Oklahoma State University Athletics
Up Next ... Alana Simon
November 24, 2015 | Cowgirl Basketball
By Matt Mitchell
Being the new kid on the block isn't always easy, especially when you're at your third school in three years.
 "Meeting new people all the time is really cool, but at the same time it's challenging," Alana Simon said. "Going into a situation where you're always the new kid is tough, but I'm getting the hang of it."
The junior from San Mateo, California, spent her freshman year in Liberal, Kansas, playing at Seward County Community. She had initially committed to the University of Hawaii, but quickly realized it wasn't the right situation for her. Simon transferred back to her home state to play her sophomore season at Chabot College in Hayward, California.
Simon is the daughter of Valera Jackson and Allen Simon and has five siblings, two older sisters on her mother's side and an older brother and two younger sisters on her father's side. Simon's older brother, Dermere, played basketball in high school, but she is the real prodigy of the family.
For Simon, moving from California to Oklahoma has been quite the adjustment. Spending a year in a small town in Kansas has helped make the change of scenery a little easier to handle, however.
"It's a big difference for sure," Simon said. "Since I lived in a small town my first year, it's not that big of an adjustment because I'm just used to it really. "
Another big difference for Simon will be the level of competition she'll be facing this season. After helping lead Chabot College to a 31-3 record and a state title run while averaging 21.2 points per game, Simon said she is ready to face the next level of competition. Playing in the Big 12, in particular, was one of the reasons Simon chose to come to OSU.
"I wanted to play in the Big 12," Simon said. "I wanted to play competitive basketball at the highest level. Coach [Jim] Littell's style of play really attracted me to here."
Playing against the highest level of competition means Simon will have plenty of adjustments to make on the court. Simon said she needs to work on her defense and her verbal communication with her teammates.
Of course, an increase in competition wasn't the only thing that attracted Simon to OSU. Like so many other players who have come to Stillwater, Simon said the team's family environment appealed to her.
"We're one big family," Simon said. "Everyone on the team gets a long. We're all friends. We all hang out outside of basketball. It's been really fun."
Compared to the other newcomers on the team, Simon is in the unique situation of not being a freshman but still being a new face. Luckily for her, one her teammates has been in her same situation before and has helped her with the adjustment.
"Rod [Roddricka Patton] has helped me a lot," Simon said. "She was in my same situation last year as a transfer, so she knows the ropes and she's in a starting position where I'm trying to get."
Patton won a pair of national championships at the championships before coming to OSU and made the transition to Division 1, eventually earning a starting position. Simon said she hopes to follow in those footsteps.
"Rod I know is just like me," Simon said. "She wants to win and everybody on our team wants to win. Rod is in that position where she's already won multiple championships and I'm looking to do the same. I want to add to the collection."
Simon is all business on the court, but off the court she has a few other hobbies she enjoys, including drawing and graphic design.
This season, Simon hopes to help the Cowgirls create a masterpiece.
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Being the new kid on the block isn't always easy, especially when you're at your third school in three years.
 "Meeting new people all the time is really cool, but at the same time it's challenging," Alana Simon said. "Going into a situation where you're always the new kid is tough, but I'm getting the hang of it."
The junior from San Mateo, California, spent her freshman year in Liberal, Kansas, playing at Seward County Community. She had initially committed to the University of Hawaii, but quickly realized it wasn't the right situation for her. Simon transferred back to her home state to play her sophomore season at Chabot College in Hayward, California.
Simon is the daughter of Valera Jackson and Allen Simon and has five siblings, two older sisters on her mother's side and an older brother and two younger sisters on her father's side. Simon's older brother, Dermere, played basketball in high school, but she is the real prodigy of the family.
For Simon, moving from California to Oklahoma has been quite the adjustment. Spending a year in a small town in Kansas has helped make the change of scenery a little easier to handle, however.
"It's a big difference for sure," Simon said. "Since I lived in a small town my first year, it's not that big of an adjustment because I'm just used to it really. "
Another big difference for Simon will be the level of competition she'll be facing this season. After helping lead Chabot College to a 31-3 record and a state title run while averaging 21.2 points per game, Simon said she is ready to face the next level of competition. Playing in the Big 12, in particular, was one of the reasons Simon chose to come to OSU.
"I wanted to play in the Big 12," Simon said. "I wanted to play competitive basketball at the highest level. Coach [Jim] Littell's style of play really attracted me to here."
Playing against the highest level of competition means Simon will have plenty of adjustments to make on the court. Simon said she needs to work on her defense and her verbal communication with her teammates.
Of course, an increase in competition wasn't the only thing that attracted Simon to OSU. Like so many other players who have come to Stillwater, Simon said the team's family environment appealed to her.
"We're one big family," Simon said. "Everyone on the team gets a long. We're all friends. We all hang out outside of basketball. It's been really fun."
Compared to the other newcomers on the team, Simon is in the unique situation of not being a freshman but still being a new face. Luckily for her, one her teammates has been in her same situation before and has helped her with the adjustment.
"Rod [Roddricka Patton] has helped me a lot," Simon said. "She was in my same situation last year as a transfer, so she knows the ropes and she's in a starting position where I'm trying to get."
Patton won a pair of national championships at the championships before coming to OSU and made the transition to Division 1, eventually earning a starting position. Simon said she hopes to follow in those footsteps.
"Rod I know is just like me," Simon said. "She wants to win and everybody on our team wants to win. Rod is in that position where she's already won multiple championships and I'm looking to do the same. I want to add to the collection."
Simon is all business on the court, but off the court she has a few other hobbies she enjoys, including drawing and graphic design.
This season, Simon hopes to help the Cowgirls create a masterpiece.
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Players Mentioned
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