For freshman guard Akira Levy (Baxter, Tenn.), family has always been a powerful source of motivation throughout her life and her basketball career.

"My mom and dad have always supported me in basketball, as well as my sister and brother," Levy said. "They're always telling me to work hard and they've continued to inspire me to be a better player and a better person. My family has helped me so much in reaching where I am now."

Levy feels she has another family she can depend on this season: her new teammates and coaches on the Mizzou Women's Basketball team.

"This program is so special because each individual person buys into the family culture we have here," she said. "From the moment I came on my visit, I knew this was the place for me. My teammates and I clicked so well from the start and Coach Pingeton is like a mother figure to me."

"This culture starts individually and when we all come together it makes it special like it is now."

The No. 66 recruit in ESPN's class of 2018 rankings, Levy was a star at Upperman High School in Baxter, Tenn., finishing her remarkable high school career with 2,761 points, 921 assists, 591 rebounds and 504 steals. She averaged 25.3 points, 9.4 assists and 4.8 steals per game her senior year, resulting in her being named Tennessee Class AA Miss Basketball. In addition, she earned 2018 All-USA Tennessee First Team and 2018 McDonald's All-American nominee honors.

Now at Mizzou, Levy is looking to provide the same spark she has often contributed to her teams in the past, not only as a scorer, but also as a friend and teammate.

"I'm really trying to be here for my teammates, both on and off the court," she said. "I've always been the 'glue' for my past teams and I have no problem taking on that role here. Whatever the team needs, that's what I'm here to do."

With the 2018-19 women's basketball season just around the corner, Levy is setting the bar high for her freshman campaign.

"My personal goal is to be the SEC Freshman of the Year," she said. "That's something that I'm definitely going to work hard to achieve."

But the 5-foot-8 guard says she has a more important goal on her mind—bringing home an SEC title to Columbia.

"I want us to win so many championships in my time here," she said.

"I think this team can do some special things this season and I'm going to support my teammates and work as hard as I can to make sure that happens."