Joe Gaiter: What does basketball mean to you?
Ay’Anna Bey: Basketball means everything to me; it gives me a chance to obtain an education as well as participate in something I love. Basketball is definitely is an outlet for me. It pushes to me my limits and keeps me thinking. I continue to learn so many life skills from this sport that I love so much.
Joe Gaiter:Tell us what made you start getting into sports?
Ay’Anna Bey: My whole family consists of athletes; both my older brothers played football, and my mother used to play basketball. I use to be a cheerleader, but then my mom said I was too tall and that I should try basketball.
Joe Gaiter:What are your fondest memories about Highland Regional High School?
Ay’Anna Bey: Winning our conference in my 2015-2016 season as well as scoring my thousandth point.
Joe Gaiter:In high-school, you dominated the court with averaging 14.3 points and 14.7 rebounds. How did you get so dominant?
Ay’Anna Bey: A lot of practice and learning to love the gym. I was always overlooked, so I was continuously motivated to get better to become that player no one seen coming.
Joe Gaiter: Tell us about your recruitment experience.
Ay’Anna Bey: I signed to Benedict very late in the recruitment process I was holding off for a school that would be a good fit for me. I knew that rushing into the school wasn’t smart, and I knew the school that was for me would come. My recruiter (Coach Green) knew Coach Rice, so he reached out to coach rice, and from there, me and coach rice began to talk.
Joe Gaiter:What made you choose Benedict College?
Ay’Anna Bey: I did my research on both Coach Rice and his program. I saw how successful he was as a coach, and how well his program was running. Also, once we started talking, I noticed how genuine he was and knew it was the right fit for me. Coach Rice explained that he would push me and that he would be the hardest coach that I would ever play for. Once he said that I knew that Benedict was the school for me.
Joe Gaiter:What was your contribution to the team this year?
Ay’Anna Bey:Consistency, being there when my team needed me.
Joe Gaiter:Benedict was 27-3. What made your team pretty much unstoppable this past season?
Ay’Anna Bey:We have a lot of heavy hitters, and we all work well together. We’re sisters on and off the court, and we always have each other back.
Joe Gaiter:Have you reached your athletic peak?
Ay’Anna Bey:No, I have so much more to learn still, and my coaching staff reminds me of that daily.
Joe Gaiter:How does it feel to win the SIAC Championship?
Ay’Anna Bey: It feels incredible, especially to succeed with everything that we had to go through. I was looking forward to winning the south regionals but, the safety of student-athletes comes first.
Joe Gaiter:What makes you such a great Forward?
Ay’Anna Bey: I do not consider myself to be great yet, but I’m trying to be. It takes a lot of hours in the gym and always willing to learn. I love the gym, and I’m still working out and finding ways to be more efficient.
Joe Gaiter:What is your relationship with Head Coach James Rice and Coach Bridget Williams?
Ay’Anna Bey: My relationship with my coaches is excellent. Coach Williams is always there to motivate me, especially when I’m feeling down and need to be pushed. Coach Williams has been helping me before she even became a coach. Before she was a coach, she used to come to our home games and talk to me about what we as a team could be doing better. Coach Rice believed in me when a lot of coaches didn’t. Coach Rice is my hardest critic, but I love that about him. I know he only does it because he wants me to be great.
Joe Gaiter:Where are you training during the off-season?
Ay’Anna Bey:Around my neighborhood, everything else is closed. So I usually do conditioning at a nearby park and workout on the outdoor courts in my area 2-3 times a day.
Joe Gaiter:What is your untold story?
Ay’Anna Bey: I leave it all out on the court. My goal is always to be better than the person to the left and right of me. From the beginning of my career, I understood that if I were not willing to dedicate the hours in the gym, then I wouldn’t make it far. I have always sacrificed a lot to play the sport that I love. I always strive to be the best player on the court and leave an impression on everyone who sees me play.
Joe Gaiter:Who are some athletes we need to keep on our radar?
Ay’Anna Bey: All my teammates. We were 27-3 for a reason. Everyone on our team is a threat.
Joe Gaiter:What is your major, and how do you plan on using it?
Ay’Anna Bey: My major is biology. I plan to go to medical school, eventually to become an anesthesiologist after I play basketball.
Joe Gaiter:What do you want your legacy to be?
Ay’Anna Bey: That hard work will always be the key to success. You have to constantly out work your opponents to perform better than them. There are no shortcuts on the road to success. It takes a lot of sweat and hours even to be considered an okay player.
Joe Gaiter:Final Words?
Ay’Anna Bey: Never think you made it. Never have the mentality that you’re “good enough.” You must push yourself daily to develop all your weaknesses and perfect them. Never take an opportunity for granted because, at any moment, it can be taken from you.
