Napheesa Collier

Yeah. There was, I mean, of course, like, you know, we grew up in a super like white town. My dad's African. So, you know, going to school, just feeling so different. Like, I think one of my first memories from kindergarten was, um, it was like a K through 12 school and I was the only black person in the whole school.

Yeah. There was, I mean, of course, like, you know, we grew up in a super like white town. My dad's African. So, you know, going to school, just feeling so different. Like, I think one of my first memories from kindergarten was, um, it was like a K through 12 school and I was the only black person in the whole school.

And one of the little girls was like, oh, we can't play with you anymore because you're black and we're white. And that was the first time I ever heard that. So just from that moment on, I felt like I just really was conscious of that. I look different than everyone. So that's just hard growing up, you know.

And one of the little girls was like, oh, we can't play with you anymore because you're black and we're white. And that was the first time I ever heard that. So just from that moment on, I felt like I just really was conscious of that. I look different than everyone. So that's just hard growing up, you know.

But and then, you know, kind of from the same thread, like everyone from that town knew each other growing up. And when my brother and I were trying to play sports. We were trying to get on the teams when we were younger and they never had room for us on the teams to play. So my parents actually went out and we got kids from surrounding towns and we created our own basketball team.

But and then, you know, kind of from the same thread, like everyone from that town knew each other growing up. And when my brother and I were trying to play sports. We were trying to get on the teams when we were younger and they never had room for us on the teams to play. So my parents actually went out and we got kids from surrounding towns and we created our own basketball team.

And we ended up, you know, winning all these championships with that team. And all of a sudden they had room for us after that.

And we ended up, you know, winning all these championships with that team. And all of a sudden they had room for us after that.

I was always tall.

I was always tall.

Yeah, I know as a kid, you want nothing more than to blend in. That changes as you get older. But yeah, I mean, it's really hard to be different when you're a kid. Kids are mean. Being different is not the cool thing at that time. And so it is hard to do that.

Yeah, I know as a kid, you want nothing more than to blend in. That changes as you get older. But yeah, I mean, it's really hard to be different when you're a kid. Kids are mean. Being different is not the cool thing at that time. And so it is hard to do that.

But again, I feel like my family was so strong that it's like, even if you feel like different at school, like, you can't help but be happy because I had such a happy childhood with my family.

But again, I feel like my family was so strong that it's like, even if you feel like different at school, like, you can't help but be happy because I had such a happy childhood with my family.

I mean the same thing. But I think sports also helped a lot with that because when you're playing sports, also like all those kind of petty things that happen at school, they don't happen when you're playing. You have such a united goal towards something when you're playing. Just all my friendships were through sports. And so, yeah, I mean...

I mean the same thing. But I think sports also helped a lot with that because when you're playing sports, also like all those kind of petty things that happen at school, they don't happen when you're playing. You have such a united goal towards something when you're playing. Just all my friendships were through sports. And so, yeah, I mean...

Yeah, especially girls. It's a huge, I mean, there's so many stats saying the top women in their fields, they all played sports. Just the confidence that it builds, the, you know, leadership skills, the people skills, just everything. It's great.

Yeah, especially girls. It's a huge, I mean, there's so many stats saying the top women in their fields, they all played sports. Just the confidence that it builds, the, you know, leadership skills, the people skills, just everything. It's great.

Um, I would probably say eighth grade because I got my first college scholarship then. And that was before they were really, they do it a little bit more now. So I think that was it. And I almost signed like on the spot. But my dad's the one that kind of pulled me and my mom off the ledge. He's like, you're 14.

Um, I would probably say eighth grade because I got my first college scholarship then. And that was before they were really, they do it a little bit more now. So I think that was it. And I almost signed like on the spot. But my dad's the one that kind of pulled me and my mom off the ledge. He's like, you're 14.