10/28/2009 - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL 11 Days of A-Sun Women's Basketball: Campbell

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Interview with Head Coach Wanda Watkins

SEASON PREVIEW - (Courtesy Campbell Media Relations)

“Mesh” is the word around campus, as another year of Lady Camel basketball is upon us. That is, what Campbell head women’s basketball coach Wanda Watkins says, what will be the key to a successful season in Buies Creek.

“The mesh of this group of young players and the upperclassmen can make us a good team,” said Watkins, entering her 29th season at the helm of the Lady Camel program. “We have a good mix of athleticism in our newcomers, and maturity in our returning core. Now we have to mesh the two together, grow up and be mentally strong. That’s the key for our team right now.”

This year’s version of Campbell’s unit will be a mix of the new and the old, as the team welcomes six newcomers, including five freshmen, and returns a strong core of seven lettermen, with three starters. Despite losing six members of last year’s team, the latter bunch includes four of the team’s top five scorers, and its best pair of rebounders from a year ago, giving Watkins a solid foundation for the season.

“We certainly lost some people, especially in the leadership of Lauren Arthur, but I feel good about the kids we have in here,” said Watkins. “It’s a good mix of the new and the old.”

The Lady Camels will feature two seniors on this 2009-10 team, in center Ashley Williamson and forward Geami Britt. Williamson comes back as Campbell’s leading rebounder, averaging 6.5 per contest last season, adding 7.9 points as the unit’s third-leading scorer.

The 6-foot-1 Colonial Heights, Va. native collected 21 starts in 30 games last season, emerging as the team’s primary low-post threat. Williamson was a menace to opponents in the paint, collecting a team-high four double-doubles, including career-highs of 22 points and 18 rebounds to open the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center last November. Williamson is also a threat at the free throw line, hitting almost 75 percent of her charity stripe attempts last year.

“Ashley is in great condition,” said Watkins of her only four-year senior. “She spent some time talking to me about being on a mission this year, and trying to make an impact in our program. She got off to a really good start last year, but didn’t finish as strong. We’ll need consistent scoring and rebounding out of her and I feel like we can get that from Ashley.”

Sharp shooting forward Geami Britt rounds out the senior class, and returns after leading the team in three-point shooting in 2008-09. In Britt’s first season in the Orange and Black after transferring from Okaloosa Walton where she played two seasons for the junior college, the Campbellton, Fla. native tallied a team-high 28 three point baskets at nearly a 40 percent rate.

Britt registered a Lady Camel season-high 24 points in a home win over Lipscomb, one of her 13 double figure scoring games from a year ago. The 6-foot-1 forward is the second of five team members to play in all 30 games in 2008-09 despite a nagging knee injury, starting eight times. Now healthy, the senior should be penciled in on a regular basis.

“Geami is back and pushing through, and I think she’s more fit than she was a year ago,” said Watkins. “She has also said to me that she wants to be a senior that makes something happen this year. Geami is a very versatile player that can play inside or outside. She loves the three and four spots, where she can spot up and shoot, or score with her back to the basket. So hopefully by her conditioning level going up and her knee being in a lot better shape than it was a year ago, it will be a much more consistent year for her.”

Lauren Yesh, the Lady Camels’ leading scorer and second-leading rebounder last season, returns as the team captain. A two year starter, the junior forward added range to her shot last year, hitting nine three pointers, to become a legitimate threat from behind the arc, as well as inside the paint. Yesh is a contributor on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court, notching at least 10 points and five rebounds nine times. The 5-foot-11 junior also blocked a team-high 14 shots on the year, and collected a career-high 18 points with four boards in the Lady Camels’ win at Winthrop last December, a team that made a WNIT appearance in 2009.

“Yesh is a strong leader and is very competitive,” Watkins said of her captain. “This means a lot to her, and it shows because she has put her heart and soul into it. She stayed down here all summer and trained. She’s really a big part of our team and one of the most underestimated players in our conference, in my opinion. I’ve said that for two years, and maybe this will be an eye opening year in a lot of ways.”

Those three upperclassmen combined for 35 double figure scoring performances and nearly half of the Lady Camels’ points from a year ago, and will head that strong nucleus of returners for Watkins.

“Geami, Ashley and Yesh all had some good games for us last year, and they were our most consistent players, but we’re going to need them to be more consistent,” added the Lady Camel head coach. “This year I think it’s going to be vital to get that out of them. They are a good core for us in the three, four and five spots. This core of players we have coming back, led by those three, is extremely dedicated. That’s what it’s going to take to move us to the next level.”

If not for a shoulder injury prior to her rookie season, Whitney Ferguson would also be in that group. Ferguson, another 6-foot forward with good shooting range and accuracy, contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds in an abbreviated season, playing in 12 contests before missing the final quarter of the year with an ACL injury.

“The thing with Whitney is that she had that ACL injury very late in the season last year, and she’s just now getting back, but she can still shoot,” said Watkins. “She doesn’t have her full agility back right now, but she is starting to, and she can still knock it in. We’ll have to see how she progresses, but she is working really hard and I think she is doing about as well as she could be with the timeframe she is working with.”

A 5-foot-10 forward from Wake Forest, Katelyn Bass gives the Lady Camels options in the post, and showed the ability to score down low and collect rebounds as a freshman. The sophomore will undoubtedly take on a more involved role in 2009-10. Even though the sophomore played in 24 games last year, she averaged 6.6 minutes with 2.1 points and 1.7 rebounds.

“Kate is the most fit player on the team,” praised Watkins. “She is one of the hardest working kids I have ever coached, and is a solid rebounder. She’s matured and I think a year’s experience for her, KC (Kate Cloxton) and Amanda will prove vital, especially with the year we had last year. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and I can see that in these kids.”

Kate Cloxton is the team’s lead returner at the point, possessing good court vision and shooting ability. Cloxton was second on the team with 56 assists last year and drained 20 three point baskets. The Winfield, W.Va. native also showed the capacity to score in bunches early in the year, leading the Lady Camels with 17 points at Charleston Southern, a game the then-rookie piloted Campbell to a 90-81 win.

Campbell’s 90 points in that game was the most in over five years, as Watkins and the Lady Camels grabbed a 107-90 win over former Atlantic Sun foe Florida Atlantic on Feb. 13, 2003. The total was also the most points a Campbell team has scored on the road since Jan. 10, 1998, when the Lady Camels took a 93-55 win at Samford.

“KC has made the most tremendous turnaround of any player I’ve had in a long time,” said Watkins. “She trained with strength and conditioning coach Andrew Carter a lot this summer, and when she went home, she stayed after it. She doesn’t even look like the same player to me.”

Campbell also returns versatile guard Amanda O’Neill, a sophomore with experience, starting 24 games last season. O’Neill’s defensive presence was most notable last season, serving as Watkins’ go-to defender and earning the Calloway Defensive Award, given to the Lady Camels’ top defender annually. The lengthy guard, standing at 6-feet tall, also contributed offensively, even in pressure situations, as her lay-in sealed a 56-50 win over Mercer in January.

“She had a solid year as a freshman, and was a pretty consistent player,” said Watkins. “Her year of experience has made a huge difference. To me, she looks more mature than what you would expect out of a sophomore. Her speed and athleticism are good. She is the type of player that will do whatever it is necessary to help the team.”

Leading a group of six new players is Courtney Cannon, who transferred to Buies Creek after two seasons at Itawamba Community College in Mississippi.

“Courtney can shoot it,” said Watkins on her first ever signee from the Magnolia State. “She has good range with two years of experience, and it shows on the court. She will certainly be an asset to us.”

Alyse Hall is one of the Lady Camels’ five athletic freshman, and one of the team’s four new guards.

“Alyse is probably the best athlete on our team,” said Watkins. “She is a tremendous leaper who is extremely quick."

Monique Spry is a local product, hailing from Wilson, who collected all-conference accolades three times with a state championship.

“Monique has tremendous potential,” said Watkins. “She comes out of great program and has all the fundamental tools. She knows how to play the game well and can score on the perimeter. She is a go-getter with a really strong work ethic, especially for a freshman.”

The rookie with the best athletic pedigree on the team is Tonisha Baker, whose father played in the NFL as a running back. Her brother, Toney, is also a high-caliber talent, being named North Carolina State’s starting running back prior to the 2009 season. Baker will be an immediate contributor for the Lady Camels this season.

“Tonisha could really make a difference for us,” said Watkins. “She is as quick and as fast as any player I’ve ever coached, and is pretty polished at times for a freshman. “

Watkins also brought on a pair of post players, boosting an already deep frontcourt that led the Atlantic Sun in rebounding last season. Jazmine Cooper, a starter for the East in the 2009 North Carolina All-Star Game, led South View High to a 54-4 record during her two seasons in Fayetteville.

“Coach Carter raves about the strength she already has as a freshman,” said Watkins. “From a physical and a basketball standpoint, Jazmine has the ability to be a really good player, and she’s getting there mentally.”

Finally, Rachel Estenson reaches the highest altitude of any current Lady Camel, standing at 6-foot-3. Estenson, like O’Neill and Williamson is a Virginia product, and was a standout Tidewater area player.

“Rachel is a good shooter with good tools,” said Watkins. “She is going to have to put on some strength, but she is already started to do that.”

Fans could see a couple of milestones for the Lady Camel program this season as well. In its second season inside the John W. Pope, Jr. Convocation Center the team sits at 349 NCAA Division I wins since making the move prior to the 1986-87 season. Also in reach is 550 total program wins, as CU stands at 536 to date.

“It has been fun and rewarding to see this program grow over the years,” said Watkins. “When I think back to how women’s basketball was when I first got here, compared to how it is now, it’s been a complete metamorphosis. It’s been like that for the entire sport. Back when I was a player, you would never have thought that girls would have a place to play like the WNBA. It’s all been a great thing to be involved with.”

In the program’s 38th season, Watkins feels good about the team’s prospects, and its mesh.

“The chemistry and the closeness of this team is good,” said Watkins. “I think we’ll be a quick team, quicker than we have been in the past. I think inside-outside play with our speed and quickness will help us this year. We’re looking forward to getting started.”

11 Days of A-Sun Basketball Schedule
Oct. 28 - Campbell 
Oct. 39 - Lipscomb
Oct. 30 - UNF 
Nov.  2 - USC Upstate
Nov.  3 - Stetson 
Nov.  4 - Kennesaw State
Nov.  5 - Mercer
Nov.  6 - Jacksonville 
Nov.  9 - Belmont 
Nov. 10 - ETSU
Nov. 11 - FGCU