A’dia Mathies

Classroom

Mathies is set to graduate in May with a degree in psychology with aspirations of becoming a clinical psychologist after basketball.

Character

Although Mathies is dripping with talent and is on track to become one of the most decorated players in Kentucky women’s basketball history, she has never sought out special attention for her abilities. She has become a leader for the team – a role she takes seriously. Her leadership style, like her personality, is strong and silent. She was chosen by Coach Matthew Mitchell to represent Kentucky last season at SEC Media Days and she is a player that can always be counted on to represent UK in any situation.

Community

Throughout her Wildcat career, she has been an active member in the community and a leader on the hardwood. She has volunteered at several community service events in her three years, including playing Bingo at Kentucky Children’s Hospital, volunteering at YMCA’s Fall Festival, participating in Cats Cultivating Character, where student-athletes teach character lessons once a month to third grade students at a local elementary school, volunteering to pack and deliver food for God’s Pantry BackPack program and volunteering to serve lunch at Lexington’s Hope Center. She also participated in Lexington’s Fire Prevention parade.

Competition

Mathies is on the 2012-13 preseason “Wade Watch” list for the nation’s top player after earning USBWA and AP All-American honors last season and being named the 2012 SEC Player of the Year. She has led Kentucky to three consecutive seasons with 25 or more wins and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in school history, including Elite Eight finishes in two of the last three seasons. Mathies has started in 103 of 104 career games and has charted double-figure points 77 times. She’s No. 6 on UK’s all-time steals list and No. 12 in scoring, and her numbers have steadily rose over her three seasons, culminating with a 15.0 scoring average last year, third best in the rugged SEC. She also led UK in assists, steals and 3-point FG pct last season and was second on the team in rebounding and 3-point field goals made. She was a key component in helping the Wildcats win the 2012 SEC regular season championship, the program’s first since 1982.