One on One with Tia Weledji

Tia Weledji

Before her game of this weekend against Leicester, Tia Weledji took some of her time to discuss with us her journey, her successfull rookie season at Caledonia Pride in the UK and also her college experience and her sight of the game.

1- Tia, can you explain us your journey and how did you get the opportunity to play college basketball for Princeton?

The opportunity for me to play basketball at Princeton started when my older sister went to Brown University, another Ivy League school, to study and to play basketball. It was through her, that I first learned of the Ivy League and the amazing opportunities that these eight schools offer to get an amazing education while also playing sports at a high level. I then attended Princeton's summer elite basketball camp where I fell in love with the campus, the program, the team, and the school. After that, the coaches watched me play on my high school and club teams, and offered me the opportunity to join the Tiger Family.

2- We all know the big academic reputation of a college like Princeton, was it difficult to conciliate your studies and basketball?

The demands of school and basketball were definitely tough at the beginning of my career at Princeton, as it is for most first-year students, but once I learned how to manage my time effectively, I soon was able to find a schedule that allowed me to give my best efforts to both. Overall, this taught me self-awareness, time management, prioritizing, and discipline, which are useful and lifelong skills that I still use today.

3- You are now having a nice rookie year in the WBBL. How is the season going for you and what are the main differences between the game in UK and college basketball?

I have enjoyed the season a lot thus far. I've enjoyed getting to know and playing with my new teammates as well as being coached by my new coaches. I've received a lot of love and support from both my teammates and my coaches, as well as from the fans. The main differences between college basketball and overseas/European basketball is probably the physicality. In my opinion, the college game is more physical with a lot of contact whereas the European game requires more skill and finesse.

4- More generally, what are the biggest differences, according to you, between being a student athlete and being a pro player?

Being a -athlete and being a professional basketball player are actually quite similar. They both require a lot of time-management and self-discipline. Each requires a very focused and dedicated mindset to be as successful and effective as possible.

5- How would you define your gamestudent and your skills and what do you think you should improve in your game?

would say my game is very athletic and versatile but my strengths lie in my mid-range game. When I was younger, I was told that the pull-up/midrange game is one of the hardest aspects to guard because it is so unpredictable. So I've spent a lot of time developing that part of my game. As a big guard, I also pride myself in being able to post-up smaller guards. In terms of improving, I believe that there's always room for improvement. So I dedicate time to all aspects of my game; shooting, ball handling, defense, passing, footwork, etc.

6- You are also a cameroon international player. What was your feeling when you wear the national team uniform and what has been your best experience so far with it?

Playing for the Cameroon national team and wearing that jersey has been one of the proudest moments of my life thus far. I have a lot of family that lives in Cameroon, so knowing that I am representing all of them and all other Cameroonians, really humbles me and makes me feel so honored and blessed. My favorite experience of playing with the Cameroon national team would have to be playing in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Nantes, France in the summer of 2016. It was so amazing to play against and watch so many other countries and see the game of basketball from so many different perspectives. It was also very exciting to be so close to reaching the Olympic Games, which is still a goal of mine today.

7- As we are now entering the last part of the season, what can we wish you for these last months?

For the last few months that I have with Pride, I hope to continue improving my game as well as continuing to help my teammates improve their game. I look forward to growing closer to my team, on and off the court, and making the most of each practice and game with them.

8- Thanks a lot for your time and all the best 😉

Thank you too.