You and your team recently competed in the Section 7 event in Arizona in June, what was that experience like for you and the team?
My team had a really good experience for the first time at section 7, and it was also very challenging for us as well. A week before the event we had all come back together and we were missing two guys that got here the Monday before the event started and that was our first full team practice together. It was mind blowing how fast we got together and understood how each other played with a language barrier. But overall, the weekend turned out really good for us and everyone on the team had something positive come out of it.
How’s your experience playing on the Grind Session made you a better player?
I believe that being on the Grind Session for three years has made me become the player I am today. Every year on the Grind Session I have performed a new role on my team and while learning and playing in new roles every year, it has also helped me understand how to do that while playing top competition every game.
What parts of your game are you working on this summer?
This summer, I've been focusing on improving my athleticism on the defensive end and the offensive end, I also have been working on being more violent with the ball and learning how to use my body to create space.
What’s it like playing for your father?
Playing for my father on the Grind Session has been pretty fun and he has taught me a lot of things throughout my journey. I would get asked a lot if playing for my father would be too much because I hear his voice all the time but our relationship on and off the court are completely different. Whenever we are on the court in between the lines, it is player and coach and whenever we step outside of those lines, it becomes father and son. We rarely talk about basketball whenever we are not in the gym and I think that helped me because I don't want my mind to be racing and be overwhelmed on information and with basketball in general.
How does his experience as a college and pro player help you?
His experience as a college and pro player has helped me understand the game on a different level. I believe as a kid just learning where to be at the right times and how to read the defense and understand what the other team is doing has helped me as a player and also developed my mind. The thing that I saw that clicked fast for me while being coached by my dad is my IQ, and my fast learning of the game helped me as a leader on the team to calling out the right place to be when the defense adjusts, or making defensive changes when we notice a weakness in the other teams offense.
What are your expectations for the upcoming Grind Session season?
Some expectations I have this year in the upcoming season is to be an all Grind Session player and to make a playoff run
Favorite subject in school? Favorite NBA player? Do you have a favorite college team and NBA team?
My favorite subject in school is science. My favorite NBA player is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. I do not have a favorite college team, but my favorite team in the NBA is the Los Angeles Lakers
What's your favorite pizza topping and what do you order, regular fires or curly fries?
My favorite pizza topping is pepperoni or bacon bits, I prefer regular fries over curly fries, but they have to be sweet potato fries.
