For Hopkins, Betterment is a Three Step Process
10/15/2014 8:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – In many ways, Mikaela Hopkins is the embodiment of the student-athlete experience. The 2013 all-conference selection is a standout not just on the basketball court, but also in both the classroom and the community where she consistently applies her intellect to philanthropy – whether it's helping to feed the homeless or raising awareness for cancer.
This time of year, however, Hopkins – a 6-foot-5-inch center from Augusta, Ga. – would prefer to talk about basketball. Less than a month away from her senior season, Hopkins is chomping at the bit to show off some new skills that she's been honing with first-year head coach Candice M. Jackson and her staff.
“This is the most detail-oriented coaching staff I've ever played for,” said Hopkins, who averaged 8.6 ppg and 6.0 rpg in 2013. “They've brought things to my attention – in terms of technique and mentality in the post – that I've never considered or thought much about. I'm really excited to be playing for them my senior year.”
With Coach Jackson at the helm, Hopkins' growth has been a three-step process:
For starters, Coach Jackson has been working diligently since her arrival to improve Hopkins' jump shot. Already potent around the rim – where she led the conference in field goal percentage last season – Coach Jackson immediately pinpointed Hopkins' confidence in her jumper as an area for improvement. The two then set off immediately to make the necessary adjustments.
“The first thing we started working on with my jump shot was to build confidence and extend my range,” said Hopkins. “I've always known that I can shoot it, but Coach Jackson and the rest of the staff has been working with me to extend my comfort zone out to 15-17 feet from the basket. The biggest thing so far has just been the amount of reps. Coach (Darren) Guensch and Coach (Adria) Crawford have been out here working with me non-stop, whether it's just stationary or on the move. We've been working really hard on it.”
Another area that Hopkins has sought to improve her game is footwork. Taller than most, the 6-foot-5-inch Hopkins has been working all offseason with The College's Director of Sports Performance Marc Proto on improving her agility and athleticism. A steady diet of hurdles, sprints, and shuffle drills have all helped Hopkins' improve her mobility, while Coach Guensch has been scheming ways to improve Hopkins' moves on the low block.
“The workouts have been great,” said Hopkins. “With Coach Proto and Coach Guensch, I've been working all offseason and now pre-season on getting stronger and better balanced. It's been a lot of core exercises that have allowed me to do a better job of staying low, working hard and being more powerful in the paint. A lot of these things I'm just now learning for the first time and I feel like my footwork and overall athleticism are better than ever before.”
Lastly, the Cougar coaching staff has been working with Hopkins to develop a hook shot, something that has not previosuly been a part of her offensive repertoire.
“For a long time, I never felt like I had to have a hook shot,” said Hopkins. “Mostly because of my height, I've always been able to go over people. But I remember last season, playing against some good teams, thinking my game would really be a lot better if I had a hook. So I was excited when the new staff said they wanted to work with me on developing one.”
Much of the Hopkins' motivation for wanting to add new pieces to her offensive arsenal has been The College's move to the Colonial Athletic Association, where by-and-large, the Cougars are squaring off against better, more athletic teams than they were in the Southern Conference.
“While not a lot of girls in the conference can match my height, they are really athletic, strong and physical, and ultimately that has made me adjust my game and how I go about things,” said Hopkins. “I feel like I'm well-prepared this season and hopefully these things that we've been working on – whether it's the jumper the footwork or the hook – will pay dividends. I want this to be my best season yet.”
The Cougars 2014-15 campaign officially tips off on Friday, Nov. 14, at Kennesaw State. You can view the schedule in its entirety here: http://bit.ly/1qHmzrp
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