It is rare that a basketball team adds players to its roster midseason. However, the LSU women’s basketball team found itself in that very situation earlier this season after several season-ending injuries.
In December, the Lady Tigers held an open tryout for students to add depth to the roster after the loss of junior guard Raigyne Moncrief and freshman forward Ayana Mitchell at the beginning of the season. Afterward, junior forward Ashley Humbles, junior guard Amber Jones and freshman forward Kayla Lee started their first practice as members of the team.
“We really hopped into it,” Jones said. “The same day that we tried out was the same day that we started practice.”
Humbles was not intimidated. It was not her first collegiate practice.
A year ago, Humbles was in her sophomore season at Concordia University in Austin, Texas, an NCAA Division III college. In her two seasons at Concordia, she started three games and played in 37 averaging 1.5 ppg and shooting over 50 percent from the field.
“When I transferred, I was hoping that they would have tryouts, so I could walk on, because I know that they don’t do that every year,” Humbles said. “I was lucky to be able to walk on this year.”
It was not the first go around for Lee, either. Prior to walking on, Lee was an equipment manager for the Lady Tigers.
Lee says that her prior work with the team has made her change from manager to player easier.
“I was already on a first name basis with the players,” Lee said. “It was an easier transition because of the companionship.”
Lee had played basketball in high school where she helped win a LHSAA Class 5A state championship for Ponchatoula High School, scoring 13 points in the championship game.
Jones, who had been an all-district basketball player in high school, said she had always wanted to play basketball at LSU.
“I was a manager my freshman year, but with work and school it wasn’t working out,” Jones said. “I finally tried out again this year.”
With exactly one minute left in the LSU’s 76-57 victory over Ole Miss on Jan. 7, Lee got her first chance to play for the Lady Tigers when she was subbed in for senior forward Akilah Bethel.
“It was amazing,” Lee said. “My manager buddies were screaming my name people were cheering for me. It was a good feeling.”
With 36 seconds left, Humbles entered the game as a substitution for sophomore guard Jenna Deemer. Sixteen seconds later, Humbles got her first defensive rebound at LSU.
“It was a different level of intensity than where I came from last year,” Humbles said. “It was a big transition.”
The win against Ole Miss has been the only playing time for the newcomers, but Jones, who was unable to play in the game while medical issues were being cleared up, said she is hopeful that she will get a chance to play this season.
Jones said that practicing with the team and being be able to play at LSU has been uplifting.
“Just to be able say that I was able to experience this has been great,” Jones said.