Lady Nicky Anosike has become a basketball player of national recognition. She has led the Lady Vols of the University of Tennessee in blocked shots (19), and ranked third in rebounding (5.6 per game). She became a starter in the last 15 games the team played, where she averaged 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds over her final eight regular season starts.
Nkolika (Nicky to the sportsworld) Anosike, the 6'4'' basketball player for the Lady Volunteers women's basketball team at the University of Tennessee.
She is one of eight children, six of them accomplished and raised by a single mother. One is a registered nurse, another just graduated as a medical doctor, another is graduating as a registered nurse as well, while a brother is a 6'7" center for the Salem State College Men's Basketball team.
We are talking of none other than Nkolika (Nicky to the sportsworld) Anosike, the 6'4'' basketball player for the Lady Volunteers women's basketball team at the University of Tennessee.
Nicky is already well known in the college basketball arena, especially after leading her team to defeat the women's NCAA champion Huskies of the University of Connecticut on January 8, 2005. In fact, that was the first time the Lady Volunteers had beaten the Huskies in five tries, and Nicky's first year at the school.
Apart from being a great athlete, Nicky is also an honors student with 4.0 grade point average. She is currently enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences program at the University. She was a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year High Honor Roll recipient at St peter's for Girls in Staten Island, New York, which is her home town.
In addition to her exploits as a basketball player, Nicky also lettered twice in track and once in soccer during her prep career. She decided to choose Tennessee over universities of Connecticut, Georgia and Virginia, in order to improve her game and grow mentally as well as physically.
She lists being selected as an All-American as her biggest thrill to date in basketball. She also lists Johnnie Cochran and Beyonce Knowleges as the famous persons she most admires. She hopes to become a sports broadcaster after her playing career.
Nicky attended St. Peter's for Girls in Staten Island, New York. Her team was the Island Champions throughout her four years of prep school. She was selected as Parade Magazine Second-Team All-American (2003 and 2004); the McDonald's All-America (2004); participated in the McDonald's All-American Game (East); Nike All-America (2003); Street & Smith's Third Team all-America (2003); Adidas Top 10 Camp Upperclass All-Star (2002); USA Today Junior All-America (2003); Street & Smith's Honorable Mention all-America (2001, 2002); New York Miss Basketball; First Team All Tri-State (2003); New York Class A All-State Sixth Team (2002); Newsday All-City First Team (2003); All-borough First Team (2001, 2002).
In 2003, Nicky joined the USA Youth Development Festival East Squad that registered a perfect 5-0 record to take the gold medal.
Nicky's greatest accomplishment so far has been her unanimous selection to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team, having led the Lady Vols (as her team is known in short) to 23-4 overall record and a 13-1 SEC mark. Nicky's teammate, Alexsis Horbuckle, was also a unanimous selection.
"The two freshmen have been consistent with their effort and both have made a difference for us this year," said Pat Summitt, their coach.
"I have been watching both of them since high school and I thought that Alexsis would make a bigger contribution this year," she said. "But once I got on the floor with Nikki, I was able to understand how competitive she was and I saw what is inside of her. then I knew that this was a player that was going to make a bigger impact than I had anticipated.
Nicky has led the Volunteers in blocked shots (19), and ranked third in rebounding (5.6 per game). She became a starter in the last 15 games the team played, where she averaged 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds over her final eight regular season starts.
"It's a mindset with her," said her coach, Pat Summit. "I saw that this summer. At summer school she wanted to get a 4.0 (GPA). At workouts she wanted to get stronger."
"She's focused and driven to be the best at everything she does."
Chimed in her high school coach, Bob Daggett, "Nothing surprises me with her. I don't think she's ever thought of individual honors, if you know her, but she's certainly deserving. She cracked the starting lineup and was producing as a freshman."
But the Volunteers greatest triumph was that of knocking off the women's NCAA champions University of Connecticut Huskies.
"It's just about time Tennessee won one," said coach Pat Summitt. "I wand so much for these seniors to have this opportunity. Without our youth, without our freshmen, they may not have had it."
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