Brynn Cameron Heads Back to Basketball With Son in Tow

Life may have taken some unexpected turns for USC basketball star Brynn Cameron. Nearly two years ago she found herself expecting a child with ex-boyfriend NFL quarterback Matt Leinart and had to take a year off from her college basketball career.

"It wasn't what I thought my life was ever going to be," says Cameron, now 21. "Growing up, I'm like, `I'm going to go to college, find my husband, we're going to get married, have kids.' I still want to do that, I'm just kind of flipping that around a little."

This year Cameron returned to the USC starting lineup with 14-month-old son Cole Cameron Leinart in tow. The toddler claps when he sees basketball on television and joins mom at basketball practice where she stops to change his diapers and her teammates keep an eye on him.

"I call him my little tank. He's a big kid. He's not sloppy fat, but he's thick," she says. "He's the sweetest little boy ever. I know everyone thinks their kid is perfect, but he's just so happy. He makes everyone in the room smile."

The former couple have put aside their squabbling due to a child-support issue last summer and settled their issues. Cameron says, "We're close and cordial, and we're friends now."

They even try to occasionally do something as a family with their son. "I enjoy it because Cole is seeing that we do get along and although we're not together and won't be together, we're still friends and we're on the same page with Cole," she said.

Cameron is facing life as a 21-year-old college student, athlete and single mom head-on although she admits that it is "a lot harder, it's a lot more tiring and a lot more work, but it'll be so worth it in the long run. I have motivation now. I'm doing this for Cole. I want to make him proud."

The key for her is in the support system she has built with her parents, sister, two brothers, and Leinart.

"There's single moms out there with like five kids that don't even have moms and dads and brothers and sisters around and I have all that," she said. "They keep me going."

Source: AP

Update - for those wondering about Brynn's purse it is a Botkier Biana Medium Satchel in Chocolate.