University of New Hampshire Athletics
From Senegal With Passion
2/22/2016 3:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball
A story on Iba Camara
Iba Camara has traveled 3,706 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Durham, New Hampshire. As a current sophomore on the University of New Hampshire men's basketball team, number 10 is a number to know. Iba is a 6-foot-9, 220-pound rebounding powerhouse. Hard to believe since he didn't know what basketball was until 2007. He has been averaging almost nine rebounds a game, and is currently the league's second-leading rebounder. A key power forward on the team, Iba has climbed the skill ladder tremendously.
"Iba could possibly be the most improved player in the league this year," said head coach Bill Herrion. Camara's playing more minutes, strengthening himself, and his game has gone to the next level. Coach Herrion admires that Iba works very hard on his own spare time on his game. The level of play that Iba has shown in the season thus far has convinced Herrion to say, "I think he'll be one of the top rebounders in the country by his junior or senior year."
The truth is there's plenty more to Iba than just his remarkable game and improvement. Camara is originally from Dakar, Senegal, in Western Africa. He has four siblings--two brothers and two sisters. He grew up never knowing the love he would have for basketball until a day when one of his friends convinced him to play at the local gym, and he struck gold.
"I was having so much fun, I really liked it," Iba said of his first days on the court.
Before coming to America, Camara had never left home. He got the opportunity to come play in the United States, which he says was an "exciting, yet nerve-wracking" time.
"A lot of people back home want the opportunity that I have," said Camara. Iba first attended a military boarding school in Florida, where he stayed with a host family, the Eaton's.
"I was very lucky," said Camara on getting to live with a host family that treated him so well. With this host family came someone who Iba grew to call his mom, Karen Eaton.
Karen is the woman who taught Iba English, bought him books, had him take notes, and secured him a place in her family.
"First it was just hand signals, you know, then he became more comfortable talking out loud," Karen said when discussing the English-learning process Iba went through.
"She really helped me understand things by having me sit down and learn more each day."
Throughout those two years, Iba began to think of the Eaton family as his own, sharing the common language of basketball.
"He gives more to us than we could ever give to him," said Karen. "He's just a really amazing kid."
Iba is known to the Eaton family as the hardest working person they've ever met, and truth be told it shows on the court.
Camara proceeded to transfer his senior year to a school in Baltimore, the St. Paul's School. This became the viewing ground where UNH's assistant coach Ken Dempsey first spotted him. The recruiting process then began, which led Iba to Durham.
"I love this school, it's great. It's like a dream come true, honestly," Camara said. "It's a lot of work, but I like it," added the International Affairs and French major.
Along with English, Iba also speaks Senegal's national language of French. The part of Senegal where Iba is from speaks a specific dialect among each family as well. There is also the regional language of Waalo, and to top it all off with a fourth language, comes English.
"The families are huge, so everyone has their different language."
When Iba came to the States, he said understanding the automatic soap and water machines in restrooms came as a shock. Another difficulty, he said, was comprehending American humor, such as 'Yo Mama' jokes, for example.
"If you said that in Senegal, someone would slap you."
Iba, who lists Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant as his role model, wants to emulate his idol.
"I hope I can get better and one day be able to play in the NBA."
"Whatever dream he has, I hope he'll realize that dream and pursue it," said Karen. "Most of all I'm just happy he'll be able to get a great college degree, and have basketball there too."
A 6-foot-9 West African, speaking three languages that aspires to be in the NBA, the story of Iba Camara can perhaps be best summed up by a quote from his favorite athlete, Kevin Durant.
"I'm a basketball player. That's what I do and what I love but that's not just all who I am. I'm talented in a lot of different areas."
"Iba could possibly be the most improved player in the league this year," said head coach Bill Herrion. Camara's playing more minutes, strengthening himself, and his game has gone to the next level. Coach Herrion admires that Iba works very hard on his own spare time on his game. The level of play that Iba has shown in the season thus far has convinced Herrion to say, "I think he'll be one of the top rebounders in the country by his junior or senior year."
The truth is there's plenty more to Iba than just his remarkable game and improvement. Camara is originally from Dakar, Senegal, in Western Africa. He has four siblings--two brothers and two sisters. He grew up never knowing the love he would have for basketball until a day when one of his friends convinced him to play at the local gym, and he struck gold.
"I was having so much fun, I really liked it," Iba said of his first days on the court.
Before coming to America, Camara had never left home. He got the opportunity to come play in the United States, which he says was an "exciting, yet nerve-wracking" time.
"A lot of people back home want the opportunity that I have," said Camara. Iba first attended a military boarding school in Florida, where he stayed with a host family, the Eaton's.
"I was very lucky," said Camara on getting to live with a host family that treated him so well. With this host family came someone who Iba grew to call his mom, Karen Eaton.
Karen is the woman who taught Iba English, bought him books, had him take notes, and secured him a place in her family.
"First it was just hand signals, you know, then he became more comfortable talking out loud," Karen said when discussing the English-learning process Iba went through.
"She really helped me understand things by having me sit down and learn more each day."
Throughout those two years, Iba began to think of the Eaton family as his own, sharing the common language of basketball.
"He gives more to us than we could ever give to him," said Karen. "He's just a really amazing kid."
Iba is known to the Eaton family as the hardest working person they've ever met, and truth be told it shows on the court.
Camara proceeded to transfer his senior year to a school in Baltimore, the St. Paul's School. This became the viewing ground where UNH's assistant coach Ken Dempsey first spotted him. The recruiting process then began, which led Iba to Durham.
"I love this school, it's great. It's like a dream come true, honestly," Camara said. "It's a lot of work, but I like it," added the International Affairs and French major.
Along with English, Iba also speaks Senegal's national language of French. The part of Senegal where Iba is from speaks a specific dialect among each family as well. There is also the regional language of Waalo, and to top it all off with a fourth language, comes English.
"The families are huge, so everyone has their different language."
When Iba came to the States, he said understanding the automatic soap and water machines in restrooms came as a shock. Another difficulty, he said, was comprehending American humor, such as 'Yo Mama' jokes, for example.
"If you said that in Senegal, someone would slap you."
Iba, who lists Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant as his role model, wants to emulate his idol.
"I hope I can get better and one day be able to play in the NBA."
"Whatever dream he has, I hope he'll realize that dream and pursue it," said Karen. "Most of all I'm just happy he'll be able to get a great college degree, and have basketball there too."
A 6-foot-9 West African, speaking three languages that aspires to be in the NBA, the story of Iba Camara can perhaps be best summed up by a quote from his favorite athlete, Kevin Durant.
"I'm a basketball player. That's what I do and what I love but that's not just all who I am. I'm talented in a lot of different areas."
Players Mentioned
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