ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Ciara Thompson

What are you looking forward to most this season?

Improving as a team on offense and defense and basically winning a championship — (a) district championship and then states.

Do you have personal goals for the season?

(To) become a leader, a better person and just attack the basket more.

You committed and signed an NLI to play at UCF. What are you looking forward to there?

I’m looking forward to winning a conference championship and getting better. Bettering the program, showing other hometown kids that you can stay home to (play for) a good team.

What about your game would you like to improve this season to prepare you for college?

I want to improve shooting off the dribble and knocking more 3s out.

When did you start playing basketball, and what got you into playing?

I started around second grade. Playing outside with a bunch of boys. I always beat them outside, so I just kept playing.

What makes you want to come back each year?

Just knowing that I’m good at it and (I) want to be better. It’ll help me go far in life, education-wise and everything. I feel like it keeps me on track.

What are your hopes for the team this year aside from winning a championship?

Coming together. You can learn other people’s personality, and I don’t know, becoming a family.

Is there any game in particular you’re looking forward to this season?

I’m looking forward to playing Jones. The other girl is committed to UCF from there — Cornelia Wright. I’m looking forward to competing against her. They have a really good team. I’ve been playing with her since fifth or sixth grade.

What’s your favorite subject in school and why?

I like math because it gets difficult but then you got it. I like difficult stuff.

If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I think Hawaii. (It has) a lot of water and parks I see online.

Would you rather watch a good movie or read a good book?

A movie. I don’t really get into reading that much.

— JENNIFER NESSLAR