Samoana raring to wear CNMI colors

Mercer University incoming freshman forward Samoana Ingram hopes to one day represent the CNMI in future basketball competitions.

In an e-mail to the [I]Saipan Tribune[/I], the 6’1” North Stafford High School standout said wearing the Commonwealth colors has been one of many dreams she wants to fulfill in basketball.

“If it didn’t conflict with any other basketball commitments, then without a doubt! Being able to represent where I come from would be an honor,” she said.

Ingram averaged 18.1 points and 12.6 rebounds per game en route to receiving First Team All Commonwealth District honors in her senior year at North Stafford.

The daughter of Damon Ingram and the former Jovita Hofschneider of Tinian was also named the Free Lance Star All-Area Athlete in her senior campaign.

Asked what her reaction was to receiving a scholarship from the NCAA Division I school, Ingram said she can’t even explain the feeling but that it was pure satisfaction.

She added that she is willing to do everything in her power to excel in the college level.

“I’m not the type of player to have numbers for my expectations. Next year I plan to work as hard as I can in order to achieve as much as I can. I plan to establish the correct habits to make my college career worthwhile,” she said.

Aside from playing for the CNMI, Ingram also admitted that she also dreams of playing hoops professionally after her collegiate stint.

“I do have dreams of playing in the WNBA. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication that I’m willing to put in.

It also came as surprise that Ingram doesn’t really look up to the Lisa Leslies and Candace Parkers of the world. In fact, her basketball role models are her brother and father.

“I’ve never really looked up to a famous basketball player honestly. Yes I’ve had my favorite players, but my real role models are my dad and older brother, D.J. My dad taught us about the game and I grew up in the gym right next to my brother and learned to love the game with him as well. He has always been the person I’ve tried to be like,” she said.

Ingram, who was born in Guam in May 15, 1991, said her mother’s Chamorro culture remains firmly rooted in their Virginia home.

“There isn’t a week that goes by that we don’t eat Chamorro food in my house, every day and night I hear my mom speak Chamorro with either a friend or one of her family members, I still have to ‘amen’ the older Chamorro people that we know, and the list goes on, so I’d say that the island culture is definitely present all the way over here in Virginia,” she said. “Most of my mom’s family lives on Tinian. I can’t even count how many times I’ve been to Tinian, I’ve been there quite a few times. I’ve also spent time on Saipan as well, but Guam, not so much.”

Ingram is proud of her home island but always has trouble explaining where the Marianas are and what is a Chamorro.

“When I tell people that I am half black, half Chamorro, I always get ‘Chamo-what?’ Most people on the West Coast know where Guam is but now that I’m in Virginia, a lot of people have no idea where it’s at since the East Coast is so far from the Pacific Ocean,” she said.