UMBC women’s basketball junior Laycee Drake recently chatted with PressBox about playing hoops in a small town growing up, her favorite memory from her time at UMBC so far and more. The 5-foot-6 guard averaged 7.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Retrievers in 2022-23. Drake is a native of Hancock, N.Y., and graduate of Hancock Central School.
PressBox: How did you become interested in basketball?
Laycee Drake: I’m from a very small town, and I just was trying to pick up any sports I could. My brothers played a lot of sports, so I was just doing what they were doing. I played basketball, softball. I even liked to play football with my brothers sometimes. So they got me into sports, and then we just went from there.
PB: How big is Hancock, N.Y.?
LD: I graduated with 25 people, and there are about 300 kids K-12. It’s geographically big, but there are not a lot of people there.
PB: What kind of challenges did that present for you trying to get exposure in basketball?
LD: I feel like a lot of the time the big AAU programs are where a lot of kids get noticed these days. They’re pushing you to only focus on basketball. I would have to have an hour drive to go wherever I wanted to play just to practice, really. A lot of the small-town athletes, they couldn’t get too much of an opportunity unless they would quit all other sports and drive that hour. But my dad, [Fran], actually helped me out a lot. He posted a lot of videos on YouTube. Nate Lull, he ran this AAU program that helped me out a lot as well. It was no practice. You just go to tournaments and go play with a bunch of other girls from around the area, so that helped a lot, too.
PB: Who was the biggest influence on your game growing up?
LD: My dad and my brother. My dad sacrificed a lot for me. My brother, [Warren], played baseball in college, but he just had a natural basketball mind, so he helped me out a lot from a basketball standpoint.
PB: Why did you choose to go to UMBC?
LD: Probably the people here. I think that the people make the place that you’re going to. The family atmosphere, especially within the basketball program, helped me out a lot. Coming from Hancock, a lot of people were perplexed. Why would I go to Baltimore? It’s very random, but it’s all about the people. I think they understand now more.
PB: What allowed your team to make big improvements from 2021-22 to 2022-23? (UMBC went 3-23 before bouncing back to go 14-15 last year.)
LD: We lost almost our whole entire team after my freshman year. Not saying that that’s a great thing and we needed to clean house, but we got a lot more talent and really put an emphasis on buying in and we ended up having some success.
PB: How did your all-around game develop from your freshman year to your sophomore year?
LD: I think my sophomore year I allowed myself to play like myself a little bit more. I was trying to become a product of the system both years, but freshman year I was making more robotic decisions rather than just playing the game. Allowing myself to be myself and be a little more creative with my game my sophomore year helped a lot. Of course, the belief that my coaches instilled in me was a big help, too.
PB: What’s your favorite memory from your time at UMBC so far?
LD: Probably when we beat NJIT in the America East quarterfinals last year. We lost to Vermont in the semifinals the next game, but it was let our seniors go out with a win at home. It was a historical season for us, so that was a big win.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about UMBC?
LD: Probably the [Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena]. We get full access there, go get shots up whenever.
PB: What’s your favorite thing about Baltimore?
LD: I don’t go to the city too much. I’m not an Orioles fan, but I’ve been to a few Orioles games and Camden Yards is beautiful.
PB: Who’s your best friend on the team and what’s a story that underscores your friendship?
LD: I’d say I have to have two. Paloma Iradier, she’s No. 13. I got here my freshman year and she got here her sophomore, so we’ve been together almost the whole entire time. Even if we didn’t get along, we were going to have to because we’ve been through this whole thing together. But she’s been a great teammate. We’ve had some good times together, so definitely Paloma and Grace Ceseretti, she’s a sophomore. It’s her second year at UMBC. Very genuine person and she’s helped me a lot on and off the court, so I’d have to say those two.
PB: Who did you look up to early in your college career?
LD: Probably Janee’a Summers. She’s still here at UMBC. She’s the director of basketball operations. Just how to approach the game, learned a lot from her about that and how to carry yourself off the court as well.
PB: What advice would you have for younger players?
LD: I would just say be consistent and believe in what you’re doing. If you’re not going to believe in what you’re doing, all the work you’re putting in, you’re not going to enjoy that process. You’re not going to get as much out of it as you want, so just believe in and enjoy what you’re doing and be consistent about it and you’ll find success.
PB: What are your goals for after basketball, whenever it ends?
LD: I’d like to drag this basketball thing out as long as possible, play overseas if I could after college. And then I’d like to become a teacher and then coach, but keeping basketball in my life for my whole life is part of the plan.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of UMBC Athletics