Basketball is Her Favorite Sport
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog highlighting stories of black women’s struggles and successes.
By Hadiatou Wann | 09/28/19
The scoreboard is ticking. The crowd is cheering. Batouly Fatoumata Camara comes through, fearlessly snatches the ball from the opponent, dribbles down the court and scores! Everyone is saying ‘who is that woman?’
Batouly grew up in the upper west side of New York. She was raised in a household where “history lessons were taught before fun facts.”
After being told by many that she had the height of an athlete, Batouly picked up the ball at 12 years old and familiarized herself with basketball, quickly.
When she was 15, she joined a summer league (River Side Hawks). It was challenging getting her parents’ approval to spend time away from home to concentrate on basketball.
She fell in love with the game and made the court her second home. From a young age, she found mentors who guided her.
This year, after obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management, the 6’2 student-athlete furthered her studies. She is currently doing her Mater’s in Sport Management at the University of Connecticut.
Since 2016, she's been a part of the NCAA Division I Basketball team at the University of Connecticut. She is the founder of a nonprofit organization (W.A.K.E) that provides mentorship to girls in Guinea (ages 6-16) who have an interest in the sport. Since 2017, she's been the president of Collective Uplift at the University of Connecticut, where she organizes meetings aimed at assisting and empowering minority student-athletes.
One of her favorite things about being an athlete is working with her teammates to score as many goals as possible.
When she's not competing, she partakes in weekly development programs and screenings, listens to TEDx Talks and Islamic lectures.
Though basketball is her favorite sport, the game comes with challenges. When the going gets tough, when she’s injured from a fall or run-in, and the criticisms get louder, Batouly always asks herself ‘why am I doing this?’ That gives her the motivation to get back up and keep giving it her all.
Ashanti Plummer says, “Touly is my best friend. My sister from another mister. Blood couldn’t make us closer. Touly is a God-fearing woman of integrity. She wears her heart on her sleeve and would give her last to anyone in need.”
Her height isn't the only thing that makes her stand out.
“When I think of Batouly I instantly smile, she’s such a light that brings positivity and solutions to any situation. Touly is a home for people. What I mean by that is she has the ability to make you feel understood, like you belong and seen. She’s also an activist, speaking up for those whose stories have yet to be told and helping bring awareness to communities that may be overlooked,” Ashanti says.
This year, she traveled back to Guinea and visited different schools, and had the opportunity to pass down some of her skills to the youth who aspired to become athletes.
“Giving back is in her nature. Batouly as we all know is also an excellent athlete, she is also so much more and I am excited to see what else she will grow into,”Ashanti added.
Basketball isn't a sport limited to one gender. It is a game where anyone with the confidence, speed, and pizzazz can pick up a ball and aim for the hoop. Batouly has been able to alley-oop all the misconceptions placed on women athletes, and remains an inspiration to girls who want to follow in her footsteps.
Welcome to Batouly’s World
“What you do positively affects those around you mentally and spiritually.”
Another challenge she faces as a Muslim woman/athlete is wearing hijab (veil). One day, a young girl told Batouly that from the looks of her photos on social media, her outward appearance did not show she's Muslim. This struck a chord in Batouly and pushed her to wear the hijab. She went from not wearing hijab to wearing one. Keeping hijab on while on the court is still a struggle for her. But she aims to get to a point where she wears it on and off the court.
A PROUD MOTHER
“When we are inspired it is usually as many say a shift ‘in spirit,’ something that awakens you and lights a fire in your soul. When I am in my home frequency and search for that shift in my soul and spirit the first person I think of is my mother.”
Batouly and her mother
“My mother is the truth. Gentle, radiant, and majestic. She is a fighter and has overcome so much in life, but never stopped loving through it all. She is forgiving, patient, and God-fearing. She is strategic, open-minded, and resourceful. She is everything I hope to embody. My mother inspires me to choose the harder right than the easier wrong even when no one is watching. She pushes me to dream big and believes in what I pray for. She inspires me to want to achieve the best, in this life and the next! May Allah safeguard her and grant our parents the highest level of Jannah! Ameen.”-Batouly F. Camara
“Success is when you’re proud of the work you do.”
Batouly has a certification in CPR, Mental Health First Response
“When you’re on the court, have control and have fun!”
She is 22 years old, volunteers as a summer camp basketball coach in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
Honors & Awards
Three National College Athletic Association
Final Four Appearances (March 2017-March 2018)
Cohen Leadership Recipient (December 2018-May 2019)
Donald C. McCullough Leadership Award Finalist (May 2019)
Batouly is Guinean-American
“I want to be able to create opportunities for young girls who look like me and were raised like me.”
“Find a mentor. Know your strengths and maximize them. Stay confident!”
In 2018, Batouly was a featured speaker at Ted Talk Series, TEDxUConn. Very inspiring! WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW!
Connect with Batouly:
Instagram: @toolyyy
Facebook: Batouly Camara
Email: Batouly.camara@uconn.edu
Read other success stories here: www.iamafricanandican.info/blog
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