You might know the name Cameron Brink from her demeanor on the court playing for Stanford, her record breaking statistics, or signature braided hair. But there's much more to her than what is on the surface. Eden Laase of Just Women's Sports gave us an inside look of what it's like to be Cameron Brink in her recent profile.
Cameron represents multiple qualities at once. A collegiate athlete. A young girl interested in art and not sports. A mental health advocate. A daughter, sister, teammate. A student eager to learn more. A young adult struggling with anxiety. She also shows that it's acceptable and more than okay to represent multiple layers.
What else do we see? A role model for Gold Crown kids. We encourage you to read on and learn about her journey from a child to a top tier collegiate athlete. But most importantly see how she copes with internal struggles and self doubt, like so many youth today.
Cameron Brink has a note taped to the inside of her locker. It’s there so she can see it every day — before every practice, after every game. Even if she opens her locker because she forgot something, it’s there, reminding her.
It’s from a former Stanford staff member, Jaylyn Savage. When she left to take another job, she wrote Brink the note.
Composed with thick black ink on white paper, it starts with a greeting. Then comes the part that has stuck with Brink since she first read it.
“It’s so refreshing to see someone as talented as you still be a kid at heart. Never lose that quality. So many athletes of your caliber don’t have that.”
She’s trying not to.
As a basketball player, Brink is thriving. She’s averaging a near double-double with 14.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game for No. 6 Stanford, and she’s second in the country with 3.6 blocks per contest. Brink was on the cover of SLAM and is a Wooden Award candidate. She’s even tempered the foul problem that plagued her first two seasons. And on Jan. 29, she pulled off a rare feat, recording a triple-double with 10 blocks.
On the court, she’s the best she’s ever been.
Off the court, things aren’t as easy.
Sometimes, Brink lays in bed at the end of the day and thinks about how great everything should be.
“But I don’t feel OK,” she says. “And that’s scary.”
That’s why the note means so much to Brink. Because Savage saw through everything else. Savage saw her for her.
Beyond the intense player on the court. Beyond the pretty face partnering with companies on Instagram. Beyond the Stanford student. Beyond the mental health advocate.
Beyond her own negative thoughts.
Just Cameron.
So when days get heavy, when outside voices are talking too much, or when the chatter in her own head can’t be quieted, Brink can look at the note and know who she is.
Photo: (DARREN YAMASHITA/USA TODAY SPORTS)