MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women’s basketball team welcomes six newcomers to its lineup for the 2011-12 season. Over the course of the summer, usajaguars.com will sit down with the incoming players so that fans have an opportunity to get to know each of them off the court. The second in the series is Camille Reynolds, a 5-5 guard from North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Reynolds comes to South Alabama after lettering the past two seasons at North Idaho. This past season, Reynolds helped guide NIC to a 32-3 record and the National Junior College Athletic Association championship – the program’s first national title. For her play in the NJCAA tourney, she was one of three Lady Cardinals selected to the all-tournament team. During the postseason, Reynolds averaged 11 points a game and shot 50 percent from the floor, including 42 percent from long range. NIC defeated No. 3 Trinity Valley 90-81 in the finals after upsetting top-ranked Pensacola State College (90-75) in the semifinal round.
As a sophomore, Reynolds averaged 10.3 points per game and knocked down 39.4 percent of her attempts from the three-point line, while earning second-team all-Scenic West Athletic Conference honors. During her freshman season, Reynolds was an all-SWAC honorable mention selection after averaging 7.1 ppg.
She was the 60th-ranked overall player coming out of junior college by The Collegiate Girl’s Basketball Report and the 12th-rated point guard.
Where are you from and where do you call home?
“Well, I was born in California and lived there for about ten years. A lot of my family is from there. My immediate family moved to north Idaho when I was about ten. I have been there ever since, until coming to South Alabama.”
What line of work are your parents in?
“My dad is a master carpenter and my mom is a garden consultant. She helps people design their garden. She’s a crazy plant-lady.”
What led to you decision to play at South Alabama?
“After my junior college won the national tournament, South Alabama was there. When I came on my visit though, the coachiing staff was really nice, the girls were funny and focused and the weather’s just great. I just had a really good feeling at the end of my visit. The medical program at South Alabama also attracted me here.”
You are planning on going into the medical field after graduation. Do you know what area?
“Right now I’m majoring in biology/biomedical sciences. After I get my degree, I will either become a physician’s assistant or maybe an MD, but that’s a lot of work, so I’ll just take it one step at a time.”
How did you decide that you wanted to go into that profession?
“I like helping people and I think that a great way to do it is to heal people. I think there are a lot of opportunities that come along with the medical field. I would be cool to travel around the world and help people who are really in need. Also, because people are always sick or hurt and they are always going to need somebody to heal them. That played a part too.”
How do you think your time in junior college has helped you prepare for basketball at the Division I level? Especially after your experience of going through the national tournament and winning the championship.
“Coming out of high school is really a tough adjustment for most players at any level of college basketball. Just having two years already under my belt, I’m thankful that I got to have the experience I did at North Idaho College. I played with a lot of good girls who have gone on to a lot of great schools too. Just having that experience will hopefully help me a little bit.”
With three freshmen on the team this upcoming season, what advice can you give them in how to handle the transition from high school to college?
“I think the hardest part for freshmen, especially living away from home, is just the day-to-day stuff like not being around your family. If they just surround themselves with successful people and call their parents a lot, I think that will help. With basketball, just take it day-by-day. You’re going to have bad practices, you’re going to have bad games and you may not get to play, but you just got to know that you have a lot of time and a lot of development, as do I. They just need to know there will be good days too.”
What are your goals for the upcoming season – both individually and for the team?
“I just want to help the team out as much as I can with whatever skills I have to offer them. Individually, that’s what I would like to do. As far as the team goes, I want us to make the NCAA tournament and win the conference tournament. I think that starts with practicing hard every single day and having good relationships both on and off the court.”
Who is your favorite basketball player to watch, college or pro?
“I really love Kobe Bryant and Shannon Brown. I’m a Lakers fan. I also love Phil Jackson and the way he runs his team. I like Shannon Brown, because he is so explosive and he is really fun to watch. I like Kobe because of his leadership and the way he is in the clutch. Like everyone else, I also love the way Maya Moore. I actually watched a couple of clips of her game the other night and she is already good in the WNBA.”
“As far as players that I have played with, I would have to say all of my teammates at North Idaho. Their work ethic was great. Anyone that works hard, is underestimated and always believes in themselves, I admire. That’s at any level.”
What do you believe to be a strength to your game?
“I think I am really quick and fast. I love to play defense. When the offensive end isn’t going well, I can always play defense. I like to shoot the ball. I like to handle the ball. Get up and down the court and run the fast break. I just like to do what’s best for the team.”
I know that you are relatively new to South Alabama, but what is a routine day for you at USA?
“I wake up three days a week at 5 a.m. to lift weights or work out with the team. Then I have class at 8 a.m. and study hall at 9 a.m. Right now, we are also having our basketball camp for kids, so I’m helping out with that. We also play pick up in the afternoon and then a couple of nights a week, I have some more classes. I try to squeeze in a nap here and there.”
You have an older brother and an older sister. Did either of them play sports?
“My sister didn’t. She’s very artistic though. That’s her talent. My brother played football and ran track in high school. He was always the one toughening up on me when I was little.”
Who would you say has had the biggest impact on your life, either as a person or as a player? Why?
“I think obviously my parents. They have always been there for day and night for me my whole life. My sister has also always been there for me too. She’s funny, so whenever I have had a bad day, she is always able to make me laugh. My brother has also had an effect on me. He was always whooping up on me growing up and trying to make me tough.”
“As a player, my high school coach and my junior college coach have definitely helped me bring out what athletic ability I had. They taught me a lot of skills that I wasn’t even aware of. They have also taught me different aspects of seeing the game. I am just so grateful that I got to know them and that they took all that time with me.”
Do you have any other talents other than playing basketball?
“I played soccer and ran track in high school. I really didn’t like track, but I was pretty good in it. I like anything outdoors. I also used to play classical guitar younger, but when sports came, I kind of stopped playing.”
Who was the main assistant coach at USA to recruit you? Describe your relationship with that coach during the recruiting process.
“Coach (Bobby) Brasel is the main coach that recruited me. He’s really cool. When I first talked with him on the phone, he was a very comfortable and easy person to speak with. When I got to South Alabama, he was supper accommodating and always asked if I needed anything. He’s a good guy. He’s funny.”
What other schools did you have offers from or recruited you?
“James Madison, Long Beach State, Liberty and Valparaiso all recruited me. I didn’t have any visits set up with Valpo or Long Beach State, but they were recruiting me. I had planned visits with Liberty and James Madison, but I cancelled them after I came on my visit here, because I liked it here so much.”
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
OFF THE COURT WITH...
Kierra Johnson
Camille Reynolds
Breanna Hall
Rachel Cumbo
Amanda Toliver
Jennifer Johnson
-- USA --
