« Women’s Basketball 2018-19

Napheesa Collier

School
University of Connecticut
Position
Forward
Major
Human Development & Family Studies

Classroom

Napheesa Collier is a human development and family studies major and is on track to graduate in the spring.

Character

Collier has stepped up as a leader for the Huskies in her senior season. As the coaches didn’t schedule workouts over the summer, she filled in to schedule scrimmages and practices with her teammates. Collier has taken numerous players under her wing as one of two seniors on a young team, and she works tirelessly in practice to serve as an example for her fellow Huskies.

Community

Collier participates in numerous charitable initiatives and serves as a point of contact for the team’s community outreach projects. She has been a major partner as the Huskies welcomed a Team IMPACT member, helping plan activities. Collier volunteered earlier in 2018 with Bags of Love to pack toiletry bags for the homeless community in Hartford, and with Habitat for Humanity. She has made multiple visits to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and volunteers annually at UConn’s SAAC O’Mantern and Geno’s Fore the Kids Charity Golf Tournament. Collier has also participated in Athletes for Hope, Toys for Tots drives, a hurricane collection drive for Hurricane Harvey, Foundation for Life “Bikes for Kids,” American Red Cross blood drives, Let’s Move! active schools and food pantry collections.

Competition

Collier was selected as a 2018 AP Third Team All-American after leading the Huskies with 597 total points last season. She helped lead UConn to a 36-1 record in 2017-18 and has compiled a 110-2 record in three seasons. Collier scored double-digits in 33 games last season and was named to the NCAA Final Four All-Tournament Team and All-Conference First Team. She became the 45th Husky to notch 1,000 career points and currently ranks 20th in school history with 1,609 points. She was a WBCA, AP and USBWA First Team All-American in 2017. Collier has helped UConn to three NCAA Final Fours, including the team’s record 11th straight in 2018. She has won six conference championships in Storrs.