The leading scorer in New Town girls basketball history, Sydney Hines is one of the top combo guards in the Baltimore area.
The 5-foot-7 senior has 1,738 career points and is the first Titan to surpass 1,000. Last season, she led her team to the state Class 1A final, where she scored 17 points in a 52-47 loss to Southern of Garrett County. This winter, she has averaged 15.1 points, 6.5 assists and 4.7 steals per game for the No. 15 Titans (17-2).
Hines, who has signed to play for Central Connecticut State, has a 3.44 GPA. She plans to major in biomolecular science and become a physician’s assistant
How did you get started playing basketball?
I used do gymnastics, but I started getting too tall for it, so my parents just thought, “Oh, well, she always had a basketball in her hand,” because they bought me one when I was little, with a little basketball hoop. Then at school, there was a flier and I brought it home and got started with basketball.
When and why did you get serious about basketball?
When I was like 7, because me and my dad would watch the different NCAA tournaments and I really liked (former Maryland guard) Kristi Toliver when I was little. She was kind of an inspiration, like, “Oh, I can do that too,” I wanted to be like her.
As a combo guard, what’s your favorite aspect of the game?
To know that I can be more versatile than other players who have one set position. I can handle the ball and if my shot isn’t falling, I can drive to the basket and if my shot is falling, I can be a 2 guard and shoot.
How did making it to the state final last year help the team this season?
Because we made it to the finals and lost by five, it’s more like unfinished business. That’s our motto, “unfinished business,” so we have to get back. We’ve done it before and we’re capable. Everyone sees that, so we’re just trying to push and push and do our best to get back there and win it all.
As a third-year captain, how has your leadership style developed?
With time, you learn different things, so when I was a sophomore, it was just after Jannah (Tucker, now at Tennessee) had gotten hurt. Now, I have more experience with the coaches. I know what they expect of us, so it was just different than coming in and being captain the second year like, “We were just freshmen last year.” You have to learn. We know what to expect now. We know what to do.
What kind of leader are you?
I’m more like the motivator, during drills clapping hands, saying, “We got it,” if we messed up or like slapping hands. Just to make sure the players who are younger than me, that are going to step up when I’m gone, have someone to look up to like, “Oh, I remember when she did this, so I’m going to do this next,” more like an example.
Your team played so many teams that you beat by 25 or more points. How do you adjust when you get to the tough teams on your schedule?
We have to treat every game like it’s a tough game, not just running them so we can run the score up, but making sure we’re making good passes, we’re getting rebounds, we’re doing the little things so that when the big game does come up, we’re already used to playing that same way.
What will it mean to you to leave New Town being the program’s all-time leading scorer?
It will be great just to set an example for everyone else, something that other players can try to reach for. I see a few of my teammates now that probably could get there. It’s just a great accomplishment to have in your high school career.
What was the college recruiting process like?
It was a little slow and a little stressful. Most of my looks didn’t come until the end of my junior year, over the summer going into the 12th grade. I think the tournaments that we went to weren’t where the top coaches were until the USJN (U.S. Junior Nationals) and that’s when I switched AAU teams (from the Maryland Grizzlies to the Maryland Pride). It was stressful, because a lot of things didn’t come until later. More people around the area had things ahead of time, so they were relaxed about recruiting. Some of my friends at McDonogh were talking about how they had this official or that unofficial (visit). Some of the teammates on Pride would tell me about their recruiting.
What changed it for you? Did the switch to the Pride get you more exposure?
Yeah. I believe switching to the Maryland Pride was a little better because that team was more competitive than some other teams I’ve been with. Tony Gorham (Pride coach) knows a lot of people and the USJN, I think that was the first tournament I played with them. They had like 50 D-I coaches sitting at our game, so there was more exposure there than anywhere else I had been.
Why did you choose Central Connecticut State?
Just the diversity they had at the school. I really like the coaches and the players. They were genuine. Even when talking to some of the players, they reassured me. “This is how the coaches are 24/7 and they’re not putting on a front for you.” The players were really welcoming. They were really nice and I like the family feel, especially because I’m going to be out of state for a long time.
What do you do on snow days?
Usually I do homework, because I have a lot of homework. I have two AP classes. But like [Saturday], I know it wasn’t a school day, but me and my dad still made it to the gym. It just depends on how much snow there is.
How did you get interested in biomolecular science?
When I was in biology in ninth grade. I like learning about the body because it can relate to me and then talking to some friends who were in the biomedical program at New Town, it seemed really interesting. Now this year I’m in anatomy and physiology. I just like learning about the body and trying to help people.
Do you have big plans for after graduation?
As a graduation present from my Mom, she’s going to take me on a cruise to the Bahamas. I think it will be fun. I’m going with my mom and some other family members. I think I’ll go to California with my dad, too. My uncle lives there, in Los Angeles.
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