Amelia Hassett Tried a lot of Sports but Basketball is what she Does Best

Amelia Hassett is a terrific shooter but she can also do more to help a team win. (Vicky Graff Photo)

After an All-American season at Eastern Florida when she averaged 19 points, 12.7 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game last year, Amelia Hassett knew she was ready for the move from junior college to major college basketball.

The Australian native had  committed to play for Kenny Brooks at Virginia Tech but when two of his players — All-American guard Georgia Amoore and center Clara Strack — opted to follow him to Kentucky when he changed jobs, Hassett said it was a “no-brainer” for her to  also join the Wildcats.

“Just the culture of his program and the excitement that the people around him had was great,” she said.

She started 65 games in two seasons at Eastern Florida and finished her career with 919 points and 659 rebounds. She set single season records for double-doubles (21), points (609) and blocks (87) last year. Hassett also shot 54.4 percent from the field.

Hassett did a “bit of gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics” growing up and also played cricket. “When you are younger, you kind of play every sport. Cricket gets boring when you are fielding and just standing around but it was fun to get out there with your community,” she said.

She even tried Australian rules football when she was about 16.

“I played against girls and they would pull your hair, scratch or anything else to win. It’s a very physical and tough game, but it was also fun,” she said.

Hassett always loved basketball and says in grade 12 everything “sort of clicked” for her and she realized she needed to get away from her small town to develop her game.

“I just wanted to experience the world and America is such a big basketball kind of country. The college (UK) here is just amazing,” she said.

The versatile Hassett obviously can do a variety of things on the court but admits shooting is probably the best part of her game, especially with her size.

“Obviously being a bit taller and obviously being able to knock down the 3 is important but then just being able to get inside as well and get those rebounds means a lot, too,” she said.  “Fortunately, I have always been a good shooter but not always as consistent as I need to be. Getting in the gym and getting shots up and working on my footwork has definitely helped that.”

Being from Albury, New South Wales, Australia, makes it hard for her parents to see her often. They have not yet been to Kentucky and probably won’t be until February or March.

“They did get to Florida a couple of times to see me, so I know they will eventually get to Kentucky,” she said. “But they keep up with how I am doing.”

Hassett got an early look at the passion of the Kentucky fan base when she watched teams of former players from Louisville and Kentucky play in The Basketball Tournament and saw the postgame scuffle after La Famillia won

“I thought that was a big rivalry between Louisville and Kentucky. Obviously it was kind of crazy. I think obviously this rivalry has been going on for a long time but it was still kind of a shock to see them get into such a fight,” Hassett said. “Sometimes people are just very competitive and I just love knowing the passion there is for basketball in Kentucky.”