Getting to Know Siera Thompson
12/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dec. 9, 2015
Junior Siera Thompson has played in every game since she stepped foot on campus in 2013, starting all but four of those contests. She hit a three-pointer in every game during her freshman season, setting an NCAA season record for consecutive games with a triple (34). She is closing in on 1,000 points and needs just 84 more to become the 25th player in school history to reach the mark. This season, she is averaging 10.3 ppg, 5.25 apg and 4.4 rpg while leading in Michigan in minutes played (29.0/game). She talks about how she got into basketball after spending time as a dancer, acclimating to the cold and why she picked Michigan.
Q. How did you start playing basketball?
A. Growing up, my dad worked at a park. He tells the story that when we were little, he was in his office, and he left my sister and me in the gym. He heard the balls bouncing and from then, he knew that he was going to have us try playing basketball. Before that happened, we were just doing tap dance and really girly stuff. That really wasn't my thing but once we were left in the gym that day, it was all basketball. I think I was around five years old when that happened and started officially playing in leagues around six or seven.
Q. Did you play any other sports growing up?
A. Other than dance, I played tee ball for a while. That was okay. I played some tennis in summer camp and that was about it.
Q. When did you realize that you could be pretty good at playing basketball?
A. We used to play in a boys league because there wasn't that many girls who were playing basketball when we were younger. We kept beating them. It was fun AND we can beat boys at the same time! All my friends growing up, we played on the same team and it was just a lot of fun.
Q. What do you like about being the point guard?
A. I have had to fall in love with that position because I don't really have any other choice, but I really like it now. I like having a lot of things on my plate. That sounds weird, but I like that I can control a lot of what we are doing on the floor. If we lose, there is probably something that I could have done differently to help the team. I like having that responsibility to help get the team where we need to be.
Q. How would you describe your game?
A. I think they have scoring point guards and creating point guards. I think I more of a creating point guard first, then a scoring point guard. That is how I am as a person. My first thought in my head is to help someone else get a good shot and then look for mine.
Q. Why did you pick Michigan?
A. When I was being recruited, I got a call from Michigan. I didn't really know anything about Michigan, to be honest. I told people about it and they all told me, 'you have to go.' There were multiple people who told me that. I was thinking to myself, 'what is so special about Michigan?' I started to do some research and started to realize what everyone was talking about. I knew how successful Coach Arico had been at St. John's and with the academics here, it was an easy choice.
Q. You were the first person to commit after Coach Arico got the job here. What did you see in her that made you want to come here?
A. All they talked about when I was being recruited was making me a better person and a better player. They talked about winning games and doing things here that had never been done. That is what I am about. I want to grow as a person and win games. Those are really important to me.
Q. You are from California. How was adjusting to the cold weather in Michigan?
A. It is hard. There are still some days that are kind of rough. Once you get used to something, it is not as bad. But I think all people, even if you grew up here, think that it is cold. We are all going through the same thing. I figured out that the snow is not that bad; it is the wind. I learned how to dress and wear layers. That helped a lot.
Q. Do you remember the first time you saw snow?
A. It was after practice one day. I was going to study table, and it just started snowing. I didn't make a snow angel or anything extreme like that, but it was definitely something different.
Q. Do you have a pre-game ritual?
A. I listen to music, but I don't really have anything specific that I do.
Q. What is your favorite place on campus?
A. I think I would have to say the union. It has a variety of things. It has a place for you to do work or get something to eat. There are always a lot of people around too.
Q. Have you started to think about your plans for the future?
A. I want to play overseas. After that, I want to work with kids. So maybe something like social work. I have been working at a camp in the spring and that is something I really like.
Q. What do you miss the most about California when you are here?
A. I miss my friends the most. But I came out here for a reason. I wanted to get away and I feel like it is okay to miss people. I feel like if I had stayed around home, it would have been the same old thing all the time. I wanted to become my own person and I feel like I have done that by coming here.
Q. People say you are quiet. What do you think about that?
A. I am quiet at first when I get to know people. I am not quiet around my teammates because I am around them all the time. You can't be quiet all the time. I definitely talk more than I did when I first got here and I think that is just me growing as a person.
Q. As a captain, how do you think you have led this team so far?
A. I think pulling people to the side, whether that is in practice or a game, and talking to them. If that means huddling everyone up, it is getting everyone there. I want to keep us together. We are young and I want to keep positive words in people's ears.
Q. What do you think you bring to the team?
A. I try to bring consistency to the team. I try to keep my turnovers down, score some points, get some rebounds and get my teammates easy shots. I want to do everything possible to help my team. I like to challenge myself to get as many as rebounds as I can, even though I am a point guard. I am here to do whatever I have to do so that we can win the game.
Q. Could you imagine your life if you hadn't picked up that basketball and stuck with dance as a kid?
A. No, not at all. I have no idea where I would be or what I would be doing. Maybe a ballerina somewhere, something crazy like that!
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