By Tim Wilkin, Albany Times Union


Q: If there is a guy who has waited his turn to play here, you would be that guy, wouldn't you?

A: Yes. It wasn't what I expected coming out of high school (La Salle in Troy). Too many injuries.

Q: How many injuries have you had?

A: I've had an injury every year except this year. But it has been definitely worth it. I made the right decision coming to Saint Rose. The people have been great.

Q: This is your fifth year, right?

A: Yes. My freshman year, I had a back problem and it wasn't a season-ending injury but I redshirted. The next year, I was in the rotation, sprained my ankle and then came back and broke my finger. That killed that year. The next year was an ACL and last year I got mono at the beginning of the season.

Q: I'm staying away from you. So, it wasn't a case that you didn't play because there were guys ahead of you. You were just hurt.

A: We definitely had guys. I was behind All-Conference players. But it was frustrating when I was hurt.

Q: The fact you are healthy and able to contribute must be satisfying even though the record isn't as good as you want it to be.

A: It has been worth it. We are still hoping to turn it around.

Q: How demanding is Brian Beaury as a coach?

A: Very. I probably wasn't ready for it my freshman year.

Q: Does he yell a lot?

A: Not as much as he used to. I have heard stories from past players but he gets his point across in different ways.

Q: You went to La Salle. Your older sisters (Kristan and Becky) went to Bishop Maginn. Your brother (Dan, now at Franklin Pierce) went to Troy. If the two brothers played the two sisters 2-on-2, who wins?

A: Growing up, they would always be big enough to throw us around. But, ever since middle school, they wouldn't play us. If they did, it would be whatever we wanted it to be.

Q: Being from an athletic family, it must have been kind of neat growing up.

A: It's kind of funny because everyone always asks if your father and mother pushed you into basketball. My father was a football coach. Me and my brother always were going to games watching my sisters. They had a ton of success and were on a state championship team.

Q: What's it like being here at Saint Rose?

A: It's a small campus and I feel it has worked to my advantage because I have met a lot of good people, whether it be faculty or other employees. It has a homey feel. You walk into a class and a teacher will say, 'good game.' It's pretty cool. There are people who care about you, they know your name. I have friends at UAlbany and the teachers don't even know their name.

Q: You are a student teacher. Where do you teach?

A: Right now I am at Tamarac Middle School. I teach seventh grade social studies. The kids are very well behaved. So far.

Q: Teaching. Is that something you want to do with your life?

A: It's what I am going to get my degree in come May, hopefully. I think teaching will be an option for me but I also want to coach. Teaching and coaching in high school would be an option.

Q: When you take the uniform off here for the last time, is that it? Do you have aspirations of playing somewhere else?
A: I don't know if I would have that opportunity. I haven't had a 1,000-point career.

Q: Most memorable game you have played personally at any level?

A: My junior year at La Salle. March of 2003. Or 2004. We beat CBA and (current Saint Rose assistant Mike) Coach Long at Hudson Valley in the sectional finals after we lost to them twice that year. He was an assistant. I remind him of that every once in awhile. I want to say I had 24 points. CBA and La Salle is a huge rivalry. They had drilled us twice.

Q: Toughest player you ever played against?

A: Wow. In AAU, I was 17 and I had to guard Brandon Rush, who went on to play at Kansas and is now in the NBA (Indiana Pacers). I remember my coach at the time came up to me the night before and said I was going to guard Brandon Rush and he could jump through the roof. He dunked on me the first play but then I want to say he only scored 10 points the rest of the game.

Q: What's on your Ipod?

A: A little bit of everything.

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: ESPN, I guess. I am usually in bed by 10 every night.

Q: Favorite sport other than basketball?

A: I played football in high school so I guess it's a toss up between football and baseball.

Q: Favorite baseball team?

A: Red Sox.

Q: Football team?

A: I like college. Notre Dame.

Q: If you have a day to anything you want, what are you doing?

A: I am probably over at my parents' house in Troy on the couch hanging out with my mom and dad. They come to as many of my home games as possible.

Q: Favorite meal your mom makes?

A: She makes a mean pot roast.

Q: What do you see yourself doing in 10 years?

A: Coaching, hopefully. I was pretty lucky to learn basketball from two successful coaches in Coach (Brian) Fruscio at La Salle and Coach Beaury.

Q: Favorite athlete?

A: Josh Beckett.

Q: Most overrated?

A: Derek Jeter. Can I say another one?

Q: Sure.

A: Derek Jeter. I don't root for the Yankees.