» Audio: Trivia | 1-on-1

Number: 12

Class: Senior

Height: 6-5

Weight: 208

Hometown: Newport, Ky.

High school: Newport Central Catholic

Are you the typical Kentucky boy who grew up wanting to play basketball for UK? All the way back. I was born in Kentucky. When I was little, it was Kentucky basketball pretty much.

How did your dad being a high school coach influence you? I was always around basketball, and the best basketball team around is Kentucky. You go through high school, you don't ever dream of being on the Kentucky basketball team. My first year at Thomas More, I never dreamed of being on the Kentucky basketball team till I first got here. Everyone was, "Really?! You're at Kentucky?! I never heard of you." You keep working at it. When I first dressed, it was awesome.

What stands out in your memory of rooting for UK? Winning the championships in '96 and '98. I had the denim jerseys, which were awesome. Little basketballs. Posters on the wall.

How might you contribute this season? I guess I've been able to shoot the ball. I tried to improve on that as much as I could this year. I hope I can come in and knock down a couple shots. I'll continue to be the best teammate I can to help team chemistry because we have such great players. I'd have to say to go every day like I've been doing and become the best player I can be.

Can you accept a non-playing role? If I'm on the bench, I'm rooting and I'm being as encouraging as possible. And if I'm in for a couple minutes here and there, try to make those minutes as meaningful (as possible). Keep working hard like I'm going to be a professional even though that's not in the cards. Probably not. Just try every day just as hard as I can.

So many great players probably means less playing time for you. How do you feel about that? Actually, that makes it better. I told everyone I want to win championships. You come to Kentucky to win championships. (Kentucky is) the best place to come to win championships. To win championships, you have to have great players. We're on the right track.

CAREER HIGHS

Points: 3 (twice)

Rebounds: 2 (Tennessee State)

Assists: 7 1 (Lamar, Dec. 3, 2008)

Field goals: 1 (twice)

Field-goal attempts: 2 (Longwood, Nov. 24, 2008)

Free throws: 0

Free-throw attempts: 2 (Georgia, Feb. 2, 2008)

Three-point field goals: 1 (twice)

Three-point field-goal attempts: 2 (Longwood, Nov. 24, 2008)

Steals: 0

Blocked shots: 1 (FIU, Dec. 31, 2007)

Minutes: 5 (Mississippi Valley State, Dec. 7, 2008)