Catching Up with Paris Kea on her Rookie Season

Named an honorable mention All-America by the WBCA, Paris Kea recently finished her career as Carolina's second all-time scoring average leader in program history at 18.0 points per game. Drafted No. 25 overall in the WNBA draft, Kea has spent the last two months with the Indiana Fever as she beings her rookie season. Go Heels caught up with Kea about her experience so far.

Go Heels: How has the summer been for you?
Paris Kea: It's been very busy. Once I was drafted, I flew out. I had my exams moved around so I could take those and graduate. I came to Indiana, flew back for graduation and Mother's Day. Then that same night, I flew back. It was exciting and overwhelming at the same time. There was so much going on and I wasn't really sure what to expect. The coaches are usually your middleman, but with everything going on it was a little difficult. But was still really exciting, my family and I were all super excited.

GH: What does your typical day look like?
PK: Well it changes depending on the day, but a typical day in preseason would be practice from about 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Then the rest of the day we have off. It just varies a lot. Since we're in season now, we'll have shooting groups or film in the morning by position then film as a team and practice. You're responsible for getting treatment. If it's a travel day, we'll go to the airport and wait for our flight or the rest of the day is off. The traveling is the most different and not having homework to do after practice. It's just basketball and managing finances.

GH: What has it been like for you to play with or against players you saw in college?
PK: It's been really cool seeing Jessica Breland on the road. Just seeing other players that I've looked up to and grew up watching. Jewell Loyd, Brittney Griner, I'm like "woah, they're sitting on the bench and we're playing each other." Watching them play up close and seeing what schemes we have against them is pretty cool. It's working on different ways to play against great players as a team and trying to hold them below their scoring average or take away their strength. That's pretty cool.

GH: What has been the biggest adjustment been for you since playing at UNC to playing in the WNBA?
PK: For me, the biggest different is probably the mental aspect of the game. It's not the physical aspect. The competition is more knowing plays. There's different levels to defense, reading the person and different schemes on defense. In the game as a point guard, you have be aware of who else is in the game so you know what plays to call. That's probably the biggest transition so far.

GH: What is the biggest thing you've learned on or off the court?
PK: I've learned what it really means to be a leader. You're playing with other players who are really good. They were on top of their classes in college and they're used to being the leader and now we're all here to work together. Good leaders know how to follow too. I've learned a lot of different ways to be a leader.

GH: What has been your favorite trip so far?
PK: Hmm, probably traveling to Atlanta and getting Bojangles' at the airport. I'm such a family person so anything that reminds me of home is great. But another great one was Seattle. We went to Pike Place Market. It was absolutely amazing and such a cool experience.

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Players Mentioned

Paris Kea

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