"She should seriously be considered for the Kodak All-American team, possibly the 1996 Olympic team and definitely for the year 2000." Marion Washington on Angela Aycock
All-American forward assumes leadership role
By Gerry Fey
Kansan sportswriter
For Kansas junior forward Angela Aycock, being named a preseason All-American selection is not a big deal.
"You've just got to take it in stride," Aycock said.
The only pressure from the early honor comes from herself, Aycock said, but the added incentive to perform is good.
"The pressure comes by worrying about what others are doing and comparing your statistics to theirs," Aycock said of other preseason All-American picks. "The best thing for me is to play hard. If our team is successful, then the individual accolades will come."
Kansas senior center Lisa Tate agreed that individual honors came second to the team.
individual honors came second to the team. "She's a great player," Tate said of Aycock. "It's good, but you can't let that overshadow your purpose at Kansas. You do what you have to do for the team."
It will be hard for Aycock to improve on last year's success. Last season, Aycock was a first team All-Big Eight selection after leading the Jayhawks to a 21-9 record. She led Kansas in scoring and steals, averaging 2.8 steals and 16.3 points a game.
Despite those numbers, Aycock said, she has to advance this year.
Kansas coach Marian Washington said Aycock's preseason award was well-deserved.
"I need to improve upon everything," Aycock said. "If I can do that, I'll have a successful season."
"Angela is one of the premier players in the country," Washington said. "She is a great athlete and a great person to be around. She should seriously be considered for the Kodak All-American team, possibly the 1996 Olympic team and definitely for the year 2000."
With success comes a call for leadership, and freshman guard Tamecka Dixon said Aycock answered that call. She said playing against Aycock in practice helped her.
"It's great because I know she's making me a better player," Dixon said. "You can see it on and off the court. You can see she's a leader."
Aycock said it was difficult to determine who was the leader on the team now.
"I consider myself an inspirational leader," Aycock said. "When we start playing, then we will know who the leader is. Right now, we're just trying to gel. We don't know who will be the leader on the court yet."
Helping freshmen in a leadership role also is Aycock's way of leaving her mark at Kansas.
"I just treat them normal," she said. "I try to keep their spirits up. As a freshman, sometimes your confidence can go down. You have to keep their confidence up, so when they are juniors and seniors they can keep this program topnotch."
Doug Hesse / KANSAN
Kansas junior forward Angela Aycock puts up a shot against Nebraska's Karen Jennings. Aycock, who led the team in scoring and steals a game last year, was recently named as a preseason All-American selection
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November 17, 1993 University Daily Kansan • COLLEGE BASKETBALL PREVIEW
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