University of Minnesota Athletics
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
Introducing... Grace Cumming
7/23/2019 11:22:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Minnesota women's basketball team welcomes seven newcomers to the team for the 2019-20 season. GopherSports.com will sit down with each of them to get to know them better as they prepare for their first season in the Maroon and Gold.
 Up next, it's Grace Cumming, a 6'3 forward from Des Moines, Iowa, who was a three-star recruit and the 42nd-ranked post player in the class, according to ESPN. A two-time all-conference honoree during her high school career, she posted 11.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per contest in her senior season.
GopherSports.com: What was your recruiting process like?
Grace Cumming: "Well I was recruited for both basketball and volleyball, so that was interesting. It was a long process and started pretty early. I had my first offer before high school had even started and I committed the fall of my junior year. I didn't really like the recruiting process very much; it was stressful and overwhelming. And then with being part of two sports, it felt everything was doubled."
GS: How did you decide between basketball and volleyball?
GC: "For me it wasn't really about the sport, it was about the school and the team. With Minnesota, what did it for me is that it was a family-feel here. I love Minneapolis, it's a good distance from home, and then all those other factors just led me to basketball. I love both, though."
GS: How has it been going so far at Minnesota?
GC: "It's been really good. I love it here. The girls and the coaches are great. The workouts are tough but that was to be expected. But yeah, I love it here."
GS: What's been the most eye-opening thing for you so far?
GC: "I'd say everything is just at a much faster pace all the time. And way more intense all the time."
GS: What's it been like to play for Lindsay Whalen?
GC: "It's so cool, just knowing what she's accomplished and all the basketball knowledge she has, that we get to learn from her. She's somebody that knows basketball like that and knows how to win like that, it's just really cool."
GS: What's the adjustment been like to being a college student?
GC: "I'd say it's been a pretty good adjustment for me. I'm roommates with Justice (Ross) and I've known her since the fourth or fifth grade so it's like rooming with a sister. I miss my parents but I'm not super homesick, and we're close enough that they've come up already to see me. So I wouldn't say it's been too hard of an adjustment, just being away from home."
GS: Tell us more about your relationship with Justice Ross.
GC: "We started playing AAU together around the fourth or fifth grade and then were either playing with or against each other throughout AAU. Our high schools are actually rivals for girls' basketball, so it's always really fun to play against her. But now we get to be teammates, which is awesome."
GS: You committed to Minnesota before her, so did you try to sway her to come here?
GC: "Oh, of course. We came up for Elite Camp last summer, and that's when she picked up her offer. I was pushing her during the whole time, but I understood that she wanted to look at her other options. She came up for a visit and a few days before I texted her this whole long thing of why it should be Minnesota. So she committed then later, but I was definitely pulling for the Gophers."
GS: What were you saying in your pitch to her?
GC: "We're very similar so the family atmosphere and the girls that are here, I knew she would like them because I like them. I knew it would be a good fit for her and what she would like since we know each other very well. But I just touched on everything, like how you get a great basketball experience with these people but you get a great education and get to be in the city, stuff like that."
GS: What players have been mentors for you so far on and off the court?
GC: "I would say Destiny (Pitts), she's obviously a really friendly person so she's made sure that all the freshmen are feeling included and doing well. On the court, I feel like it's been Jasmine Brunson. She's super vocal, always talking to us and letting us know what's going on. She's a really great leader on the court."
GS: How would you describe yourself as a player?
GC: "I'm someone who gets rebounds and sets screens, very much a team player. I'll work wherever, but I do like working from the high post the most. But I'll go down low or I can step out and hit a 3-pointer."
GS: Does your jersey number carry any significance?
GC: "Yeah, my dad wore No. 43 in high school so I've always had that number because of him."
Off the Court with Grace
Favorite Food: Pizza (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms and black olives)
Favorite Movie: Across the Universe
Favorite TV Show: Grey's Anatomy
Favorite Musical Artist: Beyoncé
Player you model your game after: Sylvia Fowles and LeBron James for everything he does on and off the court, he really makes a difference
Hidden Talent: I play the violin
Favorite Moment of Career: Getting here to Minnesota, it's crazy I get to wake up every day and do this
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 Up next, it's Grace Cumming, a 6'3 forward from Des Moines, Iowa, who was a three-star recruit and the 42nd-ranked post player in the class, according to ESPN. A two-time all-conference honoree during her high school career, she posted 11.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per contest in her senior season.
GopherSports.com: What was your recruiting process like?
Grace Cumming: "Well I was recruited for both basketball and volleyball, so that was interesting. It was a long process and started pretty early. I had my first offer before high school had even started and I committed the fall of my junior year. I didn't really like the recruiting process very much; it was stressful and overwhelming. And then with being part of two sports, it felt everything was doubled."
GS: How did you decide between basketball and volleyball?
GC: "For me it wasn't really about the sport, it was about the school and the team. With Minnesota, what did it for me is that it was a family-feel here. I love Minneapolis, it's a good distance from home, and then all those other factors just led me to basketball. I love both, though."
GS: How has it been going so far at Minnesota?
GC: "It's been really good. I love it here. The girls and the coaches are great. The workouts are tough but that was to be expected. But yeah, I love it here."
GS: What's been the most eye-opening thing for you so far?
GC: "I'd say everything is just at a much faster pace all the time. And way more intense all the time."
GS: What's it been like to play for Lindsay Whalen?
GC: "It's so cool, just knowing what she's accomplished and all the basketball knowledge she has, that we get to learn from her. She's somebody that knows basketball like that and knows how to win like that, it's just really cool."
GS: What's the adjustment been like to being a college student?
GC: "I'd say it's been a pretty good adjustment for me. I'm roommates with Justice (Ross) and I've known her since the fourth or fifth grade so it's like rooming with a sister. I miss my parents but I'm not super homesick, and we're close enough that they've come up already to see me. So I wouldn't say it's been too hard of an adjustment, just being away from home."
GS: Tell us more about your relationship with Justice Ross.
GC: "We started playing AAU together around the fourth or fifth grade and then were either playing with or against each other throughout AAU. Our high schools are actually rivals for girls' basketball, so it's always really fun to play against her. But now we get to be teammates, which is awesome."
GS: You committed to Minnesota before her, so did you try to sway her to come here?
GC: "Oh, of course. We came up for Elite Camp last summer, and that's when she picked up her offer. I was pushing her during the whole time, but I understood that she wanted to look at her other options. She came up for a visit and a few days before I texted her this whole long thing of why it should be Minnesota. So she committed then later, but I was definitely pulling for the Gophers."
GS: What were you saying in your pitch to her?
GC: "We're very similar so the family atmosphere and the girls that are here, I knew she would like them because I like them. I knew it would be a good fit for her and what she would like since we know each other very well. But I just touched on everything, like how you get a great basketball experience with these people but you get a great education and get to be in the city, stuff like that."
GS: What players have been mentors for you so far on and off the court?
GC: "I would say Destiny (Pitts), she's obviously a really friendly person so she's made sure that all the freshmen are feeling included and doing well. On the court, I feel like it's been Jasmine Brunson. She's super vocal, always talking to us and letting us know what's going on. She's a really great leader on the court."
GS: How would you describe yourself as a player?
GC: "I'm someone who gets rebounds and sets screens, very much a team player. I'll work wherever, but I do like working from the high post the most. But I'll go down low or I can step out and hit a 3-pointer."
GS: Does your jersey number carry any significance?
GC: "Yeah, my dad wore No. 43 in high school so I've always had that number because of him."
Off the Court with Grace
Favorite Food: Pizza (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms and black olives)
Favorite Movie: Across the Universe
Favorite TV Show: Grey's Anatomy
Favorite Musical Artist: Beyoncé
Player you model your game after: Sylvia Fowles and LeBron James for everything he does on and off the court, he really makes a difference
Hidden Talent: I play the violin
Favorite Moment of Career: Getting here to Minnesota, it's crazy I get to wake up every day and do this
Â
Highlights: Gophers 99, Maryland 100
Sunday, December 07
Gophers in the Bahamas
Tuesday, December 02
Highlights: Gophers 77, Samford 40
Monday, December 01
Cinematic Recap: Gophers-USF
Monday, December 01