By Macy Currie | Student Reporter
 
In his first year with the Campbell Basketball team, Austin McCullough was a valued asset off the bench as a 3-point sharpshooter (40.5 percent), who provided an emotional lift.  A native of Birmingham, Ala., McCullough finished high school in Michigan before signing with PAC 12 member California.  After a year with the Golden Bears, plus a year at CC of San Francisco, McCullough joined the Camels and appeared in all 31 games, while shooting 46 percent overall and 83 percent from the line.  He sat down recently for a conversation with student reporter Macy Currie about basketball and the lift of a student-athlete, in general.
 
Question: Who has had the greatest influence on your athletic career? Why?
Austin McCullough: I'd probably say my Dad (Jay).  He's always been there.  We've definitely had arguments and I've definitely been really mad at him at times and he's been really mad at me, but at the end of the day he was always trying to make my games and support me.  He has always been there to give advice and listen and just always be there.
 
Q: What are some lessons your dad taught you?
AM: Don't back down from anybody.  Never Quit. Always be the hardest worker. Play with pride and a whole lot of passion.
 
Q: What expectations did you have about D1 college basketball?
AM: I always knew it was going to be really hard, people say it all the time.  You think you work hard in high school, but once you get to college you realize that you didn't work that hard.  Especially freshman year, it's like a wakeup call.
 
Q: What is something most people don't understand about student-athletes?
AM: Time management.  We're in practice three or four hours a day.  They have to be good at managing their classes and practice schedules. 
 
Q: Who would you say are the hardest workers on the team?
AM: Everyone always says Cory (Gensler), but really everyone on the team works hard.  A lot of people don't know that Ricky (Clemons) was always in the gym shooting, so was Jordan (Whitfield) and Trey (Spencer).  There was never really a time where you could walk into the gym and not find anyone in there working out.
 
Q: Who would you say is the funniest on the team?
AM: We talk about that a lot, actually.  It really just depends on the day, honestly.  Everybody's pretty funny.  Josh (Lusane) is really funny.  Messiah (Thompson) is pretty funny.  So are Ja'Cor (Nelson) and Jordan.  Everybody's kind of got their thing.
 
Q: Who would you say is the leader on the team?
AM:  I think everybody's kind of taken a role no matter what it might be.  From this past season, I would definitely say Cory led by example a lot.  I was really impressed with some of the younger guys this year showing leadership.
 
Q: How is your experience as a junior college transfer different than someone who came in as a true freshman?
AM:  I already had one year of experience in Division I before coming to Campbell.  Coming from a junior college I definitely feel like it made me more mature.  I've seen some things, I've been around.  This upcoming season will be the first year in three or four years that I have played with the same guys as the year before. 
 
Q: What was the best basketball road trip you have been on?
AM: I went to Hawaii and played at the Maui invitational my freshman year (at CaliforniaI), that was pretty nice.
 
Q: Who would you say is Campbell's biggest rival?
AM: I haven't been around long enough to say really, but I have heard High Point is a big one for us.  But there's also Radford and Gardner-Webb. 
 
Q: What has been your favorite arena that you have ever played in?
AM:  I have been blessed to play in like 30 something states.  UCLA Pauley Pavilion is legendary.  I really liked Washington; but you can't beat Arizona, they sell out every game. 
 
Q: What is your favorite class?
AM:  Interpersonal Communication with professor Barrick Butler.  I was really disappointed when our semester got cut short because I really liked going to her class.
 
Q: What is your favorite food?
AM: Fajitas.  Chicken, peppers, all that stuff.  I'm a big avocado guac guy.
 
Q: How do you define success?
AM:  I don't like to use the word "success" - I just like to try and work towards it.  But, I go back to what my dad always said, "you always gotta stand for something, work for something."  Which I have always kind of translated into setting goals.  Setting some goals you can achieve and some you can't, so you're always hungry and always trying to work towards that goal. 
 
Q: When you were growing up who did you pattern your game after? Who did you pretend to be in the driveway/yard etc.? Why that person?
AM:  I'm real physical and don't back down from anybody.  Tyler Hansbrough from UNC has always been a big one for me.  When I was in the fourth grade, we had a project about who was our role model.  Most kids did their mom or dad or grandparents, I did a picture of Hansbrough with a bloody nose.  I just loved him, I loved how physical he was.  Another big one for me was Marshall Henderson (Ole Miss) and just the swag he had.
 
Q: What is your most memorable moment playing basketball?
AM:  My freshman year of high school, my family had just moved to Michigan.  I was a freshman playing on the varsity basketball team and we were playing our rival school.  I hit three 3s in a row in the last two minutes of the game to put our team ahead.  We ended up winning and the whole place started chanting "He's a freshman!" So, that was pretty cool.
 
Q: Do you have any traditions or superstitions?
AM:  I used to, but not so much anymore.  If anything, I've become the opposite since I'm wearing the No. 13 right now.  I am a big conspiracy theorist, though.  Like Nike and Under Armor socks that have the left and right on them, I think they do that so they wear out quicker.  So, I wouldn't say I'm superstitious - more of a conspiracy theorist.
 
Q: What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced?
AM:  Moving around a lot.  I moved from Alabama to Michigan and then to the Bay area of California.  I played for two different teams in California.  I was doing whatever it took to pursue my dream of playing college basketball. 
 
Q: What do you think sets you apart from other players in your position?
AM:  I think it's more maturity and just being places and seeing things.  I played summer ball with Josh Jackson, who's now with the Grizzlies as like the number four pick overall.  His mom always gave me tips and taught me everything she helped teach Josh.
 
Q: What advice would you give to your younger self?
AM:  Always be a better listener and be a little bit more coachable.  I kind of had a cockiness, that I picked up playing in inner city Detroit. 
 
Q: How do you come back from a loss and what do you take away from your defeats?
AM:  I've never believed in moral victories; that's what I really like about the team, no one really thinks moral victories are good either.  So, a big thing for us is always finding what we need to work on and attacking it the next day in practice. 
 
Q: You always chew gum; do you have a favorite flavor that you always chew during games?
AM:  The 5 React Peppermint flavor.