Wichita State women get energy boost from Hannah Mortimer

Growing up in Salina, Hannah Mortimer set out to one day become an NCAA Division-I basketball player.

Less than one month after joining the Wichita State women’s basketball team as a walk-on, Mortimer’s effort was rewarded on Jan. 8 when coach Jody Adams surprised Mortimer by putting her on scholarship for the second semester.

From a Class 3A school to a junior-college to a walk-on, the 5-foot-4 guard’s undying will to chase her dream has made it a reality.

“Ever since I was a little kid playing basketball, that has always been the goal,” Mortimer said. “I’m the kind of person that likes to set a goal and then do everything possible to achieve it. That was a goal I made for myself when I was a little kid and I’m truly blessed to be able to say I’m achieving my goal and living out a dream.”

Mortimer ended up at Wichita State after she found out that the majority of her credits from Brown Mackie would not transfer to Abilene Christian, the school that originally recruited her.

When that plan fell through, Mortimer decided to come to Wichita in part because her mom lived in Derby, but also because of WSU’s strong reputation with its sport management program.

She originally did not plan on continuing her playing career, but could not fight off the urges to return to the court. So she showed up to a practice in early December and asked if there was anything she could do to help.

Adams was quickly impressed by her energy and passion. Mortimer progressed from practice player to walk-on to scholarship player in about a month.

“Hannah does everything you would want and expect from a scholarship athlete,” Adams said. “When she first came here, she asked us, ‘What is my role?’ And from day one that has been her energy. She’s very inspirational to this team and gets them fired up when they need it.”

Wichita State (5-17, 2-9 Missouri Valley), which will play host to Bradley on Friday night, has depended on Mortimer’s energy off the bench. In a recent road game at Drake, Mortimer logged a season-high 14 minutes.

“We needed energy and the ball just seems to find her, offensively and defensively, because of that energy she brings,” Adams said. “She just plays the game with abandon, and that’s something you really appreciate as a coach.”

Mortimer is happy to finish her playing career (she has one year of eligibility remaining after this season) at Wichita State, but she is also interested in pursuing another one of her childhood dreams: coaching.

To be able to play for and study the ways that Adams, a disciple of Pat Summitt, runs her program has been a blessing, Mortimer said.

After accomplishing her latest dream, Mortimer is prepared to fulfill her next.

“It is pretty crazy to think about where I was even a year ago to where I am now and who I’m playing for,” Mortimer said. “I want to be a coach someday and I couldn’t ask for a better mentor than coach Jody. It’s such a great opportunity and I feel truly blessed to be in the position I am today.”

This story was originally published February 11, 2016 at 10:04 PM with the headline "Wichita State women get energy boost from Hannah Mortimer."