Hayen Gehr
Staff Writer

TIARA TUCKER

Tucker’s arrival at a Division 1 basketball school is clear evidence that size, in fact, does not matter. The five-foot-three point guard is four inches shorter than any other player on the Dons, but boasts a quickness and fearlessness that can make any height disadvantage seem unimpor- tant. Tucker spent her high school days at Brookside Christian and then McNair High School, both of which are in Stockton, Calif. As a junior at Brookside Christian, Tucker fully displayed her offensive explosiveness, averaging 29.6 points per game and scoring a ridiculous 73 points in a sin- gle game. This scoring output was the fourth highest individual point total in high school women’s basketball state history, and for good measure, she had two other games in which she scored over 50 points.

Tucker joins a USF backcourt stacked with veteran guards such as junior Zhané Dikes and senior Aun- drea Gordon, but don’t be surprised if Tucker’s scoring prowess and en- ergy earns her a spot in the rotation. “As much as she has the ability to score, she can also really attack the defense and look to set other players up as well,” head coach Jennifer Azzi told usfdons.com after Tucker signed with USF. “She’s one of the best ball handlers I’ve seen.”

ANNA SEILUND

For Anna Seilund, a benefit to ad- justing to life in a new country is that the adjustment to a new basketball team might be rather easy in comparison.

Originally from Denmark, Sei- lund came all the way to USF to play collegiate basketball. She most recently played in Sweden for I.K. EOS, a team in the Swedish Damliga, where she averaged 14.7 points per game. The five-foot-nine guard’s impressive resume also in- cludes three years spent on the Dan- ish national team.

This isn’t the first time that Sei- lund has been to the United States; she spent a year at a Kansas high school in 2010. Regardless of how her transition from Europe to the Bay Area goes, she is poised to fit seamlessly into the Dons’ system.

“[Seilund is] used to playing at a fast pace and that’s perfect for our style of play,” Azzi told usfdons.com. “She has high-level skill as a passer and decision-maker.”

MICHAELA RAKOVA

Like Seilund, Michaela Rakova is another international talent that the Dons have brought to the Hilltop.

Rakova hails from Slovakia, and played for the Slovakian national team from 2010 to 2012. At six-foot- three, she is a towering presence that could make a defensive impact in the paint for the Dons this season. Hav- ing once averaged 10.6 rebounds for the Slovakian national team, Rakova is a potent rebounder who can give USF a boost on the boards.

Rakova is the newest member of a frontcourt that includes junior Tay- lor Proctor and redshirt senior Paige Spietz. If these experienced Dons can take her under their wing and help her game grow, Rakova will have a chance to become a dominant force for USF over the next four years.”He comes from a winning program and is a competitive, tough kid.”