Why Did Your Favorite Basketball Players Choose Their Uniform Number
Feb. 25, 2010
Ever wondered why UCI basketball players wear the uniform number they do?
Women's Basketball
5 - Rebecca Maessen
I have worn the number 5 as my jersey even since I can remember. Throughout my basketball career I've had this number when playing in Holland growing up, on the Dutch National team, and I was lucky enough that when I arrived in Irvine, my favorite number was still available. It is coincidental that I started playing basketball at the age of 5.
32 - Mikah Maly-Karros
I have always been number 32 because my mom wore number 32 when she played in college and she is the best mom in the world and I love her so much!
Well, I've always been number 11 before I went to college. My freshman year at Chico State was the first time I had to switch numbers. There was a senior who had number 11 so I was forced to pick up an alternative. Number 3 was the only single digit number left, so 3 it was. Once the senior girl left, my team convinced me that I was "such a 3" and that I shouldn't switch back to number 11. So, I've just stuck with number 3 since.
30 - Kiara Belen
Number 30 has been in my family for years. My father played football for William and Mary wore number 30 as well. Since then, my little brother and I have chosen number 30 for every team we played on.
25 - Keyonna Johnson
My boyfriend was the number 25 in high school and college and when I came to UCI my high school number was taken already so the next best thing was number 25!
11 - Jazmyne White
I didn't get to choose my number they just gave it to me.
22 - Raquel "Roqui" Theus
Well, my number in elementary/middle/high school number was always 24. I chose that number because my Dad wore it while he was in the NBA. However, when I got to Irvine, number 24 was taken, so I figured it was time to change it up. I took number 22 because it was close to 24, and made it my own. Now, when my lil sister or my kids (a long time from now) start playing, maybe they'll wear number 22 to carry on a new jersey number tradition!
21 - Mary Has
When I was at Long Beach Millikan, the freshman on varsity had to be last to pick their numbers. I remember we were shooting free throws and I was already bummed that one of the seniors already took number 32, which I wore in middle school because my idol was Magic Johnson. So, I didn't rush to get a number unlike the other 3 freshman plus I didn't want to be in the middle of the chaos. When coach got to me, the only numbers left were 14 and 21. I felt like 14 wasn't a "cool" number to be so I chose 21, and I've been stuck with it ever since and it's become my favorite number. I even have a roman numeral tattoo of the number 21.
Men's Basketball
10 - Patrick Rembert
Because I couldn't get number 5, so I figured number 10 was two times better than before.
23 - Michael Wilder
Continuity; I wanted 5 but that was taken by Hunter so I just kept 23.
3 - Derrick Strings
Age I started playing.
25 - Emil Kim
I didn't really pick it, kind of was given to me but it's cool because my O.C.D. only lets me have numbers in increments of 5.
1 - Darren Moore
My favorite number is 1, and I used to be a huge "T-MAC" fan.
42 - Peter Simek
I wore it last year at Butte College, so I just kept it. My cousin who's a professional ice hockey player also wears number 42.
34 - Eric Wise
Because I play like Charles Barkley. If it looks like a dog and smells like a dog, than it is a dog.
20 - Adam Folker
My father wore number 20 when he played his college ball in Canada. They won the national championship. Older brother, Mike, also wore number 20 in college.
22 - Jonas Lalehzadeh
Tradition; and it's the most powerful number in the universe...numerologically.
5 - Michael Hunter
I had a different number in high school but I decided to switch it up and wear 5 in college. Now it is a family tradition with my cousins wearing 5 also.
