Morgan Bertsch, the No. 29 pick in the 2019 Draft, is the next rookie to answer a few questions for us! Bertsch was the nation’s fourth leading scorer, averaging 23.6 points a game, and the 6-foot-5 forward started every game for the Aggies this year. The 2019 Big West Player of the Year was named also named the MVP of the conference’s tournament and she joins Megan Gustafson as her university’s all-time leading scorer.
Q: What was the first thing that went through your head when you found out you were drafted?
A:”I was watching the Draft at my coach’s house. I was in complete shock. We knew that there was a chance, but we didn’t know how high that chance was. When we saw my name up there, there were so many different emotions going through our heads. There was a lot of screaming, yelling, hugging and crying. You know, all the emotions you’d expect in that kind of moment. It was really amazing. It means a lot to be the first person from UC Davis to be drafted. The odds were stacked against me a little bit, but it’s just amazing to get to represent UC Davis in something so renowned.”
Q: Give us three words that describe your game?
A: “Versatile, finesse and fun.”
Q: What’s one thing that our fans wouldn’t know about you?
A: “I was a two-sport athlete at UC Davis. I was on the track and field team as a high jumper.”
Q: If you could go back in time and tell younger you something, what would you say?
A: “Be more confident in yourself. Know that if you work hard and don’t stress out so much, everything will work out just fine. Do what you do, be who you are and everything will work out perfectly fine.”
Q: Who has been a big influence on getting you to where you are today?
A: “I have a few. Before I got to college my grandpa taught me everything I knew about basketball. He played basketball at University of La Verne and we’d shoot around in the driveway growing up. I would talk to him at halftime of my games to get pointers and he would always emphasize the importance of being versatile, being able to use both hands, and that’s something that’s always stuck with me. When I shoot my free throws I tell myself, ‘Bend your knees, follow through, grandpa loves you.’ That’s what he always tells me. My sister is an influence too. She majored in environmental engineering at UC San Diego and she played basketball for four years there too. She’s been my No. 1 fan throughout my collegiate career. She’s flown all over the country watching me.”
Q: Who do you model your game after?
A: “My sister. She’s four years old than me so I always watched her play. I always tried to model my game after anyone in the WNBA who was lanky and tall too.”