Schlott invited to WNBA training camp
The call came early Wednesday morning from both the head coach and the general manager of the Indiana Fever.
Former USU star point guard Jennifer Schlott is heading to WNBA training camp.
“It was pretty much a surprise,” Schlott said. “I kind of thought I might get invited to one or two, but I didn’t think it’d be so soon.”
The standout senior had just finished what women’s head coach Jerry Finkbeiner termed “a season for the ages.” Named the 2014 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year and ranking No. 4 in the nation in average points per game, the 5-foot-6 guard said she was congratulated by Indiana Fever coach Lin Dunn and extended an invitation to compete for a spot on the team in the Fever’s upcoming training camp.
Dunn has coached the Fever to five-straight playoff appearances, winning the WNBA Championship in 2012. Dunn and the rest of Indiana’s coaching staff will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of several athletes at the April 27 training camp before finalizing the 11-woman roster for the season.
“It’s definitely going to be different,” Schlott said. “I’m up for the competition. It’s going to be bigger, stronger, faster. We’ll just see how it goes.”
“I guess I need to talk to my professors,” Schlott said with a smile, noting the camp is less than two weeks away.
Schlott said the opportunity to tryout is a blessing.
“You know, a year ago, I would’ve never thought this could happen,” Schlott said. “It’s just nice that all the hard work and all the time I put in and all that kind of stuff paid off.”
The senior, who broke both the Mountain West and USU records for points scored in a season with 811, credits USU head coach Jerry Finkbeiner “a huge amount” for her development into one of the highest-scoring women in the NCAA this past season.
“I don’t think I could be the player that I am today if coach Fink wasn’t my coach and he didn’t instill the confidence he did in me this year,” Schlott said. “He helped me play my game to the best of my ability.”
The Arizona native said she’s ready for the challenge to take her game to the professional level, but that she’ll carry her experience as an Aggie with her to Indiana.
“I’ll miss the atmosphere and my coaches and teammates and fans and all the fun things that come with being a student athlete at a great university,” Schlott said.
–logantj@aggiemail.usu.edu
Twitter: @logantj