University of Minnesota Athletics
Leslie Knight: Forming a Fan Club
12/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Coach Pam Borton allows the sophomores, juniors and seniors on the women's basketball team to room with anyone they want, and many of the players choose to room with a teammate. However, Borton encourages the freshmen to room with someone who is not a teammate. Leslie was originally going to room with a member of the tennis team, but that fell through. Over the summer she got a call from Laura Bell and the two decided to give it a try as roommates.
"I was so excited to find out that Leslie was on the basketball team," Laura said. "I ran around screaming, I thought it was so cool that she was going to be my roommate. She's such a super star, she's really a phenomenal basketball player. She came into college with all these credentials, but she's so humble. She's just the nicest person you'll ever meet."
Leslie came to the Gopher program after a stellar career at Hopkins High School. She graduated as the school record holder in points (2,335) and rebounds (1,125), and led her team to Classic Lake Conference titles every year of her high school career. Her team placed third in the state in 2002 and 2003 before winning the class 4A state title in 2004. She won numerous awards as a senior, including the Associated Press Minnesota Player of the Year and the Minnesota Ms. Basketball Award.
"Leslie is a hard worker and learning a lot her freshman year," said coach Pam Borton. "She is a big part of the future of Minnesota basketball."
As a freshman this season, she doesn't see as much playing time as some of her upper-class teammates, but it doesn't seem to bother her at all.
"When I was choosing a school, I really wanted to go somewhere where I would be in an environment where there were players who were better than I was who would force me to improve my game, even if it meant that I wouldn't start or get a lot of playing time," she explained.
While her time on the court has been limited so far, Leslie has worked hard and learned as much as she can, knowing that her day in the limelight will come.
In the meantime, Leslie's roommate faithfully supports her, and even decided to become a women's basketball season ticket holder. She also recruited a group of friends to join her in getting season tickets. The group attends all the games together, and has befriended the fans who sit in the row behind them. They've become an unofficial Leslie Knight fan club of sorts.
"We've turned all the people in our section into Leslie fans," Laura explained. "We're planning to get t-shirts made that we can wear at the games."
Even without the t-shirts, Leslie has no trouble spotting her roommate in the crowd. "She cheers so loud, I can hear her from the court," Leslie said.
The most surprising thing about Laura's excitement over the Gopher women's basketball team is that she wasn't a basketball fan until Leslie became her roommate. "I wouldn't say I'm a big basketball fan," explained Laura. "I go to the games because of Leslie. I'm just so proud of her."
While Laura claims to be Leslie's number one fan, there are a few others in the crowd who might think they own that title. Leslie's parents and brother, Trevor, are season ticket holders, and have even made road trips to see the Gophers play at Creighton and Wisconsin-Green Bay. Her brother Cory is a student at Minnesota State, Mankato, but he makes it to as many games as he can, including the game against LSU last week.
Even though the support of Laura and her friends means a lot to Leslie, she also appreciates having her parents attend the Golden Gopher games. "I love having my family at the games, it's just so great to be able to see them and talk with them after the games," Leslie said. "It's so nice to be close to home."
Leslie's collegiate basketball career is just beginning, but the foundations are in place for a successful four-year career on the Golden Gopher squad. She has the talent, willingness to learn and work hard, and the confidence of her coaches. Perhaps most importantly, she has the unwavering the support of her family, friends, and her biggest fan, Laura Bell.
The relationship between Leslie and Laura is better than either could have asked for. "She's great, I really lucked out with my roommate," Leslie said.
Laura feels the same way. "I think we both lucked out," she said.
Story by Sara Berhow, Athletic Communications Assistant When two strangers are assigned to share a college dorm room, they are usually hoping that their new roommate will become a friend, or will at least be someone they can get along with well enough to stand sharing a small living space for an entire year. Leslie Knight has not only found that the person she shares her dorm room with is easy to live with, but a friend and her biggest fan. When she first talked to her roommate, Laura Bell, last summer, she had no idea what was about to develop, but is thrilled with the way things have worked out.
Coach Pam Borton allows the sophomores, juniors and seniors on the women's basketball team to room with anyone they want, and many of the players choose to room with a teammate. However, Borton encourages the freshmen to room with someone who is not a teammate. Leslie was originally going to room with a member of the tennis team, but that fell through. Over the summer she got a call from Laura Bell and the two decided to give it a try as roommates.
"I was so excited to find out that Leslie was on the basketball team," Laura said. "I ran around screaming, I thought it was so cool that she was going to be my roommate. She's such a super star, she's really a phenomenal basketball player. She came into college with all these credentials, but she's so humble. She's just the nicest person you'll ever meet."
Leslie came to the Gopher program after a stellar career at Hopkins High School. She graduated as the school record holder in points (2,335) and rebounds (1,125), and led her team to Classic Lake Conference titles every year of her high school career. Her team placed third in the state in 2002 and 2003 before winning the class 4A state title in 2004. She won numerous awards as a senior, including the Associated Press Minnesota Player of the Year and the Minnesota Ms. Basketball Award.
"Leslie is a hard worker and learning a lot her freshman year," said coach Pam Borton. "She is a big part of the future of Minnesota basketball."
As a freshman this season, she doesn't see as much playing time as some of her upper-class teammates, but it doesn't seem to bother her at all.
"When I was choosing a school, I really wanted to go somewhere where I would be in an environment where there were players who were better than I was who would force me to improve my game, even if it meant that I wouldn't start or get a lot of playing time," she explained.
While her time on the court has been limited so far, Leslie has worked hard and learned as much as she can, knowing that her day in the limelight will come.
In the meantime, Leslie's roommate faithfully supports her, and even decided to become a women's basketball season ticket holder. She also recruited a group of friends to join her in getting season tickets. The group attends all the games together, and has befriended the fans who sit in the row behind them. They've become an unofficial Leslie Knight fan club of sorts.
"We've turned all the people in our section into Leslie fans," Laura explained. "We're planning to get t-shirts made that we can wear at the games."
Even without the t-shirts, Leslie has no trouble spotting her roommate in the crowd. "She cheers so loud, I can hear her from the court," Leslie said.
The most surprising thing about Laura's excitement over the Gopher women's basketball team is that she wasn't a basketball fan until Leslie became her roommate. "I wouldn't say I'm a big basketball fan," explained Laura. "I go to the games because of Leslie. I'm just so proud of her."
While Laura claims to be Leslie's number one fan, there are a few others in the crowd who might think they own that title. Leslie's parents and brother, Trevor, are season ticket holders, and have even made road trips to see the Gophers play at Creighton and Wisconsin-Green Bay. Her brother Cory is a student at Minnesota State, Mankato, but he makes it to as many games as he can, including the game against LSU last week.
Even though the support of Laura and her friends means a lot to Leslie, she also appreciates having her parents attend the Golden Gopher games. "I love having my family at the games, it's just so great to be able to see them and talk with them after the games," Leslie said. "It's so nice to be close to home."
Leslie's collegiate basketball career is just beginning, but the foundations are in place for a successful four-year career on the Golden Gopher squad. She has the talent, willingness to learn and work hard, and the confidence of her coaches. Perhaps most importantly, she has the unwavering the support of her family, friends, and her biggest fan, Laura Bell.
The relationship between Leslie and Laura is better than either could have asked for. "She's great, I really lucked out with my roommate," Leslie said.
Laura feels the same way. "I think we both lucked out," she said.
Story by Sara Berhow, Athletic Communications Assistant
