Many young kids dream of getting to play college athletics and look up to the players that have accomplished these dreams. 

Three college athletes from the class of 2020, in particular, are representing Xavier girls’ basketball at the next level. Caitlynn Daniels is at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Libby Arnold is at William Jewell College and Aubrey Jones is at Coe College, fulfilling their childhood dreams. 

“Basketball-wise the transition has been a big adjustment. The pace of the game is so much faster and there is so much more expected of each player. Everyone at this level is really good so everyday you have to show up and be ready to go,” Daniels said. 

Daniels has been in the starting lineup and recently received Conference USA Freshman of the Week. Daniels tore her ACL in her senior season at Xavier and rehabbed for seven months in order to get to where she is today. 

“We try to teach resilience and fighting through adversity. Going from a senior to a college freshman can be difficult. We hope they learned enough skills and how to play the game that they can adapt easier to the next level,” Xavier girls’ basketball Head Coach Tom Lilly said.

He has been keeping up with the girls through the live streaming of their games to see how they have transitioned to college. 

“All three of them have great work ethic. They are coachable and have a passion for the sport of basketball,” Lilly said. “Without their passion and desire, they would have headed off to college with no interest to continue to play at a high level.”

Arnold credits Xavier for preparing her for college classes and the next level of basketball. 

“The transition has been really easy for me because Xavier prepared me really well. In college, you have a lot more free time to work on assignments and prepare for tests or projects,” Arnold said. “Xavier basketball taught me a lot of life lessons that can be used on and off the court: how to be a good teammate and how to build a good work ethic.”

The three of them hoped they left a lasting impression on the team that will help the girls’ basketball program for many years to come.

“Leadership was a big thing for Caitlynn, Aubrey and I. We really wanted to build an atmosphere that was positive both on and off the court. We put in time outside of practices or games because we genuinely cared that much for the game and for the success of our team,” Arnold said. “We wanted to build a family, lead them on the court and help them with whatever they needed off the court. I personally strived to be a good role model for all the younger girls on the team and I know Caitlynn and Aubrey did as well.”

Current players on the girls’ basketball team appreciate the impact Arnold, Daniels and Jones left behind. 

“I looked up to those seniors because they made us feel welcomed and they are all talented and wanted the best for the team,” junior Aree Beckmann said. “They continually worked together and helped each other on and off the court.

This is the first graduating class to have someone continue to Division 1, Division 2 and Division 3 for the Xavier girls’ basketball team. 

 Arnold, Daniels and Jones have similar advice for all Xavier  girls’ basketball players: never take anything for granted, work hard and make memories with teammates that will last forever. 

Watch the Xavier girls’ basketball team carry on the legacies Arnold, Daniels and Jones left on the team on Friday, January 29 at Iowa City West starting at 6:00 p.m.