Smaller programs like the University of Rhode Island are always fortunate when they are able to land a coveted gem who possess raw talent and can help revive a struggling program and restore a winning culture. That is exactly what sophomore guard Charise Wilson has been doing for the URI women’s basketball team.
Wilson, who was just named one of the Atlantic 10’s student athletes of the week for the shooting exhibition she put on in the season’s opening loss against no. 23 Syracuse, has been a must-watch player for the Rams.
She honed her game while growing up in West Babylon, New York, with a competitive family of basketball players that made her work on the court.
“Growing up with boys made me a kind of a tomboy,†Wilson said. “Especially my brothers, playing with them all my life, in the backyard. They’re the ones that inspired me to play basketball.â€
She came into the college as a nationally ranked point guard, lauded for her offensive prowess. Her desire to stay relatively close to her family, coupled with the arrival of head coach Daynia La-Force, enticed Wilson to join the Rams.
The pressure and responsibility placed on Wilson was immense. But she took the high expectations as a complement and used them to fuel her on the court.
“Sometimes I feel pressure, but the way I look at pressure is that it’s a good thing,†Wilson said. “I felt I’ve had pressure all my life, just in certain situations I’ve been through. Just pushing through that pressure makes me feel better about myself.â€
In her 2014-15 campaign, she averaged 16.1 points and 4.4 rebounds per game, an impressive feat for a 5-foot-5 guard. She was instrumental to the Rams’ rebuilding effort. The offensive juggernaut was awarded the title of A-10 Rookie of the Year.
The Rams had endured a couple seasons of futility before Wilson committed. They had shown promise, but were still in need of a strong perimeter threat who had the explosives needed to take over a game. A more complete Rams team earned a 17-13 record last season, after just seven wins the previous year. The dramatic reversal of fortunes was surprising to many, but Wilson knew the team had potential.
“I was surprised at first,†Wilson said. “But when I came for my first summer session, I got to meet the girls and play with them, I realized success was coming. The determination from them pushed me to wanting the success to come here as fast as possible.â€
She has also been pushed from her friend, fellow New Yorker and former teammate, WNBA player Brea Hartley, who was a two-time national champion with the University of Connecticut.
“I watched her in the NCAA Tournament and it inspired me,†Wilson said. “She talks to me every day and pushes me to work as hard as I can in practice.â€
Wilson’s motivation stems from both Hartley’s success on the big stage and her belief that URI is ready to elevate themselves into not just A-10 contention, but also the elusive NCAA Tournament bid. Despite all of the accolades, she knows that she will need to improve for her goals to be fulfilled.
“I definitely want to be more vocal for my team so I could help them as well,†Wilson said.