BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Today we continue a new series called Student-Athlete Spotlight, presented by Coca-Cola, that will highlight Samford's outstanding student-athletes. Today's third episode features women's basketball's senior point guard Raven Omar.
 
Omar and her teammates reported back to campus in late July after spending four months at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said it has been good being back together with her teammates and friends.
 
"It's been very different," Omar said, "It's been exciting just to be back in the gym and be with the team. Because you can work out, of course you can do what you can when you're at home and by yourself, but it's nothing like being in the environment with other people who love the same thing you love. It's been different because we have new faces, but so far, it's been high energy, and just getting to know everybody."


 
This year's women's basketball team features six newcomers, with two being transfers and four being freshmen. She said she has enjoyed getting to know the newcomers on the squad.
 
"It's going to be exciting," Omar said. "It's been fun getting to know them, because for the last three years, it's been the same veteran team, so it's been a different experience, getting to know new people and getting to play with different people. But, their energy and what they bring to the team is different, so it's been pretty cool seeing that."
 
Omar is one of five seniors on this year's team. She said she is excited about taking on a leadership role with the team.
 
"It's huge," Omar said. "I've always seen myself as a leader, maybe not the top leader, but vocally just being someone that everyone can look to. I think this year it's even more important for me to be that voice, and not just on the court, but off the court too, just showing new faces and everybody the ways to be and how to carry yourself as a student-athlete and making sure you're doing the right things on and off the court."
 
For the last three years, Omar backed up point guard Charity Brown, who left Samford as the program's all-time leader in career assists. She talked about some of the things she learned from Brown over the years.
 
"Charity taught me a lot," Omar said. "From a point guard's perspective, I've learned about understanding everyone on your team and how everyone works and how they may want to receive a pass. Charity understands what everybody needs and how they can be effective.
 
"Off the court too, Charity is very inclusive," Omar said. "She's good at making sure everyone is together. Charity was very good at being the type of person that anybody could turn to. So, I feel like just seeing that and seeing the energy that she gives off and that people give to her was huge, and I appreciate Charity for that."
 
Omar also talked about the precautions being taken on campus to make sure everyone is safe from COVID-19. She had a message for people about the importance of taking those precautions and taking it seriously.
 
 "I think everybody should take into consideration that wearing your mask and taking the necessary precautions to be safe is not just for you, but for everyone else around you," Omar said. "This person's health may not be the same as this other person's health, so just keep it all consistent and make sure that we all stay here through November and that everybody, as far as athletes, gets to have our seasons, just take that into consideration."  
 
With the racial injustices of the last few months, Omar talked a little about her thoughts on the subject.
 
"I think it's important not to let the things that are going on in the world die down," Omar said. "These past few months have been tough for me, personally, because I'm an African-American, and right now, things aren't ideal circumstances for people of my color. But, I appreciate Samford and Samford Athletics for having the ACE Council for student-athletes, allowing us to have a platform to use our voice and who we are and our platform to speak out on these issues. I appreciate Samford for being willing to listen."
 
Omar talked about what people can do to help when they see injustices occur.
 
"It's a different level when you understand and you move to see change," Omar said. "You may be in a situation where there is some injustice or there are slurs that may not be correct, and those are your times to step up. When you're saying, 'I want to stand for you,' mean it. That is where African-Americans and the Black community want to see change. We understand that everybody is sorry and we understand that everybody doesn't have those same thought processes. So, with the injustices that are going on right now, I hope that everybody takes into consideration that these are families, we are human beings. We have to push and fight for opportunities that may not have be as pushed for by other people. I think understanding that and pushing for your peers that may not look like you is very important."