When Emma Zuccon arrived at the Albany campus with two suitcases and a heart full of emotions, she immediately understood she had entered a completely new world. Around her, students with carts overloaded with items: TVs, mini-fridges, mattresses, and even furniture. The first impact with the United States was nothing short of surreal. But behind the irony of her story lies the determination of a girl who worked hard to realize the dream she had as a child: to play basketball at an American college. After being one of the best players on the Italian U20 team at the European Championships (averaging 6 rebounds and an overall efficiency of +10), Emma tells us about her new life in the USA: between tough training, new challenges, and a growing awareness of her abilities.
What was the impact like with the USA?
Even though I had been here before, the college experience started in a truly surreal way. I arrived with two suitcases, while other students were unloading carts full of groceries, TVs, and even furniture. I rushed to Walmart and saw everything: fans among the vegetables, stationery next to the fruit. It’s part of the American experience! (laughs)
What can you tell us about the accommodations? Are you with your teammates?
I’m in a “suite,” as they call it: an apartment I share with other student-athletes, but not only from the basketball team. There are volleyball players, softball players, and athletes from other sports; a unique and stimulating environment that excites me a lot.
And the sports facilities?
For the first time in my life, I have the keys to the gym, meaning we athletes have a card that allows us to enter and exit the facilities whenever we want without waiting for the custodian. A dream! In the locker room, we also have a video room with cinema chairs, a relaxation room, a kitchen, and a fridge full of everything. It really is another world.
Have you already started training?
Yes, although I can’t play games until my classes start. I have done a lot of shooting, weight training, and… a lot of running. Here, running is constant: game drills? Run. A punishment? Run. A reward? Yes, exactly… you run.
What will be your role on the team this first year?
Coach Colleen Mullen really likes defense and has structured our game around rebounds. My role will be to create second chances for my teammates. But in this first year, my coach asked me to carve out my own space and make the most of every minute I’m on the court. As the other girls have probably said, college basketball has a strong hierarchy linked to seniority, so as a freshman, I must be ready to seize every opportunity given to me to earn more and more playing time.
Emma Zuccon
Speaking of rebounds, Candy Edokpaigbe nicknamed you “the rebounder.” What is your secret?
She suggested this question, right? (laughs) Getting a rebound in the end is about being in the right place at the right time because it’s a matter of a thousandth of a second: it’s intuitive, but like any other fundamental skill, I try to train it because there is a lot of technique behind it. Then, it’s about determination. You have to want to get the rebound, and that’s why I live it as a challenge against my direct opponent: if I want to win it, I have to put in more energy and fierceness than her.
In the USA under the basket, you will face very physical players. How are you preparing?
With gym work. I know I need to improve some aspects of muscle mass, and I must say they don’t joke when it comes to hard work here. You know in movies when athletes go to the weight room and put on belts with chains between their legs to do pull-ups? I didn’t think that really existed, but I found myself doing it. Luckily the athletic trainer was behind me helping me go up and down; otherwise, I think I would have stayed there. I swear after the first few days I had muscle pain in parts of my body I didn’t even know existed.
Does this physical difference worry you?
Not really. Where my physique doesn’t reach, I know I can make up with quick feet and speed. And besides, there were some strong physiques at the European championships too!
You were one of the key players in winning bronze at the U20 Europeans, improving your stats game after game. What did this experience leave you?
Many human and technical insights that will help me this year overseas and for my career. And the joy of winning a medal together with a fantastic group.
Women’s basketball is experiencing a really positive period also in terms of enthusiasm: have you noticed this increased support
Absolutely! When I returned home, there was a small committee greeting me with flowers and the Italian flag. It had never happened before. My neighbor even asked my mother where she could watch the games. The best thing is that this interest in women’s sports is expanding to all sports, and more and more people are realizing that we are no less than the men.
What pushed you to leave Italy for the USA?
I traveled a lot with my parents, and the United States had already impressed me. Also, playing with older girls, I was always fascinated by their stories about American basketball and college. That’s where my desire to start working immediately to achieve this result was born. When they told me I had received the scholarship, I started crying because I wasn’t just realizing my dream but also making that eight-year-old girl who was there listening to those girls proud; it was a way to tell her “you made it.”
Why did you choose the University at Albany?
The opportunity to study in one of the best East Asian Studies programs and at the same time play on a team with a really interesting project. When I then spoke with the coach and staff, I recognized myself in their values, which are the same values I was raised with. Of the three offers I received, UAlbany’s was definitely the one most in line with my needs and desires.
How important was the help from Antonia Peresson?
Antonia was amazing! Through her agency G&G International, she helped me from the beginning to get closer to and understand how this world works. She was one of the first Italians to have this college experience and helped me make the best choices both in basketball and academics. If I’m here at Albany, it’s also thanks to her, and I want to publicly thank her.
Before you, Lucia Decortes played at Albany. Did you talk to her?
Actually, I met Lucia right there on campus. One day I was at our coach’s house, and she was there. She felt so good at Albany that she decided to stay, and she also gave me a lot of advice about many aspects of life as a student-athlete here in America.
What advice would you give to a young girl who dreams of following your path?
I’ll tell you the same words that Lucia told me and that I also told my sister: don’t be afraid! It’s true: after an initial period of great excitement, you start thinking you’re far from home and that a thousand things could go wrong, but if you start facing things one at a time, everything becomes easier. Don’t be afraid to live this experience to the fullest and above all don’t be afraid to throw yourself into it. If it goes badly, you’ll have learned anyway. But if it goes well… it will be an amazing experience!