HOOS LIFE: Q&A with Amandine Toi
What about Virginia drew you to play basketball here?
“I chose UVA because it was family oriented and I was far from home and I’m really family oriented. I knew UVA would be far from home, but would be the place where I could actually feel at home.”
What is your favorite thing about Charlottesville?
“I think the community. Everyone is united, family-oriented, everyone cares about you. I think Charlottesville is really sport-oriented too, so they are really supportive of the athletics programs and stuff around town. So that is why I love Charlottesville.”
How does life in Charlottesville compare to Paris?
“Paris is more of a town. People are very busy and they don’t take time on details. When here I feel like you really have time to chill, go out, meet the same people because it’s really small. So actually, people get to know you, where I think in Paris you don’t have the time to know people. It goes so fast. It’s really a fast city.”
What do you miss about home?
“Oh definitely the food. I’m Caribbean too, so for me the food was certainly different. So, my family and food.”
What was your experience at INSEP (National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance) like?
“That was my first experience away from my family. I was already in boarding school before but I was going home every weekend. This time is was all year I was out of my family. So I think it’s just the fact that I was by myself. So, I get maturity and I have to do everything. Basketball wise is was a great experience with the national team. It opened a lot of doors for me and made me grow. I spent four years there so it was really, really good for me to be there.”
How was it playing for the French Junior National Team?
“That is an experience that I think I’ll never forget. You actually represent more than just yourself and your name. People are watching you more. They watch your attitude. People will say ‘oh she’s from France.’ So I think for me it was an honor, I am so thankful that I was able to do that because a lot of people can’t say that they were on the national team. So I think for me it was just an honor and I am thankful for the opportunity.”
You also played in the FIBA World Cup in 2017. What was that experience like?
“That was huge. I competed against the United States teams. It was really an eye-level. Now it’s not just European. It’s the world, so the best teams in the world were there to compete. So, for me, I think it made me grow as a player because now you see what you want to be and some were playing in college when I wasn’t already in college, so I could see at what level they were playing.”
How is basketball in the U.S. different from in France?
“I will say back home is more like a small game. So we have to think more than actually use our physical abilities. If you have them then it’s ok, but if you don’t you can still play. I feel like here is fast, especially in the ACC – everything is faster. I think in America you are using your skills first and then your IQ. Where at home it is more your IQ first and your physicality comes after.”
What is your favorite thing about basketball?
“For me it’s the interaction with people. I love that I’m just playing with people. You make a good pass and they hype you up and are happy about it. Just the team sport makes me feel happy.”
Do you have a pregame ritual?
“I call my mom. Just to make me calm down. To just laugh and think about everything else and then I go straight to the game.”
Have you decided on your major yet?
“Global Studies and minor in French. I think that is going to be my path.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I’m a sleepy person. Everybody knows me as that. If you cannot find me then I’m sleeping.”
What are your binge watching?
“I am watching How to Get Away with Murder. I’m trying to keep up now.”