Mya Petticord is ready to be Rutgers women's basketball's floor general
The Rutgers women's basketball team is gearing up for its second season under head coach Coquese Washington. Washington has done a lot of work in the offseason to improve the talent and depth of the Scarlet Knights with transfers like sophomore guard Mya Petticord.
Before Petticord played collegiate basketball, she played high school basketball at Arbor Preparatory High School in Ypsilanti, Michigan. At Arbor Preparatory High School, she led her team to the 2022 Division III State Title and was named the Michigan Associated Press Division III Player of the Year.
Petticord's stellar play earned her a four-star status, and she committed to Texas A&M, where she averaged 2.7 points and more than one rebound per game in approximately 15 minutes per contest.
Before Petticord's sophomore season, she entered the transfer portal.
"(Washington is) from Michigan herself," Petticord said. "It's a lot of Michigan and Midwest people in this staff. So I feel like that was like an automatic connection."
Petticord felt that connection coming out of high school as Rutgers was one of her top schools, but she ultimately chose the Aggies.
"Rutgers was my top five in high school. I already visited here, so I kind of already had the feeling," Petticord said. "I have family down here as well, so it's pretty much home for me."
The transfer made sense for the Knights, too, as they needed a point guard like Petticord after fifth-year guard Kai Carter transferred to Memphis.
"Coach Coquese and all the staff, they recruited me when I was in the transfer portal, and Nikki McCray for sure," Petticord said. "They definitely reached out to me and said they needed a point guard last year, and I'm grateful to be a part of that option."
Coach Washington has stated that a big goal for Rutgers this season is limiting turnovers. Petticord will be the driving force behind this goal as the team's point guard.
Petticord should pair nicely with sophomore guard Kaylene Smikle. Smikle made the All-Big Ten Second Team last season as a freshman and should continue to be a significant contributor for the Knights. Both players could take a sophomore season leap as Petticord can relieve Smikle of some of the ball-handling duties.
The Knights will begin the regular season on Monday at Jersey Mike's Arena on Livingston campus against Monmouth, where Petticord will get her first regular season action as the Rutgers' floor general.
"I'm naturally a point guard, so I feel like being in that role is no pressure for me," Petticord said. "Being a point guard on this team, I feel like it's a great opportunity for us, and we can do big things this year."
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