ReplyDeleteAnother good article, Paulie keep the article coming.GO CARDS!
ReplyDeleteJust looking at what Louisville has on roster currently, Laemmle is most likely to be a third-string guard with Zambrotta. This is, of course, with having no knowledge of what Walz and the staff are seeing in these players that we fans don't have access to. I could see a rotation of Johnson and Durr as starters, Carter and Jackson seeing a lot of back-up minutes and Zambrotta and Laemmle picking up whatever is left. It is important to note I am putting JJ at a wing and not putting her in the guard mix. The staff may see it differently. Is this a fair assessment Paulie and readers? The Deb Factor.
ReplyDeletePlaying behind Mariya would be ideal for J.J. You take out the two Syracuse games and Mariya had a terrific year. In the two games verse Syracuse Mariya shot 1-12 (1-10 on three's) with 13 turnovers with 10 in the road game we won by 14. The second game we lost she only played 17 minutes. In both games she was exploited and could not keep up with the speed of the game and was out of her element. She needs a better handle in the open court which showed improvement from her frosh year but needs more. J.J. would bring a different gear and match up against teams like Syracuse much better on both ends of the floor.
DeleteMariya, our second best player in 48 minutes in 2 games verse Syracuse, scored 3 total points averaging 1.5 points per game, shooting 8% and 13 turnovers. Jazmine Jones needs to be in games that are too fast for Mariya to keep up in. Mariya is slow but good.
DeleteThe scenario I envision is that Walz may play 12-13 a game regularly. Even in close games. The key is putting together combinations that play well together.
DeleteIMHO 12-13 players a game would be a total nightmare that would keep anyone from getting in the flow of the game. I'd say rhythm but I misspell it. Over substitution patterns would kill this team. Paulie, you may be right but I hope not. The best players need time in the court.
DeleteIt's hard enough finding 5-7 players that gell never mind second and third combinations involving 12-13 players. Tenn coach Holly Wexler tried keeping everyone happy by over subbing different players and destroyed team chemistry . Later in the year she narrowed down the number of players who played and they went on a tear.
Delete30-30 player made me chuckle, but in a climate where players are transferring from programs if the coach looks at them funny, it's good to see a player welcome the challenge of cracking the rotation. Good for her.
ReplyDelete