Q&A with Basketball signee Bashaara Graves

What made you want to play with AU Hoops?

I thought it would be a great opportunity to play in the States again. I’m coming from a situation with an injury overseas where I didn’t have any of my family or friends around during that time. For them to get to see me play in person again after having to hear me go through some of the things I have been through will be very special. It’s also another way of evolving women’s basketball in the States. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

What aspect of your game have you been developing that you’re excited for fans to see?

I think for most in the States, it would be my jump shot. I feel more comfortable shooting from the outside than people at home are used to to seeing.

What is the biggest impact being a Tennessee Vol has had on you as a person and player?

Being a Tennessee Lady Vol means the world to me. LVFL is really something special. Everyone I’ve played with is family, even the ones I didn’t play with. That’s just how it is and it’s a huge reason why I chose to go. As a person and a player, it just made me grow up and really have to count on those women each and every day, which coming in was extremely hard for me as a shy kid. Communication was one the biggest lessons I had to learn quickly … Definitely took some running to learn, but I think we got there by the end.

You’ve played basketball in over 10 countries… what is your favorite place the sport has taken you?

It would be a tie between Greece and Italy.

What Cause are you interested in supporting this season?

I have put down a few, but the main one is the Screaming Eagle Foundation. My hometown of Clarksville, Tenn. was hit by a disastrous tornado in December. I’m proud to be from Clarksville and it breaks my heart to have residents lose everything, especially right before the holidays. My hometown means so much to me and I represent it no matter where I am in the world.