Tracy King, the Aggies’ women’s basketball standout, is no stranger to hard work and lots of practice.
King, a 5’10” senior from Alexandria, Va. with a major in graphic communications, has been playing sports since age five. Her parents, Stan and Nardos King, introduced her to all types of sports, but basketball was her favorite.
“Basketball was for me because I got to travel and play year round.”
King averaged 14 points per game during her years at Mount Vernon High School, though she was plagued by injuries. “I tore my ACL my junior year in high school and all my recruits fell off. I missed out on playing during my senior year.”
Fortunately her injuries did not stop her from becoming a Lady Aggie. “As an athlete in college, I was much more mobile.” King also suffered a second injury during college. Her sophomore year, she tore her meniscus and missed half a season. In spite of injuries, Tracy remained a determined athlete. “I try to do right on and off the court,” she said.
King hopes to carry basketball into her professional career. “This summer I interned with NIKE working in the field of marketing. I somehow hope to join together marketing, graphic design and my passion for sports,” said King.
King will be graduating in May of 2014 and she has her eyes set on a career with ESPN upon graduation. She hopes to use her degree as a graphic designer and her experience as an intern with NIKE to land the job. King loves to mentor younger student athletes on her team so aspirations of being a women’s basketball coach are also very evident in her future.
King is able to mentor younger athletes because of her position on the team. “My position on the team is vocal leader. I am the most vocal as far as communicating and helping some of the younger girls on the team.” King says that being a senior on the team carries weight because you have the most experience. “I am able to tell them what is expected from them as Division 1 athletes.”
King earned the team’s Most Improved Award after her freshman season. She plays both the small forward and guard positions. Though, she has been given the team’s Most Improved Award, she still feels as though she has not yet reached her greatest potential. “We have not won a championship since I have been here. I’m going to give my best this season to make sure we do,” King said. King is definitely a player who pushes herself on the court. “Yes, we have made history but I’m not content with just making history.” King will indeed do whatever she can to ensure the Lady Aggies have their best shot at a championship this season.
DeAndra Davis, a senior journalism and mass communication student from Seffner, Fla., and a team captain says “Tracy is a great leader, not only does she lead on the court but off the court as well.”
King is proud of being able to get a full college experience while being a student athlete. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. “Joining the sorority was one of my overall greatest accomplishments” said King.
King feels as though many things are missing from women’s basketball. When asked if she could change anything about women’s basketball what it would be, King said, “I would change the fan support. There is truly not enough fan support in women’s basketball.” King currently has no female basketball players that she looks up to. Instead, she said “I do like certain male players like LeBron James.”
“Tracy is a strong level headed person who leads by example” said teammate Adriana Nazario a junior from Charleston, W.Va. majoring in Psychology. “She’s the type of person who will not accept anything but the best and will help you get to that point.” King has managed to maintain a 4.0 grade point average and she is one of six Lady Aggies carrying a 4.0 GPA.
“This year will be nothing short of great” said King, who has high expectations for an undefeated season. King excitedly suggested, “This season I hope that we win the MEAC tournament and then advance to the NCAA tournament.”
She has had many great games throughout her years of playing basketball, but she says that the best game she has ever played was when the team participated in the preseason WNIT Tournament. “We were the first HBCU to win 2 out of 3 games back to back.”
King and the Lady Aggies basketball team prepared for the season by hitting the gym and concentrating on conditioning.
“We began preparing early this summer.” The team wanted to ensure that they could overcome any obstacle thrown at them this year. “We were made to meet challenges this year,” King said. The summer’s training included a challenge to run 7-minute miles and most of them did it in less than 7 minutes. King says that playing on the college level has not just been about her. “It’s bigger than you. You’re playing for you, your family, teammates and the university you represent.”
- Shaina Bodrick, Contributor