By Shane Donaldson
Associate Athletic Director, Communication and New Media

KINGSTON, R.I. - Watch a few minutes of Amori Jarrett playing pickup ball with her teammates, and her touch from the outside is clear.

When Jarrett first signed with Rhode Island, former URI head coach Tammi Reiss described her as, "Shooter, shooter, shooter."

"Shooting is what makes me stand out a little more because I can shoot from well beyond the 3-point arc, but I also have the ability to get to the rim with my strength," Jarrett said. "When the defense is closing out on my shot, I am able to get to the rim. I can use my body to score."

Rhody fans have had to wait to see it for themselves, as Jarrett redshirted as a true freshman last season due to a knee injury.

"Sitting out for basically two years due to an injury has been tough," Jarrett said. "Last year, my teammates made it known to me that I was a part of the team. I was on the scout team and helping them to get better. I am excited to be back out there and getting ready for this year. It has been a long journey with a lot of rehab, and there are still some lingering things I am dealing with, but I am able to push through it."

Perhaps the teammate who can see Jarrett's progression the most is fourth-year point guard Sophia Vital. Vital and Jarrett are the lone holdovers from last year's roster that won the regular season and conference tournament.

"Oh my god, Amori has had a huge growth from last year to now," Vital said. "Not only in terms of her skill and getting in the weight room, but her ability to be more vocal and be a leader is showing. She knows it is only me and her who are back from last year, so we are the ones who kind of know the ropes in terms of being here at the school. I see her stepping up and being a leader to help our new teammates get adjusted. It has been great to see."

Jarrett is finding her place with the new roster that has been built by first-year head coach Colleen Mullen. From the time that Mullen arrived, her forthright approach with Jarrett has stood out to the 5-8 shooting guard.

"What stood out about Coach Mullen was her ability to be straight up honest with me," Jarrett said. "She told me what she was looking for out of me. She told me what I was going to do as a player as long as I did everything she needed me to do.

"We had a conversation early in the summer, and she told me I needed to go harder. I came back second session going twice as hard. She pulled me aside and told me I was locked in and looked like a completely different player. That just makes me want to work even harder for her."

Hard work is something that has always been a part of Jarrett's journey. The former McDonald's All-American nominee was actually a two-sport star in her younger days, as she also played softball. As a 12-year-old, she was a strong-armed catcher playing for a 16-U team, playing up several levels. She proved early on that her willingness to face challenges head on could create opportunities for her.

"Softball is a part of what built me as an athlete," Jarrett said. "I started with softball when I was six years old, and that's where the foundation of values that I place on sports was built. Softball took away some things I wanted to do, like hanging out with friends. Or, at least it taught me the value of making time and having time. I still made time for my friends, but I understood I had to make choices at an early age. I had to put training first sometimes, even when that felt hard."

When the time came in middle school to choose a sport to focus on, Jarrett opted for the hardwood.

"I could really see basketball bringing me places, and I am happy with the decision," Jarrett said. "Look where I am now. Look at the opportunities I have as an athlete."

When she looks at the opportunities with the Rams, Jarrett likes what she sees. 

"We have a lot of people who are versatile," Jarrett said. "We have bigs who can shoot. We have bigs who can handle the ball. We have a lot of people who can get to the basket and score, and a lot of people who can shoot.

"There is a lot of strength on this team. You should see the amount of weight people are putting up in the weight room. We came together quickly off the court. It's only been a few weeks, but it doesn't feel that way at all. Off the court, you get to know a different perspective of your teammates. Everybody is a basketball player, but we are also people. We have to understand who we are off the court. If somebody is having an off day, but you understand them as a person, you are able to help them more."

That understanding coupled with her strong skill set should give Jarrett the chance to help her team on the court this season.