Photo by: (Ben Solomon/Rutgers Athletics)
Slim Singleton: Overcomer
Sep 30 | Women's Basketball
When asked to describe herself, Tyia Singleton said, "Overcomer".
Slim, as her teammates call her, entered the 2019-20 season with great excitement. Her hard work paid off as she became a major factor in Rutgers' successful season in the Big Ten and what would have been an NCAA Tournament-caliber campaign. Singleton appeared in 30 of the Scarlet Knights' 31 games and scored 57 points with 77 rebounds, five steals and 11 blocked shots.
"I'm excited for everything," Singleton said about the season. "Going into the season you can expect a lot. I didn't play a lot before this season, so that I felt I have so much to prove to myself, the fans, Coach Stringer and the world."
Singleton arrived "On The Banks" two years ago with the utmost confidence to make a difference and have an impact as a freshman. Her scholastic resume certainly provided a glimpse of what Singleton was ready to showcase. Ranked as the No. 18 post player in the country, she played in the Geico High School Basketball Nationals as a senior and helped her school to the Class 7A state championship as a sophomore.
However, her season went a little different than according to plan.
"I was coming back from a knee injury I had during high school and I thought it was ready," recalled Singleton. "Mentally, I was ready for the competition, but physically, my knee wasn't quite ready. I had to take a step back. It was like a slap in the face. It wasn't what I had expected."
Singleton's positive mental attitude, however, is what got the Winter Park, Florida native through the season.
This summer, Singleton spent ample time in the weight room lifting more, taking her reps more seriously and making sure she was as efficient in her strength training as possible. And like every Scarlet Knight, she could be found spending her free time in the RAC getting up shots.
"I look at it as never giving up," she said of facing setbacks. "I can't lie in there was a little bit of disappointment at first when I had to sit out, but I told myself I was never giving up. I feel like I can overcome anything and could overcome this minor setback in my life. I feel like later on in life, or anytime I go through something really tough, I can look back and tell myself never give up, fight, pray about it and have faith."
So for any naysayers that want to tell Singleton about things she puts her mind to, she has a message.
"I love proving people wrong," she said with a smile.
For those who know the redshirt freshman Scarlet Knight, you would not expect anything less.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Slim, as her teammates call her, entered the 2019-20 season with great excitement. Her hard work paid off as she became a major factor in Rutgers' successful season in the Big Ten and what would have been an NCAA Tournament-caliber campaign. Singleton appeared in 30 of the Scarlet Knights' 31 games and scored 57 points with 77 rebounds, five steals and 11 blocked shots.
"I'm excited for everything," Singleton said about the season. "Going into the season you can expect a lot. I didn't play a lot before this season, so that I felt I have so much to prove to myself, the fans, Coach Stringer and the world."
Singleton arrived "On The Banks" two years ago with the utmost confidence to make a difference and have an impact as a freshman. Her scholastic resume certainly provided a glimpse of what Singleton was ready to showcase. Ranked as the No. 18 post player in the country, she played in the Geico High School Basketball Nationals as a senior and helped her school to the Class 7A state championship as a sophomore.
However, her season went a little different than according to plan.
"I was coming back from a knee injury I had during high school and I thought it was ready," recalled Singleton. "Mentally, I was ready for the competition, but physically, my knee wasn't quite ready. I had to take a step back. It was like a slap in the face. It wasn't what I had expected."
Singleton's positive mental attitude, however, is what got the Winter Park, Florida native through the season.
This summer, Singleton spent ample time in the weight room lifting more, taking her reps more seriously and making sure she was as efficient in her strength training as possible. And like every Scarlet Knight, she could be found spending her free time in the RAC getting up shots.
"I look at it as never giving up," she said of facing setbacks. "I can't lie in there was a little bit of disappointment at first when I had to sit out, but I told myself I was never giving up. I feel like I can overcome anything and could overcome this minor setback in my life. I feel like later on in life, or anytime I go through something really tough, I can look back and tell myself never give up, fight, pray about it and have faith."
So for any naysayers that want to tell Singleton about things she puts her mind to, she has a message.
"I love proving people wrong," she said with a smile.
For those who know the redshirt freshman Scarlet Knight, you would not expect anything less.
Follow Rutgers women's basketball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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