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11-18-2011, 01:11 AM
As post player Sydney Moss developed her prodigiously well-rounded basketball game into one of the state's most dangerous arsenals of skills, Boone County coaches could see her improvement in better shooting percentages and higher rebounding, assist and steal averages.
But there was something else that was giving away Moss' dedication to becoming a better player and a better athlete - her improving jump-roping skills.
"She was terrible at jumping rope," Boone County coach Nell Fookes recalled. "She'd take a few turns then take a break, jump a few times and take a break. She's a lot better now. Sydney has always been a likable girl, but her maturity process has made her even better. She's such a complete player because she has worked so hard."
Moss would get welts on her legs by whacking the rope against them while trying to perfect her jump-roping and would become frustrated and carry it over into practice.
"To be honest, I was horrible at jumping rope," Moss said. "The rope would hit me on the leg and make me mad. It got on my nerves. I just decided if I can get better at it by the end of the year, I'll be amazing. But it was hard. Now, I can do it for five minutes without stopping. Before, I'd stop every 10 seconds. And, of course, I'd always get the shortest rope."
Approaching 6 feet in height, a short rope did Moss no favors, so she thought.
"Dean (Fookes), Nell's husband, he helps us out. And he would come in to the gym and ask how I was doing with jumping rope," Moss said. "He's good for comic relief, and I was giving it to him. He would mess with me. He'd say, 'You're not stopping any more.' But Nell has always been the serious one. She's tough. She wanted me to learn how to jump rope. I think that's what I've gotten the most from Nell - mental toughness.
"I'm going to be prepared for anything from a college coach because of my high school coach."
Moss, the daughter of former NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, helped Fookes record her 600th victory last season. The 5-foot-11 Moss signed to play at Florida Nov. 11. She is the lone Kentucky high school player in the girls' Class of 2012 updated rankings by ESPN's HoopGurlz.com, ranking No. 50, and is a leading candidate for this season's Miss Kentucky Basketball honor.
"When I think of the Sydney Moss I first met, it's unbelievable how far she has come as a person and a player," Fookes said. "She's a unique package with her body size, athleticism and her skill set. Purdue recruited her as a point guard. She can post up inside against any player. She can shoot the 3. She can drive the basket and pass the ball very well. She doesn't force anything, which makes her tough to guard."
Moss averaged 22.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last season. She shot 35 percent on 3-point attempts, made nearly 70 percent of her free throws and shot 50 percent overall. She has made 3-pointers while fighting off double-coverage in the corner as time expired. She has made half-court shots and nailed buzzer-beaters at the end of regulation and overtime.
"She is so low key about everything she has accomplished as an individual," Fookes said of her star. "Her maturity and her work ethic keeps her looking forward. She has overcome a lot to be a good player, a good student and a good person by prioritizing what she wants to do."
Moss wondered how she could ever overcome obstacles if she could not jump over a rope.
"I'll never look at jumping rope the same way again." Moss. "There will always be memories at Boone County, and I'm looking forward to making more."
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...111180304/
But there was something else that was giving away Moss' dedication to becoming a better player and a better athlete - her improving jump-roping skills.
"She was terrible at jumping rope," Boone County coach Nell Fookes recalled. "She'd take a few turns then take a break, jump a few times and take a break. She's a lot better now. Sydney has always been a likable girl, but her maturity process has made her even better. She's such a complete player because she has worked so hard."
Moss would get welts on her legs by whacking the rope against them while trying to perfect her jump-roping and would become frustrated and carry it over into practice.
"To be honest, I was horrible at jumping rope," Moss said. "The rope would hit me on the leg and make me mad. It got on my nerves. I just decided if I can get better at it by the end of the year, I'll be amazing. But it was hard. Now, I can do it for five minutes without stopping. Before, I'd stop every 10 seconds. And, of course, I'd always get the shortest rope."
Approaching 6 feet in height, a short rope did Moss no favors, so she thought.
"Dean (Fookes), Nell's husband, he helps us out. And he would come in to the gym and ask how I was doing with jumping rope," Moss said. "He's good for comic relief, and I was giving it to him. He would mess with me. He'd say, 'You're not stopping any more.' But Nell has always been the serious one. She's tough. She wanted me to learn how to jump rope. I think that's what I've gotten the most from Nell - mental toughness.
"I'm going to be prepared for anything from a college coach because of my high school coach."
Moss, the daughter of former NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, helped Fookes record her 600th victory last season. The 5-foot-11 Moss signed to play at Florida Nov. 11. She is the lone Kentucky high school player in the girls' Class of 2012 updated rankings by ESPN's HoopGurlz.com, ranking No. 50, and is a leading candidate for this season's Miss Kentucky Basketball honor.
"When I think of the Sydney Moss I first met, it's unbelievable how far she has come as a person and a player," Fookes said. "She's a unique package with her body size, athleticism and her skill set. Purdue recruited her as a point guard. She can post up inside against any player. She can shoot the 3. She can drive the basket and pass the ball very well. She doesn't force anything, which makes her tough to guard."
Moss averaged 22.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game last season. She shot 35 percent on 3-point attempts, made nearly 70 percent of her free throws and shot 50 percent overall. She has made 3-pointers while fighting off double-coverage in the corner as time expired. She has made half-court shots and nailed buzzer-beaters at the end of regulation and overtime.
"She is so low key about everything she has accomplished as an individual," Fookes said of her star. "Her maturity and her work ethic keeps her looking forward. She has overcome a lot to be a good player, a good student and a good person by prioritizing what she wants to do."
Moss wondered how she could ever overcome obstacles if she could not jump over a rope.
"I'll never look at jumping rope the same way again." Moss. "There will always be memories at Boone County, and I'm looking forward to making more."
http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...111180304/
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11-18-2011, 01:11 AM
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