Georgia Amoore Had Different Route To Collegiate Stardom

Georgia Amoore believes playing against older women at a young age taught her how to handle adversity. (Vicky Graff Photo)

By LARRY VAUGHT

Georgia Amoore did not take the typical AAU route to become a college star like most American players have. Instead, growing up in Australia and playing international basketball was a far different experience for the Kentucky point guard.

“Just growing up playing internationally, I played against women since I was a kid,” Amoore said.

She noted UK teammates Clara Silva and Amelia Hassett did the same thing and it is different.

“I grew up playing against women who screamed at me because they weren’t gonna deal with a kid. That was the women’s jobs, their side hustles. They were playing basketball, but they weren’t earning a big bag (of money) for it and they weren’t going to deal with little kids playing,” Amoore said.

“So I think maturity wise, I could take adversity, I can take hard coaching and I’m sure those other internationals will speak for that too. We didn’t grow up in a society where there were highlight tapes or kids were getting hyped up from an early age.

“I had absolutely none of that. So I think it’s different (overseas). It’s a very different culture, but you know, it gives us a chance to succeed.”

Kentucky will play at SEC leader South Carolina today to end regular-season play and it has been a sensational season for Amoore, who had 18 points in the win over No. 11 Tennessee Thursday along with seven assists, one steal and one rebound.

—  She has scored 10 plus points in 27 of 28 games this season.

— She has made at least three 3-pointers  in 12 games this season and needs four more 3’s to eclipse 400 for her career. She needs 19 more 3’s to break the UK single-season school record (84).

—  She needs 21 more assists to break the single-game school record (209).

— She has had 18 games this season with at least 15 points and five assists, the most in the regular season by any SEC player since at least 2002-03. She has had eight games of  15 points and five assists in league play, the most by any SEC player since at least 2002-03.