O’Neill small in size, big on leadership

UK+sophomore+point+guard+Jennifer+ONeill+during+the+second+half+of+the+UK+vs.+Marist+basketball+game+at+Memorial+Coliseum+on+Sunday%2C+Dec.+30%2C+2012.+Photo+by+Adam+Chaffins

UK sophomore point guard Jennifer O’Neill during the second half of the UK vs. Marist basketball game at Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012. Photo by Adam Chaffins

By Kevin Erpenbeck

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The word “leader” in sports is associated with a player who is dedicated to working towards the team’s ultimate goal. The team’s leader is a figure that other players look up to for guidance outside of their coaches. A leader is usually assumed to be a dominating player that controls not only the locker room, but also the opponents on the field or court.

Just don’t tell senior point guard Jennifer O’Neill that assumption. She stands a modest 5-foot-6-inches but demands the full attention of both her teammates and her opponents.

O’Neill was the most valuable player for the Cats during the 2013-14 season, leading the team in scoring with 12.6 points per game and 3-point field goals made with 55. She was the team’s offensive game plan, leading UK to a 19-4 record on the season when she had a double-figure scoring game.

That’s quite the impressive output for a player with a less – than – impressive size. But her impact on last year’s team can’t be denied.

And it won’t be denied this year, either.

O’Neill comes in as one of four seniors for the 2014-15 season, with her and guard Bria Goss expecting to see the most amount of playing time of the seniors. Experience alone will prop up O’Neill as one of the main leaders in the team’s locker room.

But O’Neill is used to shouldering the responsibility of being a leading voice on the team. During the second half of the 2013-14 season, O’Neill was quickly finding her pedestal to speak from after leading the team with just her skills on the court. Even when she visibly argued with head coach Matthew Mitchell from time to time due to her highly competitive attitude, everyone on UK’s roster respected the team MVP and what she had to say, including Mitchell himself.

The Cats will rely heavily on O’Neill this season, expecting her to have another superb season and lead them to their sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. But the pressure won’t intimidate the fiery Bronx, NY., player, as it’s something that all leaders anticipate.

Because while she may not tower over any of her teammates or future opponents in size, her work ethic and skills on the court stand above the rest.