Q: Why did you decide to transfer to Illinois?

A: I really liked the basketball. If I had the opportunity to come here and play, I couldn’t pass it up. Growing up here I dreamed of playing here, I have so many friends and family here, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Q: What is the biggest difference between Dayton and Illinois?

A: The school is so much bigger. Dayton is a small Catholic school. Plus this is a big college town. Everyone is big Illinois fans, and I liked that.

I like the coaches at both places, that was one of the reasons it was so hard to leave. The coaches at Dayton might have been more intense as far as yelling, but they were really good coaches. I really knew all the coaches here before I came here. I knew all those guys, I knew they were a great staff. They do a really great job with player development, which I like.

Q: Best thing about being a townie?

A: It’s nice because I know so many people here. You run into people you went to high school or grade school with. When people come home for breaks you get to see them. And being able to go home when I want to. Over Christmas break most of the guys got to go home for two, maybe three days, but I could go home and come to practice from home. I’m a family guy, so it was really nice to be able to be with my family more than two days over Christmas.

Q: What is something most students don’t know about Champaign?

A: I hear the water is like the second purest water in the country. There aren’t that many secrets about Champaign.

Q: What about great restaurants or places like that?

A: There’s a bunch of good restaurants. I think Lil’ Porgy’s Barbeque is great. I love Dos Reales. Those are two of my favorites. And Custard Cup’s the best ice cream I’ve ever had. I’m kind of biased towards Champaign restaurants.

Q: How did you start playing basketball?

A: I grew up playing all the time. Both of my parents were big athletes. They didn’t push me really, but I played it a lot. I played a lot of sports.

I’ve always loved practicing basketball, that’s something I didn’t like with other sports. But with basketball I’ve always loved shooting, working on my game.

Q: How did you break your arm?

A: I broke the fifth metacarpal. We were playing three-on-three at the beginning of practice, and going for a loose ball I hit it on Chester’s knee. I kept playing for a little bit, trying to shoot, and I air-balled it about five feet short. I knew something had to be wrong.

The x-rays showed it was just a little crack. They put me in a real small cast to play in, they thought I’d be OK because it wasn’t that bad of a break. Then the first drill I was in on I banged it pretty hard and now I have to be in a cast for another couple weeks.

Q: Is it tough doing everything left handed?

A: I’m trying to make a positive out of it. It’s something I’ve done all my life. My old basketball coach used to tell me to brush my teeth left-handed, so I’ve always done some things left handed just to work on it, but now I come into the gym and shoot left handed, dribble left handed. I think it will help when it’s all said and done.

Q: What is the worst thing about red-shirting?

A: Just watching teams. Going to the games and watching those guys out there, being able to play, and knowing I can’t get in the game. Every time I watch games on TV it makes me want to play. And I can’t even shoot now.

Q: Why did you decide to major in sports management?

A: I was sports management in Dayton. I love sports; I’d like to do something with them when I’m done playing or coaching or whatever I’m doing.