Iowa Basketball Interviews
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00:00 being the vet on the team, leading the boys.
00:01 - It's crazy.
00:03 Came a long way.
00:04 We were just at Ryan Kramer's wedding last week.
00:06 Like it was also with a bunch of my old teammates,
00:09 guys that were older when I was younger on the team.
00:11 And I was like, I'm gonna make sure
00:13 this is just kind of all come full circle.
00:15 You know, I've really enjoyed it so far.
00:16 It's been a great opportunity to kind of just kind of
00:18 work your way into it and you know,
00:20 the team knowing that's all you say.
00:21 - Is there anything mentally that you've had to change
00:24 or anything and you're kind of still going
00:25 about your business same old, same old?
00:27 - Yeah, I mean, I talk a little bit more.
00:29 Like I'm not gonna like be the guy that's like,
00:32 you know, breaking it down every huddle.
00:34 It's not, it's not really who I am, but like, you know,
00:36 I talk a lot in the scrimmages, like, you know,
00:38 some guys do something good or bad or whatever,
00:41 speak on it.
00:42 Don't let that stuff just continue to happen.
00:44 You gotta set a standard.
00:45 And you know, that's what I'm trying to do.
00:47 - Do you feel more pressure to play at a real high level
00:49 or is pressure the right word?
00:51 - No, I mean, like I, I mean, I would all like,
00:53 whether or not I was older or younger,
00:55 I always would feel pressure on myself
00:56 to play at a high level.
00:57 It's not, just, just for my role on the team,
01:00 that doesn't change my expectation for myself.
01:03 You know, I'm very hard on myself
01:05 and I expect myself to have a really good year
01:06 and that's kind of the standard I've set.
01:08 - Are you expecting more of a scoring role
01:10 now that either the Murrays are around?
01:12 - Yeah, yeah, I think that's fair to say.
01:14 You know, I think it's gonna be more,
01:15 we won't have, we won't have anybody, you know,
01:17 completely dominating the ball like he and Chris have
01:19 in the year before that.
01:21 It's gonna be a lot more like eight o'clock
01:23 opportunity stuff.
01:23 So yeah, I expect my points to go up
01:26 and my shots to go up.
01:28 - Is there a particular part of the game
01:29 you're working on this summer or just everything?
01:31 - Yeah, I would say just a little bit of everything.
01:33 I'm shooting, I think, is something
01:35 that I really wanna be like a,
01:37 I mean, I'm a good shooter, like, in eight shots,
01:38 but I wanna be like a knockdown killer shooter.
01:41 So that's kind of something I've been working on.
01:43 A lot of stuff in the mid-range,
01:44 stuff from the three, you know,
01:45 just like really working on my shooting,
01:47 my ball handling, you know,
01:48 and then defense, obviously, too.
01:50 Try to get my body in a good place
01:52 and, you know, the cardio, all that kind of stuff
01:54 in a place to where I can be an effective contributor.
01:57 - How important is that mid-range game for you?
02:01 - Very, 'cause it sets up a lot of different stuff.
02:03 You know, you never wanna be too,
02:04 like, you never wanna be somebody
02:06 that can just go finish at the basket.
02:07 You never wanna be somebody that can,
02:09 you know, only shoot threes
02:10 and then the teams can guard you accordingly.
02:11 And so, you know, I never wanna just stop at the basket
02:15 or, obviously, you wanna get to the basket if you can,
02:17 but if not, you wanna be able to have other options.
02:19 You're not always gonna be able to,
02:21 if you're an analytic guy,
02:22 you're not always gonna be able
02:23 to just get to your three or get to a layup.
02:25 There's gonna be other spots in between,
02:27 so that's something that, you know,
02:29 there's guys who can make the mid-range really effectively,
02:31 and I feel like I can be one of those guys
02:33 and, you know, where it can feel like a layup
02:35 or it can feel like a much easier shot.
02:37 - You guys are just getting started,
02:38 but what have you seen from some of the freshmen here?
02:41 - I really like our freshman class.
02:42 They're very talented.
02:43 They brought a lot of youthful energy in here.
02:45 Last year, we kinda had an old team,
02:47 a lot of old guys, like, Philip was 32, Connor was old.
02:51 Like, we had a lot of old guys,
02:52 so, you know, it's great to kinda have some younger guys
02:54 in here, some youthful energy.
02:56 They're all really good.
02:57 I'm really, really happy with all of them,
03:00 really pleased with all their efforts so far.
03:01 They do all the right things.
03:02 They say all the right things.
03:03 They're learning, they're growing,
03:04 and that's all you can ask for out of a freshman,
03:06 and, you know, it's been a lot of fun,
03:08 and they're really talented players as well.
03:10 - What's it been like to reunite with Evan?
03:12 - Yeah, I love Evan.
03:13 That's my guy.
03:13 I live with him.
03:14 You know, we're really good friends.
03:16 We talked a lot, even when he was at Belmont.
03:18 You know, we still kept in touch,
03:20 talked almost every day.
03:22 You know, he's one of my, he's my guy,
03:23 and so it's been great to, you know, have him back,
03:25 and, you know, he's a great guy to have on your team.
03:28 He's a talented player as well,
03:29 but really, he's just a great guy to have around
03:30 and relax with and all that kinda stuff,
03:32 so I'm happy he's here.
03:33 - Where have you seen the biggest growth in Evan's game
03:35 since, you know, the days at West?
03:37 - He still is so athletic.
03:39 Like, he, like, puts his armpits in the rim when he dunks.
03:41 Like, he's, like, very athletic,
03:43 and, you know, he's a very smart player, too.
03:44 He was, like, not saying he wasn't smart
03:46 when we were at West,
03:47 but he's become a really cerebral, smart player, really.
03:49 He initiated a lot of their offense at Belmont.
03:52 You know, they gave it to him at top of the key,
03:53 and he kinda played out of that,
03:54 and so, you know, he's really,
03:56 he's always gonna be within himself,
03:57 and he's gonna do the right thing,
03:58 and it's been great to have him here so far.
04:00 - He also doesn't mind banging, which is--
04:02 - No, he's very physical, very physical.
04:04 - I'm sure you guys have talked more about your time at West
04:08 since he's been back here.
04:11 What's it like to kinda reflect on that time
04:13 as teammates compared to now?
04:16 - Realistically, to be completely honest with you,
04:17 we don't talk about that much, to be honest.
04:20 Like, you know, we talk more about, like,
04:22 the off-the-court stuff as opposed to, you know,
04:24 like, kinda what we're able to do on the court, you know.
04:27 Talk about how much better he's been.
04:28 Tell him to stop getting foul trouble.
04:30 We'd get foul trouble every game when we were in high school.
04:33 Used to scream at him all the time,
04:34 and told my dad, "Stop fouling people."
04:36 But, and so, you know, like, we talk about that stuff.
04:38 It's, like, fun stuff, but, you know,
04:39 it's just more so just the continuation
04:41 of an already really strong relationship.
04:44 Somebody that's been one of my best friends
04:45 for a really long time,
04:46 and so, you know, the fact that we get to now
04:48 live together, play together in college,
04:49 and spend pretty much every minute of the day together
04:51 is something that I'm really looking forward to,
04:53 and just, you know, building on that
04:54 and continuing to grow in that area.
04:56 (ball bouncing)
04:59 - I wanna have your first few months
05:02 as a part of the program, how'd it go?
05:04 - Oh, I love it.
05:05 I enjoy, I'm enjoying every day.
05:07 Just being around my guys,
05:09 building connections that, just with all of them,
05:12 kinda get, getting to learn, learn a lot.
05:16 Grow every day.
05:17 So, yeah, I'm really enjoying the style of play,
05:20 just being able to compete at this kinda level.
05:22 - How close is it to have Brock here for you
05:24 while you're just trying to get acclimated?
05:26 - Yeah, it's really good to have someone
05:28 that you're super close with there
05:29 to go along with you for the journey.
05:32 Just being someone that I can go to,
05:34 that I can talk to whenever I need it,
05:36 just, it's really good to have him as my brother.
05:39 - I talked about the difference in strength
05:43 and physicality in this level.
05:44 How have you kinda adjusted to that?
05:45 - Yeah, it took me a little bit.
05:47 It's just completely different going from high school
05:49 and then now you're playing against grown men.
05:51 It took me a little bit to get acclimated,
05:53 but I feel like I've adjusted really well
05:56 being in the system, just constantly going to work with them.
05:59 So, yeah, I feel like I've adjusted really well.
06:01 - How much was Iowa's uptick
06:02 or was it just a factor in your decision?
06:04 - Yeah, it was a huge, huge factor.
06:07 Just getting up and down, being able to play free,
06:09 score a lot of points.
06:11 So that was huge, especially with my decision.
06:14 The style of play was very important to me.
06:16 - You know, Owen, what parts of your game
06:19 do you feel like have really transitioned well
06:20 to Iowa so far?
06:21 - Yeah, I feel like my,
06:23 kinda being quicker for a bigger guy.
06:25 Just being able to make moves out in the perimeter.
06:27 I've been shooting really well.
06:29 So just those kinda things,
06:31 being able to produce at this kinda level
06:32 really helps me be quicker when guys are,
06:36 they're big and strong.
06:37 So I'm kinda able to use that to my advantage.
06:39 Just being able to run the floor
06:41 and I rebound really well.
06:42 - Do you envision yourself playing from the get-go?
06:45 - That's my goal.
06:47 That's what I'm working for.
06:48 Nothing's set in stone right now,
06:49 but obviously that's everyone's goal
06:52 and I'm just trying to put in the work
06:53 to make sure that happens.
06:54 - How important is this trip coming up for you personally?
06:58 - I feel like it's very important.
06:59 It's my first kinda glimpse
07:01 at just playing with these guys
07:03 and being out on the court against pro athletes
07:05 and players that we're gonna see
07:08 in the Big Ten and in the season.
07:10 So I'm really looking forward to it,
07:12 really looking forward to kinda see
07:15 how the team's doing and how we all click on court.
07:17 - Oh, and you're one of several new big men
07:20 coming across in this season.
07:22 - Yeah.
07:23 - Have you learned anything in particular
07:24 about the way Iowa operates
07:25 from a guy like Riley Coleman?
07:27 - Oh, for sure.
07:28 - Or Evan, who knows Iowa and Iowa City?
07:30 - Yeah, there's a lot that goes to the big.
07:33 I mean, just learning the offense,
07:34 I mean, there's a lot that comes through us.
07:37 So just being able to handle the physicality,
07:40 learn the offense, kinda produce in that kinda way,
07:42 run the floor, rebound.
07:43 I've learned a lot from all the guys here.
07:45 So it's been really good.
07:46 - Brock said when you had your offer,
07:48 you texted him immediately like,
07:49 "Hey, you gotta come and if this happens, it happens."
07:52 But can you just take me through that whole process
07:54 of you guys ending up on the same team?
07:56 - Yeah.
07:57 I always wanted to play with Brock.
07:59 Brock's always been a great player
08:01 and I knew he was special from the jump.
08:03 So I really wanna just continue my playing career with him.
08:06 And when he got the offer, I mean,
08:08 I was hyping him up, I was texting him,
08:11 I was talking to him all the time.
08:12 So when he finally was able to make that decision,
08:14 I mean, I think I might've been a little bit happier
08:16 than he was just 'cause I know the work he's put in
08:19 and just being able to continue with that kinda player
08:21 at this kinda level, it's great.
08:23 - How have you used Brock?
08:24 Obviously, you know Brock well.
08:26 You know Bryce, he's in this area of the country.
08:29 But what have you seen from him so far
08:31 as a fellow freshman?
08:32 - Yeah, he's great.
08:33 He's strong, he's insane.
08:35 He's like 260.
08:36 It's crazy.
08:37 So trying to move him around,
08:37 it's pretty difficult.
08:39 But what really surprised me was like,
08:40 he can shoot the ball really well.
08:42 He's shooting it well in practice and workouts.
08:45 Yeah, he's just a great all around player
08:46 and I think he's got a really high ceiling.
08:48 - When you say shoot well, do you mean three pointer?
08:50 - Three pointers, mid-range, everything, yeah.
08:53 He's got a really nice jump shot.
08:55 That really impressed me from day one.
08:57 - Owen, what part about Ben's?
09:00 No, go ahead.
09:01 Go ahead, you've been instructed twice.
09:02 - Oh, no, no, no, good.
09:03 How have you seen Brock just in practice
09:06 kind of adjust to the Big 10 physicality
09:10 in the first couple of weeks?
09:11 - I mean, he's adjusted right away.
09:12 I mean, I had no worries about Brock coming in.
09:14 I knew the kind of player he was
09:16 and he's always played with that high motor,
09:18 that high level.
09:19 I'm not gonna back down to anybody kind of attitude.
09:21 So he adjusted right away,
09:22 just making the same reads he does,
09:23 making the same passes, shooting the ball.
09:26 I've seen no difference in Brock Harding.
09:28 Like he's still producing at that high level.
09:31 - Owen, you know, going up against Ben,
09:33 what parts of his game have really surprised you so far?
09:35 And you know, what parts of his game
09:36 are pretty hard to maintain?
09:38 - Yeah, I mean, he's a great player.
09:40 He's, he had all those schools reaching out to him
09:42 for a reason.
09:43 I mean, his post work, his footwork, his jump shot.
09:48 I mean, it's super hard to guard.
09:49 So I'm just taking tips from him,
09:52 trying to learn every day.
09:53 He's helped me out.
09:53 He's been a great mentor,
09:54 just being able to produce at this level.
09:57 But yeah, just, he's great.
09:58 I mean, he runs the floor crazy.
10:01 Like that's the thing that I'm trying to like,
10:03 take from him the most,
10:04 is the way he runs the floor every single time.
10:05 So he's a really a great all around player.
10:08 - Has he been taking you out to like,
10:09 if you had to guard him on the perimeter much,
10:10 is he much of a guy that can do that?
10:12 - Yeah, he can shoot it, he can drive,
10:14 he can do everything.
10:15 I mean, that's why it's so hard to guard
10:18 'cause he can do, he can literally do everything.
10:20 He can drive, like it's, yeah, he's great.
10:23 - Appreciate that.
10:23 - Yep.
10:24 - Well, it sounds like there hasn't been too hard
10:25 of an adjustment period for you guys overall.
10:28 Do you feel comfortable already?
10:29 - Yeah.
10:30 - On the air with this team?
10:31 - Oh, for sure.
10:32 Everyone's been super cool.
10:33 Like, I just enjoy being around them.
10:35 My adjustment, it took me like a couple of days.
10:37 I was a little homesick.
10:39 But then like, after I got all that,
10:40 I was hanging out with the guys
10:41 and we kind of saw on the court, my confidence was up.
10:44 I was able to, I was playing at a high level.
10:46 Probably the best basketball I've played so far.
10:48 So I'm looking forward to my future and this team's future.
10:52 - If there was one thing you could take
10:53 just from the Moline experience,
10:55 you guys going that incredible run
10:56 in the NBA championship.
10:57 If there's one thing you think that's really gonna help you
10:59 this first season, what would it be?
11:01 - I mean, really, Coach Taylor kind of put in
11:04 that style of offense where we run.
11:06 Being able to take that and like expand it
11:10 and multiply it by 10 here,
11:11 just being able to run up and down the floor.
11:12 That's the thing I really take is,
11:14 he really kind of started us with run the floor.
11:16 And obviously that's a huge thing here.
11:19 So definitely that part of my high school journey.
11:22 - Appreciate it coach, thank you.
11:23 - Yes sir.
11:24 - What's your first Hawkeye practice has been like so far?
11:29 - I mean, they've been good.
11:30 We got a good group of guys.
11:31 They've been competitive every day.
11:32 Everybody comes in, nobody really likes to lose.
11:34 And that just kind of makes it fun every day.
11:37 - But coming here with Owen,
11:38 how has that transition been just having him here?
11:40 - I mean, it's good.
11:41 'Cause I mean, you have somebody to look forward to,
11:43 to talk to, kind of,
11:44 we're going through the same things as freshmen
11:46 being at a Big 10 school.
11:48 So we kind of get to share that
11:49 and it's nice to have somebody to go to every time.
11:52 - What's it like being in that transition
11:53 to a Big 10 school?
11:54 That's what everybody dreams about.
11:55 - I mean, it's been awesome so far.
11:57 Just the resources that you have,
11:59 the people you have around you.
12:00 We have a bunch of great coaches
12:01 that have done great things.
12:02 Everybody on this team wants to play at the next level.
12:05 And we have a bunch of coaches that have done that.
12:06 So to be able to have guys to talk to, it's been awesome.
12:09 - Realizing it's months away,
12:11 but do you see yourself and Freeman,
12:15 maybe other freshmen, stepping in right away?
12:17 - I mean, we got a good group of guys.
12:19 So I mean, I don't know how that's going to be.
12:21 We've all been having pretty good practices.
12:23 So we'll kind of see when that time comes.
12:26 - Brock, what parts of your game
12:27 do you feel have really adjusted
12:28 to the college level well so far?
12:30 - I'd say just my basketball IQ.
12:32 I've always kind of had that.
12:33 The way I've played the game,
12:34 I've always kind of played it right,
12:35 played the point guard role,
12:36 and that's really transitioned well to the college level.
12:39 And then everything else is kind of coming along with that.
12:41 So it's been nice to just kind of have that
12:44 as I've moved to the Big 10 level.
12:46 - How's that backcourt competition been with you,
12:47 Josh, Tony, Desante, those guys?
12:50 - It's super fun.
12:51 We have a bunch of guys that work hard,
12:52 a bunch of competitive guys.
12:53 So we come at it,
12:54 we get after each other during practice.
12:56 On the court, we're getting after each other.
12:57 Off the court, we're close
12:58 and kind of just hang out with each other.
13:00 So that's been good so far.
13:03 - Lodgy mentioned that the freshman class
13:05 is kind of united so far
13:07 as these guys who are new to the program.
13:09 What have you seen from Lodgy?
13:10 Have you built any sort of connection with the other,
13:12 obviously you played with Owen,
13:14 but any sort of connection with Price or Lodgy?
13:17 - Yeah, me and Price are roommates.
13:18 So we kind of found stuff that we share in common
13:21 off the court and on the court.
13:23 Me and him both like to play fast, get shots up.
13:25 So that's been well, going good on the court.
13:27 And then Lodgy, I mean, he works hard every single day.
13:29 I mean, he goes after,
13:30 he gets every offensive rebound every time down the court.
13:32 So just having somebody that plays that hard,
13:35 we've been able to bond on the court
13:36 and that's transferred off the court as well.
13:39 - I know this is maybe the less glamorous part
13:42 of your athletic calendar,
13:43 but what's kind of the biggest important things right now?
13:48 - I'd say the biggest thing,
13:49 just we're fortunate with freshmen
13:51 to have the overseas trip.
13:53 So we get 10 practices.
13:54 So we kind of get to put everything in now
13:56 and kind of get that in the back of our heads.
13:57 So when we come, when practice comes in the fall,
13:59 we'll kind of have everything already put in
14:01 and then that'll be easier to transition
14:04 once we get to the fall.
14:05 - The timing of that trip for you and all the freshmen,
14:07 how good is that to have just, you know,
14:10 something to kind of get a taste before you get started?
14:13 - I mean, it's awesome just 'cause coming here,
14:16 this is the first time
14:16 that we haven't really had AAU basketball.
14:18 So to have games to look forward to in August,
14:20 that kind of makes the summer grind that much more fun
14:22 knowing that we have something to look forward to
14:24 and games coming up here pretty soon.
14:26 - When it comes to a guy like Tony,
14:27 who's been doing it for a little while,
14:29 is there anything in particular that you've learned from him
14:31 in this short amount of time being on campus so far?
14:34 - I mean, he teaches,
14:36 he's kind of really stepped up in the leadership role
14:38 he said he was going to,
14:39 and he really has just in practices,
14:41 talking to all the freshmen,
14:42 kind of telling us where spots are gonna be open,
14:44 where we're gonna get most of our looks,
14:46 where we're gonna get the ball,
14:47 just kind of all that stuff,
14:48 just 'cause he's played in the Big 10 for three years now.
14:51 He kind of knows all that, all the little things,
14:53 and it's been nice that he's shared with us that so far.
14:56 - Obviously you have a coaching staff
14:58 that can teach you some of those things,
15:00 but how important is it to also have a player like Tony,
15:03 who has been through it on the court himself,
15:04 to tell you this?
15:06 - Tony, Patrick, Peyton, I mean, all of them,
15:07 they've been around Big 10 basketball,
15:09 now they've played it for two, three years.
15:11 So just kind of everything that they've learned,
15:13 they've been giving us to that,
15:15 giving that up to us freshmen.
15:17 Peyton's obviously has his brother, Price,
15:18 so he kind of knows that we don't know some of the things,
15:21 so he's been really good with that as well.
15:24 - Can you adjust the speed of the game up here,
15:25 just from playing at this level?
15:27 - Yeah, I mean, the speed hasn't been too,
15:29 I think kind of all the freshmen can speak,
15:30 the speed hasn't been that, it's just really the strength.
15:32 The strength's the biggest thing that we're kind of,
15:34 we're in the weight room every day,
15:36 kind of learning that aspect of the game.
15:38 We gotta be more physical,
15:39 they let a lot of stuff go in the Big 10,
15:41 so just kind of learning that way to play
15:42 is the biggest thing so far.
15:44 - Brock, what's your biggest takeaway
15:49 just from playing on a state championship basketball team,
15:52 and how can that help you as you just
15:54 try and find your footing here at Iowa?
15:55 - I mean, I'd say me and Owen,
15:58 every level we've played at so far, we've really won games,
16:00 and now we're coming to a program
16:01 that has maybe one of the winningest programs in the Big 10,
16:05 so to come here and already have a taste
16:07 of what winning feels like,
16:08 all the guys are kind of giving that to us now,
16:10 and like, this is what we do here, we win here as well,
16:12 so kind of knowing that those are the expectations,
16:15 those are the standards, and we have to keep that going.
16:17 - Can you just take me back
16:18 to when you were making that decision to come and play,
16:20 or how much were you guys talking to each other
16:23 about playing for the same school,
16:24 and can you just take me through that whole process?
16:26 - I mean, as soon as he committed, he kind of was on me,
16:28 I didn't even have an offer when he committed,
16:30 and he was like, "Hey, if you get that offer,
16:32 "we have to go play together,"
16:33 and I was like, "Yeah, all right, whatever,"
16:34 not really thinking anything of it.
16:36 Then I got the offer, and then just kind of
16:38 everything that Iowa does, the way they play the game,
16:40 the way everything goes, the way they coach,
16:42 it's kind of what I wanted in a program,
16:43 and the way I approached the game,
16:45 so I thought it was a perfect fit for me and for him.
16:47 - Sure, you guys playing together,
16:49 just the chemistry overall,
16:51 how are you guys gonna be able to, I guess,
16:54 bring that to the Hawkeyes, again,
16:56 just trying to find your footing at a big-fit school?
16:58 - I mean, so far in practice,
17:00 all the freshmen have been on the same team.
17:02 Me and Owen have already kind of have that glue made,
17:04 and then that's kind of brought
17:05 Lodgy and Price together with us.
17:07 We kind of brought them right along with us,
17:08 kind of, we just, from the first practice,
17:10 we all kind of glued together.
17:11 We knew what each other brought to the table,
17:13 and we've been bringing that out of each other,
17:14 so it's been good so far.
17:15 - Thanks, Brock, appreciate it.
17:16 - Thank you, man.
17:17 - What does trust your work mean to you?
17:19 - I'd say that's the biggest thing
17:20 that I've kind of learned
17:21 throughout my entire career playing basketball.
17:24 I'm gonna put all these hours in the gym,
17:25 there's no reason to go out there
17:27 and trust it every single time,
17:28 so I'm gonna go out there, I'm not gonna be scared,
17:30 I'm just gonna kind of trust what I put into the game,
17:32 and know that that's gonna come back out for me.
17:35 - There's been a little bit of video
17:37 from the Iowa Athletic Department,
17:39 and I think you got a couple snippets in there.
17:42 What it looked like to me is that
17:44 you just kind of approach the scrimmage part
17:47 with a fearless head down,
17:49 and not worry too much about the product,
17:51 but you're gonna work hard.
17:53 Can you talk about that mentality at all?
17:55 - I'd say that's just kind of who I am as a person.
17:57 I've always known that
17:58 I'm not gonna be the biggest guy out there,
18:00 I'm not gonna be the strongest guy out there,
18:01 but I know that I've worked harder
18:02 than anybody else on the court.
18:04 So that's just kind of in the back of my mind
18:06 every time I go play.
18:06 I've earned the right to make mistakes,
18:09 go out there and play fearless,
18:10 and I'm just gonna kind of show that when I'm on the court.
18:12 - Cool, sweet.
18:13 What's your favorite part from high school up to here?
18:15 - Oh, the game is a little bit faster
18:18 coming from high school,
18:19 and you got a bit tougher.
18:21 So I would say physically and the pace.
18:24 So I'm trying to learn it,
18:26 and trying to do the best I can for the ball.
18:29 - What have been some of the big areas
18:34 that you've tried to improve on since you've gotten here?
18:37 - I would say dribbling the ball,
18:38 because here Coach McAffrey give you freedom
18:41 to dribble the ball.
18:42 So that's like you don't turn the ball over.
18:44 So I would say dribbling the ball and make shot more.
18:48 So that's what I'm working on now.
18:50 - Who on the team has helped you the most since your arrival?
18:56 Any of the veterans helped you out at all?
18:58 - Patrick and Finn.
19:01 They helped me more,
19:02 because those are the two players that I guard the most.
19:06 So they tell me the trick,
19:07 like how to defend the ball screen and stuff.
19:09 So Tony also, because he's,
19:12 I would say he's the captain of the team.
19:14 So like they helped me a lot.
19:16 - Why was Iowa your choice coming from so far away?
19:19 - So when I took my visit,
19:21 like it was not my first visit,
19:22 it was like my third one.
19:25 So when I came here,
19:26 like the way that I spoke with Coach McAffrey,
19:29 and like when I watched the practice,
19:30 I felt like that was home for me.
19:32 So that was like, I say, why not come in here?
19:36 No matter like how far is it,
19:37 but like I feel like that was home for me
19:39 when I took the visit.
19:40 - Do you feel like you've connected with the other freshmen,
19:42 even though they're from a different part of the country?
19:45 - Yeah, yeah.
19:45 We have like, we made a group chat when everybody came in.
19:48 We made a group chat and we started introducing ourselves.
19:52 So we have a good friendship.
19:53 - Do you remember the moment in your head
19:57 where it kind of all came together?
19:58 Like, wow, I'm actually about to move to Iowa.
20:01 - Oh, so it was like when I graduated.
20:03 So after graduation, like Coach Cornyn texts me.
20:07 He said, be ready.
20:08 You're coming here next week.
20:10 I was like, oh, really?
20:12 So that's the next journey started.
20:14 So then after that, I just packed my stuff
20:18 and I spoke to my family and they were all okay with it.
20:21 So I just moved here.
20:22 But it was like a tough move.
20:25 - Yeah, what's it been like to have this chapter in your life
20:28 you know, now being in motion and not just, you know,
20:30 something that's talked about or planned out
20:33 or you know, start this journey?
20:36 - It's a big journey because like,
20:38 none of my family play college basketball.
20:40 So I'm one of the first ones playing college basketball.
20:43 And like, it's been always my dream
20:44 to play college basketball.
20:46 So since I'm here, I just have to work
20:47 and like give everything I can
20:49 and make the dream come true and just like play pro.
20:52 So that's one of the things.
20:55 - Do you feel like you're adjusting to the Encore product?
20:58 You mentioned it's a little bit different,
21:01 but do you feel like you're adjusting quickly?
21:02 - Definitely, definitely.
21:03 Because I have to watch a lot of film,
21:05 work out with Tristan every day basically.
21:08 So I'm adjusting so far.
21:10 - Anybody you're matching up with quite a bit
21:13 during scrimmages and practice?
21:14 - May, Payton.
21:17 So he's like, he's a tough matchup
21:20 every single time that I have to go around.
21:22 So like I just trying to steal the trick that he does
21:26 on defense or like offensively.
21:28 So that's pretty much how I'm doing.
21:32 - What is it like going up against someone
21:33 like him in practice?
21:34 It's been in the college game for a few years.
21:37 Do you just learn things from him
21:38 as you're just going back and up and down the court?
21:41 - Yeah, I learn like the move that he do.
21:44 Like for example, Bane, he's a senior
21:47 and like this is his last year.
21:48 So like he have a lot of experience compared to me.
21:51 So every single time he run down the floor,
21:54 I just learn what he does.
21:55 Like the way that he go for rebound intensity and stuff.
22:00 So you just have to learn.
22:02 - You haven't been here very long,
22:04 but are you starting to feel like a role?
22:06 Is he's kind of coming forward
22:07 like where you'll be on the court
22:09 that you're gonna fill for the offense or the defense?
22:11 - Yeah, I'm still thinking about that.
22:13 And like every day after practice,
22:15 I just check the style, what I did good
22:19 and what I have to improve more.
22:21 So like, if you take care of those kinds of stuff,
22:24 I feel like at the end of the day,
22:26 you will see if you can like be on a rotation or not.
22:29 So every single time I pay attention to those stuff.
22:32 - Anything in particular with action when it comes to film?
22:36 - Defense, most of the defense.
22:38 So like I watch a lot of defense
22:40 because I'm not like a great defender,
22:42 but I just trying to make sure,
22:46 I stay like, I see the ball, I see my man.
22:50 So like pay attention on those little details.
22:53 So I think that's the most important part.
22:57 - I mentioned the freshmen,
22:58 how about what's it like practicing with Brock Harding?
23:01 - Great, he's a nice point.
23:04 Like he just, as soon as you go,
23:06 like you run, he just bash you the ball every time.
23:09 So he's a good guy.
23:10 I like playing with him.
23:11 - How about Owen?
23:12 - Owen, same, same.
23:14 He's strong, he's like, he dunk every single time.
23:17 He bash him the ball and he just dunks.
23:19 So like, he's a great guy too.
23:21 He's a nice player.
23:22 - Thank you.
23:23 - Raji, question for you.
23:24 When you signed from the Iowa,
23:27 the team was a couple of blocks away playing sheet ball.
23:31 How cool was that to sign
23:32 and then go watch them play later that day?
23:35 - It was great because when I signed with Iowa
23:38 and that was the same day, as you said,
23:40 the same day that they had to play against St. Hope.
23:42 And St. Hope was like one of the schools that I visit too.
23:44 So I went to watch the game
23:46 and I got a chance to talk to all the players.
23:47 They all like congrat me for signing.
23:51 So it was a great feeling.
23:52 And also we won over there by 20.
23:54 So it was a good day.