Getting to Know Katelynn Flaherty
12/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 16, 2015
Sophomore Katelynn Flaherty currently leads Michigan in scoring at 21.1 points per game on 49.3 percent shooting. She has scored at least 30 points twice this season, going for 34 against Hartford (Nov. 28) and 33 at Princeton (Dec. 6). Flaherty led the team in scoring as a freshman and is on pace to become just the second sophomore in school history to reach 1,000 career points. She talks about her earliest memories of playing the game, her message to little girls who are playing basketball and what is in store for her family Christmas next week.
Q. What are your earliest memories of playing basketball?
A. Supposedly, my dad would bring me as a baby with him to gym and hold me while he coached. That could be the earliest, but I don't remember that. Probably when I was four or five, I remember going with my dad to the practices when he was coaching high school girls. I remember running laps around the gym and trying to shoot.
Q. What do you enjoy most about playing basketball?
A. I think it is fun just getting to be out there on the court and seeing your hard work pay off. That is rewarding in itself. I have fun playing and being out there with my teammates.
Q. Why did you pick Michigan?
A. First off, it was because of Coach Arico and the coaching staff. She has been recruiting me since I was really young, probably one of the first to recruit me when she was at St. John's. Her family-oriented style here was a huge factor. She has always believed in me and always seemed to have a plan for when I came here. That wasn't the case for another places. When we would talk, she would be very specific in what she thought I could do here. Knowing that she put time and thought into what I could do for her and her program really stood out to me. Secondly, I wanted to come to a new place and do new things. Going somewhere else that is already established, it is just the same old thing and trying to win games. Here, we are trying to do something that has never been done before and that is exciting.
Q. Now that you have been here, what is it like playing for Coach Arico?
A. It's great. She is so enthusiastic and she loves what she does. If I go into her office and am having a bad day, she helps me through it. You never know if she is having a bad day because she is so enthusiastic and driven. She pushes people to their potential so I know that when I leave the court every day, I have done as much as I can to get better through her.
Q. You are just a sophomore, but do you feel yourself having a leadership role on this team?
A. I think I have grown a lot since last year. Feeling confident helps me take on a leadership role. I may not be the loudest, and the coaches want me to talk more, but I do try to pull the freshmen aside. I talk to them and let them know that everything is going to be okay because that was what I needed to hear last year. A lot of people did that for me last year, and without that, I don't think I would have been as successful and wouldn't be where I am now.
Q. Looking from last year to this year, what has been the biggest change for you?
A. My confidence. I have enjoyed playing the game so much this year because last year was such a big adjustment for me. Coming off that foot injury in high school, I was just trying to get back to playing. It was hard getting used to a new coach, a new place to play and all the changes in the game. I am just really enjoying it this year.
Q. How would you describe your game in a sentence or two?
A. Scoring would be one word. I would say hard work too. I have put in so much to get to where I am. I am trying to be more of a scorer than just a shooter this year.
Q. What would be your message to all the little girls who come to games and watch you play?
A. I think there is no substitute to just working hard every single day. You are going to have your bad days and bad games, but you just have to keep pushing through. I think that is something that people need to be reminded of at the college level. Even when you have good games and days, continuing to work hard and improve is important.
Q. Have you thought about your post-college plans?
A. Kind of; I am still trying to figure it out. I do want to work in the medical field. I have been thinking recently about doing the pre-med route because I do want to be a doctor and help people. That would be my ideal profession.
Q. What has been your favorite class?
A. The psychology classes are by far my favorite.
Q. Any big Christmas plans when you go home next week?
A. No, just to go home and see all my family. And, per usual, on Christmas Day, go to the gym and workout with my father!
Q. Real tree or fake tree?
A. Fake tree. We have always done a fake tree because the cats climb on it and chew it.
Q. Star or angel on top?
A. Hmm ... it's neither. It is a little ornament thing. I always made my dad pick me up so that I could put it on there. Maybe now I can reach it!
Q. Do you have a pregame ritual?
A. Well, this year it has been to make sure my nails are painted. It is becoming a new thing. I am sure if you looked at the pictures from each game, you could see all the different colors!
Q. Favorite place on campus?
A. I just like the Diag. Just walking through it between class, especially when it is nice outside. And during finals, they have puppies there!
Q. Most memorable shot?
A. The one against Ohio State.
Q. When you look back on your time here, what do you think it will look like?
A. I think the best four years of my life. I have met so many amazing people who will be my friends for life. The connections I have made so far with people have been great. The coaches and the rest of the staff already feel like family. I am sure I will look back on this as a great experience.
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