Athlete Spotlight: Ivana McCollum

The Lookout Associate Editor/Photo Editor Kaitlyn Delaney recently spoke with basketball player Ivana McCollum. A freshman at LCC, McCollum graduated from Waverly High School.

When did you start playing basketball?
“I played all throughout my childhood, but consecutively, I have played starting freshman year of high school to this point.”

What is your favorite thing about basketball?
“It’s just always something that has been an outlet for me. And if I’m ever going through things, I have my teammates, and how they make me feel like family. … It’s just always an outlet when I’m going through stuff.”

Who is someone who inspires you, in the sport or out of it?
“I would say my teammates and my coach, just because, like how we’re always there for each other.”

Is there one piece of advice you’ve been given that sticks with you?
“It may be kind of corny, but just to believe in myself, because I always have anxiety with playing. Sometimes I feel like I’m not performing well and it makes me doubt myself. But a lot of my coaches and teammates always tell me to believe in myself and that they see my talent, and sometimes I don’t see it myself, so to just be confident and believe in myself.”

Do you have any game-day routines?
“Wake up, listen to music, sometimes just something to hype me up, or gospel music sometimes, and make sure I hydrate and everything. That’s it.”

Do you have any personal or team goals for the rest of the season?
“We made a team goal to finish our last six games undefeated. So, right now we’re two wins in, we have a game (Feb. 14), and just continue that. And we’re also trying to win the conference, and possibly perform really good as a team, and making it to regionals and all that.”

Why did you choose LCC?
“I just felt like it was a smart option, as a community college for the expenses and they do have a lot of tools, like the tutoring. It’s all very useful and more convenient than a university sometimes.”

What are your plans after LCC?
“I’m not fully sure, but I know I want to go to a university. I’m not sure if I want to continue basketball or not, and I think maybe study psychology.”