Deacs Embrace Being a Melting Pot of Talent
2/18/2020 1:24:00 PM | Women's Basketball, Les Johns
Wake Forest has players from six different countries, the most of any ACC program
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Geography, cuisine, culture and even often language can be completely different, but basketball is universal.
That's what the Wake Forest women's basketball team has found out, as coach Jen Hoover has assembled a roster of 14 players from not only all over the country, but from all across the globe.
States represented include Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, Arizona, New York, Connecticut, Tennessee and even North Carolina.
But there's also a huge international flavor of key players who are providing big performances for the Demon Deacons.
Senior guard Alex Sharp is from Australia, junior forward Ivana Raca from Serbia, sophomore forward Christina Morra from Canada, sophomore guard Ellen Hahne from Sweden and freshman guard Anaia Hoard, who finished her high school basketball career at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point, but is originally from France.
"It's about finding who is a good fit for Wake," Hoover said. "Not everybody fits. The character part matters as well as wanting to get a good degree. It's more than just basketball. Being a part of something bigger than themselves is important to us."
As the WNBA has grown in stature and scope, more talented international players have become interested in learning to play basketball in America, Hoover said.
"The WNBA has helped, because they want to play in the league, so facing the best in the college game is an attractive option," she said. "When they come in, they've usually already played against older, more experienced competition."
The Wake Forest coaching staff has been able to go overseas recruiting a few times each year, and it's paid dividends.
"They were really good from the get-go, in terms of we were allowed to make those trips as long as we met the budget," Hoover said. "Two or three times a year we're on some sort of international trip.
"We've been fortunate. When we got here, we thought we could recruit some international prospects. It's all about word of mouth and staying in touch with connections."
Raca leads the Deacs, scoring 16.6 points a contest. Sharp became the 27th member of the Wake Forest 1000-point club and leads the team at 41.7 percent from three-point range this season.
"I came for coach Jen," Raca said about the recruiting process. "She recruited me. Because I couldn't visit, she came and showed me the entire campus via powerpoint and pictures. I loved her philosophy of getting better everyday."
She believes the diverse backgrounds of her teammates actually allow them to come together better on the basketball court.
"It's not a challenge," Raca said. "Everyday you get to know your teammates better and better. Us Europeans play a little similar. I struggled when I first got here, having to adjust to the American style of play. It's more physical here."
NCAA rules allow international trips every two-to-three years, and as the Deacs entered the 2018-19 season they traveled to Italy, which was the home of Elisa Penna, who graduated after last season.
"The trip to Italy was a lot of fun, getting a chance to see one of our player's home country," Hoover said. "They all want to visit Ivana's home now. It's been fun for our kids. We're one of the biggest examples of diversification and dealing with different races and backgrounds. They don't miss a beat."
Morra, who played in just 10 minutes a game a year ago, is making a big impact in the middle this season for the Deacs. The 6-foot-2 Canadian picked Wake Forest for the athletic-academic balance.
"I love the balance academically and athletically, plus getting to play in the ACC," she said. "From an academic perspective, Wake is a top-30 institution, so it's a great balance between the two. North Carolina is in the same time zone, so I can still talk to my parents.
"Plus Jen (Hoover) is a great role model for me, and like a mother figure for me. I can learn a lot from her."
Morra is connecting on more than 50 percent of her field goal attempts and more than 70 percent from the foul stripe. She's averaging 8.4 points while playing more than 20 minutes a contest.
"I'm just getting open and my teammates are finding me," she said. "I'm getting rebounds and doing my thing, by doing the things my teammates need me to do. It's about being patient and knowing the right time to score. It's finding the right moments and right angles."
She enjoys playing the game with players from such diverse backgrounds.
"It's good, because we're so diverse," Morra said. "Our differences really add to the team. That's what makes us so good. We have people from different backgrounds, who bring their own experiences.
"We're tougher together (which is the team slogan) - Together we can be better. We find ways to chip back. It shows our true character. We're tough and are going to fight for everything. We were picked last in the ACC. It shows what we're capable of."
Hoard has battled through some injuries, but has now played in 16 games this season for the Deacs.
"It's fantastic," she said about the roster composition. "We get a different perspective from different players and different styles of playing. The way I play in France is different than how they play in Serbia or Sweden. It's really enriching to have a different way to look at the court and spacing in basketball. It's the same game, but different perspective."
Hoover said they typically try to bring in one international player each year, and that's worked well as long as they've been the right 'Wake Forest' fit.
"They've hit it off since they've got here," Hoover said. "Sharp has been incredible, and Ivana and Gina hit it off right away. Anaia is here now and Christina is coming in from Canada. They understand the game from a different perspective and that's been good for us.
"In a way it's been easier, because they get along and value being around each other. They embrace the diversity and learning about different cultures."
NEXT UP:
The Demon Deacons travel to No. 14 Florida State for their final road game of the regular season. Earlier this season, Wake Forest nearly erased a 21-point deficit to defeat the Seminoles in LJVM Coliseum.
The game can also be seen on ACCNX with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. (ET).
Wake Forest is back inside of Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday to face North Carolina. The game will also serve as the Demon Deacons annual pink game with proceeds going to the Kay Yow Fund. Auction items can be purchased ahead of the game here.
The game can also be seen on RSN/ACCNX with tipoff scheduled for noon (ET).
