In advance of his visit to Cal on April 6th, 2018 3-star center Connor Vanover spoke with me about his newfound relationship with Cal and where they sit in all of this. Cal is the only school he's set up a visit with and seem to be the only major program really pursuing him right now, which is obviously good news for Cal.
He's a really nice kid who seems to come from a really good family. His mom balled at the University of Arkansas while his brother currently plays for Central Arkansas. Below are key quotes. The rest will be saved for the article.
“I think my strengths are my shooting ability, my touch around the basketball, on offense how I’m a threat inside and out, my length and my size being 7’3” really gives me an advantage, gives to other people to block shots and rebound I think are my strengths.” –On his strengths.
“I’m definitely trying to get stronger and faster. I think this year has really helped me in my speed and mobility. I’ve definitely been able to run the floor a lot better than I have at the beginning of the year. My speed and strength definitely need to improve and then basically my motor to go one hundred percent every play. Not taking a play off and driving the ball more.”-On what he needs to improve on.
“Basically just after Coach Tubby got fired we just took a step back from it and really tried to see it from a bigger picture. The main reason I went to Memphis was Coach Tubby. He played a big part of it and with him gone we basically looked for that style, so we just took a step back and see if anywhere else would possibly be a better fit.”-On decision to opt out of LOI with Memphis.
“Basically their pitch is they need a big guy. Their two senior big guys are graduating and they really need a big guy. Me going there I could play some really big minutes my freshman year and make a really big impact as soon as I get there. That’s basically been their pitch to me. About the school, it just seems like a really good academic school to go along with having a really good basketball program. They’ve had players go to the NBA in the past couple of years and I think that’s kinda enticing because my whole goal is to go to the NBA and to get a really good education along with that is really good.”-On what Cal’s pitch is to him.
“I have not visited any other school, I haven’t set up any other visits with anyone else yet. I’ve talked with Rice, but not very many others. So I’m basically just trying to go off of this Cal visit and see if anyone else pops up. Just trying to see how things go.”-On who else is in the picture.
“I think I definitely want to try to find something before the end of April.”-On a decision timeline.
“Just the competition. How it’s a higher level. I always loved competition, playing against people better than me. It just helps me get better. That’s kinda the reason I went to Findlay this year is playing against people who are better than you that can really help you get better. So I’m really looking forward to playing against older guys who can really teach me how to play and help me get better.”-On what he’s looking forward to about playing college basketball.
He's a really nice kid who seems to come from a really good family. His mom balled at the University of Arkansas while his brother currently plays for Central Arkansas. Below are key quotes. The rest will be saved for the article.
“I think my strengths are my shooting ability, my touch around the basketball, on offense how I’m a threat inside and out, my length and my size being 7’3” really gives me an advantage, gives to other people to block shots and rebound I think are my strengths.” –On his strengths.
“I’m definitely trying to get stronger and faster. I think this year has really helped me in my speed and mobility. I’ve definitely been able to run the floor a lot better than I have at the beginning of the year. My speed and strength definitely need to improve and then basically my motor to go one hundred percent every play. Not taking a play off and driving the ball more.”-On what he needs to improve on.
“Basically just after Coach Tubby got fired we just took a step back from it and really tried to see it from a bigger picture. The main reason I went to Memphis was Coach Tubby. He played a big part of it and with him gone we basically looked for that style, so we just took a step back and see if anywhere else would possibly be a better fit.”-On decision to opt out of LOI with Memphis.
“Basically their pitch is they need a big guy. Their two senior big guys are graduating and they really need a big guy. Me going there I could play some really big minutes my freshman year and make a really big impact as soon as I get there. That’s basically been their pitch to me. About the school, it just seems like a really good academic school to go along with having a really good basketball program. They’ve had players go to the NBA in the past couple of years and I think that’s kinda enticing because my whole goal is to go to the NBA and to get a really good education along with that is really good.”-On what Cal’s pitch is to him.
“I have not visited any other school, I haven’t set up any other visits with anyone else yet. I’ve talked with Rice, but not very many others. So I’m basically just trying to go off of this Cal visit and see if anyone else pops up. Just trying to see how things go.”-On who else is in the picture.
“I think I definitely want to try to find something before the end of April.”-On a decision timeline.
“Just the competition. How it’s a higher level. I always loved competition, playing against people better than me. It just helps me get better. That’s kinda the reason I went to Findlay this year is playing against people who are better than you that can really help you get better. So I’m really looking forward to playing against older guys who can really teach me how to play and help me get better.”-On what he’s looking forward to about playing college basketball.
