Freshman guard Kelsey Winfrey grew up dreaming of putting on a Missouri Tiger uniform one day, but basketball wasn't what she originally wanted to pursue.
"When I was younger, I wanted to do gymnastics at Mizzou," Winfrey said. "Then once I realized I was too tall for that, I got really into basketball. But even then I knew I still wanted to be a Tiger."
Making the decision to come to Mizzou came easy for Winfrey, who follows multiple family members who graduated from the University.
"I've truly wanted to go here my whole life," she said. "My dad went to law school here and my sister graduated from here. We've always been Tiger fans."
A standout athlete in multiple sports, Winfrey left a legacy on the high school basketball court. In her senior season at Lebanon High School in Lebanon, Missouri, she was a 2017 Miss Show-Me Basketball finalist, averaging a team-high 21.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 4.9 steals per game. She finished her career with 2,052 points, 794 rebounds, 463 steals and 316 assists - all school records.
While Mizzou was an obvious choice for Winfrey, she was looking for more than just a strong basketball program at her future school.
"I looked for a good atmosphere," she said. "Not just a team that's good at basketball. I wanted a team that was welcoming and friendly. A team with a coach who cares for each player and a team that cares for life outside of basketball."
That's what she found in Coach Pingeton, her staff and the rest of the women's basketball team.
"The feeling here is just great. It's like a family," she said. "I consider all my teammates my sisters and Coach Pingeton a mother figure. I know I can go to them with anything."
Winfrey cited Coach Pingeton's passion and drive for seeing each one of her players reach full potential on and off the court as a key factor in her decision to sign with Mizzou.
"She'll be the first one to get on your back about something you do wrong," she said. "But she'll pick you up the next play. If she yells at you at practice, and she feels like it may have hurt you, she'll bring you aside either during or after practice to make sure you're both on the same page."
Adjusting to the fast pace of college basketball hasn't been without its hurdles for Winfrey, but intense practices and good teammates have helped her acclimate to SEC basketball.
"The level of competitiveness is just way different than high school," she said. "The girls have helped me and made learning the ropes fun. They've all helped me work towards getting over each challenge."
Winfrey brings a strong skill set to the Tigers and plans to keep working on her shooting game. She knows her 5-foot-9 frame doesn't allow her the same privileges as it did in high school, but with work she knows she'll make an impact when called upon.
"I plan to bring enthusiasm to the team and do what I can," Winfrey said. "I'll push every one of my teammates to compete to the best of their ability. I'll be there for my teammates with whatever they need, whether it's support on the court or off."
As the season gets underway, Winfrey looks forward to being fully immersed in SEC basketball and to sharing her freshman year with her teammates. What was once a dream, is now a reality.
"I've wanted to be here my whole life," she said. "And now I am."