A two-time All-Metro forward at Arundel, Sheronne Vails has been a dominant inside force since she was a freshman. Few local players can match her 6-foot-4 height or her reach. The senior averages 18.4 points, 12.4 rebounds and 4.9 blocks as the No. 7 Wildcats head into Friday night's Class 4A regional championship at Meade. Vails is hoping to lead the Wildcats to the state final four for the third time in her career.
An Amateur Athletic Union veteran, Vails played last summer with the Fairfax (Va.) Stars, who went to Nike Nationals. She plans a career in sports medicine and has a 3.4 grade-point average.
Question: How did you get started in basketball?
Answer: My mom signed me up when I was 7 and we lived in New York. I have two older sisters and one of them played for a little while, but she didn't like it. Then I have another sister, LaTavia, who played.
Q: Did you follow LaTavia into basketball? Did you look up to her?
A: When she had games and I was younger, I used to run around the gym. Eventually, I started watching.
Q: What did you like about it?
A: The competitiveness.
Q: Were you always the tallest one?
A: Yeah. I shot up I think when I went to sixth grade. I was about 6 feet.
Q: Was that a pleasant experience?
A: (Laughs) No.
Q: What are the benefits of being so tall?
A: Ah, well, you can see over a lot of things most definitely. You just have the pleasure of standing out.
Q: The pleasure of standing out? So you like it now?
A: Yeah.
Q: How long did it take you to become comfortable with your height?
A: Not long. Before, people would say stuff about me being taller than everybody else. I've learned to live with it, and it's actually kind of fun for me, because I can pick on the shorter people (laughs).
Q: That's just about everybody in school, right?
A: Yup (laughs).
Q: Did getting taller help you in sports?
A: It made me comfortable with my height, knowing that it can really be useful for something that I really enjoy.
Q: When did basketball become a passion for you?
A: I think when I started playing AAU, which was when I was 10. I enjoy going to the tournaments and competing against some of the best people.
Q: What was the experience like, playing with the Fairfax Stars at Nike Nationals? That's a pretty high level.
A: It was awesome. Nike Nationals was a blast. You play against people you know you're going to see in college, probably. It's great competition.
Q: How did your game improve from last year to this year?
A: You learn to be more versatile to find yourself [in AAU]. You know to try new things to see what fits you best.
Q: What did you find?
A: I have a little range. I also worked on putting the ball on the floor from the top of the key.
Q: As a senior, you're looked to to be more of a leader this season. Was that an easy goal for you, because you're kind of a quiet girl?
A: When I'm around the girls I'm not very quiet (laughs). I try to make everybody happy. I don't like seeing any of them down, so I try to keep myself up as well.
Q: What's the biggest challenge for you in being a leader?
A: I think it's getting everybody on the same page, having everybody with the same mentality. Everybody needs to want it to win, and I think the biggest challenge is getting everybody on that same page.
Q: Have you used your loss to River Hill in the District V championship as motivation for the regional tournament?
A: I think it was better to get that loss then rather than later. I think we're going to use that as motivation to push to get better.
Q: When you watch college basketball games, what do you see inside that you're really looking forward to?
A: It's weird, but when I see a bunch of post players going up for rebounds, I wish I could jump in there.
Q: Did you enjoy the recruiting process?
A: Oh, yeah. Just knowing that so many people were interested in me. At times, it could get a little overwhelming, because your mailbox would be really full with so many questionnaires. It was a great experience.
Q: What did it feel like the day you decided you were going to Louisville?
A: Relief. I was excited, because I knew I would be so happy there.
Q: What put Louisville over the top?
A: I liked the coaches, and they have a family-type environment. When I went on my official visit, the girls treated me as if I was already on the team.
Q: Are you superstitious?
A: Yes. I feel I have to do the same exact thing before a game every time. I don't know why. I'm trying to get out of that now. I have this specific under outfit that I wear, but I'm getting bigger and it's getting smaller, so I can't really fit in it anymore, so I'm trying to get out of [the habit].