Vista del Lago basketball player Chen has come a long way

Marty Benjamin is in his 12th season coaching varsity girls' basketball at Vista del Lago and Ursula Chen is the most improved player he's seen come through the program and develop more than anyone else. That tells you all you need to know about Chen. She's a hard worker that's put a ton into her game. "We brought her up in the middle of her sophomore season, but she wasn't getting enough time so we sent her back down," Benjamin said. "Last year we saw a lot of improvement. After working hard all summer during the AAU season, Ursula went from being a good basketball player to being a really good basketball player. She's stepped in and took over a super big scoring role on our team. Last year, Ursula averaged five points a game and this year she's averaging 14 points per game. She's shooting 49 percent from the field and 55 percent from three-point range and 86 percent from the foul line. She's scored double digits in points in five straight games and has a 30-point game in a big win against St. Francis. She's really helping us this season." Folsom Telegraph: What are your hopes/plans for after graduation? Ursula Chen: After graduation, I hope to play college ball but I also plan on getting my degree in kinesiology and exercise science. FT: Do you hope to play in college? UC: If I get the opportunity to play in college, I would love to. It'd be a dream. FT: Do sports run in your family? UC: No one in my family has played in college---only high school. My dad played basketball when he was in the Army but as of right now, I'm the only one in my family playing sports. FT: How long have you been playing basketball and how did you get your start in it? UC: I've been playing basketball for nine years now. My dad got me into it and I'm very grateful he did. He always brought my brother and I to the outdoor courts at schools and just practice with us. FT: Have you ever been involved in any other sports? UC: I've never played another sport. It's my first and only sport. FT: What do you enjoy about basketball? UC: I love to exercise and basketball's such a fun way to do so. I love how interactive and competitive it is, and how it takes a lot of skill and time to be truly good at. Basketball also gave me some of my closest friends. FT: You've worked very hard on your basketball skills since you were a freshman. Can you elaborate? UC: I didn't play freshman year due to COVID, but during my sophomore and junior years, I've been very inconsistent. But I just kept working on my game at practice and in the gym to better my skills. I also took CrossFit for the past three years at Vista to increase my strength and endurance. FT: You came in as a raw sophomore and have turned yourself into a basketball player who's got potential to play in college? How exciting is that? UC: Although I still have long ways to go and a whole lot to improve on, it's crazy to think about. Especially looking back on the struggles I faced in my journey to get to this point. FT: How is your senior year going for you? UC: I'm really enjoying senior year so far, both in basketball and in school. Basketball's been going well, the senior activities are so much fun, and I have the best friends I could ever ask for. FT: Do you have a favorite genre of music or a favorite singer/group/rapper? UC: I listen to a little bit of everything from rap to rock to country, but I would say I listen to pop the most. No favorite singers but Dean Lewis and NF are two artists I love. FT: Favorite food? UC: I don't have a favorite food but some foods I enjoy are tacos, curry, and pasta. FT: Do you have any pets? Tell us about them. UC: I have two parakeets. I've had one of them for about nine years now and the other was a recent addition. FT: Do you have any hobbies? What do you like to do in your free time? UC: Occasionally, I do love to juggle from time to time. It became a serious passion of mine in 2018 and I worked all the way up to juggling five, and sometimes six. But I also love to spend time with friends and that's what I would prefer to do. FT: What inspires you in sports? UC: Remembering the journey I've been on and how much I've overcome pushes me to keep going. I've doubted myself a lot over the years and I want to prove myself wrong. FT: What job or profession do you hope to have some day? UC: I want to major in kinesiology and exercise science and become a sports physical therapist. This way, I can help athletes return to the game they love.