Who Are You?

Coaches say the same things using different words.  

Geno Auriemma shares what he looks for in recruits and his non-negotiables.

"When I watch them play...plays their butt off every possession. They come down here, they get a rebound, they outlet it, and they get a layup at the other end. Then they run back, block a shot, go down… https://t.co/cyCTGJIlTZ pic.twitter.com/GYZcIXO2yN

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) April 1, 2026

Coaches discuss players' intangibles:

• "Never takes a play off."
• "Doesn't cheat the drill." 
• "High motor."
• "Full-tilt, full-time." 
• "Energizer bunny."
• "Lightbulb - she lights up the court."  

Be known as that type of player. 

•  

"A" Plus "B" Equals What?

Become more than the sum of your individual skills.

For some players "C" > "A" Plus "B."

MVB enjoyed many players whose "whole" was greater than the sum of their parts. 

• Making plays
• Avoiding mistakes
• Leadership
• Communication
• Impacting winning 

The exceptional player isn't about attack/block, dig/pass, serve or set...they "give the game what the game needs." They make the play "in the moment" to help push the ball over the line. 

She wasn't a dominant attacker and didn't lead the team in service points, blocks, or digs. She had fewer than 350 career kills. And she did everything well, especially in the biggest games on the biggest stages. 

What she was added so much to a Championship season. Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla would describe her as a "connector." 

Lagniappe. If you want a role, find a way to earn trust. 

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