Newcomer Notebook: Emily Sullivan

EMILY SULLIVAN
6'4 | Forward | Evansville, Ind. | University of North Carolina

On Her Dad’s Role in Her Hoops Journey

SULLIVAN: “My dad played basketball in high school and loves basketball. He had a walk-on try out at Notre Dame. He did not make the team but he loves basketball and so when I decided to start playing he was really excited. He was the coach of my first AAU team and he’s kind of been my coach since I started playing.

It’s been cool to kind of watch our relationship grow. Because it used to be that he knew more about the game and more about the fundamentals than I did. He was always there for me and was really hard on me but it made me better. As I’ve gotten older and as I’ve learned more about the game playing college basketball and everything, it’s been interesting to watch our relationship grow from him being my coach to now me being able to discuss the game and how I played. 

He’s always been my biggest fan. If fans are allowed, you’ll see him and you’ll hear him. He definitely supports everything I do, wholeheartedly. My mom has always been great too she just didn’t play basketball but she was always the one driving me to all the practices and games.”

On Her Takeaways from COVID-19

SULLIVAN: “I think I really grew to appreciate my family and basketball a lot more. You really do take that for granted when you’re playing and when life is normal. Then when it all kind of gets taken away and things aren’t the same you tend to appreciate what you have more. Not being able to see my teammates and even during my recruiting process, go out on visits or do anything that I normally would have done or even see my family. I think that just made the appreciation greater.”

On Transferring During COVID-19

SULLIVAN:  “I was definitely looking for somewhere that could be a home away from home and somewhere I could feel comfortable. It needed to be somewhere that was a great fit academically and basketball wise and somewhere I could go in and make an immediate impact. That was really important to me and Florida kind of checked all those boxes. I really created a great relationship with the staff before I got here. I felt like I really knew them as people and I felt like they cared about us as people. 

Image courtesy of UNC Athletics

On Playing Multiple Sports Growing Up

SULLIVAN: “I’ve played literally every sport out there but my consistent one was football. I played for seven years and I loved it. I played tackle football for a really long time so one of the reasons I was okay with playing basketball was because it had gotten to the point where all the boys in football were getting bigger and I wasn’t. My parents were like you need to pick a new sport and it was kind in between seasons, so I was like okay. In high school, I played volleyball and ran track. I did some swim team and was a ballerina for a while too. Gymnastics too, so I’ve done it all. I love sports and I’ve almost played them all."

On Being a Veteran on This Year's Team

SULLIVAN: “I think so much of college basketball and athletics in general is just learning to be comfortable with yourself and being confident. It’s so tough when you go from being top dog at your high school team or AAU team, you’re the go-to guy, then you get to college and you’re on a team with 12-13 go-to guys. You’re not the clear standout anymore, you have to learn to be confident in yourself and confident in your abilities.

You wouldn’t be at the Division I level, you wouldn’t be at the University of Florida if you weren’t a good basketball player. So you just have to learn to take the constructive criticism and hear what the coaches are saying because they’re here to make you better. But still know that you can play basketball and that you’re a good player. You just kind of have to keep your head up and take the good with the bad. That’s something that every underclassmen has to learn. I went through it everybody goes through it. Freshmen year can sometimes be tough but lean on your teammates. You’re going to get through it, you’ll be better for it. Just know you’re a good basketball player and keep your head up.”

On Her Shot Blocking Ability

SULLIVAN: “It’s always been something I have done. I was obviously an awful basketball player when I started playing in seventh grade, just terrible, but the one thing I’ve always been able to do is just naturally block shots. I don’t really know where that came from, but it’s definitely there. I think as I get my hands and feet back and continue to get back in shape, that’s something I’m very capable of doing. I think it’s something I can definitely help the team with, just having the second line of defense for the guards.”

On Her Education and Career Aspirations

SULLIVAN: “My undergrad was broadcast journalism and then my master’s will be journalism and communications with a concentration in social media. It’s a focus in social media and I think that will pair with my undergraduate degree. I definitely want to work in the sports media but as far as what I actually want to do, I’m still figuring that out.”

On Her Favorite Part of Being at Florida So Far

Least Favorite Food

“I used to hate all types of seafood but I’ve gotten over that. I really like it now but only certain types. I make seafood broils all the time now because I cook a lot. Like crab legs and shrimp. I haven’t cooked for my team yet but I would like to do one soon.”

Favorite Thing to Do Outside of Basketball

“I like photography and art a lot. It’s really fun and takes my mind off things. Also hanging out with friends and cooking.”

Favorite Pair of Jordans

“I love I’s and the XI’s. I like III’s a lot too but those two are my favorites.”

On Playing at Now Two Jordan Brand Basketball Programs 

“It’s definitely cool. I love Jordan and Jordan Brand. It doesn’t get much better than Jordan gear wise so to be able to play at two Jordan schools, I really lucked out. I didn’t see it happening that way, but I’m super happy that it did. I love my Jordan gear, my shoe game has definitely stepped up since I’ve gotten to college.”

On Who the Funniest Person on the Team is

SULLIVAN: “Well there’s different spectrums, Kiki is just her own. She’s so funny in her own way and we prank each other a lot. Kris is also too funny, she’s just hilarious in every way.”