It's hard to imagine a more intimidating situation for a freshman than being expected to replace one of the most dominant players on the Virginia women's basketball team. Nonetheless, that's the exact scenario that Sharnee Zoll faced when she arrived in Charlottesville earlier this year.
Recruited from Marlboro, N.J. as a point guard, Zoll is being groomed to eventually succeed senior point guard LaTonya Blue, the two-time "Cavalier of the Year" and member of the ACC All-Defensive Team. Blue, who led the team in assists and was second in scoring and rebounding during the 2003-2004 season will undoubtedly leave a substantial void when she graduates this spring, putting the spotlight on her freshman successor.
Although the season is only a couple of months old, Zoll stressed that she has already begun to learn from her senior mentor.
Blue "has been teaching me a lot since I've been here," Zoll said. "It hasn't been that long, only a couple of months, so I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season."
Zoll has also been taught some tough lessons while making the transition from high school basketball to Division I.
"Practice is intense, every single play is intense," Zoll said. "In high school, you could take a couple plays off when you get tired and be ready to run and do what you have to do. But here, you can't take plays off."
Adding to the challenge, Zoll has routinely been matched up in practice with none other than Blue.
"I know every time [Blue is] playing their point guard, she's working her butt off," Zoll said. "I don't want to be the slacker."
Despite being held to lofty expectations, Zoll has become a solid contributor to the team while earning significant playing time. In the Cavaliers' most recent game against Liberty, the freshman scored 12 points while dishing out a game-high eight assists.
"I think I played pretty well," Zoll said. "I think the last couple of games I've been pretty hesitant on taking my shot, and it's been hard for me to get the ball to my post players."
Zoll's emerging leadership has not gone unnoticed by Virginia head coach Debbie Ryan, who awarded her a season-high 34 minutes of playing time against Liberty.
"Sharnee is a great passer; she is a throwback point guard," Ryan said. "If you think of the point guards of the 50s and 60s then that's Sharnee Zoll."
If Zoll can continue to improve at the pace she has set in just a few months with the team, the Cavaliers will have a fine leader for the next several seasons.
"When we're in the huddle and I'm talking to the other players, I don't want [them] thinking 'she's just a freshman,'" Zoll said. "I want them looking at me and thinking 'she's the point guard, she knows what she's talking about.'"
Based on her performance in recent games, it appears the team will be looking to Zoll for leadership in no time.
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