If you’ve been doing your research on the new signings across Super League Basketball ahead of the inaugural season, then Newcastle’s newest rookie Lyric Swann is sure to have caught your attention.
With an impressive list of accolades and achievements to her name at the high school and collegiate levels, the University of North Florida graduate is set to make a splash in her rookie campaign.
We caught up with the 23-year-old this week to learn more about her basketball journey and how it began, including her connections to WNBA star Angel Reese.
“I started playing when I was about seven years old, which I guess is a little late in America. Soccer was my first love, but my mum used to play basketball semi-professionally and she signed my twin sister and I up for a camp so we did that alongside soccer and a bunch of other sports.
“I chose to pursue basketball because I loved the culture and energy of the game and I had success with it at a young age. In high school my team won a lot of county championships and I still hold the record there for most points scored by a male or female player, plus I got my jersey number retired when I graduated, which means an awful lot to me.
“My mum is friends with Angel Reese’s mum – they played together in college – and it was her who suggested we join the Edreco League as kids. It was super competitive and had a lot of great players in, including Angel, so that played a huge part in my development as well and helped me fall in love with the game even more.”
Family matters
Swann’s mother, Karyn, was also a star of collegiate basketball as she won conference Defensive Player of the Year honours for the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) in 1991 before going on to enjoy a career in the professional game.
Alongside that, Swann has a twin sister – Jaelyn – who she has shared the entirety of her basketball journey with prior to this point. Discussing the importance of how the game has inspired and united her family, Swann detailed her pride in continuing her mother’s legacy by making her debut in the professional ranks this season.
“My twin and I played on every team together growing up, including in college, and it has made my basketball journey so much more special to have her by my side all the way through these years.
“She’s my best friend and perfect teammate because she knows everything about me, what I’m good at, where I have room to grow, and she’s always by my side ready to go and lift me up when I need it or practice with me or anything like that. I wouldn’t have made it this far without her.
“My family has a good history in basketball with my mum having success collegiately with UMBC, so it means a lot for me now to be stepping into the professional game and continuing that legacy in some ways. Basketball is a big part of our family so to have shared my journey so far with my mum and my sister has been very special.”
Ready to take flight
Under the guidance of experienced play-called Matt Newby, the Newcastle Eagles are expected to have a promising season in the inaugural Super League Basketball campaign.
Talking about the appeal of the north-east, Swann emphasised the importance of her conversations with her new head coach and her early impressions of life on the Tyne.
“I had some great conversations on the phone with Coach Matt and did a lot of research into the programme here at Newcastle which all added up to this being a great opportunity for me in my first season overseas.
“I’ve been to the UK before so I have experience of the place already, the language is a big help and everybody I’ve met here so far has been very friendly and welcoming, which is something else I learned a lot about in my research, discovering how community-orientated this club is, and I can’t wait to meet them all properly when the season starts.
“I’ve worked so hard to make it to this point in my career and I want to enjoy the experience but I’m here for a purpose as well, which is to help continue to build on the history of this great organisation. This club had a great year last time out and I want to build on that this season.”
Influencing and inspiring
Alongside hoops, Swann majored in psychology in college but is also a talented artist and graphic designer.
What you’re sure to notice when you search for the Maryland’s native social media channels after reading this article, however, is the hundreds of thousands of followers she’s accrued on various platforms thanks to her skills as a content creator.
The rookie guard discussed how she has embraced the social media space and the opportunities it has granted her, as well as reflecting on the journey she’s had since beginning to play the game as a young child.
“I wasn’t allowed social media until the very end of high school, but when I got it I started posting basketball and lifestyle content and it felt like my follower number blew up pretty quickly. It’s been a good platform for me and I’m looking forward to introducing the community that follows me to Newcastle and British basketball through my content.
“I get to collaborate with a lot of brands and it’s been fun. There are some good perks to it and I’ve made some incredible memories. One shoot I did with Nerf was at the IMG Academy in Florida where I was one of 12 athletes in the country invited to launch a new sport. We got to meet Carmelo Anthony as well. It was a surreal experience and something I’ll never forget.
“Thinking back to the beginning of my journey, that seven-year-old kid would be so proud of the person I’ve become. I’ve gone through a lot over the years and worked hard to overcome all that adversity and hopefully inspire people as I continue to do what I love, so I am proud.”