JaLea Bennett knew a lot would be asked of her as a senior.
She was prepared. In the offseason, she got in better shape, mentally and physically.
However, one thing she didn’t know she would need to do is play all five positions on the court — sometimes all in the same game. Bennett is listed as a guard, but her natural position is small forward. And this is where, as a starter, you’ll find her for all games.
It’s what happens when UA coach Adia Barnes starts substituting when things get a little tricky.
“It’ll be instant,” said Bennett, whose Wildcats play rival ASU Sunday afternoon in McKale Center. “One play I am running down the floor on the wing and the next play I am in the paint; it literally changes that quick.
“Marlee (Kyles) comes in for Kat (Wright) or Kat comes in for Destiny (Graham), that’s where it switches up. I move from the three to the five, then Kat is the three and Sam (Thomas) stays at the four.”
Got that?
“If Destiny comes back in, I’ll go to the four. If Lucia (Alonso) goes out, Marlee moves to the one, Kat moves to the two, Sam moves to the four, and I go to the three.”
Bennett admits that sometimes she forgets where she should be playing. And she does make mistakes at times, mostly when she’s playing power forward.
“For me, the four (position) is the hardest spot,” said Bennett. “I forget where to start certain plays; if I start ball-side or opposite ball-side. I ask coach Adia or Destiny to tell me. Usually I figure it out, but it takes a while on certain plays.”
Playing all over the court has helped Bennett’s overall game. She’s averaging 14.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season, up from the 6.9 points and 2.6 rebound totals from a year ago. Bennett has scored in double figures 20 times this season. She has already scored 379 points this season, up from 187 last season. She’s made 24 of her 27 free throw attempts.
There’s a reason Bennett plays so many positions: She can.
“She’s always one of the best athletes on the floor, one of the few who can create her own shot and get to the rim at any time against anyone,” Barnes said. “Getting her in that mindset and extracting that from her has been the key. JaLea is someone I can depend on, and when times are tough or when we need to score baskets, I put the ball in her hands (from any position).”
Bennett’s confidence grows with every possession and every point. While she admits there have been challenges, the senior said she’s happy to help her teammates.
“It’s all mental toughness at this point,” she said. “It’s how bad you want it in your senior year. This team has grown a lot and it will be better for them in the future.
“When it comes down to it, I have to figure out what the read is and when you know that, it makes it easier in your head as you are slipping or hedging on plays. I like playing for mismatches and I like getting to the hoop, and it’s just a matter of remembering it. The biggest thing from any position is just trying to score and making plays happen.”
