Calvin Brock is a redshirt freshman guard for the Illinois men’s basketball team. Brock has played in 11 games this season for the 17-2 Illini, scoring a season-high 6 points in 20 minutes in a 61-42 win over Coppin State on Dec. 18.

Q: Why did you come to the University of Illinois?

A: Because it’s close to my family so they can watch me play, and I also get the chance to get a good education – all while being on a successful basketball team.

Q: What other schools recruited you?

A: DePaul, Northern Illinois, Western Illinois – a lot of mid-majors, but Illinois and DePaul were the only big D-I schools that were really serious.

Q: What is your most memorable moment at Illinois thus far in your career?

A: Oh, probably the Arizona game in Chicago last year to go to the Final Four. That was probably one of the best games I’ve ever seen. It was wild because it was so loud and we were just making shot after shot.

Q: What is the best part of playing at the Assembly Hall?

A: It’s crazy. The fans are so loud, the Orange Krush is crazy and we play our hardest when we’re at home.

Q: How hard was it to redshirt last year?

A: It was very hard; it’s a tough decision at first. I cried when I made my decision at first, but over time you talk to people and they’re like, ‘You did it, you’ve made the decision to get better and help your team.’ I’m glad I did it now.

Q: If you didn’t play basketball, what other sport would you have played?

A: I would have probably played baseball. I wanted to play football but my mom wouldn’t let me. I played baseball for a while but I quit because I really love basketball.

Q: What other hobbies do you have other than basketball?

A: I like to play a lot of video games, listen to music and eat.

Q: Okay, then what’s your favorite food?

A: Pizza.

Q: What about your favorite movie?

A: My favorite movie is . probably “Troy.”

Q: How about your favorite musical group or artist?

A: My favorite rapper is Jay-Z and I don’t really have a favorite band, maybe Linkin Park.

Q: And finally, I know you like to play ball over at IMPE, what’s the best part of playing there and why?

A: Oh man, it’s crazy over there. The people playing there take it like real personal when basketball players come in there so they try to play their best games and I like that.