 |
| Julian Gamble blocks a shot against UNC in 2013(Photo Credit: ESPN) |
Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
It's amazing to think that it's been almost two years since Miami was the toast of college basketball. The 'Canes, a team picked to finish at the bottom of the conference stormed to an ACC Tournament title, and finished with the best regular season record in the conference. Miami rose to as high as number two in the polls, and were at one point playing the best basketball in the country. While the team was full of talented players, one player was the emotional center. Senior forward Julian Gamble emerged as a defensive stopper, and as an unquestioned leader. Following that magical season, Gamble left Miami to pursue a career in the game he loves. I'm fortunate enough to call Julian a friend, and we recently had a chat about his life after Miami.
Interview With Julian Gamble
Julian, where are you playing this year?
I'm playing in Brussels, Belgium for Basic Fit Brussels. They're a member of the ScoooreLeague.
How are you doing over there?
I'm doing pretty well, I'm averaging sixteen points, and six rebounds per game. I scored a season high 29 points against VOO Wolves Verviers-Pepinster in August. The team is currently 3-9 right now with some close losses. I arrived late to the team, and was dealing with an injury which led to me coming out of the gate a tad slow. However, I've found my stride and I am settling into the team.
What's the toughest thing about playing and living overseas?
The cultural differences, for sure. Fortunately, Belgium is a popular tourist destination so there's a lot people who understand English here. There's five languages spoken here, so that's an experience. Besides the language barrier, there's other differences too. In college, most major issues were taken care of for the player, from living arrangements to travel. Here, you're an adult, and you are responsible for those things. It's a shock at first, but you do become accustomed to it.
Do you keep in contact with former teammates?
Yes, I do. Rion(Brown) has recently joined Basic Fit Brussels, and Garrius(Adams), and Trey(McKinney-Jones) have been able to visit me . I also make it a point to contact the other guys who are playing overseas, we swap stories, and discuss issues. We're all like brothers, and the fact that we can all talk to each other and understand each others' problems and concerns is a blessing.
What do you miss the most about the United States?
My loved ones, I miss them the most. However, this is a great opportunity, and I want to make the best of it. I miss the food at times, but there's so many great things here, that feeling doesn't last long. I'm open minded, so I've been able to try a lot of great dishes.
Posts
