Question: When you decided to transfer to Maryland, what was important to you or what influenced you to become a Terp?
Tafara Gapare: To be honest, it goes back to a relationship that I had in the past with the coaches at Maryland. I ended up going to a different school, but coming here on my visits is where I first started to get to know a lot of the people around the program. Maryland has always felt like home to me so that was a big influence for me as well as being around coaches that really wanted me to be here.
Q: Now that you're here, what is the team culture like?
TG: It's pretty early in the process. I guess I'm still getting to know some guys. But it looks like it's gonna be a fun year because everybody enjoys being around each other. Especially the coaches and their investing time in the 'US' and 'US' giving them what they want back.
Q: How would you say practices and training are going so far?
TG: Training is a little bit harder right now. Practice at the moment looks like it's getting better, it's still the summer so definitely a lot of stuff to work on.
Q: In your career, what do you think the most memorable experience has been?
TG: I think my old school when we beat Duke. I was shell shocked!
Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals or anything you have to do before a game?
TG: Yeah, I have to pray before and I pray during the national anthem. And then I have to go up to the little pad underneath the basket and punch it a few times and pray again.
Q: Do you have any pregame food you have to eat?
TG: I have to eat fruit snacks and I have to eat again. Also peanut butter crackers - I have to have one of those and then stick the rest under my seat.
Q: What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
TG: It is actually a quote on my chest: "Shoot for the moon and, if you miss, you'll land among the stars."
Q: If your sport had a mascot based on you, what would it look like? And what would it be called?
TG: Maybe not a real mascot, but as a person. Do you know Norbit? Yeah, he would be my mascot.
Q: If you didn't play basketball, what sport would you play and why?
TG: Okay, I have multiple sports that I play, but I don't know what it will be. Maybe like rugby or soccer.
Q: What position would you play in soccer?
TG: I would play midfield, I would just be running the whole time. Maybe striker to get a little rest.
Q: What would be your weirdest food combination you've ever tried?
TG: Is mayo on hot dog crazy? Or banana and peanut butter? I like both of those but I don't know if that's weird here or not.
