Athlete Spotlight: James Wood Basketball Player Cam Butler

Posted: February 18, 2014

Sport: Basketball

Position: Shooting guard

Twitter handle: @camdenbutler

Parents: Jeff and Maureen Butler

Hometown: Clear Brook

What you love about basketball: Just the competitiveness. There’s nothing like going out there on a Friday night with a district opponent, and just competing the full game. Also the team aspect, the brotherhood, bonding with your team. It’s nice to enjoy a camaraderie with your teammates, and you go out there and get the win.

Biggest strength and weakness in basketball: [Strength], probably my ability to pass. I see the court pretty well, and I love to get others involved. [Weakness], probably defense. I’m not the quickest guy, but it’s something I definitely work hard at every day. It’s something that takes a lot of heart and a lot of effort, so it’s something I definitely try and improve on.

Funniest person on the team: [Senior] Peyton Crickman. He’s the funniest guy I’ve ever met. We’re good friends, there’s never a dull moment with him. He always keeps you laughing. He always keeps practice light and not too tense.

Most memorable moment in basketball: Probably when I was 14 years old, my AAU team [Winchester Rising Stars] made it to the Elite 8 for nationals [in Orlando, Fla.]. That team had been together since we were 9, and it was right before we all got into high school, and it was just a huge moment in all of our lives.

Most embarrassing moment in basketball: I hurt my elbow freshman year, so I had to sit out for five or six months. My first game back was a fall league game. I came off the bench to pass the ball in, I took two steps, and then I just hit the floor. First play in six months, and I just crash on the floor and fall right on my face. Luckily it was only a fall league game, so there weren’t that many people there.

Favorite athlete: [Washington Redskins quarterback] Robert Griffin III. I like his work ethic and his leadership skills. He gets a lot of grief, but I really think he’s a great leader, and he works harder than everybody.

Favorite team: Washington Redskins

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: [Actor] Will Ferrell; [Hall of Fame basketball player] Michael Jordan; and [Oklahoma City Thunder forward] Kevin Durant. I think [Ferrell’s] the funniest guy in the world. He’s my favorite actor, and I would love to just sit and listen to some of his jokes. I’ve admired [Jordan’s] game, and he’s one of my favorite basketball players of all time. Just to hear some of his crazy stories would be great. Durant right now is my favorite basketball player. I can watch every single one of his games from start to finish. I’d love to meet him and get to talk to him, and see what kind of person he is.

Favorite quote: “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”

Pregame routine/ritual: Probably 30 minutes before I’ll just start listening to music and start thinking about the game. Right before the game I sit and talk with my teammate Ryland Williams about what we need to do. We’ll joke and talk about normal-life stuff to keep it loose, too.

Plans after high school: Right I now I’m either going to attend Bridgewater College or James Madison. I’d like to study business, own my own company.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki