One on One with Kim Schrama
She was nominated for the Leiderdorpse Talentenprijs 2019, and guess what; she became the winner at the ceremony! Last summer she played for the national Dutch team U16: Kim Schrama!
Can you introduce yourself?
I am Kim Schrama, I live in Leiderdorp. I am playing basketball at BS Leiden at the moment. Last summer I played for the Dutch team U16, and next year I will play basketball in the United States at Midland College.
When did you start playing basketball?
When I became 7 years old, I started practicing at Leiderdorp, and at the age of 8 I played my first games.
Where have you played basketball yet?
I think I played for 7 years at Leiderdorp, and from there I went to BS Leiden. I was looking for new challenges, and I think BS Leiden gave me those challenges I needed to take the next step.
What do you enjoy about BS Leiden?
The coaches are doing pretty good, I mean we are all making progression at Leiden. I love all the teams BS Leiden has.
Does your family play basketball?
Well, my dad played basketball, and still does sometimes. To be honest, I think I developed my style of playing myself.
What kind of a player are you?“I like to set plays for my team mates as a point guard. I can make sure everyone stays on the right spots. Nevertheless, when I got a free spot myself, I won’t hesitate and shoot the threepointer.
What do you want to improve?
I want to be better at one-on-one defense and my helpside in defense. Still, I can come up with a strong man-to-man defense, but I want to give more pressure on the ball.
Is there someone who inspires you?
Well, last year Maurice Watson jr. played at Zorg and Zekerheid Leiden in the Dutch Basketball League. I got some practices from him a couple of times, and gave me lots of advices. He is my inspiration, because I still watch his games in Italy.
Last summer you competed at the FIBA U16 European Championship with The Netherlands. How was that for you back then?
I was pretty excited! I can remember that I was pretty nervous just before our first game started, but that went away a little when I got on the court. We won our first game with a lot of difference. We got lots of confidence for the next couple of games. It is so amazing to play for the national team, just to wear that orange jersey is awesome!
Did you finish with The Netherlands as you expected?
Not really, we were classified in a group with one team less than all the other groups. We tied with Bulgaria and Ukraine, but we ended up 3rd in the group phase so we didn’t classify to the first 8 teams.
How have you been a better player since you play for the national team?
I think I got a better view on the court and on my team mates. I think I can take better decisions at giving good passes and when it’s better to give no pass.
Can you describe a special moment?
Definitely! That was the game against Bulgaria last summer. We were down by 6 points in the final minutes, but fought ourselves back in the game and won against Bulgaria after all.
Last month, you received an offer from college in the United States. How do you feel about that?
Awesome, it’s like a dream has come true! When I was younger, I always said that I wanted to play basketball in the United States, but I didn’t know how and when back then. Now that it’s all official, I am really excited about it. It is a chance to achieve something big. I think I can fit in the team pretty good!
