Photo by: David Nemec
Joiya Maddox: Sisterhood
Oct 14 | Women's Basketball
Each and every women's basketball player that arrives "On The Banks" enters a special bond – a sisterhood.
For freshman Joiya Maddox, the sisterhood is already a special bond she completely understands. The Hoover, Alabama grew up with three sisters - two older and one younger - making her transition to the team a little smoother.
"Yes, it's probably the reason I chose Rutgers, because I feel like it's a warm family environment as far as the coach, players and staff," Maddox said. "I really like it."
"My sisters and I have actually gotten very close, talking more, spending time with each other more," noted Maddox as she gets ready to embark on her Rutgers career. "I feel like it's going to get harder, more challenging as the season goes on because I'll be doing a lot more, but right now, I enjoy being on my own. I do miss them, of course, but it's nice to be on your own."
It's because of the sisterly influence that Maddox was bit by the basketball bug.
"All my sisters played basketball," she said. "Right now, I am the only that plays. I think that if my older sister hadn't been playing, I probably wouldn't be playing basketball. As a younger sister, I tried to follow in her footsteps. So, yeah the reason I play basketball is probably because of my older sister."
Arriving at Rutgers this summer, Maddox has spent time building a bond both on and off the court with her new sisters – the Scarlet Knights.
"Since coming to campus, I've been going out and hanging out with them," she said. "Earlier this summer we went to Jordan's house, hung out around her pool, slept over, the next day she had a cookout, so that was really fun."
And her Alabama sisters have made the transition to New Jersey easier.
"It definitely does make me feel more at home, especially coming up here with Maori (Davenport) and Zippy (Broughton). I played with them prior to coming here, so it was nice to know a couple people, like really know a couple people, before I came up here."
However, there is still some adjusting to Jersey life that Maddox is getting used to.
"Ya'lls roads," she pointed out with a southern twang about one of the biggest differences from her home state and New Jersey. "Like when you have to make a little half circle when turning left, or make a u-turn, it's weird.
"The wings, the wings are better in my opinion," Maddox also smiled.
Conversely, there are things about Maddox that Scarlet Knight fans will have to learn about.
"I'm a shooter and I have some pretty good range, so I like to shoot some deep 3's," she said about her game. "I'm a tall guard, so I'm going to try and shoot over some people, get rebounds if I can. Coach Stringer said she would try to put me at the top of 55 press because I'm so long, so we'll see how that goes."
Maddox feels confident about the transition to the collegiate level and her high school accolades show the bright promise that has arrived "On The Banks". A First Team USA Today High School All-USA Alabama Team selection, Maddox's Hoover High School team went 33-1 overall with the Class 7A state championship behind her 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
"As far as basketball goes, of course getting stronger in the weight room," she noted of her goals entering her rookie season. "Probably being more vocal too because I was vocal in high school, but I was also a senior and a captain so I had no choice. I have to get more courage to do that."
With encouragement from her sisters – both in Alabama and here in Jersey – Maddox should develop into a student-athlete the Scarlet Knight sisterhood can depend on for their lofty goals this season.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
For freshman Joiya Maddox, the sisterhood is already a special bond she completely understands. The Hoover, Alabama grew up with three sisters - two older and one younger - making her transition to the team a little smoother.
"Yes, it's probably the reason I chose Rutgers, because I feel like it's a warm family environment as far as the coach, players and staff," Maddox said. "I really like it."
"My sisters and I have actually gotten very close, talking more, spending time with each other more," noted Maddox as she gets ready to embark on her Rutgers career. "I feel like it's going to get harder, more challenging as the season goes on because I'll be doing a lot more, but right now, I enjoy being on my own. I do miss them, of course, but it's nice to be on your own."
It's because of the sisterly influence that Maddox was bit by the basketball bug.
"All my sisters played basketball," she said. "Right now, I am the only that plays. I think that if my older sister hadn't been playing, I probably wouldn't be playing basketball. As a younger sister, I tried to follow in her footsteps. So, yeah the reason I play basketball is probably because of my older sister."
Arriving at Rutgers this summer, Maddox has spent time building a bond both on and off the court with her new sisters – the Scarlet Knights.
"Since coming to campus, I've been going out and hanging out with them," she said. "Earlier this summer we went to Jordan's house, hung out around her pool, slept over, the next day she had a cookout, so that was really fun."
And her Alabama sisters have made the transition to New Jersey easier.
"It definitely does make me feel more at home, especially coming up here with Maori (Davenport) and Zippy (Broughton). I played with them prior to coming here, so it was nice to know a couple people, like really know a couple people, before I came up here."
However, there is still some adjusting to Jersey life that Maddox is getting used to.
"Ya'lls roads," she pointed out with a southern twang about one of the biggest differences from her home state and New Jersey. "Like when you have to make a little half circle when turning left, or make a u-turn, it's weird.
"The wings, the wings are better in my opinion," Maddox also smiled.
Conversely, there are things about Maddox that Scarlet Knight fans will have to learn about.
"I'm a shooter and I have some pretty good range, so I like to shoot some deep 3's," she said about her game. "I'm a tall guard, so I'm going to try and shoot over some people, get rebounds if I can. Coach Stringer said she would try to put me at the top of 55 press because I'm so long, so we'll see how that goes."
Maddox feels confident about the transition to the collegiate level and her high school accolades show the bright promise that has arrived "On The Banks". A First Team USA Today High School All-USA Alabama Team selection, Maddox's Hoover High School team went 33-1 overall with the Class 7A state championship behind her 13.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.
"As far as basketball goes, of course getting stronger in the weight room," she noted of her goals entering her rookie season. "Probably being more vocal too because I was vocal in high school, but I was also a senior and a captain so I had no choice. I have to get more courage to do that."
With encouragement from her sisters – both in Alabama and here in Jersey – Maddox should develop into a student-athlete the Scarlet Knight sisterhood can depend on for their lofty goals this season.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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