University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Toumani Camara
January 15, 2020 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Long before he played his first Georgia basketball game, freshman Toumani Camara suited up for his country. The Brussels, Belgium native played in the U16 FIBA European Championships, an experience he said made him realize that he had a bright future in the game and also how much work he needed to put in to make that future a reality.
Before signing with Georgia, Camara went to high school in Florida, so he's had plenty of time to adjust to life in the United States. During a recent Quick Chat, the 6-foot-8 Camara, part of the Bulldogs' fifth-ranked recruiting class, talked about home, his start in basketball and much more.
Here's some of what he had to say:Â
Frierson: How did you get started playing basketball? And when did you realize that you could play and have a future beyond just playing with your friends on a local team?
Camara: I started when I was around 6 and I always just loved it. I was the best on my team but it was a very small club, so it was not that high of a level. I always loved it so I wanted to keep getting better and keep on switching clubs to try to get to the highest (level) club possible.Â
I started realizing that I was not that good, actually, so I started working a lot. Then I went for the national team and then I got kicked out of it when I was 12, I think, the pre-selection, and then they had another tryout and I worked hard every day. Then I went to the tryout and they picked me again.
After the national team, that's when I started realizing that I was good enough to play.
Frierson: What is it like playing for your country? That's not something a lot of guys get to experience.
Camara: It's a good experience, I don't regret it at all. I hope I'm going to be able to do it later in my career. It's definitely a great experience and a lot of fun.
Frierson: Did you play any other sports growing up?
Camara: I swam a little bit, I did track a little bit and that's pretty much it. I used to play soccer in the street with my brother, but that's pretty much it.
Frierson: What did you do in track, were you a high-jump man or something like that?
Camara: Nah, when I was little I was fast, I was faster than everybody, so I did like the 100 meters and long distance.
Frierson: In terms of coming to the U.S., what was the biggest culture shock moment for you?
Camara: Definitely how much money is put into sports. In Belgium, there's a lot of money in soccer and stuff like that, but here it's almost everything. That's a big change.
Frierson: When you talk to people around here, do they ever guess where you're from based on your accent?
Camara: At the beginning, once I got here (to the U.S.) my accent was really stronger so people were more able to guess what part of the world or what continent I was from, but right now they don't know. Sometimes on certain words my accent really pops out.
Frierson: If somebody wanted to visit Belgium, where would you recommend they go?
Camara: Definitely Brussels, that's my city, that's where I grew up my whole life. It's really a fun city, a lot to do and a lot of beautiful stuff to see.
Frierson: What comes to mind when you think of Belgian food?
Camara: We have some tradition plates, I would say, so mussels, beers, Belgian chocolate, Belgian waffles, a bunch of stuff like that.
Frierson: What do you miss the most?
Camara: My family, most definitely, and I miss the chocolate — that's what I ask my mom to send me a lot.
Frierson: What's the most interesting place that basketball has taken you?
Camara: With the national team we went to Portugal, so that was really beautiful. The views were beautiful and it's a lot different from where I'm from because of the mountains and stuff like that. Belgium is more of a flat country, so that was really nice.
Frierson: Do you have a creative side? Is there something creative you do or wish you could do?
Camara: When I was little I used to draw a lot, just before I go to bed I used to draw just everything that was in my mind. I don't do that now, I don't really have time for that anymore.
Frierson: What's it like being part of a team with so many new guys on the roster? Usually, it's just a few each year but this team has 10 new players, so you're all learning together, I guess.
Camara: I think it's great because most of the people here, we're all the same age, so we have a good group of people that are connected. To me, it's not that big of a change because I'm new, too. I think it's a good thing.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
