Christina Pham arrived at her college decision about two weeks before she announced it on Oct. 8. She didn't have a specific deadline date in mind, but knew who she'd tell first: her uncle, longtime coach and father figure, Vinh Bui.
Pham texted him that she was ready to commit to Fairfield while Bui was driving to Nobles for a workout. He told her he cried in the car when he saw the text, and as soon as they met up, they hugged.
Pham choosing the Stags represents a significant win for a player and a program who have each charted their own paths to success. For Fairfield, it showed their unique play style and on-court branding resonates with the top prospects in the area. For Pham, it's another testament to her bond with Bui. Together they helped turn an unknown Shooting Touch AAU program into a regional competitor, win back-to-back NEPSAC AA titles at Nobles and develop a 5-foot-7 guard from inner-city Boston into one of New England's top scoring guards.
"I can't even explain the amount of times where I've just been, literally in the dumps, crying through through it all, and then he's just been there for everything," Pham said. "Even the ups too, like this big accomplishment, all the others with Shooting Touch, with Nobles — literally every single moment, he's been by my side, and it's a two-person thing for both of us."
