University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Meet the Bulldogs: Junior Chatori Major
11.06.2015 | Women's Basketball
The UNC Asheville women's basketball team tips off its 2015-16 season at East Tennessee State Friday, Nov. 13. As an opportunity to “Meet the Bulldogs,” one student-athlete will be highlighted each day leading up to the start of the season. Today's featured Bulldog women's basketball player is junior Chatori Major.
A 5-7 guard, Major appeared in 31 games last season and reached double-digit scoring six times. She poured in a career-high 15 points on three occasions (Dec. 21 at USC Upstate, Jan. 17 at Gardner-Webb, Feb. 7 vs. Winthrop)
UNCABulldogs.com recently sat down with Major.
Junior
Camp Lejeune, N.C.
What is your major? “Health and wellness.”
A lot of people on the team are health and wellness: “Yeah, Ja'Da (Brayboy) and Tianna (Knuckles) I have class with them every day."
What's your favorite part about UNC Asheville? “The scenery, I love the scenery it's so beautiful especially in the fall. There's nice weather, it doesn't get too hot like Florida. Scenery and weather, that's pretty much it.”
Why did you choose Asheville? “When I came on my visit, there were no players so I can't say the team was the reason why I chose so the coaches. The coaches sold me. I love the coaches, they're great.”
Nicknames: “Tori, Tor, T.”
How long have you been playing basketball? “Since I was four.”
Who has been your biggest basketball influence? “My dad. He's real hard on me but my brother too. He's been playing basketball his whole life too, so when I was growing up I always wanted to be better than him, which I think I am now.”
Is it true you are the fastest player on the team? “That's what they've been saying. That's all I ever hear so I guess so. Coach Mock says it so I guess it's true.”
Do you have a favorite saying from Coach Mock? “This is the question I've been seeing from everybody and I've been trying to think of something that Coach Mock has said that I can remember. Nothing really comes to mind. Maybe 'team dinner at my house we're cooking chicken and rice.'”
Does she say that a lot? “No she's actually never said that, but I wish she would.”
Does she make good chicken? “She makes good chicken and rice. She's done it once. I want it again. Rice is my favorite.”
All-time starting five, who would you want on your team? “Does it have to be like real players?”
It can be anybody: “I'm going to pick a couple who play basketball. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, I'm going to go back old school with Allen Iverson. And we're going to go for some looks now. Cam Gigandet from 'Never Back Down,' I don't know if you've seen that movie. Not a basketball player, cartoon character that's real fast, Speedy Gonzalez. On the bench, can I have a sixth man? I'm really obsessed with Kylie Jenner right now so she can be on the bench.”
What's the most played song on iPod? “Right now, 'Hello' by Adele. Most played by far. Overplayed.”
What's something most people may not know about you? “I feel like I'm very open. Most people aside from the team might not know I can count to 100 in Japanese.”
Where'd you pick up that skill? “I lived in japan for three years when I was seven. My dad's in the Marine core.”
What was that like? “I can say it was different but not that different because I lived on base with a bunch of other American people so it wasn't that much different. We drove on the other side of the road but other than that it was pretty much like living over here for me.”
Is that why you like rice then? “Yes, you catch on real fast.”
When I'm not on the basketball court, I am… “Eating, sleeping, watching SVU. That's my show right now, I'm addicted.”
What are you most looking forward to this season? “Just growing as a team, winning but of course everybody wants to win. Ultimate goal is to get that ring, we're hosting the tournament now so it's important. We want to win it, we really do.”
What are three things you can't live without? “Rice, I feel like I can't live without my car. I love my car, it's my baby, I named it Derrick actually.”
You named your car Derrick? “Yeah, my car's name is Derrick. Sophomore year in high school, it's my first car. And third thing I can't live without, my family.”
