In preparation for the Georgia Lady Bulldogs’ 2017-18 campaign, senior guard Simone Costa sat down with her teammates to recap their summers and look ahead to the upcoming women’s basketball season. Up first is sophomore Stephanie Paul.
One year into her career, Paul became the 78th true freshman to start in the NCAA era for Georgia. She ended the season starting 10-straight games, finishing with 13 total. During SEC play, she upped her 2.2 points per game in non-conference play to 5.5, and orchestrated three double-figure performances on the year.
Paul opened the Simone series to detail why she’s starting her own YouTube channel, what t-shirt every member in the Paul family owns, and which nickname she hopes to adopt.
Best moment of your freshman season?
“The game winner versus Vanderbilt. Best day of my life!”
What have you been doing this summer? Any good vacation spots you have been to?
“I went home, and I just hung out with my family a lot and with my friends. I spent some quality time with them. When I go back home again, I’m going to Disney World with my two sisters and I’m very excited.”
What do you hope to accomplish this season?
“I hope I can increase my points average and rebounding average per game. Just playing more like myself. I feel like the first year I was trying to learn everything so I couldn’t really get to play like I wanted to, and hopefully, I can this year.”
A lot of people may not know this but you grew up with eight siblings. What was that like?
“It’s a blast. I mean we were always playing basketball and messing around with each other. It gets rough sometimes having eight other siblings, but it’s a lot of fun. We have a lot of fun at home. We spend a lot of time with each other, we’re really close.”
What is something most people don’t know about you?
“I can sing. I feel like not everybody knows that about me. I’m just now starting a YouTube channel – I got a new camera now and I updated my computer so it’s a lot easier to make videos. I just have to come up with videos to post.”
What is the first thing you think of when you hear Georgia Basketball?
“Family. I just feel like this is my home away from home.”
Biggest influence on your career?
“My parents, because they have done a lot to get my family to America. Just seeing the kids in Haiti gives me extra motivation to do better so I can help them out in the future.”
What’s your nickname?
“I have three nicknames. ‘Sp3’, that’s number one, I’m still trying to get people to call me that, not many people do. ‘Steph the Best,’ Coach Rob calls me the ‘Haitian Sensation’ – I think I’m trying to get that one going.”
What is the most interesting thing about you?
“My dancing. I dance every day. Every time a song is on I’m dancing, I don’t even need a song to dance.”
What’s your favorite food?
“It’s my mom’s Sunday brunch, no doubt!”
What’s your favorite movie?
“My favorite movie would probably be Love & Basketball.”
What’s your perfect off day?
“Sleep in until about 12 or 12:30. Make some breakfast, like some eggs and waffles, and then probably some movies. Play Uno and maybe play at Ramsey and watch some more movies.”
Do you have a motto phrase?
“Yes. Pauls Never Stop, my family has t-shirts and everything. One of them says Pauls Never Stop, other says Pauls Make It Easy, and another says Pauls Do It Better.”
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets for the upcoming Georgia Lady Bulldog basketball season went on sale July 1 and can be purchased online at www.georgiadogs.com or by calling the Athletic Association ticket office 1-877-542-1231.