TicketsJan. 5, 2006
by Elise Keeler, Sports Communications Student Assistant
There is one factor that was key in Treasure Humphries' decision to come to the University of Cincinnati to play basketball. "The coaches were a big impact, but I liked the family environment," Humphries said. The family environment plus its proximity to her home in Canton, Ohio, made Cincinnati the perfect pick for Humphries.
Humphries career before coming to Cincinnati would make any coach wish to have her on their roster. She was an all-state selection three times while playing under the direction of Mark Hyser at Canton-McKinley High School. She averaged 23 points her junior and senior year, and Humphries owns McKinley's school record for career points scored.
Fortunately for Cincinnati fans, she chose UC. Humphries brought her love for scoring to Fifth Third Arena, but to the dismay of opponents she also brought along a hunger to take the ball away. As a freshman, she was the team leader and fifth among Conference USA freshmen with 44 steals. Bearcat fans saw Humphries' bright future in a game versus IUPUI on November 19, 2003. She had four assists, four steals and had a season best of 15 points. Her success carried over off the court as well. Working toward a degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology, she was named to the Bearcat Scholar Honor Roll.
The beginning of Humphries' second year was delayed due to knee surgery she had in August. Her teammates welcomed her back in December, and they saw success with her return to the floor. Humphries continued to add to her personal statistics in steals, assists, and points, but fans had only gotten a glimpse of the jewel that she was about to become.
Humphries' third year has started off with a bang. It has begun with such a bang that her most memorable memory at UC has come this season. "My most memorable moment was from the Texas-Arlington game when I scored 24 points," she said.
Coach Laurie Pirtle has seen the change in Humphries from her first year to this year. "Treasure's really comfortable with the way we run things, she feels really healthy, and she feels confident to lead the team," Coach Pirtle said.
This year Humphries seems to improve with every single game, and something fans see when watching the Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena is her desire to protect "our house." She pumps up her fellow teammates in the huddle by chanting "whose house," and her teammates holler back "our house."
This goes in stride with one of Humphries' goals for their first season in the BIG EAST. "I want us to win all our home games and beat who we are supposed to beat," she said.
Humphries just doesn't want a winning team. "I want us to improve, get better, and have more chemistry on the team, and have a couple of upsets," she added to her list of goals for the team. The move into the BIG EAST has brought a tougher schedule, and their new conference currently boasts four teams on the Top 25. "It's tougher competition and it has brought more intensity to the game as well," she said.
Besides hanging with her teammates, she continues to stay close to her family back home. Treasure has three younger brothers and three younger sisters, and she is also very close to her mom. "I am definitely a mama's girl," she adds.
Humphries isn't the only basketball player to come out of her family. Keith McLeod, her cousin, is a former MAC player of the year at Bowling Green. He has given Humphries a lot of inspiration throughout the years.
Humphries would love for more people to come out to see the UC games. Her reason why? "People should come support us because we are really good this year." After her junior and senior years conclude, Humphries hopes to have obtained her degree. "I hope to play in the WNBA, but if not, I'd like to have a good job somewhere."
Whether she is hard at work on or off the court, Humphries hopes to be a treasured jewel.