How transfer “Triple-Double DaiJa” Turner facilitates a winning mindset for Northwestern women’s basketball

1 month ago7 min read9 comments

Let's talk about DaiJa Turner, because her story isn't just another recruiting blurb—it’s the kind of narrative that makes you believe in the grind. You know how in the NBA, everyone obsesses over the overnight sensations, the one-and-done rookies who light up the scoreboard from day one? Turner’s path is the opposite, a slow-burn epic that’s all about resilience, the kind of journey that would make a coach like Gregg Popovich nod in approval.It all started with a casual chat with her dad, Cedric Turner Sr. , while a women’s game flickered on TV.He mentioned she could play in college if she kept her grades up and stuck with basketball, and just like that, a light bulb went off. 'Wait a minute, so you can play basketball in college?' she asked, and from that moment, her destiny was set.Fast forward to high school at Village Christian Academy in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and she’s racking up stats so absurd they sound like something out of a video game. As a junior, she earned the nickname 'Triple-Double DaiJa' by averaging 17.8 points, 21. 6 rebounds, and a nation-leading 11.8 blocks per game. Yeah, you read that right—11.8 blocks! The next season, she topped the national charts again with 22. 6 rebounds and 9.8 blocks per contest, numbers that would make even Wilt Chamberlain do a double-take. But here’s the kicker: despite all the hype and college offers flooding in, she chose TCU, not for immediate playing time, but to test herself in the brutal Big 12.That decision meant sitting out her first year as a redshirt and barely seeing the court afterward, logging just 22 minutes in her second season. In today’s transfer-portal frenzy, where players bolt at the first sign of adversity, Turner stayed loyal, embracing the role of a practice warrior who learned from stars like Sedona Prince and Hailey Van Lith.Then came the ankle injury in January 2024, a season-ender that required surgery and months of rehab, forcing her to relearn how to walk and run. But instead of sulking, she used the sideline view to absorb coaching insights, a move that speaks volumes about her IQ.When she entered the portal last spring, Northwestern pounced, seeing her as the missing piece to revitalize a program that’s gone 8-46 in the Big Ten over the last three seasons. Associate head coach Tangela Smith compared her to Wildcats legends like Courtney Shaw and Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah, and in early exhibitions, Turner’s already flashing that potential with eight rebounds in limited minutes.

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