Even though she has been in the maroon and gold for only three games, senior forward Ja’Tavia Tapley has quickly adjusted to her new surroundings.
Tapley played her first three seasons in the Pac-12 at USC and averaged 4.5 points and 3.6 rebounds in 91 career games for the Trojans. She was largely tasked with being a role player.
With ASU, Tapley has been given more autonomy on offense, and she has thrived in that role. In three games with the Sun Devils, Tapley has averaged 15 points and 7.3 rebounds. She provides rebounding and athleticism for a team that severely lacks size.
That offensive responsibility and trust the coaching staff has given her has done wonders for her game.
“I really love it here," Tapley said. "My coach told me, which stood out to me, that she trusts me. I have never heard that from one of my head coaches. They trust me … I don’t second guess as much; I used to second guess all the time.”
ASU head coach Charli Turner Thorne didn’t know what to fully expect out of Tapley upon her transfer to the program.
“She takes it to the to the rim hard, but she shoots it quite well,” Turner Thorne said. “We didn’t really know if she was going to be a go-to player or not, but she is certainly developing into that, and she has the mindset for it.”
When she’s not skying for rebounds or finishing inside the paint, Tapley doubles as the team’s main hype generator, providing encouragement to teammates in need.
“I try to just bring toughness and hype," Tapley said. "I love being hype, I love being positive. When things are going wrong … I make sure I am that one on the court telling everybody, ‘come on next play, you got this, you could stay in this, we still got this. This our game.'"
Tapley’s teammates have quickly taken to her personality and play style.
“Tay is awesome," sophomore guard Taya Hanson said of her teammate. "I love playing with her. She brings a lot of energy, she is definitely our hype man. She is so athletic (and) she’s a great rebounder.
"When she gets in that mid-post, she can just rip and go. Her first step is so quick. She’s a great asset to the team and we are very happy to have her.”
Tapley has been a revelation so far for the Sun Devils, but the real test will be how she fares against the many skilled bigs the Pac-12 has to offer.
Although transferring to a whole new school is never easy, Tapley has adapted quickly and become a crucial piece for Turner Thorne’s team.
“I knew I was always capable of doing what I am doing now," Tapley said. "Basically just going with the flow of things, going hard no matter what. Just staying focused. It’s easier to stay focused when you are surrounded by teammates that trust you and a coaching staff that trusts you.”
Reach the reporter at ltochter@asu.edu and follow @Leo_Toch on Twitter.
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