South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley once revealed the driving factor behind her decision-making during her college basketball playing days. On an episode of current LA Lakers coach JJ Reddick and co-host Tommy Alter’s “The Young Man and The Three” podcast in Jan. 2022, Reddick asked Staley how she committed to the Virginia Cavaliers for collegiate hoops.
Staley revealed that growing up in North Philadelphia, the living quarters of the University of Virginia resonated more with her than those of Pennsylvania State University, even with the latter being closer to her hometown. With this, Staley ended up choosing the Cavaliers after high school.
“I visited Penn State first, and I’ve said this a few times, but when I went there, I didn’t feel it. Like I didn’t feel it, and they actually lived in those old dorms where you’ve got a room, you’ve got a roommate, you’ve got to take your bucket with your robe on, you’ve got to go down the hall and shower. You’ve got to collect all your stuff and go…’Ugh.’ I didn’t feel that. Then when I went to UVA on my official visit, it was plush,” Staley shared (10:02).
“It was like, I had a roommate, and I had three other rooms in this suite. We had a common area. We had like two or three showers, we had two or three stalls, and it was like an apartment. And if you grew up in the projects in North Philly, that was like…I mean, I had my own condo. So, the dorms are what separated the two schools,” she added.
Staley went on to play all four years of her college basketball tenure with the Cavaliers from 1988 to 1992. The now 55-year-old’s best year came in the 1990-91 season when she led Virginia to the national championship game against the Tennessee Volunteers. Despite losing to the Volunteers by three points, 70-67, in overtime, Staley was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Read More: “I Would Have To Do It”: Dawn Staley Gets Honest About Considering New York Knicks Head Coaching Job
Dawn Staley said she connected with then-Virginia Cavaliers coach Debbie Ryan
On the same podcast, Staley talked about how important her connection with the program’s coaching staff was in picking her college basketball program, apart from her living quarters.
She said her connection with then-Virginia Cavaliers coach Debbie Ryan was a big factor in her decision.
“Well, UVA started recruiting me. There were two schools that recruited me since I was in eighth grade: UVA and Penn State. Those were the only two schools that I visited. I only took two official visits. It was really important to build a bond with my coach. I built a bond with Debbie Ryan, and then, at Penn State], Rene Portland was the head coach, but I had a strong bond with the assistant coach, Dan Durkin. Those were the two schools [I visited],” Staley shared (9:12).
Also Read: “It Never Stopped Me From Imagining”: When Dawn Staley Opened Up on Her Sideline Fashion and North Philly Roots
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