One night after being named the 2012 Gatorade Female High School Athlete of the Year, former C-NS basketball star Breanna Stewart was walking the red carpet at the ESPY Awards. She was featured on ESPN in the red carpet show leading up to the awards ceremony, and explained why she made the decision to play college basketball at Connecticut starting next season.
"Obviously they have a very prestigious program," explained Stewart, "and it's just where I thought I could reach my full potential. Coach (Gino) Auriemma and his staff get the best out of the players that go through the program, and I think he could get the best out of me."
It's been a star studded weekend for Central New York's star of the hardwood. At Tuesday night's awards ceremony she had a chance to sit at the same table as WNBA star Lisa Leslie, who gave the future UConn Huskie some advice.
"She was just giving us advice about going on to the next level and just always keep working hard," Stewart told ESPN, "and always working on your weaknesses, not only your strengths, but your weaknesses."
Stewart helped lead the C-NS Northstars to their second straight State Title this passed season, averaging over 26 points a game and over 14 rebounds a game. C-NS also won the Class AA Federation Tournament of Champions title.
Stewart was honored as national player of the Year following the 2011-2012 basketball season by Gatorade, USA Today, Parade Magazine, McDonald's (Morgan Wootten Player of the Year Award), the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the Naismith Trophy. She was also named to the 2012 USA Basketball U18 National Team. She told CNYCentral on Wednesday that after her trip to California she plans on focussing on preparations for the next chapter in her amazing basketball career.
"I'm just trying to prepare the best I can for when I go back to Connecticut in August. I have goals to reach, and obviously I have expectations that are being set for myself, and I just want to work hard and try to reach my goals."
