Athlete Spotlight: James Wood Basketball Player Danielle Rizzari

Posted: December 24, 2013

James Wood High School 16-year-old junior

Sport: Basketball

Position: Point guard

Twitter handle: @drizzle_13

Parents: Jackie and Scott Rizzari

Hometown: Antioch, California (family moved to Winchester 10 years ago)

Nickname: “Dani” and my mom calls me “D” sometimes.

What you love about basketball:Just being a part of the team and making new friends. I started playing in fourth grade and I just love it.

Biggest strength and weakness in basketball: [Strength] I would say my passing. I usually get the ball there in time and at the right time. [Weakness] my shooting. I need to practice more to get more consistent.

Funniest person on the team: [Senior] Laura Seymour, she just always know how to make me smile and laugh.

Something people may not know about Coach Krista Krites: She’s left-handed just like me.

Most memorable moment in basketball: When I made the national team in AAU last summer [in 2012]. I was playing for the [Winchester] Rising Stars in a tournament in D.C. and I got picked to be on the AAU United States Junior Nationals team. I was surprised, there were really good girls there.

Most embarrassing moment in basketball: One of my AAU teammates and best friends [Sydney Chrane] goes to Clarke County and we were playing Clarke County my freshman year and I tapped her on the butt after she hit a free throw, even though she was on the other team. That was embarrassing.

Favorite athlete: [Tulsa Shock point guard] Skylar Diggins because she’s left-handed and a point guard and she played for Notre Dame.

Favorite team: New England Patriots because I like Tom Brady

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: My grandpa, Everett Schwan, because I never really got to meet him, he passed away when I was young; my mom [Jackie Rizzari] because she’s special to me; and [former Chicago Bulls great] Michael Jordan because he’s inspiring and I read one of his books in middle school.

Favorite quote: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.”

Favorite place to eat in town: Probably Ruby Tuesday and I’d get the chicken alfredo.

Pregame routine/ritual: If we’ve been winning I wear the same sports bra and socks, but I wash them.

Plans after high school: I want to play basketball in college and do something in psychology afterwards, maybe forensics psychology. And as far as basketball I don’t really care where I go, I just want to keep playing after high school.