WEBVTT 1 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:11.599 Welcome into behind Kentucky Basketball. I am heard his parched thrill to be joined 2 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:20.600 by Kentucky signee and state champion in Kentucky mister basketball Pramis Perry got a long 3 00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:27.000 list of accomplishments there. First off, I'm curious, where do you store 4 00:00:27.039 --> 00:00:31.760 all your trophies? That's a good question. So all my trophies, like 5 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:35.359 from pretty much recently, are in my room. But I've got you know, 6 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:38.880 we've been playing doing this basketball thing and really a lot of sports thing 7 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:43.159 for a while. I know I've got we got some football trophies from fourth 8 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:46.880 fifth grade, some that are taller than I was at that age, that 9 00:00:46.920 --> 00:00:51.600 are stored in basements and my grandparents' basements pretty much everywhere. So I've got 10 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:54.759 got pretty much a whole basement full of trophies for that. And then but 11 00:00:54.840 --> 00:00:57.960 yeah, most of the recent trophies, which which are pretty pretty special to 12 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.479 me, either in my room or in my dad's. I think I know 13 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.719 the answer to this. But what what's your most favorite oh State championship to 14 00:01:04.719 --> 00:01:07.599 Probably by far, that one, and that one is at the school. 15 00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:11.000 We're getting a nice trophy case for it, but right now, it's it's 16 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:15.560 been in a place that our team can kind of see and stuff. So 17 00:01:15.560 --> 00:01:18.079 pretty much every day I come to work out, I go go look at 18 00:01:18.120 --> 00:01:22.159 it. Honestly, that's awesome. Yeah, it just shows what what all 19 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:26.799 the hard work you guys put in and that accomplishment was so amazing for you 20 00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:30.040 guys. I've been watching some of the coverage from down there and that's been 21 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:34.200 fun to see. So I just kind of take me through, what what 22 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:37.359 were those weeks like, because I know they were hectic. Obviously, you 23 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:41.079 guys are in the state tournament, then there's the coaching change. I mean, 24 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:45.000 how did that all play out for you? What were those few weeks 25 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:49.239 like? Yeah, yeah, sorry, it was definitely pretty busy. You 26 00:01:49.239 --> 00:01:53.200 know. We we had just spent a week up in Lekesington State Tournament obviously, 27 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:57.280 then we go home, have a little bit of time, we're celebrating 28 00:01:57.400 --> 00:02:00.640 stuff, and then you just start start seeing the reports a little bit that 29 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:05.319 there's some talk of a coaching change maybe, and you know, first obviously 30 00:02:05.319 --> 00:02:07.039 you don't really believe it's gonna happen, but then it happens, and it 31 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:10.879 kind of kind of throws a big wrench and and everything that you you thought 32 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:14.240 you had going like it's I mean, Dad talked about it. It was 33 00:02:14.280 --> 00:02:17.520 such a long process, and you know, you get happy with the decision, 34 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:21.599 you're set with a decision, and then it's just shaken up so much. 35 00:02:22.159 --> 00:02:23.199 It's a little bit, a little bit scary, a little bit overwhelming 36 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:28.840 at first. But I felt like we stayed stayed calm, stay positive through 37 00:02:28.879 --> 00:02:32.120 it and just just made the decisions that were important to us and ultimately got 38 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:38.080 a decision we were really happy with. So walk us through that that process. 39 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:40.560 When was the first time you actually got to talk to to coach Pope 40 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:45.840 And what did that first conversation go? Go like, yeah, yeah, 41 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:47.479 start. I think it was I think it was the day or two days 42 00:02:47.479 --> 00:02:51.319 after he was hired. We had been up at the Capitol. We were 43 00:02:51.319 --> 00:02:54.360 getting recognized for winning the state championship up there, and I got back and 44 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:57.800 he called me and I was in the car, and I remember I had 45 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:00.560 like my car whenever it connects, it goes really loud on the speaker, 46 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:04.599 and Coach whenever I answered, Coach just started screaming on the phone like he 47 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:07.879 was yelling. It was pretty pretty neat. You could tell how excited he 48 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:09.639 was. And still every time I talk to him, he seems just excited. 49 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:14.199 So yeah, those first conversations were a lot of a lot of excitement 50 00:03:14.199 --> 00:03:15.960 from him, excitement for me. You know, it was kind of you 51 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:19.479 know, really starting to build that relationship. But also you could tell that 52 00:03:19.520 --> 00:03:23.199 he was really really excited and happy about the situation he was going into. 53 00:03:23.599 --> 00:03:27.680 So we will never show this to him if you give the wrong answer. 54 00:03:27.759 --> 00:03:30.240 But did you were you familiar with coach Popes playing days, Yes, sir, 55 00:03:30.360 --> 00:03:34.960 yeah, I actually was. You know, they they have one of 56 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:38.919 probably one of the arguably the greatest seams to play in Kentucky basketball. And 57 00:03:38.919 --> 00:03:42.800 you know, I'm good friends will read with and Jeff and and those guys. 58 00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:44.400 You know, you watch some of that stuff. You see it on 59 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:46.400 Twitter all the time. But you know, I've seen it a lot more 60 00:03:46.479 --> 00:03:50.840 lately honestly than I had had before then. But my dad had talked to 61 00:03:50.919 --> 00:03:53.000 me about it. You know, that was kind of his his era basketball 62 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:55.639 that he had watched. My granddad. They had all kind of seen seen 63 00:03:55.680 --> 00:04:00.360 those guys go through and play and just really how excited to stay when they 64 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:03.520 were playing there, and they were pretty excited about it. So you mentioned 65 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:08.919 his energy and you know just the volume at which he was speaking when he 66 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:13.919 first reached out, what was those because I know the conversation about you being 67 00:04:13.919 --> 00:04:16.360 a part of his his program now that he is in Kentucky kind of, 68 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:19.000 and if you don't mind start out talking about like on the court fit, 69 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:24.000 what were those those conversations about. From his perspective, he felt like I 70 00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:26.879 fit in the offense, in the system he tries to run really well, 71 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:30.120 playing a fast, up tempo game. And then from my perspective, it 72 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:34.000 was the same thing Dad and I had those conversations. They play his teams 73 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:38.079 to have played a lot like our high school team played, playing fast, 74 00:04:38.399 --> 00:04:42.160 shooting, shooting a lot of threes. You know, they were top two 75 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:46.399 in both categories threes attempted, end made threes this year. So like that's 76 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.759 that's stuff that really I feel like translates well for me. So yeah, 77 00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:51.639 that was the main thing on the encore fit was just you know, the 78 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:56.399 offensive scheme and then also you know, obviously the defensive side of the ball. 79 00:04:56.399 --> 00:04:59.160 There's a lot of great things that he does and you know, I 80 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:01.560 think that'll be some then obviously there's gonna be a learning cover there for defense, 81 00:05:01.600 --> 00:05:04.319 as there is for any freshman, but going in there, I feel 82 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:08.560 like that his system and his defensive schemes will help me out in the best 83 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:12.720 way possible. And then what was the conversation about? Did? I mean, 84 00:05:12.759 --> 00:05:15.279 does it just ask you are you still part of Kentucky basketball? Or 85 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:19.360 what's that? What's that like? Yeah, there was kind of multiple conversations 86 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:21.360 there. You know, it was kind of just starting to build that relationship 87 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:24.839 at first, you know, talking on the phone a little bit, just 88 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:28.839 obviously it was very busy for him those first few days, so they were 89 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:30.519 kind of short conversations, just just getting to know each other a little bit, 90 00:05:31.240 --> 00:05:33.720 you know, him kind of showing how that he wanted me there and 91 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:36.360 that that was an important part of it. Then I got to come up 92 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:39.279 to the press conference and talk to him a little bit, meet his family 93 00:05:39.319 --> 00:05:42.040 and everything like that, and then we went up there to set down with 94 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:46.040 him a little bit after the Kentucky Ohio All Star Game, just to kind 95 00:05:46.040 --> 00:05:47.360 of get my parents to get to talk to him. That was the main 96 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:50.879 thing. You know, I'm very family oriented. They're very important indecisions that 97 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:54.040 I make. So my dad had talked to him a little bit, but 98 00:05:54.040 --> 00:05:56.480 it was really important to get my mom to set down with him and just 99 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:59.079 just kind of have the you know, she's she's got a lot of questions, 100 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:01.240 as any mother does. That's gonna be sending their kid off to college, 101 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:04.959 so she just wanted to ask those questions, just kind of reaffirm what 102 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:08.759 she thought that I was thinking. And yeah, that was That was pretty 103 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:13.600 much all it took. And then what was that day of that press conference? 104 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:17.399 Like that was wild Honestly, we kinda we got up there and we 105 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:19.600 didn't really really know what to expect. When knew there was gonna be a 106 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:23.600 good crowd, you kind of see on Twitter and everywhere the rumblings, so 107 00:06:23.639 --> 00:06:26.639 there's gonna be a lot of people there. But whenever we rolled into Lecxington, 108 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:29.360 like you tell that the energy was hot that day, there was a 109 00:06:29.399 --> 00:06:30.600 lot of people there. And then just at the press conference, it was 110 00:06:30.600 --> 00:06:35.199 it was crazy, like how how welcoming, how excited everyone was there, 111 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:40.279 Like it was really, uh, really hard to believe. Honestly, after 112 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:42.399 that day, you meet with him, your family meets with him, and 113 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:46.000 then obviously he's building the rest of the team. So have you kind of 114 00:06:46.040 --> 00:06:49.360 done research about your your future teammates, have you got to talk or text 115 00:06:49.360 --> 00:06:53.480 with any of them or what's that process like been for you. I've done 116 00:06:53.759 --> 00:06:55.319 research on a lot of them, you know, I've seen a lot of 117 00:06:55.319 --> 00:06:59.120 them playing in you know, very important games and the NCAA tournament past few 118 00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:00.920 years and then just big games throughout, So it's been good to kind of 119 00:07:00.920 --> 00:07:03.639 get to watch them. But also, you know, you know that they've 120 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:06.600 all got different things they'll bring to the table, different uh, different things 121 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:09.480 that will help us. But yeah, just kind of starting to build those 122 00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:13.040 relationships with those guys, get to know them a little bit and to chat 123 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:15.399 with them, and you know, I think everyone is on the same page. 124 00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:16.959 We're pretty excited about it and feel like that we could have a lot 125 00:07:17.000 --> 00:07:21.879 of fun and hopefully win a lot of games. Are you not intimidated? 126 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:26.759 Maybe maybe you're looking forward to it. You got you got multiple guys that'll 127 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:30.439 be on the team that have won multiple conference defensive Player of the Year, 128 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:33.160 So I mean you got to be excited about what those practices are going to 129 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:35.959 be like and how much better they can make you. Yeah, definitely, 130 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:39.160 Yeah, that's that's one of the things. If you're going to a school, 131 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:41.240 I can tuck you like you know that there's gonna be gonna be a 132 00:07:41.240 --> 00:07:44.879 great competition there, and that's kind of what makes you a lot better. 133 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:47.319 And then you know, we have have a lot of guys that have played 134 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:51.120 a lot of college basketball, have a lot of experience, and I think 135 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:55.439 it'll help make my transition a little bit easier. And also going against those 136 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:58.560 guys every day for a couple of months before we even play a real game 137 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:01.759 will be will be pretty fun and challenging, obviously, but it will make 138 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:05.360 me a lot better and make the whole team better collectively. So what are 139 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:09.079 the next few weeks or months look like until you get on campus? What 140 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:13.680 are you You're wrapping up school down at Lion County, what are you what 141 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:16.120 are you working on? What are you trying to do to make sure you're 142 00:08:16.319 --> 00:08:20.079 fully ready to join the team. Yeah, just wrapping up school a little 143 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:22.360 bit, like you said, getting the classes knocked out, Just finish a 144 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:26.040 couple of college classes. I'm just trying to get everything ready, you know, 145 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.399 for all the senior activities, graduation and everything like that. But then 146 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:31.120 also there's there's obviously the basketball stuff, you know, still trying to get 147 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:35.919 in. I have a pretty good schedule where I can work out. I'll 148 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:39.840 work at a across the gym, so I clean up there and all the 149 00:08:39.879 --> 00:08:45.799 stuff in the morning there, and then you know, after school with a 150 00:08:46.240 --> 00:08:50.159 lot of a lot of workouts and get shots up. We'll get right back 151 00:08:50.159 --> 00:08:52.159 to that conversation with Travis Perry, but I wanted to tell you guys that 152 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:58.679 you should be subscribing to The Big Blue Brew, presented by Commonwealth Credit Union. 153 00:08:58.039 --> 00:09:03.120 It's the official newsletter of UK Athletics and it's a great place to stay 154 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:07.200 up to date on all the Kentucky basketball news that's been coming in lately. 155 00:09:07.639 --> 00:09:11.320 It's where you can read every weekday morning the latest and UK athletic news and 156 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:16.000 get updated on all the scores and check out all the highlights. So subscribe 157 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:22.600 now, go to UK athletics dot com slash Big Blue Brew. It's also 158 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:31.399 free. So what are the expectations you're looking forward to for this summer once 159 00:09:31.399 --> 00:09:35.559 you get onto campus. Yeah, yes, it's gonna be very different obviously, 160 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:39.039 so it's it's hard to know what to expect, but really just going 161 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:43.480 in there and looking forward to to put work in with those guys. You 162 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:46.399 know, like I said, there's gonna be a lot of competition, a 163 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:48.600 lot of getting better, a lot of learning, and hopefully this this summer 164 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:52.360 and all that stuff will will kind of help me get a jump start on 165 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:54.879 that help the whole team get together. You know, it's it's normally different 166 00:09:54.879 --> 00:09:58.679 for freshmen obviously coming into that, but it's gonna be really different for a 167 00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:01.919 lot of our guys. We're in such a different situation, a new a 168 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:05.840 new kind of age there. So it'll be a lot of fun. You 169 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:07.559 know, a lot of differences, like I said, but I think we'll 170 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:13.200 enjoy getting to learn through them together. You mentioned your dad, who I 171 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:16.200 think most people know was your high school, high school coach and your coach 172 00:10:16.799 --> 00:10:22.159 almost well, I'm sure he probably started before you even got an organized basketball 173 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:24.080 but I wanted to ask you, like, what's what's some of the best 174 00:10:24.120 --> 00:10:28.480 advice that he's given you that you really hold close to your heart. Yeah, 175 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:33.519 he's given me a lot of good advice on the basket court. You 176 00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:37.360 know, he instills confidence into me just just keep shooting, keep playing your 177 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:39.799 game, that they no matter who you're playing against, that which you have 178 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:45.200 will work. But the main thing that I try to keep that he told 179 00:10:45.200 --> 00:10:48.799 me is just always stay humble, always always stay grounded. I remember I've 180 00:10:48.799 --> 00:10:52.480 told the story a few times. I remember I was playing golf with him. 181 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:54.240 I was probably ten or eleven years old, and I was playing pretty 182 00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:56.679 good golf and we were with a couple of his buddies, and I was 183 00:10:56.720 --> 00:11:00.960 really really proud of myself, really happy with the way playing and I was 184 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.159 I was talking about it, telling telling everybody how good I was playing, 185 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:07.000 and he told me, uh, don't don't ever teot your on horn. 186 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.919 Let everybody else they can, they can say good stuff about you, but 187 00:11:09.960 --> 00:11:11.440 just kind of kind of stay humble, say even killed. And that's something 188 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:16.480 that I've tried to carry with me, just just staying humble, humble through 189 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:18.840 everything. Really, there's been you know, a lot of a lot of 190 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:22.480 news, and I don't know if you've you've seen this ship, but it 191 00:11:22.519 --> 00:11:26.080 was something as are recording today, it's kind of coach and I hope I 192 00:11:26.080 --> 00:11:30.080 can you can see this picture. But the Pope, Yeah, actually got 193 00:11:30.919 --> 00:11:35.559 you saw that. What's been I saw your reaction to yeah, to to 194 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:39.320 something like that. And just Kentucky basketball being in the new I mean, 195 00:11:39.320 --> 00:11:41.639 I know it's always in the news, but just being a being in the 196 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:45.919 news maybe in a different lay on under Coach Pope. Yeah, it's it's 197 00:11:45.960 --> 00:11:48.080 really neat. You know, it's Kentucky Basketball, Like the brand is is 198 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:52.480 huge, one of the one of the biggest brands in college athletics probably, 199 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:54.360 so you know, there's always gonna be a light like that. But when 200 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:58.000 you see something like that, it kind of really puts into another perspective just 201 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:03.960 how worldwide, how how really big the brand is, and how special it 202 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:05.039 is to be a part of it. See, it's really neat. Stuff 203 00:12:05.080 --> 00:12:09.120 like that is really really funny and really really fun to see. But yeah, 204 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:13.399 it's it's definitely a brand that's unlike anywhere else, and you know, 205 00:12:13.399 --> 00:12:16.799 it's just a blessing to be a part of it. What do you see 206 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:20.879 when you see the stories of the other one as a recording today, was 207 00:12:20.960 --> 00:12:24.200 that he went and picked up your Well, he's picked up multiple of your 208 00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:28.039 future teammates from the airport, but he actually went back to b YU to 209 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:31.720 to pick up Colin. I mean when you see I know you've talked to 210 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:33.879 Coach Pope and you get an understanding, but you know, words or words, 211 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:37.279 actions or actions, what does it mean to you when you see the 212 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.960 actions that he's doing for your teammate, your future teammates right now, shows 213 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:43.519 that he puts his words into action. He's really a family man. Once 214 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:46.759 everyone feels like they're part of the family, and just how important that is 215 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:50.759 to all be connected, all be one and one goal. And I think 216 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:54.440 those you know, I've been seeing the stuff him picking up everybody at at 217 00:12:54.440 --> 00:12:56.279 the airport on Twitter the past few weeks, and that's stuff that, like, 218 00:12:56.600 --> 00:13:00.000 not everybody does that. It takes a special type of person to do 219 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:03.679 that, someone that's really committed to the players they're going to have to the 220 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:07.039 people that they're interacting with. And yeah, know it's great to see whenever 221 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.600 coach is doing that, it kind of shows, you know that he's really 222 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:15.000 really putting his words into action. Honestly, So are you as one of 223 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:18.759 the future players? Do you just are you falling along on social media like 224 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:22.799 everybody else when when new signees pop up. I'm sure your phone just goes 225 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.600 crazy. People text you when somebody commits' how does that work for you? 226 00:13:26.480 --> 00:13:31.080 Yeah? Definitely, It's kind of crazy. How quick how quick the news 227 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.639 gets out there and and is everywhere. You know, you get someone someone 228 00:13:33.679 --> 00:13:37.720 will sign or whatever commit and there will be fifteen Twitter and notif cases, 229 00:13:37.720 --> 00:13:41.360 you'll be tagged in fifteen things or tagged on Instagram. It's it's really honestly 230 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:45.240 incredible how quick it can get out there and how quick people can mention you 231 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.440 in it. But yeah, it's kind of fun. You know, the 232 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:50.799 day and age that we're in right now, information spreads quickly, So yeah, 233 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:54.039 I kind of kind of see it, honestly at the same time because 234 00:13:54.039 --> 00:13:56.159 they they announced it, they talk about it, and before anybody even has 235 00:13:56.200 --> 00:14:01.080 time to notify you of it, it's on social media. So it's pretty 236 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:05.360 funny. Really. Yeah, I can't imagine your your notifications the past month 237 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:09.799 or so, with all the awards, the state championship. It's it's got 238 00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:11.799 to be kind of crazy. Your phone must be heated up. Definitely, 239 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:15.919 definitely a little bit, yes, sir, As we wrap up, just 240 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:18.480 turning it back to you, I know everybody kind of knows you as a 241 00:14:18.519 --> 00:14:22.960 shooter, but I know there's a lot more to your game. What are 242 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:26.559 some of the other aspects of your games that Kentucky fans could look forward to 243 00:14:26.600 --> 00:14:28.840 seeing? Yeah, yes, sir, you know, there's obviously my shooting 244 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:33.120 abilities what a lot of people talk about or know me for. But I 245 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:37.600 think that really growing this year as a decision maker, a playmaker, a 246 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:39.399 ball handler. That's something at the next level, if you have someone that 247 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:43.440 can kind of orchestrate the offense, it can really make a huge difference. 248 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:46.559 And that's something I've really tried to get better at. I'm obviously been working 249 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:50.200 on the defensive side of the ball because that's ever important in college basketball to 250 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:52.279 be able to defend better than you can score the ball. So that's that's 251 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:54.840 one of the main things. But the thing that I try to always do 252 00:14:54.919 --> 00:14:56.840 is just play as hard as I can, you know, be the hardest, 253 00:14:56.919 --> 00:15:01.519 hardest player on the floor, do whatever it takes to win. And 254 00:15:01.559 --> 00:15:03.840 that's something that has always been kind of instilled in me, like my dad's 255 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:07.399 always put that in me. It doesn't really matter. Stats don't matter, 256 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:09.480 as long as you can do whatever it takes to get your team to win 257 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:11.039 at the end of the day. And that's the main thing that I tried 258 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:13.240 to do, just play as hard as I can and try and get the 259 00:15:13.240 --> 00:15:16.559 win at the end of the day. Travis, thank you so much for 260 00:15:16.600 --> 00:15:20.720 your time. Yes, Sarah, thank you. Thanks so much to Travis 261 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:24.639 for joining behind Kentucky Basketball. On the episode that preceded this one, Cameron 262 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:30.320 Mills and I broke down the roster of players who had committed to Mark Pope's 263 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:33.360 staff, and we talked about Mark's Pope's staff as well. If you haven't 264 00:15:33.399 --> 00:15:35.840 already, go back and listen to that. But since that recording, two 265 00:15:35.919 --> 00:15:41.159 new Cats have signed on the dotted line and will be Kentucky basketball players next 266 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:46.720 year. Kobe Brea it was added to the men's basketball roster. He is 267 00:15:46.799 --> 00:15:52.720 a three point shot and making machine. He made forty nine point eight percent 268 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:58.960 of his attempts at Dayton last year. He has one season of eligibility left. 269 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:03.480 He is the two time Atlantic ten to sixth Man of the Year. 270 00:16:03.799 --> 00:16:07.120 Here's what Coach Pope had to say about Kobe. By the numbers, Kobe 271 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:11.519 Brea is the most efficient mid to high major player in college basketball in the 272 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:17.639 last decade. He's the best returning shooter in college basketball next year. Kobe 273 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:22.720 is dangerous, dangerous man who is a great human with an incredible family. 274 00:16:22.159 --> 00:16:26.320 He will be key in allowing us to play the style of basketball that we 275 00:16:26.399 --> 00:16:30.759 love the most. Kobe and this group are going to take Big Blue Nation 276 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:36.440 on an incredible ride. He's originally from Washington Heights, New York, and 277 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:40.799 last year he averaged eleven point one points and three point eight rebounds per game. 278 00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:45.480 Kerr Krisha also joined Kentucky. He's a six foot three veteran guard who 279 00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:49.200 played at both Arizona and West Virginia before coming to Kentucky. Next year, 280 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:55.919 he'll have one season of eligibility where left. He's originally from Estonia and last 281 00:16:56.039 --> 00:17:00.320 year for the Mountaineers he averaged eleven points and four point seven assists in twenty 282 00:17:00.360 --> 00:17:06.039 three games played. Here's what coach Pope had to say about Kerr. Kerr 283 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:08.359 Kretia is one of the best shooters in the country. I feel like I've 284 00:17:08.400 --> 00:17:12.400 been recruiting him for the last five or six years since he was a prep 285 00:17:12.400 --> 00:17:17.000 player. He is one of the most experienced guards in all of college basketball. 286 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:21.759 Kerr played on some great Arizona teams, then last year in the hollowed 287 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:26.599 halls of West Virginia. He is a competitive spirit that overflows in every way 288 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:30.519 conceivable. Kerr will have a massive impact on our team on the court and 289 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:33.160 in the locker room. Kentucky fans are going to love his bold personality, 290 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:37.119 and if you've been on the internet at all, you've seen that bold personality, 291 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:42.240 probably in some clips on social media. Kerr was mixing it up with 292 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:48.000 Luka Doncic, one of the best players in the NBA and some international play, 293 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:51.240 so we have to keep an eye out for him on the court. 294 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:56.079 So those are the latest addition to the team as we record this episode. 295 00:17:56.079 --> 00:17:59.799 If you aren't already, please subscribe to this podcast in your favorite podcast player 296 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:03.599 you're subscribing, look up UK Sports Network Today, hosted by Andrew Cappus. 297 00:18:03.680 --> 00:18:07.799 That's a great way to keep up to date on all of you athletics in 298 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:11.160 podcast form. Thank you so much for listening to Behind Kentucky Basketball.