695HOOPS WHERE IT'S ALWAYS ALL ABOUT THE GIRLS
Brya Freeland
695: How old were you when you started playing ball?
Brya: I was 12 when I picked up my first ball. I was 13 when I started playing organized ball.
695: What AAU teams have you played for?
Brya: I have played for MD Lady Shooting Stars and Alana Beard's Future.
695: You turned down a couple of Ivy League schools for Lafayette. How did you decide on Lafayette?
Brya: Of course nothing can beat an Ivy league education, but the connection from a basketball perspective was not there when I visited Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. When I visited Lafayette and I heard that the Yale assistant coach would be the new head coach I knew it would be the best of both worlds. An Ivy league coach who put an emphasis on grades with a vision of becoming a top program in the conference.
695: Is it true that you have a twin? Does she play ball too?
Brya: Ha ha, yes I do have a twin, fraternal though so we look nothing alike. She doesn't play basketball but she does play volleyball and is pretty good at it.
695: Where did you grow up?
Brya: I was born in D.C. but I grew up in Clinton, MD. PG County all day!
695: What's your favorite subject in school?
Brya: School comes easy to me, but I have to say that math is my favorite subject.
695: What do you plan to major in at Lafayette?
Brya: When I get to Lafayette I plan to major in computer engineering or business management like my parents.
695: What have you added to your Ipod recently?
Brya: Recently I have added some Charlie Wilson. I love R&B and some Rod Lee, Baltimore club songs are my pump up songs.
695: Can you dance? I mean can you really dance or just a two step?
Brya: Of course I can dance. I can bust a move when the right music is playing. Dougie, John Wall, you name it (laughing).
695: What's your favorite food and who do you want to cook it?
Brya: I love all kinds of food but I gotta say my favorite food is either pasta or chili. I would want my mom to make it. She is from the South, so we get that southern cooking.
695: Talk about last season and losing those games to St.Frances...
Byra: Last season was different. Being led by no seniors, the 4 juniors, Maggie, Sherae, Girlie (Shaquila Curtis) and myself had to lead our team. Each with our own strengths we put Spalding girls basketball back on the map. We had our good games and our not so good games. I think we finished with 20+ wins and 5 or 6 losses, 4 of those losses from the same team, St. Frances. It was always tough and challenging games with St. Frances, led by Shatyra Hawkes and Breezi Hutchen both great players. We just had to do our best to contain them and then play our game as a team and see the results. Unfortunately we could not come out with a win against them last year but this year that is going to change.
695: What do you want to add to your game?
Brya: I am definitely working on my 3 point shot as well as creating an even quicker first step against my defender. And of course my lockdown defense.
695: Spalding is off to a great start this season. How is it playing for a team that plays such a tough schedule?
695: I bring 110% every game no matter who we play. At this point the schedule is now similar to my AAU team's typical schedule. My AAU coach, Coach Jamar Holley, always taught me to be the best you gotta play and beat the best. I'm happy that we are playing tougher teams it proves that Spalding is a team that can compete and beat top teams anywhere.
695: If you could spend the day with one person who would it be and why?
Brya: If I could spend a whole day with one person it would be my god brother Mike. I have known him since the day I was born. My real brother died and it seems that Mike stepped into the role of being my brother and has truly been there for me. We are so much alike in so many ways, we have a great time anytime we are together.
695: Thanks and good luck this season.
Brya: Thank you.
