Bucknell University Athletics
One Isn't Always the Loneliest Number
1/5/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2007
By Jillian Jakuba, Bucknell Athletic Communications
It is difficult enough to be a freshman on any roster--finding a role, meshing with teammates and fighting for playing time. But what about being the only freshman? That is what Le'Le' LeSeur was faced with when she came to Bucknell this fall to begin her collegiate career as a member of the Bison women's basketball squad.
With no seniors on the 2005-06 roster, Bucknell needed to sign just one just one recruit last winter. This season's opening-day roster was comprised of nine returnees and two newcomers. One of those is junior Andrea Wright, who already had a year to acclimate herself with the team as she sat out last year per NCAA regulations after transferring from Penn, leaving LeSeur as the only new face in the gym.
"When I heard that I was going to be the only freshman, I felt nervous at first because I knew there were a lot of veteran players coming back and that I was going to be the only one who didn't know the plays, the only one having to come in and get used to college basketball," admits LeSeur, "However, it was also exciting to know that I was going to have the opportunity to go out there on the court and play alongside teammates who have one-to-three years experience playing college basketball and be able to learn from them."
LeSeur fell in love with Bucknell from her first visit and with a clear idea of what she was getting into, made the situation of being the lone first-year player for the Orange and Blue less intimidating.
"When I was first being recruited by Bucknell, I knew it was a great academic school and I wanted to come here because it offers the best of both worlds in academics and athletics," says LeSeur. "Then I met coach (Kathy) Fedorjaka and she was amazing. I just felt a family atmosphere when I was around the team and I knew this was the place to be."
LeSeur, a native of Snellville, Ga., came to Bucknell out of Wesleyan High School were she averaged 12 points, 7.2 rebounds and two steals per game as a senior. Last season, she helped her squad to a fourth consecutive state championship and a 30-3 record. She collected individual accolades as well, as she was a Second Team All-State selection, was named All-State Honorable Mention by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, was an All-Gwinnett County choice and played in the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association All-Star game.
All of those honors are in her past now, however, as she has jumped right into life as a college freshman. Though it hasn't been easy, LeSeur feels she has made the adjustment.
"It's been rough, trying to balance academics and all," explains the management major, "But I also think I have transitioned really well to the point where I know a majority of the plays we run, so my teammates haven't been able to get on me about things like that. Everyone on the team has really been there for me through the learning process."
LeSeur has also needed to spend time getting used to living in a small town after coming to Lewisburg from the Atlanta area.
"When I first came to Lewisburg I first thought `this is a really small town', coming from Atlanta, which is so large," recalls LeSeur. "However, when I arrived on campus, everything was just so beautiful and it felt like a second home, so I knew I would be comfortable here in anything that I did. Sometimes I miss the South and things like Waffle House, but I haven't really been that homesick."
After having survived preseason and with the award of the first regular season game on the horizon, LeSeur was faced with another challenge. The start of her collegiate basketball would be put on hold due to a stress fracture in her foot.
"I was in shock when I found out about my injury," admits LeSeur, who missed the first 12 games of the season. "Having put in so much hard work during the preseason, I just wanted to get out there with team and play."
LeSeur remained upbeat, however, with a constant a smile on her during practices and games while she was sidelined.
"I've just been taking it day-by-day and being positive about it," LeSeur state, "I can't wait for that chance to actually get out on the floor and show everybody what I'm about and what I have to offer this team, just playing my role and bringing energy day in and day out."
The hardest part of the waiting hasn't been for selfish reasons. LeSeur, demonstrating how well she has meshed with her teammates, wants nothing more than to help the Bison win.
"The first game, being on the bench wasn't so bad because we had a good outcome against Hampton," she explains. "But in our second game at St. Joseph's, we came up short and it was rough watching the clock run down with us trailing and not being able to contribute, knowing that if I could have been out there, maybe I could have made a difference."
The challenges LeSeur faces will soon be behind her as she is now part of a whole instead of a lone freshman. As a member of the Bison, with her team at her side, LeSeur can accomplish anything.
