Quick Chat: Toumani Camara
January 23, 2021 | Men's Basketball, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Toumani Camara did a lot of working out over quarantine, staying in shape and working on his basketball game so that he'd be ready when it came time to return to Georgia's campus this summer. He also started meditating, which he said has helped focus his mind.
The 6-foot-8 Camara, a native of Brussels, Belgium, came to the United States when he was a teenager and went to high school in Florida. He made an immediate impact with the Bulldogs as a freshman last season, starting 23 games and averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. Twelve games into his sophomore season, Camara's numbers were up to 14.0 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.
During a recent Quick Chat, Camara talked about a Belgian winter, playing better this season, seeing Anthony Edwards get drafted No. 1 overall, meditation, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: It's sunny and about 55 degrees here today, so what would a typical mid-January day be like back home in Brussels?
Camara: It depends. Brussels, the weather changes a lot, we'll have a lot of snow some days and we might have a winter with no snow at all. It changes every time so it's hard to say.
Frierson: Did you grow up doing a lot of winter sports like skiing?
Camara: I did snow-skiing twice back in the day. I think it was in middle school that we had a whole grade vacation when the whole grade went skiing.
Frierson: What was it like seeing Anthony Edwards picked No. 1 in the NBA Draft?
Camara: I always knew he was going to be No. 1, or maybe No. 2, but the fact that he got picked, that was more impressive, to actually realize what he accomplished. I was just really proud for him. I had a chance to see him that day and there was just a lot of joy. To see what he did, it motivates me to try to match his energy.
Frierson: When did you know, whether it was in the preseason or offseason, or the game against Michigan State, that he was something special and really could be the No. 1 pick?
Camara: To me, I think it was the first time I saw him play. I think it was back in the summertime when we played 5-on-5, just kind of scrimmaged on our own. At first when I saw him, I didn't realize how big he was already coming out of high school, and then he got bigger throughout the year. It was just impressive that he was 18 years old and the way his body was looking and how much work he did. It showed you how talented he is and how good his work ethic is.
Frierson: Your work is obviously paying off, as well, given the numbers you're putting up this season. How would you say you're a better player today than you were a year ago?
Camara: I'd say my experience is the biggest thing. I learned so much last year from all of my playing time, so coming back this year everything's a little slower and I just feel more comfortable on the court. I'm also able to help guys that have never been here before.
I worked on my game so much this summer, so it's something that I've kind of added on to what I had before. I don't think I've shown completely what I'm able to do, but I think I'm starting to get more comfortable game after game.
Frierson: Back in March when everything shut down, did you fly quickly home to Belgium or did you stay here the whole time?
Camara: I went back down to Florida. I didn't get the chance to go home to Belgium because I didn't want to take the risk that I might be stuck over there and not be able to come back for the summertime. I just stayed with my girlfriend in Florida.
Frierson: How did you use that time, whether it's related to basketball or doing other things? You suddenly had a lot more free time than you were expecting to, so how did you keep busy?
Camara: It was new for me to only have online classes and I really liked it because everything is doable at home and it gives you more free time. There's not as much time wasted moving and going to classes, so I was able to manage my time better and work out a lot. I was probably working out 3-4 times a day.
Frierson: What did you do away from basketball? Did you learn any new hobbies or different skills?
Camara: I did a lot of puzzles and I started doing meditation. Just being able to focus more on myself and being able to improve my game, rather than just working out and being focused on physically getting better. I was just getting my mind right.
Frierson: Have you seen the meditation help you on the court or in just everyday life in general?
Camara: I believe it's in life in general. We have a lot of stuff going on, everybody has a lot of stuff going on, so being able to put your mind on the side and being able to understand and relax is really important.
Frierson: Who was the first player that you really looked up to?
Camara: The first basketball player I ever liked was Allen Iverson, just because of his swag and the way he was dressing up and his tattoos. When I got started in basketball, I just loved Dwyane Wade. He was my favorite player and I've always been a Heat fan. I ended up moving to Florida for my first three years in high school, and he made me love Florida and Miami even more.
I've always been a Dwyane Wade fan but I also love Kevin Durant's game.
Frierson: What was the culture shock like when you got to Florida? It's obviously a lot different from Belgium, especially the weather. What was the biggest thing you had to adjust to?
Camara: It was definitely the language. I always had an idea of what the U.S. was like because it was always for me like a dream to come here, so I always pictured it in some way and that (Florida) is what it was. The transition to the culture I don't think was that big of a deal for me, but it was really just the language because when I came here my English was not that good.
Frierson: Given how busy you are with school and basketball, do you make time to get away from those things and clear your head?
Camara: Yeah, that's very important. I watch a lot of Netflix, just relaxing, and I make sure I get my sleep. I do a little bit of the mediation, not as much because I don't have as much time as I had in quarantine, but it's for sure something I feel I should do more. I'm keeping it up and still doing a little bit, but I feel like I could do more.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Camara: Right now I've got to give it to K.D. (Johnson). I'd say P.J. (Horne) and Tye Fagan are also very funny.
Frierson: P.J. told me the same thing, that K.D. was the funniest. What is it about K.D. that's so funny?
Camara: He just loves talking to us. He just loves having the attention. He's a guy that you need — you need a guy like that in your locker room. He brings a lot of energy to the locker room and on the court and the bench.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Toumani Camara did a lot of working out over quarantine, staying in shape and working on his basketball game so that he'd be ready when it came time to return to Georgia's campus this summer. He also started meditating, which he said has helped focus his mind.
The 6-foot-8 Camara, a native of Brussels, Belgium, came to the United States when he was a teenager and went to high school in Florida. He made an immediate impact with the Bulldogs as a freshman last season, starting 23 games and averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. Twelve games into his sophomore season, Camara's numbers were up to 14.0 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.
During a recent Quick Chat, Camara talked about a Belgian winter, playing better this season, seeing Anthony Edwards get drafted No. 1 overall, meditation, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: It's sunny and about 55 degrees here today, so what would a typical mid-January day be like back home in Brussels?
Camara: It depends. Brussels, the weather changes a lot, we'll have a lot of snow some days and we might have a winter with no snow at all. It changes every time so it's hard to say.
Frierson: Did you grow up doing a lot of winter sports like skiing?
Camara: I did snow-skiing twice back in the day. I think it was in middle school that we had a whole grade vacation when the whole grade went skiing.
Frierson: What was it like seeing Anthony Edwards picked No. 1 in the NBA Draft?
Camara: I always knew he was going to be No. 1, or maybe No. 2, but the fact that he got picked, that was more impressive, to actually realize what he accomplished. I was just really proud for him. I had a chance to see him that day and there was just a lot of joy. To see what he did, it motivates me to try to match his energy.
Frierson: When did you know, whether it was in the preseason or offseason, or the game against Michigan State, that he was something special and really could be the No. 1 pick?
Camara: To me, I think it was the first time I saw him play. I think it was back in the summertime when we played 5-on-5, just kind of scrimmaged on our own. At first when I saw him, I didn't realize how big he was already coming out of high school, and then he got bigger throughout the year. It was just impressive that he was 18 years old and the way his body was looking and how much work he did. It showed you how talented he is and how good his work ethic is.
Frierson: Your work is obviously paying off, as well, given the numbers you're putting up this season. How would you say you're a better player today than you were a year ago?
Camara: I'd say my experience is the biggest thing. I learned so much last year from all of my playing time, so coming back this year everything's a little slower and I just feel more comfortable on the court. I'm also able to help guys that have never been here before.
I worked on my game so much this summer, so it's something that I've kind of added on to what I had before. I don't think I've shown completely what I'm able to do, but I think I'm starting to get more comfortable game after game.
Frierson: Back in March when everything shut down, did you fly quickly home to Belgium or did you stay here the whole time?
Camara: I went back down to Florida. I didn't get the chance to go home to Belgium because I didn't want to take the risk that I might be stuck over there and not be able to come back for the summertime. I just stayed with my girlfriend in Florida.
Frierson: How did you use that time, whether it's related to basketball or doing other things? You suddenly had a lot more free time than you were expecting to, so how did you keep busy?
Camara: It was new for me to only have online classes and I really liked it because everything is doable at home and it gives you more free time. There's not as much time wasted moving and going to classes, so I was able to manage my time better and work out a lot. I was probably working out 3-4 times a day.
Frierson: What did you do away from basketball? Did you learn any new hobbies or different skills?
Camara: I did a lot of puzzles and I started doing meditation. Just being able to focus more on myself and being able to improve my game, rather than just working out and being focused on physically getting better. I was just getting my mind right.
Frierson: Have you seen the meditation help you on the court or in just everyday life in general?
Camara: I believe it's in life in general. We have a lot of stuff going on, everybody has a lot of stuff going on, so being able to put your mind on the side and being able to understand and relax is really important.
Frierson: Who was the first player that you really looked up to?
Camara: The first basketball player I ever liked was Allen Iverson, just because of his swag and the way he was dressing up and his tattoos. When I got started in basketball, I just loved Dwyane Wade. He was my favorite player and I've always been a Heat fan. I ended up moving to Florida for my first three years in high school, and he made me love Florida and Miami even more.
I've always been a Dwyane Wade fan but I also love Kevin Durant's game.
Frierson: What was the culture shock like when you got to Florida? It's obviously a lot different from Belgium, especially the weather. What was the biggest thing you had to adjust to?
Camara: It was definitely the language. I always had an idea of what the U.S. was like because it was always for me like a dream to come here, so I always pictured it in some way and that (Florida) is what it was. The transition to the culture I don't think was that big of a deal for me, but it was really just the language because when I came here my English was not that good.
Frierson: Given how busy you are with school and basketball, do you make time to get away from those things and clear your head?
Camara: Yeah, that's very important. I watch a lot of Netflix, just relaxing, and I make sure I get my sleep. I do a little bit of the mediation, not as much because I don't have as much time as I had in quarantine, but it's for sure something I feel I should do more. I'm keeping it up and still doing a little bit, but I feel like I could do more.
Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?
Camara: Right now I've got to give it to K.D. (Johnson). I'd say P.J. (Horne) and Tye Fagan are also very funny.
Frierson: P.J. told me the same thing, that K.D. was the funniest. What is it about K.D. that's so funny?
Camara: He just loves talking to us. He just loves having the attention. He's a guy that you need — you need a guy like that in your locker room. He brings a lot of energy to the locker room and on the court and the bench.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director 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.
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