Q: Last season, you played an exhibition game at Notre Dame and this season you played at Vanderbilt. How exciting was that for you and which game was more thrilling?
A: It’s exciting playing at those big time Division I schools, because Notre Dame is in the Big East and Vanderbilt is in the SEC. Playing in that big of an atmosphere and stadium, it is pretty cool because you don’t really get that at the NAIA level. As far as the most exciting one, I’d have to say this year at Vanderbilt because we had them within five with under a minute to go and we had an outside chance of winning the game and that gym was just so interesting because the benches are on the baseline as opposed to the sideline. You have to really communicate between the bench and the players because it is not as easy because they are not on the sideline, but Notre Dame was also a lot of fun because it was Indiana and I grew up a Notre Dame fan. One of my best friend’s brother plays for them and it was just fun because a lot of my family and people from the school came up.
Q: What are your plans when your career here ends?
A: Well I am a Biology major and a marketing minor so I want to get into medical device sales and also I would love to coach or do something with basketball because it’s in my blood and I don’t know if I can go a day without it.
Q: Last season, you got to 1,000 points in just your second season here. Did you ever think it would happen that fast?
A: No, I really didn’t think I would score 1,000 points period in all four years. All that credit goes to my teammates and coaches for putting me in good positions and letting me do well.
Q: If the game is tied at the end of regulation, would you like to have the ball in your hands and the pressure on you?
A: Yeah. I like to know that the game is in my hands and you put all the work in in the summer and the offseason and you kind of want it to be your decision whether you win or lose, but I mean that is just how I am.
Q: Who do you think is the greatest NBA player of all time?
A: Greatest is Michael Jordan without a doubt. He is the best and will always be the best. His championship performances will be unmatched by anybody no matter who wins how many. Six championships, six championships MVP’s and never lost an NBA Finals. It is just unbelievable.
Q: If you could play on any NBA floor, which one would that be and why?
A: I would probably say Madison Square Garden. It’s just so historic and there are so many big games that have been played there. The Big East conference tournament is played there. All of those huge playoff games like Reggie Miller versus the Knicks. That stadium just has so much history and I think it would be one of the coolest places to play.
To view the video interview of this athlete spotlight along with other video interviews please visit sxucougars.com and click on the Cougar Close-Ups link.
Thank you for reading the Athlete Spotlight articles this semester and be sure to keep an eye out for the May 1st edition for the “Cougar Awards!”
Greg Pilafas
Deputy Editor in Chief