Congrats to UConn's Maya Moore, an amazing freshman, a first-team All-American and the Big East player of the year for her hard-earned first visit to the Final Four. Here's a trip-down-memory-lane piece I did on her a year ago...

My Oh Maya!

Unbelievable. The best high school player on the planet. The next Candace Parker. But honestly, of all the titles Maya Moore has earned while obliterating foes on the hardwood, the one she appears most fond of is role model. “These past few years,” says the down-to-earth ’06 Naismith national player of the year award winner, “I’ve had more experiences with younger kids and just seeing how I can affect them in a positive way. They ask me for my autograph. It’s just an incredible feeling to know that I’m touching young kids like that.”

In her native Lawrenceville, GA, and amongst passionate women’s hoops message boards, Moore’s name has already reached cult-like status. Most who’ve seen the amazing scorer play don’t even bother asking who’s the best female player anymore; they merely ask how much better is Maya than everyone else. Simply put, the reigning Miss Georgia and member of last summer’s undefeated USA Women’s U18 National Team is playing the game at another level. Oh, and did we mention the Collins Hills High team the 17-year-old forward leads -113-3 during her time- was USA Today’s No. 1 team in late January?

It’s impossible to keep up with all the accolades. One can only imagine the chore it is for Maya to sign autographs, maintain a 3.8 GPA, hang out with friends and still drop 20 while being triple-teamed all night. “You have to make time,” admits the prodigious only child who’s on her way to UConn next fall. “There’s a lot of [basketball] practice. You just have to put in time for family and fun stuff along with the work. It’s a balancing act.” Sounds like somebody’s thinking of adding magician to an already-lengthy list of handles.