Q: What schools did you have offers from before committing to Oklahoma?

A: I had Louisville, Texas, Texas Tech, Indiana, Florida, Texas A&M, Missouri, USC, among others. I had more than 30 in total.

 

Q: What were the deciding factors in choosing Oklahoma over those schools?

A: When I first visited Oklahoma, it wasn’t really a visit for me. I kind of knew what I wanted, but my AAU team had gone there for a tournament. So we played in it. Oklahoma’s coach saw me play and he really liked my game and then all of the sudden, he recruited me while I was there. We got a feel for the campus because we were staying around the area, so I got to see everything. My AAU coach took us to the football field, so I got to see that. From then, I had already liked the campus, so that’s when I really got a feel for it. A lot of other schools recruited me, but OU clearly had a coach that trusted me and believed in me. They really trusted me and believed in what I could do on the court. If I told them that if I jumped off a bridge, I wouldn’t die, they would believe me. Off the court, the people are genuine. It’s not about them and what their doing. It’s about the players and developing them, so coaching is a big part of the culture especially since Coach Kruger has been there at the program. It was the best fit for me and they told me that I could be an impact player as soon as I get there. With the roster they have and the guards they have, I believe that I could come in and play some big minutes.

 

Q: What are you most excited for at Oklahoma?

A: From a school standpoint, just being able to experience college. All my family members tell me that college is the best time of your life, so just being away from home, I’ll be able to learn a lot about myself. I’ll see how I can do on my own, being away from my parents. I really don’t want to, but it’s gonna be a good experience for me, a change for me. On the court, being able to improve myself. Ever since I was three, I had a goal to make it to the NBA. College is one of those steps that you have to take, so hopefully, I can come in there, work my butt off, do what I have to do, play well, do what I’m capable of doing, and try to make it to the next level, but it’s not about that, it’s about getting a college education that is right for me.

 

Q: What do you want to major in, in college?

I’m not 100% sure, but I’m down to two choices, sports management or criminal justice.

 

Q: How did you feel about the recruiting process? Was it fun, stressful? How would you describe it?

A: At the beginning, I loved it. As a 15, 16, 17 year old, to have coaches calling my phone… I never really talked about it like that, but now that I’m older and committed, I think, wow, it’s crazy. When you talk to your friends that don’t have scholarships, they are like ‘I have to pay this type of tuition’ and get this type of help from this person, I’m like man, I don’t have to do any of that, so looking back at it, I don’t feel that I appreciated it as much as I should have, but it’s really, truly a blessing. I enjoy it. I would say it got a little stressful around my Junior year. I was just like, ‘Wow, what am I going to do?’ It was very very stressful, a lot harder than I thought it would be. I used to think, ‘Yeah. It’s not gonna be hard to go to college, the best college that offers me, that’s where I’m gonna go’, but then as you get older and as you mature, you realize what’s best for you and take everything into consideration.

 

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting the recruiting process, based on your experience?

A: Based on what I’ve learned, don’t take it for granted. Don’t think of it as, ‘This school wants me. So what?’ because they can take offers from you any day. One day, you might get hurt or just lose your love for the game and they won’t always be there, so definitely don’t take it for granted. Don’t get caught up in all the politics, like this school offered me this, so I’m going to go there. They did this, they did that. Always do what’s best for you in the long run, I know Oklahoma obviously wasn’t the best offer I had. Louisville is pretty big time, Florida is big time, but Oklahoma was the best fit for me, so I would say, find the school that’s the best fit for you. A lot of kids, you see in high school are just monsters, but they don’t end up making it to the next level because they chose the wrong college. Just make sure that you take every little thing into consideration.

 

Q: How have your friends and family influenced you throughout your basketball career, and more specifically, throughout the recruiting process?

A: My family was always supportive of what I wanted to do. Of course they’d give me their opinion and go from there. My mom, dad, uncles, grandparents, they never really forced me to any school. When I told them that I wanted to commit, we all sat down and talked about the pros and cons. Some schools had more pros and some had more cons. Even if I chose a school that they didn’t agree with, I’m sure they’d be supportive of it. Of course, they gave their honest opinion. My friends, I didn’t want them to get too involved because they are not gonna play college basketball or anything like that, so they would tell me to do what’s best for me. I would tell my friends that I’ve known since grade school about it, but I still tried not to talk too much about it. Of course, they were always supportive of what I wanted to do.

 

Q: How old were you when you started playing basketball and who was your main influence in starting to play?

A: Three years old. When I was younger, everyone in my family played some type of sport, so my parents just put me in everything. My dad played college basketball. My mom played basketball in high school. She could’ve played in college, but she just decided that she wanted to be a student, turned down a couple of offers, and was a student. So, for almost everyone in my family, basketball was a sport, but I played basketball, soccer, baseball, almost everything. Basketball just stuck with me the most. You mentioned that your father played college basketball.

 

Q: How did he help you in particular through the recruiting process, having gone through it himself?

A: Like I said, narrowing down the options and giving me all the pros and cons of the school’s because he’s been through it. He went through some stuff with his recruiting where he signed somewhere and they called him the week before school started to tell him that they didn’t have a scholarship for him. So, he just wanted to make sure that I was surrounding myself with the right coaching staff, the right people, and not telling me the wrong things. Just keeping me away from the wrong people that are trying to put the wrong things in my head.Have you played any other sports besides basketball?I played soccer when I was younger, but in Junior high and beyond that I played football and basketball.

 

Q: How has playing other sports helped you improve as a basketball player?

A: I would say that football helped me build some toughness. I had to stop playing football after eighth grade, but it definitely built some toughness. I played offense and defense, but I liked defense more. I liked hitting people, so it built toughness. The biggest thing that both football and soccer taught me was discipline, saying things like, ‘Yes sir’ because a lot of kids don’t do that, but I’ve been taught that’s how you talk to your coaches and you elders ever since I was four or five years old, not just from coaches, but from my family too.

 

Q: How did you stay in shape for basketball season, this offseason?

A: I went to my high school gym this summer. Before I was at the library and stuff, I was at the gym working out with one of our assistant AAU coaches or even shooting by myself or with a friend. Of course, we also had practice. My AAU coaches do a great job of keeping us in shape, so those were the big things.

 

Q: How has playing AAU helped you improve your game?

A: I would say that the biggest thing they have helped me with is my confidence because when you’re on the court against some of the best players in the country, there is no one else besides them. So, once I got my confidence up to where it is now, it really helped me. Once I had that mindset, everything just took off, my game got better, and that’s where I really made a name for myself.

 

Q: What are your goals for the upcoming season?

A: Definitely to make it to the Dick’s tournament at the end of the season at Madison Square Garden. That is definitely a big picture goal, somewhere we want to be. Then, I also want to get better and get ready for college. Not only mentally ready, but physically ready, so that I can come in and perform next year.

 

Q: What are your goals for the future beyond high school?

A: Of course it is to make it to the highest level, but besides that, I want to come into college, compete, do what I have to do, get after it, continue to make a name for myself, and continue to become one of the best players in the country.

 

Q: What game are you most looking forward to this season?

A: I really never look at our schedule like that, but I would say that tomorrow against Advanced Prep International on ESPN, that’s probably the biggest game. The family can all watch, so that’ll probably be the biggest game.

 

Q: What do you feel is the greatest strength in your game?

A: The biggest strength in my game is being able to create with the ball. I can get to the basket. I can dish it off. I can distribute it a little bit, so when I have the ball in my hands, I can be a playmaker and that’s the biggest strength I have and that’s what I do best.

 

Q: What part of your game do you most want to improve upon?

A: My off ball defense, playing help defense. Also, my jumper. My jumper is good, but if I can play consistently then I can be one of the hardest players to guard so once I get those two down, I think I’ll be good.

 

Q: How would you describe your style of play?

A: Smooth. Everything I do is really smooth.

 

Q: Is there any player that you try to model your game after? What player are you most compared to?

A: Some people say that I play like Kevin Durant, but I know that I don’t because he’s 6’10”, I’m 6’5”. He plays in the post. Most of his game comes off of his dribble-pull up. I’m more of a get to the basket and pass it off kind of guy. We have some similarities, but I really don’t model my game after him or feel like I play like him. I think people just say that because I’m tall and skinny like him. I don’t necessarily model my game after anyone. I have my favorites to watch in the NBA and in college, but I haven’t really found anyone that is too similar to me.

 

Q: How do you balance school and sports?

A: Basically, if you do what you have to do and not procrastinate, it can all be balanced out. During the season, practice may be two hours a day and you may want to get a workout in, so you won’t be able to get homework done until around nine or ten at night, but I have a study hall, so I probably get most of my homework done during study hall, but if I don’t I have that hour to study and by then I’m in bed by 10 or 11 and still get a good night’s rest.

 

Q: What are your hobbies aside from basketball?

A: Besides basketball, playing 2k and hanging out with friends. Nothing too major.

 

Q: Do you have any pregame routines?

A: No. I do not.

 

Q: Do you have any nicknames?

A: Killa Kam is probably my most common.

 

Q: What obstacles have you had to overcome to get to where you are today?

A: I guess I would say being overlooked. People doubted me and didn’t believe in what I could do.

 

Q: What motivates you to continue to pursue your goals as a basketball player? A: Basically, my aspiration and my drive to make it to the next level. My brothers and sisters look up to me. So does my family. I just want to do this for my family.