I recently wrote my first feature story for the CBS College Basketball Blog. It was about Ogo Adegboye of St. Bonaventure. As with any feature I write, I only got to use a few quotes from my interview, so I'm sharing the raw Q&A as a bonus for STF readers. (Photo: US Presswire)
How does a kid from London end up getting interested in basketball?
It's a growing sport in London, like. The main sport is football (you call it soccer) but in the last few years it's really been growing. I started out playing on my high school team after I got hurt playing Rugby and just kept on with it from then.
I read that you and some of the other guys on the GB national team are from Brixton. Is that a hotbed for British basketball?
There's a lot of club teams around Brixton that have been around a long time and have lots of history. A lot of players who have played not only basketball. But it's really rich in tradition.
When did you decide to come over and continue your playing career in the United States?
It was when I was 18, my senior year. I went to Findlay Prep in Vegas.
What did you have to focus on learning along the way, going from prep school to junior college to Division 1?
Just the speed. The speed of the game. I mean, every team had its own philosophy so I was just trying to learn from each coach and learn the speed of the game. The biggest transition for me was from prep school to junior college. My junior college coach, he coached in Nevada, so the transition from there to here was not as much of a stretch as going from prep school to junior college was.
When you were at Lamar you came off the bench part of that time. Now you're not only a starter, you're playing tons of minutes. What clicked between that time on the bench and becoming the starter you are now?
Just getting used to the system. My freshman year at Lamar is was a struggle because I was still making that transition, then in my sophomore year and junior year I was much more comfortable with the college game. Coach put a lot of trust in me.
Aside from basketball, what were some of the interesting things about adjusting to life in the US?
Everything. Everything was different. I have friends who are in other states playing at other schools, playing basketball, but I didn't have nobody there. That was a really big struggle. Especially homesickness was a really huge one.
Do you think more British players will follow your example?
Yeah, they definitely will. There's so many British players in Division 1 basketball. There are guys I haven't even heard of. I'm like 'oh wow, he's British?' It's gonna continue to grow.
You've been playing a lot of minutes recently and I wondered how you avoid fouling out.
Just trying to be smart. Pick and choose when I do what. I think I've fouled out of a couple of games, but coach is always reminding me to be smart. Especially on defense. They want us to pressure the ball but at the same time, depending on how the flow of the game is, you can't be too physical.
Do you guys play mostly man-to-man defense?
Yeah.
I know that one of your games was an extremely long one that went four overtimes. Is that the longest game you've ever played?
At first I didn't think so, but now I think it is. When I really evaluated it, it is. And we just had another one. Now we're used to that (laughing)
How do you keep in shape?
Stretching, icing, lifting weights. It's mainly mental. There's only so much you can do with the soreness. You're going to feel a little bit tired, so you approach it mentally.
As far as playing for the GB team, do you guys think you'll be able to play in the Olympics at home?
Yeah, they're still making the decision, but we've met all the requirements. Basketball is the only sport you don't get an automatic bid to. We met with the requirements, especially the summer of Eurobasket, so we should be in the Olympics.
Looking at the roster we (Americans) recognize so many of the players who played in the NBA or played in college, like Matthew Bryan-Amaning at Washington. Do you guys compare notes about what you've been doing during your seasons now that you're back in the United States?
We speak every day. Especially Matthew Bryan-Amaning and Justin Roberts at Rider. We talk all the time, they're like my brothers. It's not a thing where I wait and see them at home and go "hey, it's been a long time!" We keep in touch.
Original Story:
http://www.stormingthefloor.net/2011/...
