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MA ForpelESPN.com
STAMFORD, CA — From the moment I stepped onto the court as a freshman at Stanford in 2020, Cameron Brink Looked like a star not to be missed. Having two Final Four appearances in two years, followed by one National Championship appearance seems more assured for the rest of her Cardinal career and her future career in the WNBA. .
Only one thing is holding her back. It’s the official whistle.
“This was my biggest challenge,” Brink said of foul trouble. “Some games they allow a lot, some games are very tight from the tip-off. I’m trying to get the gauge for.” Balanced and still learning how to deal with it. Honestly, it’s very difficult. “
Brink isn’t complaining, just being practical. It’s a problem to deal with and solve. The junior forward sat in the practice gym at Stanford University on Saturday afternoon reflecting on all she’s accomplished so far and all she still has to achieve. how to balance
“I think girls in general are very hard on themselves,” Brink said. It just hurts I think they are such great teammates and players and you know you are more than your stat line and more than your output.
“I get really frustrated. I get upset when I’m not happy with my performance. My father always told me to be a goldfish. Have a short memory. It was a learning process.” But please people support you and your family…helps you remember that you are more than just a player.You are more than what you produce.
Still, Brink is one of the best players in the country, and she enjoys the chance to show that. On Sunday, the No. 2 Cardinals will face Tennessee (3 PM ET, ABC). This comes a month after he hit Stanford’s most high-profile game to date.
Brink had an exceptional performance against Gamecock on November 20, scoring 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting, rebounding 5 times and blocking 4 shots. the only problem? A foul her in trouble, and her fifth was in overtime. She scored her four points before fouling her out with 3:01 remaining and Stanford led 65–64 with her. It’s her only disqualification so far this season. She was 8 years old in 1st and 2nd grade combined.
“I want her to relax and play. Cam is a great player,” said Stanford coach Tara Vanderbier. “She’s incredibly athletic, versatile and aggressive. She needs to be more disciplined and play with more patience. It cannot be taught. I think she can develop patience and discipline.”
Last season was a 63-58 loss to UConn in the national semifinals when Stanford struggled as a team. Brink said she played 27 minutes and did not foul, but with four fouls, her time on the court was limited. She tallied her 15 points and her seven rebounds, which she blamed herself for not being enough at first.
“I think the loss of UConn was rather heartbreaking with all my great seniors gone,” Brink said. It took me some time to sort out my feelings about it. I hadn’t seen a movie from that game in weeks.
“But when you watch the movie, we do a lot here. You have to go back and see your mistakes. It was also a balance for me. Not taking things personally, being myself.” Don’t be too hard on yourself.Just really understand what it is.So I learned a lot from that game.
Brink grew up surrounded by hoop dreams, being the daughter of two basketball players who competed at Virginia Tech and the granddaughter of Golden State Warriors star parents. Stephen Curry(Curry and his wife Ayesha attended Stanford’s victory over Northridge, California November 9, 2022)
She’s 6’4 and has a wealth of skills, including deft footwork around the basket, shooting touch extending past the 3-point line, inner fearlessness, timing and body control to block shots. .
VanDerveer compares Brink’s game to Cardinal legends and current games Los Angeles Sparks star Neka Ogumikethe league’s No. 1 pickout from Stanford in 2012 and the 2016 WNBA MVP, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Players Union.
Also, like Ogwumike, Brink wants to be known for more than basketball, and mental health advocacy is important to both. Brink is part of her Name, Image and Likeness College, the first generation of her players, strategically planning the image she wants—an image that is authentic and lasting to her. .
Blink doesn’t do things without thinking and considering options. This is part of why foul trouble is so annoying. She had to face it, but she didn’t think too much.
“If someone shoots at me, OK. I’m not going to foul them. It’s a good attack to beat you,” Brink said. “It was definitely my biggest struggle as a post player. But I don’t want to. just Become a post player. I want to be versatile. You can step outside and play a little bit on the perimeter. So I don’t want to be defined by just one thing. That’s the goal. “
Brink then chuckled and added, “Then just stay in the game.”
VanDerveer has a very long history with great players and along with three national championships are part of her legacy. Her latest title is 2021, and it’s been a tough season at Stanford University, where she’s been out most of the time due to her COVID-19 restrictions on campus. Brink was a freshman at the time, celebrating with his teammates in San Antonio the Cardinal that ended his 29-year NCAA title drought.
Stanford had hopes of a rematch, but they fell short in Minneapolis last season. The Cardinal’s goals for this year are the same as always. To win the Pac-12 regular season title, league tournament, and NCAA tournament.
Like South Carolina, Stanford is a very deep team.with the brink hannah jump Top Cardinals in scoring (12.4 PPG), All-American hayley jones A triple threat in scoring, rebounding and assists, Blink leads in boards (7.6) and blocked shots (3.0). There are so many different and powerful combinations of players that VanDerveer can use.
But the facts remain the same. Stanford is at its best when Brink is on the floor. She plans to stay there as long as she can.
“Tara continues to give me the confidence to play within myself,” Brink said. “It’s kind of scary to express unnecessary pressure. But both my parents were basketball players at Virginia Tech. I’d like to think it’s in my blood.”
“I have always been surrounded by great people. Currys is a great family friend. I have all the resources. There is a wonderful village, otherwise it would be a pity ”Don’t take advantage of all this. “
