Columbus State's Cam Baker enjoys playing at home in front of family and friends

Columbus State guard Cam Baker has a number of family and friends in the stands at the Lumpkin Center when the Cougars play a home game.

The 6-foot-1 guard says playing in front of so many well-wishers relaxes him, except in those instances when he steps to the free-throw line.

"Only time I feel pressure is when I am shooting free throws," Baker laughed. "I can hear my momma calling my name."

While many who grow up in Columbus have a desire to move away, Baker was not like that.

The Kendrick High graduate wanted to play at CSU. So when CSU coach Robert Moore gave him the chance to transfer from Central Georgia Tech to CSU, it was an easy decision.

"It was very easy," Baker said. "For one, it is home. I have been in this gym from when I was growing up in Sam Mitchell camps, AAU, high school tournaments.

"I wanted my parents to be able to come see me every game."

Playing well in front of Curtiss and Cynthia Baker is something Baker feels he owes them.

"When I was growing up, my mom and dad did everything they could to get me where I am and what I needed," Baker said. "Anything I wanted, they worked to get it for me.

"I want to give them back what they have given to me."

Baker has at least one more time to play in front of his parents and friends Sunday when the Cougars open the Peach Belt Conference tournament against Francis Marion. CSU won the Peach Belt Conference regular-season title -- for the first time since the 2005-06 season -- and is the No. 1 seed from the West. Francis Marion is the 4 seed from the East. Game time is set for 4 p.m. at the Lumpkin Center

Early success

Baker's time at Kendrick coincided with a turnaround in the Cherokees' fortunes. And Baker was a huge reason why.

The Cherokees were just 6-21 in Baker"s freshman year. By the time he was a senior (2010-11), the Cherokees were 21-6 and region champions. Kendrick went on to rout Model in the first round of the state playoffs before losing to Buford in the loss. Baker had 29 points in each of the two state playoff games.

He was named to the Ledger-Enquirer All-Bi-City first team as he averaged 23.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5 assists per game. He also earned all-state honors.

"I remember always running," Baker said. "We ran a lot. I had one of the most tiring years of my basketball career.

"My high school coach (Jacqueri Cannon) came in, and he took basketball serious. He wanted us to have a winning program, so he wanted us to come out every night and play hard."

Moore had watched him play in high school but still felt like going to a junior college was the best route for Baker.

"Cam decided to go to junior college, which I thought was a good move for him academically and athletically," Moore said in a news release. "You could just tell he put a lot of work into his game. He's shooting the ball better now than he was in high school and involving his teammates more."

Short but successful career

Baker transferred to CSU prior to the 2014-15 season, but he had to sit out. But according to Moore, Baker didn't sulk and remained involved with the team.

"He did a good job of challenging our other points guards Ty Harris and Shevren Keaton," said Moore said in a release. "All their games are different, and with all three at practice, you had to defend so many different things. Even though he was not part of the team as far as wins and losses, I thought Cam was a big part of our success."

Baker said last season was difficult.

" Coach was always telling me to keep my head up and all that stuff an athlete doesn't really want to hear when they have to sit out," said Baker said in a release. "But I stayed with it, came to practice, gave it my all.

Coach promised me it would all pay off, and it is paying off now."

It is paying off in a big way for Baker and the Cougars.

Baker is having one of the best seasons in Cougar history. He leads the team in scoring (519 total, 20.0 per game), field goals made (183), field goals attempted (359), free throws made (126), free throws attempted (164), assists (110, 4.2 per game), steals (35, 1.3).

Baker needs 38 points to break into the top 10 in the single-season scoring record.

Baker is scoring a lot, but he is also scoring when the team needs him the most.

He was a major part of three straight games at home late in the season when CSU -- which was trying to catch Montevallo and Young Harris in the standings --won on its final possession. Baker made two of the shots and assisted on the other.

In the win on Wednesday at Clayton State that gave CSU the PBC title, CSU opened a big lead, then watched as the Lakers cut it to nine midway through the second half. Baker -- on an isolation play to the left of the basket -- drove from the wing and produced a thunderous dunk. That slam sparked a run that put the game away.

Moore said that success is a result of Baker's hard work.

"He loves to play the game of basketball," Moore said. "If you go around and find a game on the playground, you will probably find Cam Baker there. For his love of the game, it makes you as a coach happy to watch him grow. He doesn't just play because he has the ability, he plays for the love of the game."

Baker hopes that love of the game will help him find a place to play professionally in the future, whether it is in the U.S. or in Europe.

"I am going to miss college basketball," Baker said. "I wish I had another year to play here. But this is my last year, so I am ready to move forward with my basketball career. I want to see where it takes my talents to."

Kevin Price, 706-320-4493, Follow Kevin on Twitter @lesports

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Columbus State's Cam Baker enjoys playing at home in front of family and friends ."