Sophomore duo ready to take next step for Wolfpack women
NC State women’s basketball returns many successful ingredients from last year’s ACC Championship team. Elissa Cunane, one of the best players in the country, is back in the fold, as are seniors Kai Crutchfield and Kayla Jones. However, perhaps one of the most exciting returns for this team will be getting to see the follow-up act for a pair of players who stepped up in a big way as freshmen: Jakia Brown-Turner and Jada Boyd.
Both players came in as highly-touted recruits and lived up to expectations, earning spots on the ACC All-Freshman team. Both played bigger and bigger roles as the season went along, including coming up huge in the team’s run to its first conference championship since 1991. And both, with a year of experience under their belts, will be called into bigger roles following their experiences last season.
“Having that one step further than last year makes me feel more confident and comfortable in what I’m doing out there,” Boyd said.
Brown-Turner and Boyd come in with lessons learned from their first season of college basketball, such as attention to detail and discipline.
And both of them bring more confidence and comfort knowing more about what to expect in this subsequent run.
“I would say it definitely gives me more confidence,” Brown-Turner said. “Especially knowing what [head coach Wes Moore] wants and what he wants from the team, and what he wants me and Jada to do when we get in the game to contribute to the team.”
Brown-Tuner found herself in an important role quickly as a rookie, making 31 starts -- the most for a freshman. And she excelled in it, averaging 9.4 points and 3.6 rebounds in 28.6 minutes per game. She was a threat from beyond the arc, as her .368 3-point shooting percentage was the fourth in program history for a freshman.
And she saved her best for some of the biggest moments, putting up a career-high 18 points in a regular-season win over No. 13 Florida State, and she had her first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against the Seminoles in the title game.
“I think if you go back and look at the ACC Tournament, she did not play like a freshman,” Moore said. “That championship game, she did not play like a freshman. You’ve got to earn my trust. I’ve got to know that you’re going to be where you’re supposed to be and know what to do, be focused, be on edge. For the most part, she did that a year ago.”
Brown-Turner knew it was a big deal for Moore, who’s been historically reluctant to give freshmen big minutes, to trust her. But, as Moore said, that trust was earned.
And, going into year two, the Wolfpack will need even more from Brown-Turner. Following the departure of Aislinn Konig, the team will likely need even more out of Brown-Turner from downtown.
“She needs to be a threat at all three levels, and I think she can do that,” Moore said. “Get to the rim, shoot the three, and then be able to pull up and knock down the jumper when need be.”
Brown-Turner’s big freshman season has led to increased expectations. She’s been named to the preseason All-ACC Team along with Cunane and to the watch list for the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, which is given annually to the top shooting guard in women’s college basketball. But accolades are far from the talented sophomore’s mind as she prepares for the season.
“I try not to think about it,” Brown-Turner said. “I just try to go out there and give it my all every game. I try to do what I’m supposed to do, play hard, score if needed, rebound, and defend.”
If there’s one person who’s not worried about Brown-Turner letting the expectations get to her, it’s Moore.
“I always say Jakia’s a pro,” Moore said. “That’s what her Dad tells me, too. I talk to him, ‘Hey, she’s a pro, coach. Coach her like a pro.’ And she does. She understands the game, has been around it a lot. So we’re really, really excited about Jakia and having her for a few more years.”
In Boyd’s case, one of the most impressive parts of her freshman season was her efficiency. She was the team’s sixth player off the bench, but put up 7.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game despite playing just 15.7 minutes per game.
Throughout the season, Boyd tried to bring energy, something she’ll look to do again in an increased role this season.
“From beginning to end I’ve learned to play my role and do what’s needed of me instead of trying to do extra,” Boyd said. “Just be disciplined, that’s what I’ve learned.”
Boyd also brought her best during the Wolfpack’s postseason run, as she posted 16 points and eight rebounds in the team’s semifinal win over Boston College, and she then added 10 points in the championship game.
“It gives me a good amount of confidence, because it shows me what I’m capable of doing and what I will be able to do in the future,” Boyd said. “So it’s a great confidence booster.”
As she heads into her sophomore year, she knows she’ll be called upon to play a bigger role, and that’s something she’s ready for.
It’s also something Moore is looking forward to.
“I think Jada Boyd has unbelievable potential,” Moore said. “She’s working on stretching her range. We feel like our four player has to be able to be a threat at the 3-point line so we can keep the heat off our post or take the help out of the paint that might defend penetration. If you look at her numbers, what she did last year with limited playing time, it’s pretty amazing, so that’s why we want to try to find time out there for her.”
The affinity Moore has for both players is clear, and it’s a mutual feeling.
Choosing Moore and NC State was a clear, easy choice for both players, and they don’t take the trust Moore placed in them to help the program take another step forward lightly.
“It means a lot, because before we came here, they were a winning program,” Boyd said. “So he believes that me and Jakia are capable of helping him build on top of that. So being a part of it is an honor.”
While last year technically ended on a high note for the Wolfpack with the ACC Championship, the team – like others across the county – was deprived of an opportunity to show what they could do in the NCAA Tournament after it was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
That has brought the Wolfpack, and players like Brown-Turner and Boyd, back with a greater motivation to reach its ultimate goals.
“We’re very hungry,” Brown-Turner said. “We really want this, and we want to continue to win games, win championships, and get to the final four -- win it all.”
If the Wolfpack wants to achieve those lofty postseason goals, it’s going to need even greater contributions from Brown-Turner and Boyd than they provided as freshmen. If early indications are anything to judge by, they’ll be up to the task.