Guyton Talks Draft And Recker
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Just a few months ago speculation had Indiana guard A.J. Guyton entering the NBA draft. The draft was held Wednesday.
You wouldn't have found Guyton in the draft but at Warsaw Community High School, where he and guard Michael Lewis, along with IU recruits George Leach, Jeff Newton, Tom Coverdale and Mike Roberts, conducted a basketball clinic for kids.
As he walks off the court under a basket, Guyton flips the ball one-handed behind his back. The ball rolls up the backboard and goes through the net.
Each of the 30 kids sits down on the bleachers where he or she individually has his or her picture taken with the IU players. Then the kids stand in a single-file line and wait their turns for each player to autograph the pictures.
After the last kid trudges through the line -Êthey're off to eat pizza - the 21-year-old, 6-foot-1 Guyton stays in his seat and grants an interview.
Q: Did you consider entering the NBA draft?
A.J.: Of course. It took me three weeks to decide.
Q: What led you to stay in school?
A.J.: My family. The reason I would have gone in the draft was to help support my family. Mother said she could do without for another year. She wanted me to go to school to get my education."
Q: Can you play the point in the NBA?
A.J.: I see myself as a guard who can do everything.
Q: Why did you choose IU?
A.J.: The support they receive from the fans, and my mother can come see me. Indiana is not that far away.
Q: Would you make the same decision again?
A.J.: Yes.
Q: How will the team adapt without Luke Recker?
A.J.: It's just another year. He's gone. There's nothing to talk about now. We have new guys. We have a whole new attitude.
Q: What do you think of how Bob Knight is portrayed by the media?
A.J.: I think he's treated unfairly. I support coach 100 percent.
Q: Complete this sentence: Playing for coach Knight is like ...
A.J.: I can't complete that sentence. I don't know what to say.
Q: Several reports said once Luke Recker left, you would enter the NBA draft. Did you lean that way at first?
A.J.: He had no effect on what I wanted to do.
Q: Where will IU finish in the Big Ten this season?
A.J.: I just know we will have a competitive team and will play hard.
Q: How much longer will Bob Knight coach IU?
A.J.: He can coach as long as he wants to. That's all I can say.
Q: You weren't considered a true blue-chipper coming out of high school, but now you've turned into a good college player. Talk about your development.
A.J.: I always believed in myself. I just had to have an opportunity to show it. Fortunately, on a night (IU coaches) came to watch me play, I played well. That was my chance to show people I could play. I really helped myself by coming to Indiana.
Q: Will you take the ball to the basket more this year?
A.J.: That's one thing I'm trying to focus on and want to do. I want to take the ball to the basket more. Once I hit a three, I tend to want to shoot more threes. The thing I want to do is shoot more free throws this year.
Q: Are you the leader of this team?
A.J.: I don't think there is one leader. I think there has to be a collective understanding of what has to be done. Along the way, guys will help other guys. A leader can only say what he wants done. It's up to the other guys to listen.
Q: Have you ever considered leaving IU?
A.J.: Every good player has frustrating times and considers leaving. I don't think it's a serious consideration. Sometimes you think, 'Dang, I should leave here, I'm not playing.' [[In-content Ad]]
Just a few months ago speculation had Indiana guard A.J. Guyton entering the NBA draft. The draft was held Wednesday.
You wouldn't have found Guyton in the draft but at Warsaw Community High School, where he and guard Michael Lewis, along with IU recruits George Leach, Jeff Newton, Tom Coverdale and Mike Roberts, conducted a basketball clinic for kids.
As he walks off the court under a basket, Guyton flips the ball one-handed behind his back. The ball rolls up the backboard and goes through the net.
Each of the 30 kids sits down on the bleachers where he or she individually has his or her picture taken with the IU players. Then the kids stand in a single-file line and wait their turns for each player to autograph the pictures.
After the last kid trudges through the line -Êthey're off to eat pizza - the 21-year-old, 6-foot-1 Guyton stays in his seat and grants an interview.
Q: Did you consider entering the NBA draft?
A.J.: Of course. It took me three weeks to decide.
Q: What led you to stay in school?
A.J.: My family. The reason I would have gone in the draft was to help support my family. Mother said she could do without for another year. She wanted me to go to school to get my education."
Q: Can you play the point in the NBA?
A.J.: I see myself as a guard who can do everything.
Q: Why did you choose IU?
A.J.: The support they receive from the fans, and my mother can come see me. Indiana is not that far away.
Q: Would you make the same decision again?
A.J.: Yes.
Q: How will the team adapt without Luke Recker?
A.J.: It's just another year. He's gone. There's nothing to talk about now. We have new guys. We have a whole new attitude.
Q: What do you think of how Bob Knight is portrayed by the media?
A.J.: I think he's treated unfairly. I support coach 100 percent.
Q: Complete this sentence: Playing for coach Knight is like ...
A.J.: I can't complete that sentence. I don't know what to say.
Q: Several reports said once Luke Recker left, you would enter the NBA draft. Did you lean that way at first?
A.J.: He had no effect on what I wanted to do.
Q: Where will IU finish in the Big Ten this season?
A.J.: I just know we will have a competitive team and will play hard.
Q: How much longer will Bob Knight coach IU?
A.J.: He can coach as long as he wants to. That's all I can say.
Q: You weren't considered a true blue-chipper coming out of high school, but now you've turned into a good college player. Talk about your development.
A.J.: I always believed in myself. I just had to have an opportunity to show it. Fortunately, on a night (IU coaches) came to watch me play, I played well. That was my chance to show people I could play. I really helped myself by coming to Indiana.
Q: Will you take the ball to the basket more this year?
A.J.: That's one thing I'm trying to focus on and want to do. I want to take the ball to the basket more. Once I hit a three, I tend to want to shoot more threes. The thing I want to do is shoot more free throws this year.
Q: Are you the leader of this team?
A.J.: I don't think there is one leader. I think there has to be a collective understanding of what has to be done. Along the way, guys will help other guys. A leader can only say what he wants done. It's up to the other guys to listen.
Q: Have you ever considered leaving IU?
A.J.: Every good player has frustrating times and considers leaving. I don't think it's a serious consideration. Sometimes you think, 'Dang, I should leave here, I'm not playing.' [[In-content Ad]]