Q&A // Cammeron Woodyard, Winters Mill, basketball

Cammeron Woodyard spent last season as Winters Mills' big man. These days, however, following the transfer of 6-foot-8 Rashad Blackwell from Franklin, the 6-5 senior is finally getting the chance to show what he can do from his more natural position away from the basket.

So far, the results have been promising, with Woodyard averaging 19 points over his first three games.

Woodyard, who works hard to make sure academics come first, is being recruited by several schools at the lower Division I and Division II levels.

You've spent a lot of time during your high school career playing close to the basket, but at 6 feet 5, you'll likely be more of a perimeter player in college. Where do you see yourself at the next level?

A lot of the schools I'm being recruited at are shooting guard and small forward-type deals, depending on what school it is and what position they need. Mostly it's shooting guard.

Do you think you'll need to improve your jump shot to be successful in college?

Well, they say it's good enough right now as a freshman coming in. Over the course of college, hopefully it will develop a little more.

With Rashad Blackwell transferring to Winters Mill from Franklin, how has your role on the team changed this season?

It made me play a more comfortable role. Last year I played a bigger spot -- more of the three-four spot -- where as this year I can play more of the one-two, and maybe a little of the three. With him coming in, that helps me down in the post a little bit. It relieves me.

Is guard a more natural position for you?

Yes, it's definitely more natural. As a young kid, I wasn't as tall. I didn't start growing until, I'd say, seventh grade. So I've always had the skills of a guard, then I shot up and developed some post moves. If I have someone big on me, my guard moves come in handy from when I was little.

Did you know Rashad prior to him coming to Winters Mill this year?

Actually, I met him through his little brother, David, who is on our team. Last year, me and David went down to their uncle's to help with some stuff down there. It was a about a year ago that I met [Rashad], and ever since then we usually hang out a little bit. We've developed a relationship.

So what was your reaction when you found out he was transferring schools?

Well, he actually asked me if it would be smart for him to come over, so I was one of the first people to know about it. I thought it was a good idea, so I told him if he could make it happen, make it happen. He did, and I'm happy he did.

With Rashad on board, and players like you and guard Devon Lesniak returning, your team now seems to have a ton of potential. What do you now need to do to kind of round out the rough edges?

We need to keep a level head and stay focused, pay attention to detail and execute a little better on offense.

At the same time you're trying to develop as a team, you personally are in the middle of the college recruiting process. Where are you in that process? Is it getting a little hectic right now?

Yes. It slowed down for a while before the beginning of the season, but since the season started, it's picked back up. I've been getting phone calls left and right and mail has been coming every other day.

How do you deal with that and trying to narrow down your choices?

What I try to do is see the teams that I like. I've taken two visits, and if I can't make it up to a campus, I'll check it out on the Internet or something. If I like it, then that's one of the schools that I keep in mind.

So do you have your potential choices narrowed down to a short list?

It's narrowed down, but it's opened up a little bit more since the season started.

Your team is involved in a program with some of the students at West Middle School. Can you tell me a little about it?

It's a program where we, as a team, go over and talk to the kids about basically being a student-athlete in high school. The students over there are some of the ones who don't behave as well as others in the classroom. So there's a guidance counselor over there, and she gets all of the kids -- I think they're seventh-graders -- together, and we go over on a designated day and just talk to them and let them know how to work through some problems. Yesterday we were talking about adversity, and how things change when you go from middle school to high school.

Do you feel like you're an example to the younger kids?

Yes. They really look up to us. A couple of them ask when we play and come to the games. You can tell that they really look up to you and listen to what you have to say.

You've had a lot of success in the classroom, as well as on the court. Did you find it difficult to balance the two?

No, not really. Schoolwork will always come first, and coach [Dave] Herman understands that. He pushes us to do our schoolwork first. We have practice right after school, but if we need help with a test or something, we'll stay after school and then go to practice.

You also have worked with younger kids at your school's summer basketball camp. Do you see yourself as a coach someday?

It's a possibility. I like kids and I have a lot of patience with them. I can understand why they do some of the things they do.

Do you find it particularly rewarding when you teach a kid how to do something, then actually watch him do it?

Yeah. It makes it seem like they were actually listening, and that what I have to say matters.