Aziaha James won 4 straight state championships at Princess Anne High School. She was a Tidewater Player of the Year, a Virginia Player of the Year and a two time all state selection. She joined a short list of the best players to ever play for legendary Princess Anne coach Darnell Dozier.
Dozier talks first and foremost about James confident basketball mentality. "She always knew what to do," he says. Dozier points out her natural inclination towards team play, at times a rarity for high school hoopers of her caliber.
With all of that in mind, James' freshman season at NC State was a challenge for the Virginia Beach native. Despite being on the ACC All Freshman team, James averaged just 9.5 minutes per game.
Dozier is also quick to point out her work ethic. She embraced the grind to become a better player. So that's what she did in Raleigh.
James doubled her minutes in year two, eventually starting the last 6 games of the season. Then a breakthrough this season as a junior. James leads the Wolfpack in scoring, and the team as obliterated low preseason expectations. Her regular season leap has proven to be merely a precursor to her 2024 NCAA tournament explosion.
NC State is in the Final Four since 1998, and they've done so following the lead of James. Sixth seeded Tennessee, 2nd seeded Stanford and 1st seeded Texas; 3 games three massive performances. The biggest challenge in college basketball now awaits, unbeaten South Carolina.
Whatever happens, Aziaha James will continue to work.