South Carolina women's basketball: Get to know Sahnya Jah
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Get to know forward Sahnya Jah, the 40th-ranked prospect who joins South Carolina this season.
(Questions have been paraphrased to provide additional context, and the order adjusted to make it easier to read.)
Sahnya (pronounced “Sah-nigh-uh”) Jah began her high school career at prestigious Bishop McNamara High School in Maryland. South Carolina started recruiting her there, but Jah made the decision to play her senior year at Montverde Academy in Florida.
Why did you transfer to Montverde?
Jah: I just wanted to be mentally and physically prepared for college. Because Montverde was a prep school. It was like college. I wanted to be mentally prepared a year early.
What made South Carolina appealing to you?
Jay: The facilities. It’s like family here. Like literally like family. It’s like the first phone call I got from Dawn it was already like home to me because she’s like, the energy she gave to me, I was like, yeah. I’ve got to come here.
Which players do you admire?
Jah: Definitely A’ja Wilson. That’s literally my idol. Literally. I love her. The way she plays and the way she carries herself on and off the court. I just love it.
What did you think of the statue?
Jah: I was like, what? I was shocked. I was really shocked. And definitely on my visit. I was really shocked when I saw it.
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Jah and Montverde won the high school national championship last season, and she established herself as a hard-working, efficient player who could be counted on to do the little things needed to win. Now she faces a different kind of challenge in trying to replace South Carolina’s Freshies.
Do you feel any kind of pressure coming in following the Freshies?
Jah: Honestly, no. As a freshman it should be (a challenge). You have to sit back and listen and then follow their footsteps in a good way. (…) I was struggling definitely with the conditioning part and off-the-court responsibilities. At home, I’m very, like spoiled. The transition from home to here, definitely the responsibilities (are different).
How do you handle that? Do you just put your head down and work?
Jah: I talk to my teammates, my coach. If I need help, they help me. If I need someone to lean on, they’re there for me.
[Win a framed print of The Taunt/D.J. Swearinger from Vista Art]
How has everybody been meshing?
Jah: It’s been good. I mean, they’re already like my sisters here. This place is like home, literally.
There are a lot of talented players forwards on this team already. Where do you think you fit in?
Jah: There’s gonna be a lot of opinions. But me I won’t listen, I don’t care. I’m gonna just do what I have to do. So I just feel like wherever I fit in, I fit in. They’re gonna see.
When you see how many post players that USC has sent to the WNBA, does that motivate you?
Jah: It motivates me big time, especially the freshmen and all the things (Staley) is telling me now as a freshman. I just feel like she’s definitely going to help me get there.
What’s the best advice that she’s given you about your game so far?
Jah: My motor, and how I’m fearless. She says I’m fearless, so I’m like, okay, I’m fearless I can do anything I want to.
