Michigan’s cornerstone recruit
Flaherty’s bond with her father largely centers around basketball. But he’s always made sure it never blurred the lines.
On the court, he was her coach. Off the court, he was her dad.
“No matter if it was a good game or bad game, we left it on the court. I think that is why we became so close, we were able to separate those two things,” Flaherty said. “I know a lot of players say they could never play for their dad. It was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. It is why I am the player I am today.”
Barnes Arico initially recruited Flaherty to St. John’s. Once she got the job at Michigan, her first call was to Flaherty’s father.
Barnes Arico wanted Flaherty to be the foundation of Michigan’s future. She just needed to convince her to leave the East Coast.
“She really recruited me hard and knew I wanted to go to a great academic school. Michigan is one of the best academic schools in the world and that really appealed to me,” said Flaherty, a psychology major with interest in working in the medical field. “She had a plan for this program and I really believed in her vision along with the staff’s vision. She really believed in me and everything she told me has panned out and really worked out the way she said it would.”
Flaherty took on a new challenge this season by sliding over to point guard following the graduation of Siera Thompson.
She walked into Barnes Arico’s office last spring and said “I am going to be the point guard” despite not having played the position since high school.
Barnes Arico wondered how it might work, but knew better than to doubt Flaherty.
“She went home during the summer and went to work,” Barnes Arico said. “Her and her dad really worked to tighten up her handle and she came back with another level of confidence in her ability to handle the ball well. I also think, as a senior, the game has slowed down for her. She doesn’t press or force the issue as much anymore. She lets the game come to her.”