GOLD RUSH: She's a Veteran Now
12/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
This article was originally published in the November-December edition of Gold Rush.
By Jay Reddick
Imagine it's your first month in a new office.
It's a job you've done before – you're pretty good at it; that's why you were able to get this prestigious position in a new city. But you've never worked for this boss before, haven't learned the quirks of your new colleagues or the system you all share. And oh, by the way, the boss expects you to be one of the top performers in the office right away.
That's daunting for anyone. But like many freshman athletes, that's what Amber Campbell experienced last year.
Campbell, a women's basketball guard from Charleston, S.C., did well on her first annual review – she averaged 10.7 points per game for the Deacons last year, and was one of the most prolific 3-point shooters and defenders on the squad.
Now she has a year of experience, which means she's getting more comfortable, taking a bigger role and even teaching her new "colleagues" a thing or two. It's a challenge Campbell isn't accustomed to but one she's ready for.
"I'm trying to step up more as a leader," Campbell said. "It's not exactly natural for me; I've been working on it for a while now. But I'm getting the hang of it."
With five new faces on the Deacons' roster, Campbell has many chances to teach what she has learned. Coach Jen Hoover said she's been pleased by her progress.
"She's looking really good now, really confident," Hoover said. "As a veteran, she's not afraid to call a drill out or teach the new players what's expected. We've instilled confidence in her; now we're trying to get that back from her and she's doing well."
This season's team has the potential to look much different from last year's 13-20 squad. While last season's Deacons centered on record-setting forward Dearica Hamby's skill set, Hoover has envisioned a 2015-16 team built around guards who are dynamic off the dribble and get up and down the court quickly.
That could be a great thing for Campbell, who only showed off some of her athletic gifts last season. The former high-school track star could be asked to become more of a creator in the new offensive sets.
"I'm really looking forward to the faster pace and tempo," Campbell said. "It's changed a lot in our half-court setup and our transition. I'm looking forward to getting out there and winning."
Campbell said she has always loved to run. She played many sports as a kid, but track and basketball soon emerged as her two favorites. She was a long jumper, and though she competed in some shorter sprints, the 400-meter run was always her specialty – the ultimate combination of speed and endurance.
"I liked the 400," Campbell said. "It's one time around the track, keeping an even pace, but saving enough energy that when you get closer to the finish, you can push it and drive to the end."
Campbell decided to focus her greatest effort on basketball in high school, but those lessons from track never left her. That's why she was able to average 28 minutes per game while starting every contest for the Deacons a year ago.
That durability is crucial, but one of the early strengths of this year's Wake Forest squad appears to be its backcourt depth. The addition of more players, plus some other changes that are affecting the entire sport this year, have altered Hoover's approach.
Games this year are played in four 10-minute quarters, with a free-throw bonus after five fouls in each quarter instead of seven in a half. To Hoover's way of thinking, that lends itself to greater physicality on offense.
"We're more athletic top to bottom," Hoover said. "We have a lot of bigger bodies who like the contact of the game, especially the guards who are thriving as they finish plays and draw contact. It was also nice to start practice a few days earlier, because it's given us the chance for more days off and the freedom to go all-out on the days we do work out."
No matter what, this year's Deacons are a different team and a fun one to watch. And with a year of experience under her belt, Campbell is ready to be a part of the team's growth.
