SEATTLE — If the homesickness hasn’t gotten the best of Jess McCormack by now, then you’d think the injuries must have.
Yet 23 games and a quarter and a half into her new life, the freshman from New Zealand can still walk around Hec Edmundson Pavilion wearing a smile as often as she does an ice pack, which is to say, frequently.
McCormack’s transition to life and basketball in America hasn’t gone quite as smoothly as she had hoped, but Washington’s 6-foot-5 center, a member of New Zealand’s national team, is still enjoying life as a Husky.
“It’s been hard,” said McCormack, who has missed seven games because of a number of injuries. “But I’m happy here. My teammates have all been really supportive because they know I’m so far from home. All the girls on the team are so lovely and so supportive.”
When McCormack left Auckland last summer, she was eager for a new challenge and ready to leave home. She figured she was ready for life on another continent, and that the transition would be easy. She figured wrong.
“It’s been hard,” said McCormack, whose parents and two older brothers are in New Zealand. “I miss them a lot, I didn’t think I would. I was like, ‘I’m ready to go,’ but I miss them a lot. I miss my family and friends back home. Honestly, when I was leaving, I was like, ‘I’m ready for this, I’m ready to go and leave the nest.’ But it’s been difficult.”
The support of her teammates and coaches have made the transition easier, but McCormack still calls home frequently — every other day or so — to talk to her family.
“She’s homesick,” Washington coach Tia Jackson said. “I think that goes without saying … She definitely struggles. I went away to school at Iowa from Maryland and I thought that was going to another country. I can only imagine what she’s going through. Her teammates have been pretty awesome with embracing her and making sure she knows that she has a home away from home here.”
Junior guard Michelle Augustavo, a graduate of Seattle’s Bishop Blanchet High School, transferred to Washington in part because she was homesick going to school in San Diego.
“I can’t even imagine being halfway across the world,” Augustavo said. “She’s adjusted really, really well. I know it’s a huge culture shock for her. I don’t think I could do it. She’s a tough one.”
Augustavo describes McCormack as an independent person, noting that the freshman has been known to take a bus to downtown Seattle just to explore her new city.
“We’ve all tried to take her under our wing and help her get acclimated, but she’s pretty independent and seems to be handling it very well,” Augustavo said.
And as tough as being away from home has been for McCormack, she at least has occasional reminders of home on the Huskies schedule. Washington State freshman guard Kezia Kelly went to the same high school as McCormack in Auckland, while Oregon Sophomore Michaela Cocks is a teammate on the national team.
“It’s great,” McCormack said. “Being in the Pac-10, we’ve got Kezia Kelly, and Michaela Cox at Oregon. They’re both good friends, so it’s awesome having them here.”
While the homesickness could have been predicted, McCormack’s bad luck with injuries was much more unexpected.
Until coming to the Huskies, McCormack said she never in her life had an injury worse than an ankle sprain. But she has been sidelined this season by a back injury, a high ankle sprain and most recently a concussion that kept her out of three games.
“It’s been tough having to constantly come back only to get knocked back again. It’s hard to come back,” she said. “I’m trying to focus on taking one step at a time. I think I’m set now, I think I’m good. No more injuries for me.”
If McCormack can indeed stay healthy, she hopes to show Husky fans her true capabilities. In the time she has been on the court, McCormack already has shown flashes of the skills that will send her to the Olympics in China this summer. Now, she says she’s ready to perform more consistently at that high level for the Huskies.
“I haven’t been able to be consistent and show what I can bring to our team,” she said. “I think being able to play consistently, I’ll be able to show what I’m capable of.”
Her teammates agree that the best is yet to come for McCormack, who is currently averaging 8.3 points and 4.9 rebounds.
“People have seen glimpses of how good she really is,” said Augustavo. “She’s phenomenal, and if she can stay healthy and continue to grow, she’s going to be a really good basketball player. She already is, but she hasn’t shown how good she can be yet.”
When McCormack does get to that point, and when the homesickness starts to fade, that smile will be bigger than ever. Hopefully, it won’t be accompanied by an ice pack.
Contact Herald Writer John Boyle at jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more on University of Washington sports, check out the Huskies blog at heraldnet.com/huskiesblog
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
