Hayes strives to be impact freshman

Tiffany Hayes has spent the last three months in an unfamiliar state, in an unfamiliar climate with a larger workload of classes and basketball practices.

In fact, just about the only thing that isn't new for the 5-foot-10 freshman from Lakeland, Fla., is her coach's personality.

Geno Auriemma, Hayes said, is tough. But that makes him the equal of LeDawn Gibson, Hayes' coach at Winter Haven High School, and now the coach at Florida A&M.

"I was used to his style of coaching," Hayes said. "I knew it from watching games on TV. And when he came up to visit [during the recruiting process], I was looking at them side by side going, 'which is which?'"

Hayes can rest assured that Auriemma will never confuse her with anyone else.

After Hayes officially signed in December, the UConn head man called her the best two-guard recruit in the country, and one of the best high schoolers at the position he could ever remember seeing.

Though Hayes is listed as a guard, her size and speed make her a tough matchup at either guard spot or the small forward position. In her senior year of high school, she averaged 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals per game for a team that reached the state finals in Florida's second-highest classification.

"She's been aggressive," said point guard Renee Montgomery. "She is aggressive [in order] to make a play, and our offense needs that."

Adjusting to the higher level of basketball, and to the demands of Auriemma's rigorous practice schedule, has been like "clockwork," the freshman said.

Adjusting to college life, on the other hand, has been more of a shock to Hayes' system. It can be tough for any college freshman to deal with the pressures of that first year - whether it be homesickness, making friends or staying up on classwork.

"I've got my tutors helping me with schoolwork," Hayes said. "I've got my teammates, I've got my roommate [fellow freshman guard Caroline Doty]. It's been pretty good."

Hayes also made fast friends with center Tina Charles, who was more than happy to help the freshman out.

"Me and Tina got real close," Hayes said. "I like to have fun, and she laughs at all my jokes."

Charles, the junior and three-year starter in the post, knows that being an upperclassman has its responsibilities. After all, two years ago, Charles was in Hayes' shoes.

"I know I was really, really nervous [before my first game]," Charles said.

But in the preseason, at least, Hayes has shown little hesitance, or anything that might indicate nervousness.

Hayes went 4-for-9 from the field for 10 points in each of her two preseason games (vs. Stonehill and Team SRP).

And from the outset, Hayes seems to know exactly what her role is. On a team filled with veterans, including a senior - Kalana Greene - with a similar skill set, Hayes will use her talent and boundless energy to give the Huskies a boost off the bench.

"I'm going to bring whatever I can to get to a Final Four, to help [my team] get there," Hayes said on the team's Media Day in October. "I want to win a national title."

She quickly corrected herself, showing perhaps a little inexperience in dealing with the media.

"I want to help them win a national title."