Sunset Collegiate Season
3/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Like most people, when Megan Frazee looks back on her life, she sees a blur of experiences. However, she may have more events that stand out than most. And a majority of her memories come from the basketball court, with the last four years coming from her time as a Lady Flame.
From playing on the sidelines with brother Zeb as her dad coached a high school team, to competing with different AAU teams and eventually playing at the high school level, to being recruited by various Division I programs, Frazee's love for the game of basketball has continued to grow.
The standout senior currently leads the team in scoring and has been named the Big South Player of the Week three times already this season. She is tied with former Liberty great Katie Feenstra for the most career conference player of the week honors in Big South history with 15. (Note: Frazee has won three more Big South Player of the Week awards since this article was written for Flames Illustrated, boosting her career total to a conference-record 18 honors.)
The list of awards won by Frazee is long. But point that out to her and her reaction is indifferent.
"I'm the type of person who likes to shun recognition, and I recognize that basketball is a team game," Frazee said. "I like basketball because it's not focused on just one person."
Frazee says a lot of credit goes to her teammates for her on-court success. Two of those teammates happen to be siblings. Frazee is a triplet, and sisters Moriah and Molly have not only played alongside her for the last four years, they've been her teammates practically her entire life.
As a child, Frazee used to shoot around on the sidelines as her dad coached a high school team. Back then, she was oblivious to the strategies being learned just a few feet away. Like any child, she was just having fun.
She still plays the game because she enjoys it. But she also has another very important reason for competing.
"Basketball is a game that's fun, but it can also be used as a ministry to show Him to others," Frazee said. "I have to thank the Lord because He's given me the opportunity to play."
Additionally, Frazee learned more about what opportunities basketball could bring.
"As I got older, I realized that basketball could help you get a college education," Frazee said.
Frazee's father, Jim, started coaching the Frazee triplets when they were in fifth grade and went on to coach his daughters through their years in AAU. Frazee credits him with helping her develop a passion for the game.
Growing up in Ohio, Frazee remembers the cold winters that prevented her from playing basketball outside. "I remember dribbling in our basement and my dad would give us little routines to do.
"It was one of those things where he never pushed it on me or my sisters to play, but he said that if we were going to play that we needed to put some time into it to do well."
The endless hours of practice paid off. And after successful prep careers, the entire Frazee family relocated to Lynchburg when all three girls were awarded scholarships to play basketball at Liberty.
"I was really happy when we decided to go together," Frazee said. "I think the Lord really brought Liberty into our lives at the right time."
Frazee's parents were able to obtain jobs in the area and her older brother, Zeb, transferred to Liberty.
Frazee was excited to begin her college basketball career with her sisters at her side. But things didn't exactly go as planned.
During the preseason of her freshman year, Frazee dealt with a significant groin pull. As soon as that injury subsided, she tore her ACL midway through her first season as a Lady Flame.
"That was a trial," Frazee said. "But looking back now, I am really thankful I had it, because it gave me a different perspective on life in general, and how you can't take anything for granted. It made me thankful for the times I can go out there and play."
As a sophomore, Frazee injured her knee again in the Big South Championship semifinal game. She was out for a little over a month, then was able to travel to Colorado for the Team USA trials later that summer.
And just this season, Frazee endured a severely sprained ankle. The doctor told her she would be out from two to six weeks, so she assumed two. It ended up being five.
"Realizing it wasn't season-ending, it taught me patience," Frazee said. "And with Molly, it's her senior season and she's out for the entire year (with a torn ACL). It gave me perspective, because she's not going to play again this year, and I was only out for eight games."
Despite the setbacks, Frazee has managed to shine.
Lady Flames Head Coach Carey Green says Frazee has had a major impact on the women's basketball program at Liberty.
"It's because of her overall presence in so many areas," Green said. "She's obviously a great scorer; that's evident with the numbers that she's put up. Not only here at Liberty, but in our conference and on a national level as well. She always rises to the occasion."
And Frazee recognizes that the end of her collegiate career is fast approaching. She plans to continue to work hard and hopes to lead her team to its 12th Big South Championship in the last 13 years. As for life after graduation, Frazee is leaving it up to the Lord.
"If it's His will that I continue to play, then I'd love to do that, whether it's overseas or here," she said, referring to playing professionally. "If not, I would really like to coach."
Another transition Frazee will have to deal with will be branching out from her sisters.
"I'm excited to see how the Lord chooses to mature us, and how He will lead us in different directions," she said.
Green has already seen the transformation begin.
"She's venturing out to develop her own identity," he said. "That's a great thing to see."
-----
Jennifer Shelton is a graduate assistant in the Athletics Communications Office at Liberty University.
From playing on the sidelines with brother Zeb as her dad coached a high school team, to competing with different AAU teams and eventually playing at the high school level, to being recruited by various Division I programs, Frazee's love for the game of basketball has continued to grow.
The standout senior currently leads the team in scoring and has been named the Big South Player of the Week three times already this season. She is tied with former Liberty great Katie Feenstra for the most career conference player of the week honors in Big South history with 15. (Note: Frazee has won three more Big South Player of the Week awards since this article was written for Flames Illustrated, boosting her career total to a conference-record 18 honors.)
The list of awards won by Frazee is long. But point that out to her and her reaction is indifferent.
"I'm the type of person who likes to shun recognition, and I recognize that basketball is a team game," Frazee said. "I like basketball because it's not focused on just one person."
Frazee says a lot of credit goes to her teammates for her on-court success. Two of those teammates happen to be siblings. Frazee is a triplet, and sisters Moriah and Molly have not only played alongside her for the last four years, they've been her teammates practically her entire life.
As a child, Frazee used to shoot around on the sidelines as her dad coached a high school team. Back then, she was oblivious to the strategies being learned just a few feet away. Like any child, she was just having fun.
She still plays the game because she enjoys it. But she also has another very important reason for competing.
"Basketball is a game that's fun, but it can also be used as a ministry to show Him to others," Frazee said. "I have to thank the Lord because He's given me the opportunity to play."
Additionally, Frazee learned more about what opportunities basketball could bring.
"As I got older, I realized that basketball could help you get a college education," Frazee said.
Frazee's father, Jim, started coaching the Frazee triplets when they were in fifth grade and went on to coach his daughters through their years in AAU. Frazee credits him with helping her develop a passion for the game.
Growing up in Ohio, Frazee remembers the cold winters that prevented her from playing basketball outside. "I remember dribbling in our basement and my dad would give us little routines to do.
"It was one of those things where he never pushed it on me or my sisters to play, but he said that if we were going to play that we needed to put some time into it to do well."
The endless hours of practice paid off. And after successful prep careers, the entire Frazee family relocated to Lynchburg when all three girls were awarded scholarships to play basketball at Liberty.
"I was really happy when we decided to go together," Frazee said. "I think the Lord really brought Liberty into our lives at the right time."
Frazee's parents were able to obtain jobs in the area and her older brother, Zeb, transferred to Liberty.
Frazee was excited to begin her college basketball career with her sisters at her side. But things didn't exactly go as planned.
During the preseason of her freshman year, Frazee dealt with a significant groin pull. As soon as that injury subsided, she tore her ACL midway through her first season as a Lady Flame.
"That was a trial," Frazee said. "But looking back now, I am really thankful I had it, because it gave me a different perspective on life in general, and how you can't take anything for granted. It made me thankful for the times I can go out there and play."
As a sophomore, Frazee injured her knee again in the Big South Championship semifinal game. She was out for a little over a month, then was able to travel to Colorado for the Team USA trials later that summer.
And just this season, Frazee endured a severely sprained ankle. The doctor told her she would be out from two to six weeks, so she assumed two. It ended up being five.
"Realizing it wasn't season-ending, it taught me patience," Frazee said. "And with Molly, it's her senior season and she's out for the entire year (with a torn ACL). It gave me perspective, because she's not going to play again this year, and I was only out for eight games."
Despite the setbacks, Frazee has managed to shine.
Lady Flames Head Coach Carey Green says Frazee has had a major impact on the women's basketball program at Liberty.
"It's because of her overall presence in so many areas," Green said. "She's obviously a great scorer; that's evident with the numbers that she's put up. Not only here at Liberty, but in our conference and on a national level as well. She always rises to the occasion."
And Frazee recognizes that the end of her collegiate career is fast approaching. She plans to continue to work hard and hopes to lead her team to its 12th Big South Championship in the last 13 years. As for life after graduation, Frazee is leaving it up to the Lord.
"If it's His will that I continue to play, then I'd love to do that, whether it's overseas or here," she said, referring to playing professionally. "If not, I would really like to coach."
Another transition Frazee will have to deal with will be branching out from her sisters.
"I'm excited to see how the Lord chooses to mature us, and how He will lead us in different directions," she said.
Green has already seen the transformation begin.
"She's venturing out to develop her own identity," he said. "That's a great thing to see."
-----
Jennifer Shelton is a graduate assistant in the Athletics Communications Office at Liberty University.
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