Portales' Cox commits to ENMU

PORTALES — Size and strength matter in basketball. But Zamorye Cox proves heart does too.

“I think a lot of it is you can’t control everything, but a lot of it is how hard you work,” Cox said. “If you give it your heart and give it your all, you can make a difference. You do have to work with your team and it is a team sport, but you can really make a difference, no matter what.”

A mix of everything has helped the 5-foot-5 Portales senior land a shot at the next level, as Cox verbally committed to Eastern New Mexico University.

“It’s always been my goal, ever since I was little,” Cox said. “It really became more realistic my sophomore/junior years, when I really realized I needed to get on the recruiting process if that’s what I wanted to do.”

Cox says that ENMU coach Josh Prock first saw her play last year, before inviting her to the school’s Elite Camp this past summer. There, the coach really began to take an interest in Cox. After further watching Cox and her AAU team play in tournaments, Prock was sold on Cox and offered her a scholarship to come play for the Greyhounds.

Cox, who will major in kinesiology, isn’t sure if she’ll redshirt.

Portales coach Wade Fraze has coached the standout point guard throughtout her high school career, and he attributes her success to her work ethic. In fact, while Cox will need to work on getting stronger and improving her outside shot, Fraze has already seen plenty of that to this point, and believes she can only get better and better.

“She’s been in the gym her whole life,” Fraze said. “She’s an extremely hard worker, extremely coachable and has physical tools. She’s got quickness, she has lateral movement, she’s strong for her size and she knows the game.”

Cox is coming off a junior season of 13.1 points per game, along with 4.1 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 4.5 steals.

Fraze says that Cox is a two-way player who continues to grow her game. According to Fraze, it’s Cox’s passion for the game and her leadership that really make her a star.

“She is like having an extension of me on the floor,” Fraze explained. “Oh yeah (you can see her passion on the court). She loves it (and) she gets a look in her eye — her eyes get really big coming down the floor like Magic Johnson used to. It’s an excited look and she is actually having fun playing the game, and that’s why she is as good as she is.”