Amile Jefferson surveys the defense at the NBAPA Top 200 Camp In Charlottesville, Virginia - BDN Photo
CHARLOTTESVILLE - BDN continues to churn out interviews with the nations top prospects who talk of their experiences during the NBAPA Top 100 Camp which was held in Charlottesville on the Virginia campus this past weekend. Already posted are Q & A’s with Tyler Adams and Marshall Plumlee and there is much more to come.
What is it like to be invited to and play in the NBAPA Top 100 camp?
It’s definitely an honor to be here with all these great players and talent around. An not only that, but the coaches around here make you want to sponge in as much as you can in the time that I’m here.
Who are the schools that have offered thus far?
Penn State, Villanova,Temple, Stanford, West Virginia, Wake Forest, Georgetown and LaSalle have been in contact a lot and the last few day I got to speak with most of them personally, talking to the coaches and hearing about their programs.
Did you have a dream school growing up or one which you would love to go to?
No, I don’t, I don’t. I just want to be at a school where I fit in and a school that wants to win not just one year but every year so right now I’m kind of wide open.
Did any of the ACC schools contact you after the Tournament of Champions event in North Carolina?
Yes. I believe UNC contacted my high school coach on the days that they could call. Schools like that are prestigious you know and the top programs and to be at one of those schools like Duke or Carolina would be an honor.
What do you want to work on with concerns to your game?
Definitely ball handling and shooting. These guys who’ve played professional ball have a few tricks up their sleeve and can get open, not only with strong moves but being quicker. So they’re showing us not only how to move but how to swipe through with floppy cuts and just to learn those little tricks and work on them until I can do it as good as they can.
You knocked down two three point shots in the last game. Is that something you’ve worked on.
It’s definitely a work in progress but it’s coming along and it’s getting better and that’s what I wanted to see. I kind of want to shy away from the three point line and hit the mid range jump shot because I feel they are more effective. And after you hit a few of those, you can get into the lane more and draw some fouls.
What do you hope to accomplish during the coming high school season?
My goal next year is to be a leader and my coach wants me to be a captain of the team next year and that is something I take pride in. Next year I want to be a leader and want to win.
What areas of your game need the most improvement?
Definitely dribbling and or ball handling and strength. I’m not all that big so I wan to get stronger and get my body where it needs to be. I plan on getting my legs stronger and everything for that matter, so that I can be even more athletic.
When did you first know that basketball was for you?
I first learned I loved the game of basketball when playing for my AAU coach Cedric Jones, a great guy. He spends his money to get us at tournaments and for someone who spends their money just to get kids out of the city, well that means a lot. Those guys that I started out playing with in the fifth grade are my friends to this day and I’m blessed for that. When I first started AAU ball that when I knew it was something I loved and that basketball was something I wanted to get better at. I know I’m not there yet, but I have a lot of work to do and I will put in the work to get there. [/private]
