When Shegog joined the women’s basketball team as a freshman in 2008, UNC already had a well-entrenched star in the post.
Jessica Breland, a junior at the time, had a death grip on the starting power forward position, appearing in every game and averaging 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest.
Naturally, the 18-year-old Shegog gravitated toward the esteemed veteran, and Breland soon took Shegog under her wing.
“She taught me the system here at UNC,” Shegog said. “She taught me how to facilitate the game in the post and what to expect when we played certain teams and when we played in certain environments. She really just prepped me for things.”
And that preparation seems to have paid dividends now that Breland and fellow starters Italee Lucas and Cetera DeGraffenreid have all graduated.
The keys have now been handed to Shegog and seniors She’la White and Laura Broomfield. And if the first five games are any indication, Shegog has been enjoying life behind the wheel.
Through those first five games the center has nearly doubled her production from a year ago, leading the team with 16.4 points per game and shooting at a 63-percent clip. And her 8.4 rebound average is second only to Broomfield, who together with Shegog and junior Krista Gross rounds out a formidable frontcourt.
Led by Shegog, their success inside is crucial in making the UNC offense tick.
“There’s no doubt that we want to get the ball inside to her first or Laura,” coach Sylvia Hatchell said. “You build your offense from inside out. You establish inside around the basket where you score, and then the defense has to honor that.
“So a lot of the perimeter players getting good looks depends on Chay because she just draws so much attention.”
Leading the way
When the Tar Heels gathered for film work this Monday, Hatchell directed her team’s attention to the image of Shegog under the rim.
To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.
“I said, ‘Look, Chay’s outrunning the guards and the wings down the floor,’” Hatchell said. “‘I’m not saying this to be funny or anything. But when she was a freshman, I would’ve been happy by this time if Chay was at half court. Now, she’s leading the way.’”
And that has become a common sight for the Tar Heels this season.
With UNC’s depth thinned by injuries, Shegog has gradually been getting greater heaps of playing time. And she’s been up to the task due to the work she’s done with strength and conditioning coach Jason Beaulieu.
Shegog said she has become significantly fitter since her first days in Tar Heel blue, and with some encouragement from her coaches, she’s become equally more confident.
“Everything is mental,” Shegog said. “They really made me believe I could be an All-American, and that’s what I strive to be every day.”
Shegog has now become what Breland once was for her — a veteran leader who exudes confidence and power on the court. As a senior, Shegog’s sense of team ownership is evident as she leads a young UNC team down to the rim.
And the freshmen have been drawn to her just like Shegog once gravitated toward Breland.
“Being a senior, they come to her and ask her questions, and she’s been pretty patient with them,” said Gross, Shegog’s frontcourt companion. “And every once in a while you just got to let them know what they’re doing, and if they’re messing up.
“And Chay’s that person where she can say something and no one really gets offended.”
Shegog said she’s been impressed by the freshmen’s receptiveness so far. She’s been admittedly hard on them at times— especially during the heat of the game — but often she’ll let her play itself do the talking.
“I try to lead by example, too,” Shegog said. “Because people are only going to do what they see others do.”
And those freshmen undoubtedly see a lot of Chay Shegog.
After all, few have difficulty finding the 6-foot-5 center on the court.
Her teammates don’t.
Her opponents don’t.
And judging by the points she’s scored, neither does the basketball.
Contact the Sports Editor
at sports@dailytarheel.com.
