Georgia Tech's Karen Blair breaks down importance of three returners in year one

First-year Georgia Tech women’s basketball head coach Karen Blair will count on the leadership of the Yellowjackets’ three returners this season, she told the media earlier this week. 

6-foot-2 junior guard D’Asia Thomas-Harris is returning from an injury-ridden sophomore campaign and provides a veteran presence to a largely new squad.

“D’Asia right now is working really, really hard,” Blair said. “This summer, she’s coming back from that injury and right now she’s healthy and we’re working on getting her in shape. D’Asia is a great talent. Right now, she’s been knocking down the three for us on the floor.”

But Thomas-Harris is expected to contribute in more than just perimeter scoring. 

“I also love her confidence in being able to score in the low block, so she brings a lot of versatility,” Blair added. “My job is to make sure to build up her confidence. Coming back from an injury, sometimes, I think as players that can kind of play with your confidence. My job as a coach is to make sure that she comes back and is the most confident player that she can be, and that’s what we’re working on right now. She’s a special player.”

Alongside Thomas, Georgia Tech will lean on the experience of senior guard Inés Noguero and junior center Ariadna Termis. Both bring starting experience and have stepped into leadership roles this offseason with so many newcomers on roster. 

“Both Ari and Inés come back with a lot of starting experience,” Blair said. “Their leadership, along with D’Asia, has been able to give great leadership to our 10 newcomers.”

In Blair’s first year at the helm, she hopes this team will work hard, play fast and challenge themselves. 

“My job is to share with them, to enjoy that,” Blair said. “If we do that and get them to believe in themselves and they play confident, then we’re going to be able to handle any adversity that’s thrown our way.”