UMTERPS.COM SAT DOWN WITH AMARI DEBERRY TO GET TO KNOW HER ON AND OFF THE COURT
Question; What made you start playing basketball?
Amari DeBerry: I got into basketball when I was probably five or six years old. My mom would take me and my sister to a court to teach us the basics. Then when I got on a real team with other girls going to tournaments, I was in fourth grade.
Q: Who has been the most influential person in your life?
AD: My mom is probably the most influential person to me.
Q: What has been the most memorable experience of your career so far?
AD: I transferred from UConn and I think going to the national championship my freshman year was the most memorable. We lost, but it was still like a great experience.
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
AD: No, not really. I just try and take my time. I try to be more slow-paced before the game so I'm not rushing myself and I like getting all worked up before so just stay chill and then once warm-up starts that's when I like to get going. It all sort of depends on what I need during each game.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
AD: Make decisions based on me and not what other people think.
Q: What is your major and dream job?
AD: My major is sociology. I never really had a dream job. I kind of go with the flow. Right now I am focused on basketball and basketball after college.
Q: Why Maryland?
AD: I always had a relationship with Maryland back from high school. I got recruited by Brenda and the rest of the staff so I kind of had a feel of what the vibe was here and once I finally took my official visit to the portal, I really felt like they are like a family. Family-first attitude, they care about the whole player, not just the basketball side of things, and that's really important to me.
Q: Favorite part of the Croatia trip?
AD: I think everyone has probably said the boat day but for me, my favorite part was having my mom and sister there. I think just seeing how everyone on the team interacted with them and making them all feel so welcome was nice.
Q: If you didn't play basketball, what sport would you play?
AD: Volleyball, I played in high school. I broke my school's record twice in blocks. I set the record and then broke my own record the following year.
Q: If you brought a friend to Maryland, where would you take them to eat?
AD: Burtons or Iron Rooster. At Iron Rooster I get their breakfast sandwich and a waffle. At Burtons, I love their chicken Caesar salad.
Q: If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would they be?
AD: Freddie Mercury, I think he'd be pretty cool. Lebron, no I change my mind, Michael Jordan. Then I would have Hozier there.
Q: If your sport had a mascot based on you, what would it be?
AD: A giraffe
