INDIANAPOLIS--Cam Fuller chats with Horizon Leauge Preseason Player of the Year Kim Demmings. Over the first four games, the junior guard has the Raiders off to a 3-1 start and is averaging 22.5 points, 5.8 rebounds per game.
Meet Kim Demmings
Height: 5’8”
Year: Junior
Hometown: Richmond, Ind.
High School: Richmond
Position: Guard
2013-14 (Junior)
- Named Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year.
- Has orchestrated Wright State to a 3-1 start which includes wins against Southern Illinois, Miami (Ohio) and Akron.
- Her 31 point output in the season opener at Southern Illinois was her sixth-career 30 or more point effort.
- In 67 career games, teams have held the guard under 10 points on six occasions, with four of which coming during her freshman season.
2012-13 (Sophomore)
- Named the Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year.
- Averaged 19.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game.
- Posted 35 points, eight rebounds in a Jan. 10 win over Milwaukee.
- Surpassed the 1,000 point barrier 54 games into her career.
- Named All-League First Team.
2011-12 (Freshman)
- Second in the League in points (18.4) and assists (4.3) per game.
- Scored 25 points on 9-13 shooting in her career-debut vs. Ball State.
- Scored a career-high 38 points in an overtime win over Milwaukee on Jan. 14.
- Led all Division I freshmen in scoring and set a Raider freshman scoring record with 626 points.
- Named All-League First Team as well as Co-Newcomer of the Year.
- Selected as a Second Team Freshman All-American by Full Court.
On Nov. 8 you scored a game-high 31 points in the Wright State’s season opening 67-64 victory at Southern Illinois. Can you think of a better way to open up your junior season?
Not really. I feel like we went out to a tough opponent on the road and played as a team. Our team handled it well and it was a great win.
Last season the team finished 12-18 (6-10 Horizon League). Off to a 3-1 start, what’s clicking for the Raiders this year?
Effort, care, playing as a team. This year we’ve been playing more as a team and we are hanging out outside of basketball so I feel like that helps on the court as well.
In the team’s 90-80 win over Akron, four players were in double figures and six players scored eight or more points. Is a balanced attack something to expect from Wright State this season?
Definitely. I feel like if we can get everybody scoring and everybody being a threat it opens it up for more people to get the ball and look to attack and do their thing and not only me. It takes a lot of pressure off me. I love having teammates who can get to the basket and attack just as well as I do; hopefully I can get some more assists off of it.
At the Horizon League Women’s Basketball Media Day, a common theme was the vulnerability of Green Bay with the team replacing four starters. Does Wright State have the pieces to knock off the Phoenix, a team that has won 15-straight regular season crowns?
I feel like if we stick to our game plan and play as hard as we can and do what coach tells us to do we have a great chance to do that.
Last season the Raiders gave up 70 or more points in 18 of the team’s 30 games. Thus far, the Raiders have forced 23 turnovers per game, including a season-high 29 against Miami (Ohio). How comfortable is the team with coach Mike Bradbury’s new defensive approach?
I feel like it’s going great. Since the summer we’ve been working on our new defense. Coach said we’re going to play to our advantage and we have a lot of speed so I feel like if we can get out and shoot gaps and get steals and make the team turn the ball over it’s to our advantage to get out in transition and run a little bit.
Who is the biggest jokester on the team?
J.J. (Jeralyn) Williams. She’s a freshman that just came in but she’s a great jokester. She’s funny and is always keeping the team laughing, always throwing out jokes and is always joking on somebody.
What are some things you enjoy doing off the court?
I grew up 40 minutes away so I like to go home a lot. I have a nephew so I see him as much as I can. I like hanging out with my teammates as well, we’ve been going out to dinners a lot and getting out together and hanging out.
Growing up so close to Wright State, was that one of the reasons you decided to become a Raider?
That was one of the reasons, it’s a great program and when I came up here on a visit I had a great time. The atmosphere is so positive and uplifting, it’s just an amazing place to be. After my visit I just felt like this was the school for me. It was the perfect fit, it felt it was like being at home when I'm not at home, I think that’s why it sold me.
If you could have played any other sport collegiately, what would it have been?
It would have been track; I was a great track runner in high school. I did the 100 meter, 4 x 1, the high jump and the long jump. I was a pretty good track athlete so that would’ve been the sport.
In five years, where is Kim Demmings going to be?
In five years, Kim Demmings hopes to be playing basketball either overseas or in the states. Just keep doing what I love, I love to play basketball so I’m going to pursue that dream to the fullest. Then after that I hope to get on a coaching squad somewhere—come back to Wright State or branch out—I love the sport so much I don’t want to leave it.
