Well Rounded Skill Set

Perhaps it's fait to say that Megan Ferraz doesn't realize where she stands in the basketball scheme of things.

The Lakeland College women's basketball player is just about through her freshman year with the Rustlers and she's got the most important person in her athletic world firmly in her corner. 

As a matter of record Rustlers head coach Chris King brought up the prospect of the 18-year-old Australian grabbing the ACAC rookie of the year award.

"I don't think she realizes how good she is," King said. "Every single night we see it, we see it in practice. She shoots the ball well, she makes good decisions, she can defend and she can rebound. She does a lot of things extremely well for a freshman. I'm very impressed with her play." 

"I'm quite surprised and a little bit shocked," Ferraz said with a shy smile about King's belief in her ability to win the rookie of the year award. "It's a little bit overwhelming … It's just shocking."

Setting her modesty aside for a brief moment, the teen does have a strong opinion about her place on this team and in this league.

"I think with the right frame of mind, and when I'm focused, I think I have the skill set to be a really good player in this league," Ferraz said. 

As a freshman, Ferraz is averaging just a hair over 30 minutes of court time a game. The teen is 50-142 from the field and 24-74 from beyond the arc. She has 132 points and she has collected 83 rebounds

"She's got a well-rounded skill set," King said. "At her size she can defend one through four, she can be a scorer, she can run the point for us. You don't see that in a freshman. The upside is extremely high. For her the biggest thing is confidence. She's smart, thinks the game well. She reads screens and offences well. Those are the (players) you want making decision for you down the stretch."

"The ACAC is definitely fast-paced with an up-tempo style," Ferraz added. "It definitely doesn't matter the opponent, you have to show up to play because the game could go either way. It's important to show up with the right frame of mind. That one thing I've noticed."

King does expect the forward/guard to play a larger role for the Rustlers in the years to come as she matures on the basketball court. One thing she possess right now is the zeal to become a better player. And the true value of any player is what they do when the lights are off and the show isn't quite ready to start.

"She doesn't realize when she plays well," King said. "She thinks there's things she did bad and needs to improve on. You love that as a coach. As a coaching staff, we have to tell her the positives. She works hard. She's in the gym by herself shooting baskets. I expect her to be an absolute force for us next year."

And Ferraz has already got half the battle won because she's got a general idea what she needs to improve on. 

"Coming into the end of the season, I wish I could have figured it out earlier with getting a little more confident and understanding a little more how King sees me as a player and what he wants from me," Ferraz said. "I still have a little improvement left to go. I have a lot of improvement to do in the physical dimensions and what I can bring. Also in my mental game, that's one of my weaknesses and I need to keep working on it."

Just judging by the hushed tone of her voice it's easy to see how low-key she is. Sometimes the head coach doesn't know what to make of her, but that's not a bad thing.

"She doesn't talk a lot and it's tough to get a read on her," King said. She's almost stoic. If you went and told her 'you played a good game' she'd be like 'oh, thank you.' She's never one to brag. She's just happy to be out there and be part of the team. She wants to win."

But when she's on the court and competing she is no wall flower. She gets involved, sacrifices her body for the good of the team and isn't afraid to get after it. Sometimes that explosion of effort and attitude strikes a dissonant chord with how people interpret her quiet demeanour.

She was asked if there is a switch in her head that goes off when she crosses the line and gets the rock in her hands.

"I'm not sure it's a switch but one thing I try to focus on, even though I'm not the loudest person, I try to lead by example," Ferraz said. "Communication is a big thing King is always on us about. And me being quiet I need to speak up a little more."