Guilford’s basketball programs are looking to win the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship. As the season progresses, both the men’s and women’s programs welcome late additions.
Transfers Courtney Hill (UNCG) and Brandon Clifford (UNCW) may be all the Quakers needed for the season.
Hill earned the Old Dominion Athletic Conference’s Women’s Basketball Player of the Week Award for the week of Jan. 5. She averaged 19.3 points and 10.0 rebounds in the three Quaker’s victories.
Hill was a Guilford student last year, earning ODAC Rookie of the Year honors. For personal reasons, she decided to transfer to UNCG, but returned during Christmas break.
Coach Bausch believes Hill brings “scoring, quickness, and that shooting touch” that every coach is looking for.
“I don’t see myself as a scorer,” Hill said. “We already have scorers on the team … [I] would like to be a defensive player and a rebounder.”
Sophomore forward/center Clifford has to fill certain expectations from Coach Butch Estes over the next few years. One of those expectations is for Clifford “to be a leader,” Estes said. But for now, Estes is perfectly fine with Clifford’s tremendous inside presence on offense and defense.
Clifford continues to learn his role on his new team. Hopefully, next year Clifford will be able to step up and be the leader he wants to be.
Both Hill and Clifford would like to be more complete players by the time they graduate. Clifford hopes to improve his defensive abilities, and he wants to set an example for the younger players coming up. Hill would like to work on her quickness while improving her ball-handling skills.
“I would like to improve on my Outside J,”Hill said, meaning the outside jump shot in basketball lingo.
They both present a difficult challenge to opposing defenses. The tandem will certainly boost both teams.