CHARLOTTE – Virginia Tech women's basketball head coach Kenny Brooks, guard Georgia Amoore and forward Elizabeth Kitley met with the media at this year's ACC Tipoff on Tuesday to discuss the upcoming season. Check out below the highlights from the press conference.
Head coach Kenny Brooks
On the depth he has on this year's roster:
"It's been a work in progress. Obviously, coming here seven years ago into the ACC I knew that number one, you must have really good players, and you must have a lot of them. We were always battling and getting to the point where we'd come up a little bit short just because of depth. You see amazing teams in the ACC and amazing coaches who put together tremendous rosters. We figured out exactly what we wanted, the culture we wanted, the style, and the kind of kid we wanted representing our university, and we went out to get them. It really kind of started with their class, Elizabeth's class, and we changed the culture. We brought in kids who fit the scheme of what we wanted to do, not only on the court but also off the court. And these young ladies represent our program to the utmost in front of thousands of fans, but they represent our program behind the scenes, with the work that they do, not only in the community, their schoolwork, and they epitomize what it is to be a student-athlete. When you can have kids that can do both, I think you're going to generate success, and that's what's happened to us. Fortunately for us, last year we had the best year in ACC history for Virginia Tech, and we're looking to build upon that. We have the experience. We have the depth. We have the talent, but more so we have the chemistry. We brought in some amazing players with these young ladies, and all they want to do is blend in. No one's trying to do something out of their character. They all just want to blend in because they're all fighting for the same goal, and that's to become ACC champions."
On how WNBA champion Aisha Shepard represents the program:
"She's a Hokie. She's a Hokie through and through. She represents our program on the utmost stage. Us, we were able to follow her. We had group chats going on following her success and then when she was able to come back and she shared that success with the team, she and I, shared a moment. We went out to eat when she came. She stayed at my house. We got to sit on the couch and watch the Cowboys win a football game. It was a wonderful night for me, but she represented us, and we credit her a lot for helping us change the culture. But very, very happy for her. She gained a very valuable experience. We can all live through her vicariously, but also, she's paving the way for them so she can show them how it is to get to the next level."
Guard Georgia Amoore
On what fans can expect this season:
"Excitement. Pushing the tempo in transition. I think that's something that's going to be a good feel for us. We still have the ACC Player of the Year coming back, and we've added the likes of Ashley Owusu and Taylor Soule, Cayla King, KT (Kayana Traylor); I could go on. Just a good offense, but like the coach said. A pack mentality defense."
On what the next step is for her:
"Just continue to grow and be a leader, step into that leadership role. Because you said it, we have depth. We exceed on the athletic side. We exceed on the skill side. Leadership is something that's going to take us over the edge. So, growing into that role."
Gallery: (10-11-2022) WBB: 2022-2023 ACC Basketball Tipoff
Center Elizabeth Kitley
On what she her goals are this season after winning ACC Player of the Year:
"I am working a lot on leadership. We have these new pieces that are coming in and they're excellent, but it's a different system here. I think our role is really to help them get acclimated and teach them new things. And having freshmen also, too. So, just forming a cohesive unit, that was my goal."
On how Coach Brooks has elevated the program during her time:
"I think it's just looking at the progression since I've been here. Coach Brooks has done a great job of elevating the program every year. I think that's going to continue through this year. I think, as we mature too, every player individually gets better and that makes us better as a whole. I think we get more and more dangerous as time goes on."
The Hokies, who are ranked No. 13 by ESPN in its preseason poll, begin their season on Monday, Nov. 7 at 5 p.m. ET versus Mount St. Mary's. Take part in the Back-2-Back Pack, commemorating Tech's consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, with purchasing two tickets and one Tech-branded car coaster for just $20.
