Oklahoma State University Athletics
From Estonia to Stillwater - Anna Gret Asi’s Journey To Stillwater
February 18, 2024 | Cowgirl Basketball
In the heart of Stillwater, Oklahoma, a star shines on Eddie Sutton Court inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. Anna Gret Asi, a junior guard from Tartu, Estonia, has become a pivotal figure for the Oklahoma State women's basketball team.
Her journey, spanning over 5,000 miles from her hometown to the vibrant campus of OSU, is a testament to her unwavering dedication and passion for basketball.
When Asi was younger, she did not want to play basketball because her mother was a basketball coach and wanted to do whatever the opposite was of her mother. However, as time went on Asi realized basketball was her calling.
"I was always around her basketball practices and so just over time I started to like basketball more and more and other sports just started fading away," Asi said.
In 2021, Asi decided it would be best for her basketball career to come to the United States to elevate her game. In doing so, she followed in the footsteps of other basketball players from Estonia who did the same thing with their career.
Moving to the United States from Estonia was a significant cultural shift for Asi. The biggest culture shocks for her were American cuisine and the fact you need a car to really get around.
"You can't get around without a car I realized that real quick and I'm currently working on getting my license," Asi said.
A downside to coming stateside was leaving her mother behind. Asi came to America with no family or friends. Asi said she only gets to see her mother once a year during the months of May and June. However, Asi has made the adjustment to life in the States.
"My first year was definitely hard but the more connections you create and once you start making friends and get busy with school and basketball and everything I wouldn't say you forget about it, but you don't think about it that much," Asi said.
After starting her collegiate career at the University of Arizona, Asi decided to transfer to OSU following her freshman season. At OSU, she found a mentor in head coach Jacie Hoyt, whose coaching style resonated deeply with her.
"She's really passionate, she really believes in what we're doing and I think she shows on the court," Asi said.
In her first year at OSU during the 2022-23 season, Asi played through injury and her minutes came in a reserve role, but it was clear the talent she possessed had massive potential.
This season, the transition to the role of starting point guard was a leap for Asi, filled with heightened expectations in leadership, scoring, and team management. Despite the pressures, she adapted with resilience.
"It's been very different the coaches expect a lot more from me, but I didn't expect it to be so hard at times, it just took some time getting used to it."
Now in her second year at OSU Asi is averaging 13 points per game and has had five games where she's scored 20 or more including a season-high 27 against Iowa State earlier this year.
With only five players returning from the previous year, the team faced the challenge of building chemistry from scratch. Asi admitted at first it was weird only having few people but once the team was finally rebuilt it was smooth sailing.
"It's just been so much fun getting to know everybody...we genuinely love and care for each other," Asi said.
She also stated how OSU feels like a family environment and never feels out of sorts in Stillwater.
"I think the people here are amazing, a lot of people know each other and a lot of people know us basketball players sometimes we go to Walmart and people just come and say "Hi, we love watching you and we're going to come to support you this season. Just all kinds of things. It's just nice to have that type of community here," Asi said.
Looking ahead, Asi is determined to pursue a professional basketball career, eyeing opportunities in Europe and possibly Australia. Asi's journey is more than just a personal achievement, it is a bridge between cultures, showcasing the global nature of basketball.
As Asi continues to make her mark at Oklahoma State University, her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes worldwide.
Her journey, spanning over 5,000 miles from her hometown to the vibrant campus of OSU, is a testament to her unwavering dedication and passion for basketball.
When Asi was younger, she did not want to play basketball because her mother was a basketball coach and wanted to do whatever the opposite was of her mother. However, as time went on Asi realized basketball was her calling.
"I was always around her basketball practices and so just over time I started to like basketball more and more and other sports just started fading away," Asi said.
In 2021, Asi decided it would be best for her basketball career to come to the United States to elevate her game. In doing so, she followed in the footsteps of other basketball players from Estonia who did the same thing with their career.
Moving to the United States from Estonia was a significant cultural shift for Asi. The biggest culture shocks for her were American cuisine and the fact you need a car to really get around.
"You can't get around without a car I realized that real quick and I'm currently working on getting my license," Asi said.
A downside to coming stateside was leaving her mother behind. Asi came to America with no family or friends. Asi said she only gets to see her mother once a year during the months of May and June. However, Asi has made the adjustment to life in the States.
"My first year was definitely hard but the more connections you create and once you start making friends and get busy with school and basketball and everything I wouldn't say you forget about it, but you don't think about it that much," Asi said.
After starting her collegiate career at the University of Arizona, Asi decided to transfer to OSU following her freshman season. At OSU, she found a mentor in head coach Jacie Hoyt, whose coaching style resonated deeply with her.
"She's really passionate, she really believes in what we're doing and I think she shows on the court," Asi said.
In her first year at OSU during the 2022-23 season, Asi played through injury and her minutes came in a reserve role, but it was clear the talent she possessed had massive potential.
This season, the transition to the role of starting point guard was a leap for Asi, filled with heightened expectations in leadership, scoring, and team management. Despite the pressures, she adapted with resilience.
"It's been very different the coaches expect a lot more from me, but I didn't expect it to be so hard at times, it just took some time getting used to it."
Now in her second year at OSU Asi is averaging 13 points per game and has had five games where she's scored 20 or more including a season-high 27 against Iowa State earlier this year.
With only five players returning from the previous year, the team faced the challenge of building chemistry from scratch. Asi admitted at first it was weird only having few people but once the team was finally rebuilt it was smooth sailing.
"It's just been so much fun getting to know everybody...we genuinely love and care for each other," Asi said.
She also stated how OSU feels like a family environment and never feels out of sorts in Stillwater.
"I think the people here are amazing, a lot of people know each other and a lot of people know us basketball players sometimes we go to Walmart and people just come and say "Hi, we love watching you and we're going to come to support you this season. Just all kinds of things. It's just nice to have that type of community here," Asi said.
Looking ahead, Asi is determined to pursue a professional basketball career, eyeing opportunities in Europe and possibly Australia. Asi's journey is more than just a personal achievement, it is a bridge between cultures, showcasing the global nature of basketball.
As Asi continues to make her mark at Oklahoma State University, her story serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes worldwide.
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