Tall Fern Makes UConn

Auckland basketball player Jessica McCormack, 19, who was the youngest member of the New Zealand team at the Beijing Olympics this year, now plays for the top-ranked University of Connecticut (UConn) as a “versatile” 6-foot-5 centre, having left the University of Washington Huskies in February. McCormack said she informed the UConn coaching staff of her decision to join the program in April. “I think what we saw was a big, athletic kid who had basketball skills,” UConn associate head coach Chris Dailey said. “And more international basketball skills than sometimes what you see, and we like all those things. And she’s big. I think she’s going to get stronger. And I’m looking forward to having the chance to work with her.” McCormack made her Tall Ferns debut at the age of 15 in 2005, helping the team to a silver medal at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.