"Musco Women's Spotlight" Features Whitney Tarver
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BigSouthSports.com) - The Big South Conference, in conjunction with Collegiate Partner Musco Sports Lighting, continues its new student-athlete feature called the "Musco Women's Spotlight," with High Point senior women's basketball player Whitney Tarver (Charlottesville, Va.) as this month's profile.
Tarver, a two-time Big South Presidential Honor Roll selection, is one of two seniors on this year's High Point squad and a valuable team leader on and off the court for the Panthers. In this month's spotlight, Tarver touches on her experiences during her summer internship with the WNBA's Atlanta Dream and her passion for giving back to the community, as well as her reflections of the recent holiday season. Some responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
What age did you seriously begin playing basketball? Around age 13 or 14. That's when I started playing AAU and really thought about trying to get a scholarship.
Who has inspired you most in your athletic career, and why? My older brother, Frederic Tarver. I always wanted to be a great athlete like him, and he always told me to be better than him. He told me to be a leader, not a follower, and inspired me to work hard for what I wanted.
What is your most memorable collegiate experience (athletically)? After the last day of workouts when I was trying out for the team and Coach Loy came up to me and told me that I made it.
What are some of your goals athletically? Well, making the team was my primary goal, but after making it, I really wanted to be a threat on the court and earn some playing time.
Why did you choose to attend High Point? On the day I visited the school, I was blown away by the campus, just like everyone else, but that same day, I met President Qubein, one of the athletic directors, and the coaching staff - you don't get that kind of hospitality at other schools. Everyone was so accessible and friendly, and I felt right at home already. That's why I chose HPU.
How do you want to be remembered when you leave High Point? To be remembered at all is great, but I want to be remembered by more than just faculty members and my fellow student athletes. I love my school and I take a lot of pride in supporting all of the different athletic teams and organizations, so I hope to be remembered as someone who genuinely cared for everyone and who inspired others to have as much school spirit as I do.
What is your definition of a leader? A leader is someone who accepts responsibility, effectively communicates with others, and inspires others through words and action.
How will your experiences as a Big South student-athlete help you in your future career? Being a Big South student-athlete has taught me how to compete against the best of the best, challenge myself, and grow through adversity. I'll be able to apply all of that to any career I chose.
What do you like about competing? I love that nervous/anxious feeling that I get right before stepping onto the court and the overwhelming feeling of satisfaction after a win.
Tell us a little about your internship with the WNBA's Atlanta Dream and the unique experiences you had. What attracted you to this opportunity? I was the Community Relations intern with the Dream, and my responsibilities included managing non-profit donation databases, coordinating community service events for the team, organizing autograph sessions, and coordinating events for the Power of Girls mentoring program, which is exclusive to the Dream. Community service and basketball are both huge passions of mine, so this job was definitely a perfect combination of both. My first day of work was media day for the players, so I attended practice and made sure all the players were getting to their interviews and "green-screen" photo shoots. I was watching some of the players doing their photo shoots when the photographer came and asked me if I wanted to be in one...of course! I ended up being in a photo shoot for a magazine that was going to run a feature on Chamique Holdsclaw on my very first day of work! It was so cool!
What areas of the Dream's organization intrigued you the most, and did you have an opportunity to present an idea that was carried out later on? Other than community relations, game entertainment intrigued me most because their job is to make sure the game runs smoothly and that fans are really getting their money's worth during the game. The game-day staff was always hustling during the games but they always looked like they were having so much fun! I did have an opportunity to put together a "Be Fit Challenge" for kids before one of our games, and it was held right outside the arena. I was presented with the idea because "Be Fit" is a WNBA program, but I organized and planned the entire thing.
What were some things that you learned about a front office organization that you did not previously know? I think I really underestimated the amount of work that the front office staff has to do. I think I was under the impression that if the team is good, they'll make money, sell tickets, etc. After working with the Dream and working with the sponsorship staff and ticket sales staff, I realized that the front office definitely has to work in order to have a product to sell to people.
This is a two-part question. If you were running your own front office, what are some of your original philosophies and ideas that you would implement, and what new strategies and insight learned from your internship would you put in place? I believe that everyone, no matter what level experience in the field, background, etc., has the ability to contribute in some way, and that everyone's opinions should be valued and considered. Some things I took away from the Dream are to hope for the best but prepare for the worst, and that there's always room for improvement.
What were some things from this internship that you have applied to your current playing career, and what will help you later in life? Through my internship, I learned that communication is absolutely essential in any setting. I've definitely been able to apply this to basketball and I'll be able to take it with me in the future.
What do you want to do once your playing years are over? Did this internship change your career goals, and if so, how? I know I want to work for a sports team, either professional or collegiate. The internship didn't really change my goals, it really just added another position I could see myself working in.
Besides the experience, what types of "mementos" did you get to take with you (if any)? Besides being able to work with an awesome staff, and being able to watch some of the best players in the world, I got to meet some NBA players, celebrities, and WNBA President Donna Orender. I also became good friends with some of the other interns also. That was definitely the best summer I've ever had.
Were you able to play any of the Dream players one-on-one? If you could play any WNBA player one-on-one, who would it be? Not one-on-one because I didn't want any of them to get hurt! I did actually play a game of knockout with Iziane Castro-Marques right before an American Heart Association event...and I won! She probably won't remember that though (smiles)!
Excluding your High Point teammates, which WNBA players would comprise your starting five? That's tough! Definitely Chamique Holdsclaw, Angel McCoughtry, Candace Parker, Erika deSouza, and Becky Hammon.
What is your favorite Christmas memory? I don't have a specific one, but I always enjoy it when both of my sisters and my brother can all make it back home. They're all older than me, so sometimes they can't make it back, but we always have a lot of fun when we're together.
What were your plans for New Year's Eve, and what is your favorite way to celebrate both holidays? Well, I'll be at school because we have a game on Jan. 2nd, so I'll probably just hang out with my teammates, watch the ball drop, and go to bed.
If you could spend one day with a sports superstar, who would it be? Shaquille O'Neal
If you could date a celebrity, who would it be? Reggie Bush
What was your First Job? Sales Associate at Gap.
Take a road trip anywhere, where would it be? San Diego, California.
What's in your iPod? Since it is around the Holidays, I've added some Jackson 5 Christmas tunes to the mix, but there's always some Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Red Hot Chili Peppers on my playlists.
Who would you love to trade places with? Diddy
Something about yourself that most people wouldn't know? I'm a nerd. I like to read books before seeing the movie (Harry Potter, Twilight, Narnia, The Notebook, etc.) and I love trivia.
Talent you would most like to have? I really wish I could draw, paint, color...something!
Favorite values in others? Patience and a sense of humor
Favorite TV shows? Jeopardy, South Park, Entourage, The Hills, Gossip Girl
TV character you are most like? PJ from "My Boys"
Favorite sports event? Wimbledon
Favorite vacation spot? Bald Head Island, N.C.
Favorite athlete? Roger Federer
Favorite Sports Movie? Remember the Titans
Websites you visit daily? Facebook, Facebook, Facebook
What is your "Dream Job"? A basketball coach and academic advisor for student-athletes.
Name of a movie you know all the lines to? Anchorman
Infomercial product that you have seriously considered buying, or have already purchased? I have to admit, I've come close to buying a Snuggie. I slept in one once and I loved it (laughs)!
Motto you live by? Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. --Anonymous
READ THE PREVIOUS "MUSCO WOMEN'S SPOTLIGHTS"
Lisa Sickman, Winthrop
Nichole Diller, Charleston Southern
Rachel Wisehart, Liberty