Basket Landes. “A lot of desire to discover everything”: Camille Droguet, sharp legs and ambition

The 26-year-old former Tarbes player, who can play as a full-back or a winger, expressed her pleasure at joining the French champions and her eagerness to really get the season underway.

It is a radiant Camille Droguet, already very comfortable in the Landes environment, who confides in her first steps in her new club and a city in which she has already found some bearings.

How was your summer?

I continued training until mid-July. At first I was with the French 5x5 team, then with the French 3x3 team, it was cool. Then I had a good break, I needed it. For a month, I didn't think about basketball and it felt good. I managed to disconnect: it was one of the first years where I really took time for myself. So I was eager to get back to it. I arrived with a lot of desire to discover everything, with a lot of motivation.

Have you started to find your bearings in Mont-de-Marsan?

Yes. I'm really comfortable. I'm starting to get my bearings, no longer needing to use the GPS to get from home to the gym or to the weight room (she laughs), so that's a good sign. It's coming together even though we've only just started training. I already knew a few people here, and that helps: I've known Marie (Pardon, Editor's note) for a very long time, and Louise (Bussière), Sixtine (Macquet), and Myriam (Djekoundade) from the 3x3 team. I already have some points of reference; it's cool not to arrive completely in the unknown. And I'm starting to get to know this gym well too; I played there quite a bit last season (she laughs).

Exactly, how did you experience this final against your future club?

Honestly, I was 100% committed to the project with Tarbes, so I didn't ask myself any questions. It was quite funny to see the supporters teasing me a bit, as they already knew I was coming here. There was a poster in front of the hotel, it was hilarious! Some people might have taken it badly, but not me at all, it made me laugh. As for the final itself, it's long behind us now. To be 100% honest, I was extremely disappointed after Game 2 of the final, because for me it was the key moment. So, when we played Game 3, the defeat was almost already digested. Because even though we played it to our hearts' content, we saw that we had nothing left on the pedal and that it was settled. And then, for Tarbes, it was really exceptional to reach the final, we didn't necessarily have that objective. So I was obviously really disappointed, but I moved on pretty quickly. I like to take things as they come.

It is said that you have wanted to play for Basket Landes for a long time already... Is this a legend or is there some truth to it?

No, it's not a legend (she smiles). When I was young, I came to play a Final Four Espoirs here and there was the banda in the stands. It had an impact on me. I said to myself: ah yeah, but it must be great to play here in this atmosphere! At the time, I didn't follow basketball much, I had never told myself that I was going to end up pro so I wouldn't call it a dream come true. But it's true that it had stayed in the back of my mind for a while.

Does joining the French champions change anything for you?

Not really. Okay, I get a little teased because I lost last year, but I don't feel any more pressure than that.

What are your first impressions of the group and the staff? You already seem very comfortable...

Things happen quite naturally, whether with the staff or the players. Even the foreigners (Becky Massey and Julie Wotja, editor's note) speak or understand French, which makes things easier. Everyone is very open, friendly, I feel good. As for the staff, I trained a little before we started playing together. This allowed me to start getting to know them and see the working methods. And they suit me: it's straightforward, we know where we're going.

A word about Tarbes, which has just been relegated to NF1: what does that mean to you?

I'm disappointed for the players who signed there and who believed in the project because they were told there wouldn't be any problems. And I'm disappointed for the institution because it's a club that has been there for years, whose name speaks in French basketball. In the VIP room, there are photos of all the teams, the great players who have played there, the victory in the Ronchetti Cup, in the French championship... Yes, I'm sad for the institution. Afterwards, I'm not particularly surprised by what's happening.