Harriton’s Annie Aspesi is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The senior guard and captain, a first team All-Central League and All-Main Line girls’ basketball selection each of the past two years, is off to another fine start, averaging 14.5 points per game and 5 rebounds per contest. Next winter, she will play basketball for Tufts University. Aspesi is a three-sport athlete at Harriton (soccer, basketball, lacrosse), is an officer with the school’s Asian cultural club, and is a member of the school’s yearbook club and newspaper (Harriton Banner). She also is a member of Best Buddies. Harriton head coach Chris Wielgus said, “Annie is a joy to coach. She is a remarkably dedicated and talented athlete who elevates the game of everyone around her. Her love of the game of basketball is contagious.”
Q: What aspect of your game do you feel you improved the
most in the off-season?
A: By playing a lot of AAU and pick-up games in the off-season, my court vision has definitely improved. So far this season I’ve been able to draw more defenders towards me, which has let me set up my teammates more and get more assists. I also worked on becoming a more consistent three point shooter.
Q: How do you see your leadership role (on and off the court) as a senior captain of the Harriton girls basketball team this season?
A: As a captain, it’s my responsibility to make sure the younger players understand our plays and our system, and are prepared for games. We only have two returning players with significant varsity experience, so it’s very important that the younger players are able to step up and contribute. I focused on building relationships with them before the season to form trust, and I do my best to be a great role model for them just like the upperclassmen were for me in the past.
Q: What do you think is the strongest aspect of your game? What part of your game are you working on the most currently?
A: I think the strongest aspects of my game are my ability to read and react and also my speed, ball handling under pressure, and shooting. I’m currently working to improve my footwork and finishing through contact from all areas near the basket.
Q: Who is your favorite basketball player, and why?
A: My favorite basketball player is Steph Curry. I love watching him play; he never stops moving off the ball and always gives everything he has. I really admire his dedication to be great.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in competitive basketball. Who have been your most important basketball mentors; and what was the most important thing you learned from each of them?
A: I played in rec leagues as much as possible when I was younger and I started playing competitive AAU in 3rd grade. I’ve been very lucky to have the help of many coaches and mentors, particularly all of my high school coaches who have been impactful to my game and life in general. This is the sixth straight year Coach [Chris] Gari has been coaching me – he’s helped me gain confidence and be more aggressive. Coach Brian, a former D1 guard, especially helps me mid-game by providing insight and tips on how to counter what the defense is doing and encouraging us to never give up. I can’t express how helpful Coach Chris [Wielgus] has been through my high school career, whether it’s spending extra time in the gym with me or teaching me countless lessons – her biggest one being “you win or you learn.”
Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 12 for Harriton basketball – why did you pick that number?
A: I picked No. 12 when I first started playing sports because I wanted to be the same number as my favorite athlete, Tom Brady.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation on the day of a game.
A: I do my best to keep my preparation on the day of a game pretty simple. I always try to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or bagel during the day and get as many shots up as I can. Listening to music right before the game to get pumped is a must.
Q: What is your favorite academic course at Harriton? What do you think you’d like to major in at Tufts? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: I enjoy the AP statistics class I am in right now and my AP chemistry class. I don’t know exactly what major I want to be at
Tufts, but something in the science field that is along the pre-med track.
Fun facts – Annie Aspesi
Favorite book: Unbroken.
Favorite TV show: Gilmore Girls.
Favorite movie: Avengers: Endgame.
Favorite athlete: Tom Brady.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Candy Paint, by Post Malone.
Favorite team: New England Patriots.
Favorite place to visit: Park City, Utah.
Favorite pre-game meal: Pasta and edamame.
Person I most admire, and why: My grandma (who I’m named after) because she was the most selfless, generous, and hardworking person I knew.”
Family members: parents Dave and Diana, older brothers Kevin and Andrew.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her coach.)
