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We are still about 3 weeks away from the tip-off of a new college basketball season, which means that we have plenty of time to start preparing for the action ahead. We will do so via a series of season previews featuring the best players/coaches in the country. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage with Drexel SR PG Amaris Baker, who talked about being a great scorer and her expectations for this season.
You began your career at Kennesaw State and then transferred to Harcum College, where you led all of D-2 with 27 PPG in 2023: what is the secret to being a great scorer? Keep working! I would always find time in my schedule to get into the gym twice/day and get up extra shots, which gave me confidence in myself.
You were also named 1st-team All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I was truly grateful to have the support of my staff/teammates. They helped elevate my game and it meant a lot so I will keep working hard.
How did you choose Drexel for the next part of your journey? My mom went to Drexel and it is close to home. As soon as I came here for my visit it was a green flag for me. I had a lot in common with the rest of the team so it felt like a mutual connection: it checked off all the boxes and was a win-win.
You play for Coach Amy Mallon: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? She is a great person: she is very genuine and that translates into her coaching. You want to run through a wall for a coach who cares about you. She taught me to continue to be confident and is very supportive/caring.
Take me through the 2024 postseason:
In the CAA tourney title game you scored a game-high 19 PTS in an 8-PT win over Stony Brook en route to being named tourney MOP: how were you able to win 4 games in 4 days when it mattered the most? We just had confidence and stayed connected at the right time. It took a long time…but we elevated our game that week.
In the NCAA tourney you scored 10 PTS in a loss to Texas: what did you learn from the loss that you think will help you this season? To continue to be confident. We knew what we needed to get better at and we got a lot of experience while giving it our all. We know what it takes to get back there and what to expect when playing against a national-ranked team.
You also received the CAA Commissioners Academic Honor Roll with honors: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I am very routine-oriented so I will write down what I must do that day in my calendar. I know what I have to get done, which allows me to make time for school/basketball/family.
You are the only senior on the roster (along with 2 grad students): how much pressure is there on you to be a leader this year? I would not call it pressure: I just need to elevate my communication and share all my knowledge with our freshmen/transfers. Everyone is very supportive so we will just try to keep learning every single day and stay on the right track.
Your non-conference schedule includes road trips to Penn State/Florida State: is there any game that you feel will present your biggest test or that you are looking forward to the most? I would say both of those teams will be good, but we also have the Big 5 Classic so people should pay attention to that tournament as well.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I want to be an all-around vocal leader, stay patient, maintain my confidence, and just get better each day. I am a hard worker and want to get the best out of everyone.