Andrew Monaco Analyzes Semeka Randall

Semeka Randall certainly has made a name for herself. In fact, she�s known by quite a few names. Silver Stars head coach Candi Harvey refers to her as �The Energizer.� She�s also known as �Meek,� �Boo� and �Hard to Handle Randall.�

Now in her third WNBA season, Semeka knows exactly what she wants to accomplish. �My goal is to be a leader everyday and play hard,� Randall said. �My kick is just to be the spark on this team, provide energy, hard work and intensity day in and day out.�

Semeka is acknowledged as one of the best defenders in the league, and she is proud of that. �Definitely,� she said. �I know it�s one of my strongest assets to the game of basketball, but I can score. It�s probably harder to guard me when I�m at the point, because you have to get involved. I�m also gonna look for my shots and keep the defense on the opponents. I try to do everything. I don�t sell myself short of any kind of goal.�

That�s the beauty of Semeka�s game, her versatility. Offensively, she can play point guard and shooting guard. Think she can�t score? You should have seen her drop a career-best 28 on Orlando when she was still with Seattle. Defensively, she can lock up anyone she�s guarding.

And that�s why she was so in demand at the trading deadline a season ago. Did it bother her to know she was on the trading block? �I didn�t even know my name was out there,� she admitted. �All I know is that I had a new, fresh start and I was going to make the best of that. Learn the system, learn the game of basketball from all aspects and just give to my team and be a team player.�

So Semeka left Seattle and she may have left a different person behind. �As far as with Seattle, as a player I don�t think I was producing the way I wanted to,� she admitted. �And I might have started pointing fingers, so I take full responsibility of my mistakes and I�ve learned from them. I�m a totally different person -- a different player -- than what I used to be. Hopefully I�ll grow from that and become the best player that I can possibly be in this league.�

A new team, a new outlook and a new start. It seemed Candi Harvey put more trust and more responsibility on her. �That�s always a plus if a coach believes in you,� Semeka said. �I trust in her and I know that things will work out.�

It�s not the first time Semeka was forced to adjust. Previously, it happened at the University of Tennessee under legendary head coach, Pat Summitt. �I learned from her. I grew up as an individual. I know I was a stubborn pain-in-the-you-know-what. We have the same personality. But I learned to adjust and understand exactly what she was trying to get into this thick skull of mine.�

While Semeka has grown up, so has this Silver Stars organization. Last season, it capped a 20-12 regular season with a march to the Western Conference Finals. Before meeting Los Angeles, they had to advance past Houston, and they did, winning the decisive Game 3 on the Comets� home floor. That alone should have earned this team some respect. But did it? �Absolutely not,� Semeka said. �And why? I don�t know. But, do we have any control over that? Absolutely not. As long as we believe in ourselves and never sell ourselves short, we�ll be fine.�

Now that the team is in San Antonio, Semeka wants the fans to know the Silver Stars are more than just great players. �This is a team of good women, classy women and that�s the most important thing,� Semeka said. �You�re gonna know us on the basketball court, but how we are off the court will surprise a lot of people, how we conduct ourselves as mature women.�

Some parting shots with Semeka: (or stuff that didn�t make the article that I just couldn�t leave out)

Andrew Monaco: If I say UT, you don�t automatically think of Texas, do you?
Semeka Randall: Absolutely not. Lady Vols. The Volunteers will always be #1 � and I bleed orange.

AM: Favorite player growing up?
SR: Actually, Charles Barkley. I just liked his demeanor back then. He played hard, and he believed, in his mind, even though he was smaller, he got the job done. I liked that a lot about him. The powerful game he had reminds me of myself. I feel like I�m a bigger guard, as far as strength-wise, so I try to bully myself out there on the court a little bit.

AM: Anybody you like watching now?
SR: You know, I got a whole collection of players I would like to mark myself after, game wise, and I really don�t believe in just choosing one. I think everybody brings something different to the table but if you can put all those in your repertoire, you�ll be a heck of a player.

AM: What do you do after the game or on your own time?
SR: Chill, read books, watch TV. I think the couch gets to know me pretty well. We are on a first name basis.

AM: How are you liking San Antonio?
SR: I�m loving it. It�s a heck of a lot better than Utah. It doesn�t rain as much as Seattle so I�m enjoying myself.