Senior guard Courtney Cannon, a standout on the court and in the classroom at Campbell, talks with us about her Lady Camel career, plans after graduation and her secret to success at the free throw line. The Starkville, Miss., native is averaging 7.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game for the Lady Camels, hitting over 85 percent of her free throw attempts this season.

Q: You wear the number 22, is there any significance to that number?

Cannon: No, not really. I wore 22 in high school, and when I went to JUCO, I changed to number 11. So, when I came to Campbell, I had a choice, so I changed back to my high school number, 22.

Q: Why did you decide to come to Campbell?

Cannon: On my visit, Campbell very much felt like home. The players were all very close, and the coaching staff was really nice. The environment; everyone was so close that it felt like family. Being so far away from home, I wanted that feeling, like I was at home.

Q: You carry one of the higher GPA's on the team and you were an NJCAA Academic All-American at Itawamba Community College. What is you secret to having success in the classroom and on the court?

Cannon: There really is no secret, you just have to get it done. You're a student first, before you are an athlete. In order to play basketball, you have to have your grades up. I just try to do my best to get that done first, and focus on my basketball after.

Q: What are your best memories of your basketball career at Campbell?

Cannon: The best part is getting the chance to play with there girls. Everyone doesn't have the chemistry that we have on and off the court. We're close, and we stick by each other through everything. We're like family, and that's a good feeling to have.

Q: What is your most memorable game as a Lady Camel?

Cannon: Probably when I got my career-high (scored 22 points in Campbell's 81-66 win at Lipscomb on Jan. 17, 2011). It was special because my family actually got a chance to make it out to the game. Because they don't get to make it to every game, it made me feel really good that they could be there and see me perform.

Q: You're an accounting major, what are your plans after graduating in May?

Cannon: I plan on going back home for grad school at Mississippi State, getting my master's in accounting and going from there, studying for the CPA exam.

Q: Would you say that you've modeled your game after any player?

Cannon: No, I don't think so. I've never really thought about that, but my favorite basketball player is Kobe Bryant. I'm not I mirror him at all, but I admire his work ethic and how hard he works.

Q: What's going through your head when you go to the free throw line?

Cannon: I just have this little saying, where I say to myself, "This is what I do." Then I say, "knees," like bend your knees, and I just see it though. That's my routine.

Q: You're one of the top free throw shooters in the conference, with two streaks that have approached 20 in a row this season. The free throw line psyches a lot of people out, even perfectly good shooters. What do you think is the key to your success there?

Cannon: Not thinking about it. If you think about it too hard, you will psyche yourself out. You have to go up there and do what you always do. The free throw line is a routine, so don't change anything and don't think about it too much, because that's when it gets tough.

Q: You seem to try to draw a lot of fouls, just so you can go to the free throw line.

Cannon: I know that's one of the strong points of my game. I'm aggressive, and I like getting to the free throw line. I really like it (laughs).

Q: What do you do to prepare for a game? Any rituals or superstitions?

Cannon: Not really, I just like to always take a nap. That's really the only thing. I have to take a nap.

Q: What would you say is your role on the team?

Cannon: At the beginning of the season, Coach Watkins gave us the task of assigning everybody a role. For me, that was a motivator because mine was making sure to pick everybody up. Being a senior, I have to be there for my teammates. I try to keep everybody on a straight path, keeping them motivated, up and encouraged.

Q: You attend a lot of other sporting events at Campbell. What do you like about going to games and seeing your fellow student-athletes in action?

Cannon: I love supporting them. I know that if we give them support, then they'll return it. It feels good to have someone behind you.

Q: You're the only current player on the team that attended junior college. How do you think that route and that experience has shaped you?

Cannon: It's a big jump from high school to Division I, and a lot of people can't make that transition easily. I think going to junior college really helped me transition better.

Q: What made you go to junior college first?

Cannon: I'm not totally sure. A lot of people ask me that. My junior college coach (Nanci Gray) actually coached against me in high school at one of our big rival schools. When she moved to (Itawamba), she recruited me, and she really wanted me. I just felt like it was right and she was a really good coach.

Q: How do you want to be remembered as a player at Campbell?

Cannon: Just as someone who picks everybody else up. Also as a hard worker, encouraging, a team player and a positive person all the time.