Getting to know Karla Gilbert

Kyle Cunningham: Your mom played basketball at North Texas and your dad played at Texas A&M. How much did you learn from having two college basketball players in your family?
Karla Gilbert: "I learned most of everything from my mom and my dad because they’re the ones who got me into the gym ever since ... I can’t even remember the first time I touched the floor. They’ve been a big influence."

KC: How much pressure was there to go to A&M, considering that your dad played there and your mom coached in College Station?
Gilbert: "It’s a lot of pressure because everyone has what they expect of you and then there are the doubters. There’s a lot of pressure, both good and bad."

KC: How much difference was there between mom "the coach" and just mom?
Gilbert: "Actually, it was awesome to have her as a coach. She was tough as nails on the floor, but afterwards, we discussed it and then let it go so she could be a mom."

KC: Were there many colleges other than Texas A&M in the recruiting process?
Gilbert: "Yes, there were, but I never really looked too much elsewhere because I’ve always liked A&M. I’ve grown up around it for so long."

KC: Which team was closest in the recruiting race last year?
Gilbert: "It was A&M or Baylor, basically."

KC: Did you get to meet Kim Mulkey? And if so, how is she different off the court than on it, or is she at all different?
Gilbert: "I did meet her. And to me, she is [different]. When I saw her, she was being more of a mother figure because her daughter had played in the summer leagues that I was at as well."

KC: Do you remember the first time you met Gary Blair?
Gilbert: "Yes, I do. It was when I was in middle school. He would come to my middle school games. I would go to his games and he would come watch my middle school games."

KC: How comfortable were you with Gary Blair at the end of high school, when it came time for your decision, considering that you had known him for so long?
Gilbert: "I was very comfortable with him. On a scale from 1-10, I’d say it was about an 8 or a 9. I didn’t quite know him on a personal level, but I knew him more than the other coaches."

KC: Did his personality change much from when he was recruiting you to when you got on campus?
Gilbert: "No, not at all. It was just that he was my coach now, so of course, he had to show his tough side."

KC: Talk a little bit about that first week or so of practice. You were a huge star in high school and then you come to college and the players are faster and stronger at this level. How much of an adjustment was there coming from high school to college?
Gilbert: "In high school it’s easier to tell the stars of the group. In college, basically, everybody’s on the same level so you have to work harder and compete."

KC: What have you had to work on the most since you’ve been here at Texas A&M?
Gilbert: "I guess just becoming a better player overall by getting my skills down and joining the upper level of college players. I needed to work on my quickness and speed. I think that with hard work, I could become a much quicker player in the low post."

KC: It seems like your playing time has increased a lot more in recent games. Is there something you can attribute to that, like a type of growth spurt in your game?
Gilbert: "It’s basically been just the players and the coaches working with me and not losing that mentality that I can do it. My players and the players who play against me help me out a lot. And then, of course, the coaches help me so much before and after practice."

KC: You’re probably going to have to see her again in the Big 12 Tournament and certainly next year, so I’d like to ask about guarding Brittney Griner. How different is it guarding her than any other post in the conference or really, the country?
Gilbert: "Well, it’s a lot different. I doubt anyone’s going to guard a 6-8 or 6-9 person, but once in a lifetime. So yeah, it’s a big difference because, now, I’m the small person (laughing). You have to get her as locked down as possible."

KC: Is the difference in the height, or also a bit in her quickness? Because it seems from last year to this year, she’s made a lot of progress with her footwork and moving around.
Gilbert: "It could be a little of both. I mean, she’s worked very hard and she’s improved a lot on her skills."