July 30, 2010
This week we are taking a break from freshmen introductions to update you on one of our veterans, senior guard Amanda Best. Amanda has spent her summer here in Albuquerque taking a biology class, completing vigorous workouts, and preparing for her adventure at the beginning of August, a tour with Athletes In Action (AIA).
AIA is a program that athletes can join in hopes of sharing the faith of Jesus Christ through the platform that basketball provides. According to www.aiabasketball.org, the program allows participants “to serve, minister, and travel to another country, compete in high level athletic competition, teach and develop the game of basketball overseas, and grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ through daily Bible studies and Christian community.
Amanda will fly to Chicago on the 11th of August to complete training camp before her team takes off to Prague, Czech Republic. Female student-athletes from various college basketball teams will come together to practice against BA Sparta Praha, a women’s professional team in Prague. This will not only help the professional and the collegiate athletes to improve their skills, but it will provide an opportunity for Amanda and her teammates to strengthen and share their faith.
After two weeks of playing basketball and sharing her faith in an atheist-based country, Amanda will return to New Mexico just in time for school to begin. “I’m hoping to gain more experience playing against professional teams, to see if I would like to do that in the future. I know it’s going to be tough spiritually, but I am looking forward to challenging myself and growing from this experience,” Amanda said.
And now, a quick Q&A with Amanda about this upcoming season and her senior year.
How has your summer been?
It has been pretty laid back. Everyday I go run and lift weights, then go shoot. I have class one day a week and I’ve been working for a professor in the biology department, so I’ve been doing things like making probes out of sticks and trees!
What do you look forward to most about being a senior?
I just look forward to the whole year. I feel like the team is going to be a lot closer than years past. I’m looking forward to having better team bonding and chemistry. I believe that’s what playing basketball is about.
How do you plan on using your leadership to benefit the team?
I’d like to be somebody that the younger players can come up to and talk to. Basketball can be really stressful, and I want to be somebody that can help out with confidence and advice on or off the court. Basically just a good teammate!
How has being in New Mexico for the past three years changed who you are?
This whole trip has shown me how supportive people are here. I’ve gotten mentally tougher and more independent. It’s hard sometimes without family, but that’s a good thing. I found a good church with great people and have grown in my faith. That’s been the most important thing for me.
What are your biggest goals for your senior season?
I just want to make it back to the NCAA Tournament because the last time we were there was my freshman year. I want to have a better team experience, I feel like we haven’t been close past few years.
What are some of your most memorable moments at UNM?
All the team stuff we’ve done like barbeques, our camping excursion, and all trips we travel on together.
What will you miss most about New Mexico?
I’ll miss playing basketball here; we have a lot of good fans and support. I’ll miss just playing on the team.
From the U will return to the freshman introduction series next Friday. Visit GoLobos.com in one week to meet Erin Boettcher!