Frederick K.C. Price School senior guard Cameron Butler knows never to underestimate his opponents. He also knows the importance of helping others in need while excelling in school.
“The person next to you is just like you or equal, the next man puts on one pants leg at a time just like you do,” Butler said. “It’s all about who wants it more and who’s gonna beat the person out.”
The Price Knights had a 13-6 overall record and a 3-1 Harbor League record. They earned wins while enduring the woes of COVID-19.
“We had to cancel so many games because either [other teams] have COVID or trying to be safe and not want to just jump out there and play anybody,” Butler said.
The Price boys basketball team works hard in practice to bring a level of intensity that exists in games.
“During practice, I feel like we go harder than we play in the games,” Butler said. “I feel like we just go at each other.”
Butler comes from a family of athletes, he initially played baseball. As he got older and taller, his passion for baseball waned.
“My position was catcher, so I’m behind the batter. I have to get down on my knees and my knees started to hurt a lot,” Butler said. “So I just gave it up and started playing basketball.”
His family is one of the reasons why Butler prioritizes doing volunteer work. Butler is a member of a mentoring group that helps young children; he also participates in an annual breast cancer walk. During the COVID-19 quarantine, Butler donated food to his neighbors. He also participated in a food drive for the homeless.
“Everybody a apart of the mentoring group is in high school or plays basketball,” Butler said. “I did donations to people in my neighborhood with food and stuff because it was a hard time … the stores were so hectic.”
In middle school, Butler had dreams of playing for the NBA. As he grew older, he realized that he had other talents.
“School is my plan because I always kept good grades, I’m a 4.0 student,” Butler said. “I can go to college for grades for sure, but basketball is a hit or miss.”
To maintain his high GPA, Butler does his work when he is the most alert. He plans ahead to get assignments done ahead of time.
“I try to do most of my work before practice because here, the teachers give a lot of work,” he said. “I know by the time I get home, I’m gonna be tired or I’m gonna have to stay up and do work.”
A highlight game for Butler was the Price Knights’ game against the Culver City Centaurs. Although the Knights lost 65-57, he was proud of how the team performed.
“Even though we lost, we still played as a team, we still played hard,” Butler said. “I feel like that was a good loss, it was like a lesson that we learned.”
