“I kind of knew who I was, but I don’t know if I was comfortable with it yet ... I’ve learned to be comfortable in my own skin and just accept who I am." --Haley Lorenzen
Greatest Gift of All: Lorenzen Discovers Identity at UF
Sunday, February 4, 2018 | Women's Basketball
"Going to Florida was the best thing that happened to her. She got to grow into herself. That’s the best gift anyone could receive.” --Karen Napolitano, Haley Lorenzen's mother
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Art used to be an escape outlet for Haley Lorenzen. Whenever she needed a break from basketball and school, a chance to express her personality — especially as a freshman — Lorenzen snapped photos around campus or painted freehand. It brought her freedom, relaxation, peace.
Over the course of her four-year career at Florida, those creative endeavors went from being an escape to, simply, a hobby.
"Art has become something that's just a really fun thing for me to do … rather than something I rely on to let myself show through," Lorenzen said. "Now I feel like I do that in a lot of other aspects of my life."
Ironically, Lorenzen is an extrovert. Always has been. And standing 6-foot-3 makes blending in difficult at best, though this is far from bothersome to her. She is the kind of person who will walk up to anyone, introduce herself, and have a meaningful conversation, intently listening to every word while attempting to connect on a personal level. Lorenzen is, in her own words, passionate about people, as well as the relationships she forms.
However, early on at Florida, Lorenzen struggled with her sense of self. Far from an uncommon motif among teenagers and 20-somethings. That yearning for self-discovery is part of the reason Lorenzen chose Florida in the first place.
Growing up in Iowa City, Iowa, her family name is well known. Al Lorenzen, Haley's father, was the 1984 Iowa Mr. Basketball and played for a University of Iowa team which advanced to the 1987 Elite Eight. Lorenzen's mother, Karen Napolitano, was an All-American goalkeeper for Iowa's field hockey team in the 80s. Her stepmom, Barb Lorenzen, was the 1991 Iowa Miss Basketball and starred at the University of Wisconsin, where she still holds single-season scoring records and boasts the second-most points in program history.
Not exactly an easy place for Lorenzen to blend in, to achieve any form of individuality.
Few in Iowa City would have been surprised if Lorenzen, the No. 36 overall prospect in the 2014 ESPN 100, walked her parents' path and donned Iowa's black and gold.
Napolitano rejoiced when Lorenzen chose Florida, telling Iowa Public Television in a 2014 interview, "There is always this, 'Haley Lorenzen: Al Lorenzen's daughter.' Or people know her as my daughter. Going down to Florida, she gets to be whoever she wants to be."
Do not mistake Lorenzen's desire to branch out for running away. Living up to the family name (or at least others' perceptions of it) was never a concern. Her parents never brought it up either. In fact, Lorenzen embraced it, wearing her mother's college number (1) until sixth grade, when she switched to her father's number (44). According to Napolitano, whether 44 was available or not was the first question Lorenzen asked schools during the recruiting process.
But going to Florida would allow her something Iowa City never truly could: a chance to be herself.
"I kind of knew who I was, but I don't know if I was comfortable with it yet," said Lorenzen, referring to her first year in Gainesville. "I've learned to be comfortable in my own skin and just accept who I am. There were a lot of times my teammates challenged me because they thought I wasn't being who I was. I'm so grateful for those moments."
On the basketball court, Lorenzen improved every year. Her spirited personality, coaxed out by her teammates, always on full display. Hugs, high-fives, and chest bumps provided an uplifting energy for the Gators—exactly what one would expect from an extrovert. Her voice, however, lacked confidence.
With a new coaching staff and a young roster this season, head coach Cameron Newbauer and his team turned to Lorenzen and Dyandria Anderson for leadership. Anderson, the only other Gator in her fourth season with the program, knew she could not be the team's lone voice.
Once again, Lorenzen discovered another part of herself and, true to her selfless nature, gave it entirely to her teammates.
"It's made a huge difference for the team," Anderson said. "We only had one voice. Now when I say something I know Haley is going to say the same thing. It's amazing to see the growth over these last couple years. Her voice has become so much more confident."
This is not unnoticed by the younger Gators either.
"She's a big leader … the type of persona that will pick you up, no matter what you're going through," sophomore guard Delicia Washington said. "She's the sister I've always wanted to be able to encourage me to do better when I'm struggling on the floor."
Watching this transformation from afar, Napolitano cannot help but gush about Lorenzen's "amazing journey."
"Going to Florida was the best thing that happened to her," Napolitano elaborated. "She got to grow into herself. That's the best gift anyone could receive."
This final phase of Lorenzen's self-discovery may have never happened had it not been for a decision she made last spring.
After 10 seasons as head coach of the Gators, Amanda Butler was fired on March 6. According to Napolitano, numerous teams—some of whom have a chance to make an NCAA Tournament run this year—hoped Lorenzen would transfer. In the end, none of those opportunities could give her what she needed most.
"It was more important for her to be with people she cares about, loves, and mean something to her," Napolitano said.
Those relationships matter more than anything to Lorenzen. They are what she will carry with her long after the final buzzer sounds on a basketball career full of growth, bear hugs, high-fives, and an infectious smile. Newbauer and the Gators will remember her as the caring, loving, servant heart who devoted herself to others and asked for nothing in return, only to discover all along her teammates gave her the personal peace she first discovered with paintbrushes and a camera.
Surprisingly, there is one thing she kept (mostly) from everyone else.
"I have seen some things throughout her house that she's painted," Anderson said. "But she really keeps it to herself."
Over the course of her four-year career at Florida, those creative endeavors went from being an escape to, simply, a hobby.
"Art has become something that's just a really fun thing for me to do … rather than something I rely on to let myself show through," Lorenzen said. "Now I feel like I do that in a lot of other aspects of my life."
Ironically, Lorenzen is an extrovert. Always has been. And standing 6-foot-3 makes blending in difficult at best, though this is far from bothersome to her. She is the kind of person who will walk up to anyone, introduce herself, and have a meaningful conversation, intently listening to every word while attempting to connect on a personal level. Lorenzen is, in her own words, passionate about people, as well as the relationships she forms.
However, early on at Florida, Lorenzen struggled with her sense of self. Far from an uncommon motif among teenagers and 20-somethings. That yearning for self-discovery is part of the reason Lorenzen chose Florida in the first place.
Growing up in Iowa City, Iowa, her family name is well known. Al Lorenzen, Haley's father, was the 1984 Iowa Mr. Basketball and played for a University of Iowa team which advanced to the 1987 Elite Eight. Lorenzen's mother, Karen Napolitano, was an All-American goalkeeper for Iowa's field hockey team in the 80s. Her stepmom, Barb Lorenzen, was the 1991 Iowa Miss Basketball and starred at the University of Wisconsin, where she still holds single-season scoring records and boasts the second-most points in program history.
Not exactly an easy place for Lorenzen to blend in, to achieve any form of individuality.
Few in Iowa City would have been surprised if Lorenzen, the No. 36 overall prospect in the 2014 ESPN 100, walked her parents' path and donned Iowa's black and gold.
Napolitano rejoiced when Lorenzen chose Florida, telling Iowa Public Television in a 2014 interview, "There is always this, 'Haley Lorenzen: Al Lorenzen's daughter.' Or people know her as my daughter. Going down to Florida, she gets to be whoever she wants to be."
Do not mistake Lorenzen's desire to branch out for running away. Living up to the family name (or at least others' perceptions of it) was never a concern. Her parents never brought it up either. In fact, Lorenzen embraced it, wearing her mother's college number (1) until sixth grade, when she switched to her father's number (44). According to Napolitano, whether 44 was available or not was the first question Lorenzen asked schools during the recruiting process.
But going to Florida would allow her something Iowa City never truly could: a chance to be herself.
"I kind of knew who I was, but I don't know if I was comfortable with it yet," said Lorenzen, referring to her first year in Gainesville. "I've learned to be comfortable in my own skin and just accept who I am. There were a lot of times my teammates challenged me because they thought I wasn't being who I was. I'm so grateful for those moments."
On the basketball court, Lorenzen improved every year. Her spirited personality, coaxed out by her teammates, always on full display. Hugs, high-fives, and chest bumps provided an uplifting energy for the Gators—exactly what one would expect from an extrovert. Her voice, however, lacked confidence.
With a new coaching staff and a young roster this season, head coach Cameron Newbauer and his team turned to Lorenzen and Dyandria Anderson for leadership. Anderson, the only other Gator in her fourth season with the program, knew she could not be the team's lone voice.
Once again, Lorenzen discovered another part of herself and, true to her selfless nature, gave it entirely to her teammates.
"It's made a huge difference for the team," Anderson said. "We only had one voice. Now when I say something I know Haley is going to say the same thing. It's amazing to see the growth over these last couple years. Her voice has become so much more confident."
This is not unnoticed by the younger Gators either.
"She's a big leader … the type of persona that will pick you up, no matter what you're going through," sophomore guard Delicia Washington said. "She's the sister I've always wanted to be able to encourage me to do better when I'm struggling on the floor."
Watching this transformation from afar, Napolitano cannot help but gush about Lorenzen's "amazing journey."
"Going to Florida was the best thing that happened to her," Napolitano elaborated. "She got to grow into herself. That's the best gift anyone could receive."
This final phase of Lorenzen's self-discovery may have never happened had it not been for a decision she made last spring.
After 10 seasons as head coach of the Gators, Amanda Butler was fired on March 6. According to Napolitano, numerous teams—some of whom have a chance to make an NCAA Tournament run this year—hoped Lorenzen would transfer. In the end, none of those opportunities could give her what she needed most.
"It was more important for her to be with people she cares about, loves, and mean something to her," Napolitano said.
Those relationships matter more than anything to Lorenzen. They are what she will carry with her long after the final buzzer sounds on a basketball career full of growth, bear hugs, high-fives, and an infectious smile. Newbauer and the Gators will remember her as the caring, loving, servant heart who devoted herself to others and asked for nothing in return, only to discover all along her teammates gave her the personal peace she first discovered with paintbrushes and a camera.
Surprisingly, there is one thing she kept (mostly) from everyone else.
"I have seen some things throughout her house that she's painted," Anderson said. "But she really keeps it to herself."
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
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