STANFORD – Even whereas removed from Stanford’s pristine Bay Space campus, Tara VanDerveer retains herself busy on trip.
The legendary former Cardinal girls’s basketball coach water skis within the morning, creates lesson plans for her upcoming class at Stanford, and retains a watch on her new yellow Labrador because the pet frolics alongside the lakeside.
However come 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, nothing will hold VanDerveer from discovering a tv to look at her former participant, Cameron Brink, play towards the hometown Valkyries for the primary time.
The 6-foot-5 publish will play in simply her fourth sport since getting back from a devastating knee harm that lower her rookie yr brief after simply 15 video games.
“It was devastating to see her get hurt, and I’m so excited that she’s back,” VanDerveer, 72, advised the Bay Space Information Group this week. “I’m just so excited that she’s healthy, and you know, knock on wood, I just want her to be healthy the rest of her career.”
Now that Brink is again on the courtroom, she has the prospect to meet her potential.
“She was obviously one of the very best in college, and I think that as she matures as a pro player, and she gets the experience as a pro player, I think Cam has an unlimited, high ceiling,” VanDerveer stated.
Sparks ahead Cameron Brink is launched earlier than throughout a WNBA basketball sport towards the Las Vegas Aces, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Picture/Ryan Solar)
Sure, in a world the place A’ja Wilson and Napheesa Collier reign within the frontcourt, and Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers mild it up as guards, Brink’s distinctive mix of athleticism, defensive aptitude and shot-making reminds VanDerveer of one other all-time nice Spark in Lisa Leslie.
And if Leslie is her professional comp, then meaning Brink’s ceiling is, effectively …
“It’s not about being a top WNBA defensive player,” VanDerveer stated. “It’s about being the top player, period.”
Brink entered the WNBA with a lot fanfare because the No. 2 decide by the Los Angeles Sparks within the 2024 WNBA draft, and there’s no thriller as to why.
The high-impact heart was an integral piece of Stanford’s 2020-21 nationwide championship squad and completed her profession on The Farm as one of many best gamers within the historical past of VanDerveer’s storied program.
As a rookie, Brink seemed to be effectively on her strategy to changing into a star when she tore her ACL and meniscus in her left knee. As the previous Cardinal rehabbed, VanDerveer gave sound recommendation to her former protege.
“Listen to (former Stanford athlete and current trainer) Susan King Borchardt, because Susan knows what to do,” VanDerveer advised Brink.
Accidents weren’t sufficient to maintain a rehabbing Brink, certainly one of 34 Stanford alumni to make it to the WNBA, out of the highlight.
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Clips from her “Straight to Cam” podcast with Steph Curry’s sister Sydell Curry-Lee commonly go viral, and Brink nonetheless had endorsements with Stanley, Topps, and numerous trend manufacturers.
Her faculty coach, who completed her run at Stanford with a then-record 1,157 victories, believes it is likely to be clever for Brink to chop again on these different obligations as her basketball profession is restarted.
“Maybe when you’re hurt, you can do all the interviews and podcasts and photoshoots,” VanDerveer stated. “But a lot of her success will be based on her ability to be very focused on basketball. At the highest level, you can’t burn the candle out on both ends. You’ve got to take care of your body, get a lot of rest, eat right.”
VanDerveer is assured that Brink will just do that.
“She’s incredibly talented, and even though she lacks pro experience, she’s fearless,” VanDerveer stated.
Former longtime Stanford Cardinal head coach Tara VanDerveer, heart, cheers with former Stanford participant Cameron Brink, high left, throughout their NCAA sport towards Le Moyne at Maples Pavilion in Stanford, Calif., on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Space Information Group)
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