Strickland finds her place and identity at power-packed Maryland

For anyone who grew up as the youngest child in a family, finding and establishing an identity is easier said than done. Six-foot guard Maryland freshman guard Marah Strickland knows a thing or two about this feeling since her older sister Marché was a third team All-ACC pick in 2000 and 2002 at Maryland and her older brother Marshall III was a starting guard at Indiana University from 2002-06 and played professionally in Turkey last season.

“My sister and brother both played basketball, so I grew up watching them play and it was something that I felt like I was destined to do,” said Strickland, who is the baby in her family. “Even when I was little, I loved it.”

“I remember going to all of their games and cheering them on. I always wanted to work out with them, shoot hoops with them or play one-on-one against them. When my sister played here I remember coming to watch her games. It inspired me to come here as she had such a great time here that I wanted to have that.”

While Strickland admired her older siblings for their basketball skills, having her own identity as a basketball player required making a tough decision and getting in the driver’s seat. After deciding to switch schools for her final two years of high school – which required her to commute to school for up to an hour and 15 minutes each way in traffic – it forced her to be even more self-dependant once she got her drivers license.

“It was really intense because I had to wake up early in the morning and would sometimes be on the road for an hour and 15 minutes each way if traffic was bad,” said Strickland. “It was a great school and a great place for me, but I had to make the trip. In the end it was definitely worth it.”

A long commute to high school may have been worth it in the end, this decision did cause at least one mother in the greater Washington D.C. area to be a little bit more nervous than usual each day.

“This is not just your average drive to school, but she did major interstate driving where she was on the Maryland interstate highways of 95, 695 and Route 70 that are major commuting routes,” said Strickland’s mom, Joanna. “That’s what she did to go to school. She handled it really well for someone who would have to be out of the house by 6 am to be at school by 8 am.”

“It wasn’t just the first morning because the school got to know me as I used to call every morning to make sure she got there as I was so nervous. I was worried that something would have happened to her that she wouldn’t be able to call me to let me know she needed help.”

Strickland may have been on the road alone all of those mornings and nights, but it was the driving tips from her parents that helped her on her daily journey.

“No talking on the cell phone, to call me when you get to school, use your Triple-A card if you get into trouble, call me if you get into trouble and I will come to wherever you are and get out of the car if you have car problems because you don’t want to be sitting in your car if you have problems,” said Joanna of the tips her and Strickland’s father, Marshall, gave her. “We went through the whole gamut as we made sure she had flares, a safety kit and water in her car. It was a lot for a young kid, especially when you think they are tired. Adults have problems with major commutes like that, so it must be more tiring for a kid.”

“She always knew that we were very concerned, so she was always really good about listening to our advice. Marah still calls me two or three times a day, so she is aware that we are concerned and doesn’t mind it. Some kids would want their space, but she is comfortable in knowing that she has a lot of space, but her mom and dad are concerned too. It works out.”

By having two athletically talented older siblings, it took some time and this risky decision for Strickland to have her own identity. Fortunately this proved to be a good life lesson as Strickland is handling being back in a similar situation with poise and grace as the lone freshman starter on a team that is packed with the fantastic four – juniors Marissa Coleman and Kristi Toliver and seniors Crystal Langhorne and Laura Harper – in women’s college basketball.

“This is a great opportunity for me to learn from them as they are great athletes and basketball players,” said Strickland. “I know there will be a time for me to step up and show what I can do, but this is a great chance for me to learn from them.”

When it comes to taking the open road, Strickland has the experience, knowledge and track record to set her apart from the rest.

“My dad always tells me that spacing is the key to success in driving, especially in traffic,” said Strickland. “I’ve always tried to maintain good spacing and have not been in an accident or gotten a speeding ticket, knock on wood.”