Franchesca Metz has developed into one of the more heralded players in program history for Morton College.
Metz has kept busy in the offseason as she is coming off an appearance at the NJCAA All-Star Weekend. The JUCO Top 40 featured the top JUCO players in America, where they all competed in Atlanta, Georgia (Clayton State University).
"I had a great experience, it was unbelievable. I wasn't expecting it and was a little nervous at first, but made some great relationships with players and coaches that I hope to carry on. I am so thankful to have gone and been invited to such a great event," said Metz.
We also saw the star Panther forward achieve success during the weekend JUCO Showcase in Atlanta.
"On Friday we had a shootaround for all four teams, played two games. Saturday was the semifinal and championship games. My team won the championship on Saturday, we played four 10-minute quarters. My team won both games by 20-30 points, so everybody got equal minutes, and it was so much fun," said Metz.
There were a few experiences that stood out in Atlanta for the Panther star. Competing at a high level wasn't anything new after appearing in Port Huron this past March. However, it was what Metz learned during the banquet on Friday that caught her attention.
"The Hall of Fame Induction of the coaches in Atlanta, it was mentioned you should wear your JUCO experiences and remember where you came from. It stood out was said by coaches that this is your roots and I am beyond thankful to have Morton College as my roots. The coaches and players brought me an unbelievable experience, I wouldn't change it for anything," said Metz.
The experience was quite the thrill, and being tested from a competitive standpoint is something we saw down the stretch of the 2022 campaign. The Panthers were a Top 10 squad for most of the season, and we saw Metz help with contributions towards their trip to Port Huron, Michigan. An offseason full of focus and improvement could go a long way for Metz.
"I am still working, trying to put a lot of focus on my ability to attack the basket and finish at the rim while focusing and improving my shot, inside and outside. Finishing at the rim is one of my main focuses as I felt that I didn't perform to my standard, and I would like to do better," Metz said.
The National NJCAA Division II Tournament was full of top-notch matchups. Coming off a national runner-up, the 6-foot forward averaged 9.2 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, and 2.2 assists per game. Often underrated and understated is the ability to be a great teammate to go along with team chemistry, which often leads to success.
"A huge thing I implemented in Port Huron that I want to try to continue is before our games, we would have everybody huddle up. We let our minds go and picture nothing but positive things happening, once that was over, as a team we would stand in a circle and jump around and shake the nerves off and get loose, have a good time, laugh, and focus on the game being itself and not what the game meant," Metz discussed on the locker room presence.
Coming off a tremendous national runner-up season, the Panthers put together an astonishing 26-game win streak that resulted in a 30-3 final record. Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Metz is excited and ready for what lies ahead.
"I think we can potentially take this season as one that is going to be huge, the talent we had last year was huge and Jason Nichols outdid himself with recruiting and this upcoming year will be phenomenal. We have more depth and that is just detrimental to a lot of the teams we play. They couldn't keep up with 7 players we had and now we have 9-10 that can run and it will be tough to keep up with us," Metz said.
The love of basketball can get lost with such a grind occuring during the regular season, and once postseason play heats up, the competition ramps up.
"It has absolutely nothing to do with the game, the people I have been able to meet through the game and this weekend amplified that I hadn't met a single person and came out with a lot of great relationships. The coaches were comfortable talking and reaching out. The players that I am going to support will show that support for myself also," Metz stated.
Learning about what improvements to make in the offseason often allows you to stay a step ahead of the competition.
"Another huge thing is that I need to relax and enjoy the game as it comes to me. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and when I am out there enjoying myself and the people around me, I play a lot better than I do when I put pressure on myself," Metz said.
It was in Port Huron at Nationals where Metz caught fire behind the arc. The star sharpshooter became a consistent threat from three-point territory and posted impressive numbers against the best teams in the NJCAA Division II level. Whether the competition has been in Atlanta, Port Huron, or on her home court in Cicero, Metz continues to thrive for the Panthers.
