Q: Who is your biggest role model in the basketball world?
A: I’m going to have to say Michael Jordan. I know I wasn’t really alive to watch him play, but just watching his clips and the way he just dedicated himself to be perfect out there, how he was never satisfied and just always kept working and how he had that competitive edge and he wanted to pretty much tear his opponents apart. That competitive edge is really how I wanted my [performance] to translate also.

Q: What would you ask your basketball hero?
A: I would ask him, ‘How do you keep going even in the hardest times? What motivates you to keep going? Sometimes when you’re in a bit of a slump or you’re struggling a bit, how do you keep going?’

Q: What is your daily motivation?
A: My own motivation is since this is my senior year, [and] I’m not playing basketball in college, this is my last chance to really go out there and leave it all on the table. That’s really what motivates me to get up every day, go to practice, stuff like that.

Q: What would be the perfect game in your eyes?
A: Obviously we want to win some more rivalry games like Downers Grove North or Hinsdale South, but I think winning conference right now is our first immediate goal. Then, we want to continue to win regionals and sectionals and go on from there.

Q: What impact do you hope to have on the team atmosphere?
A: I want to provide the most energy, because right now I’m not starting, so I want to provide a lot of energy and spark off the bench, and I’m a pretty good shooter so I want to contribute my shooting ability to the team.

Q: How do you move past the difficulties you are faced with on the court?
A: Right now as a team, we’re currently [1-6], so right now I feel like we have to truly just come together and stay as a family, trust each other [and] trust the coaches that the process is going to pay off and that we’re going to learn from our mistakes and continue forward.

Q: If you were to tell your younger self when you started basketball something, what would it be?
A: I would say, ‘Put in the extra work. Do stuff outside of practice, make sure you’re always trying to get better. Never be satisfied where you’re at.’