Q: So Gradey coming out of, I know you were in Wichita then spent a few years there, then Sunrise. I don't remember you taking any really official visits anywhere else. Did you know this is where you wanted to be early on? You might have visited some other schools, but did you know early on that this was going to be the place for you?
A: I had a great idea of it just with the history of my family going through it with my siblings, and just going to games when I was younger. But fortunately for me, like it was during that COVID time, obviously, where I was getting recruited by my schools that I was interested in and yeah, fortunately for me, I had most of my unofficial visits already finished before they cut everything off for COVID. Then it just turned into zooms and then I narrowed it down obviously to Kansas.
Q: And did you know early on? You did.
A: Actually, like I said before, Kansas was always in my top two, I'd say. And then just from like the fan boyish standpoint of me going the games, but then once I actually got the background information and guys like CB, that already had relationships beforehand, and just seeing the background of everything that goes into the school, I knew it was number one.
Q: Gradey, maybe coaches told you this, or maybe you heard him say yesterday, but he basically told us that it seems good likelihood that you and MJ might be competing for a starting spot. I wondered if you could take us through your relationship with MJ. I know you guys have gotten close. When did that first happen and how's it been like having him here and what do you think of when you think of competing with him for a spot? I'm sure you both have roles, does that add to this bond that you guys are having in developing?
A: Yeah, for sure. MJ is my guy. I mean, we've actually known each other since I like to say maybe seventh or eighth grade. I first met him at this little, it was kind of like a showcase tournament that me and him got invited to in California for this Adidas stuff. And we actually had some pictures from that, which was kind of cool and kind of led up into us playing against each other on the prep school level and with him at Oak Hill and then transitioning to his other school and just building that relationship over time and obviously into McDonald's and those camps and everything like that. And the fact that we get to push each other every single day and he's actually my roommate and it's just pretty much 24/7. And I feel like that only helps us that much more that we can not only push each other, but just other guys on the team, making each other better.
Q: I don't know if you fully knew then that you were going to have this opportunity. I know it was probably your goal, but his too, but what's that like in seventh, eighth grade to meet a guy like that and him meet you. Do you guys even think this far ahead about someday we're going to go to college, maybe we'll play at Kansas, maybe we'll play against each other, whatever it is. Does that stuff even happen in a seventh grader's mind, or not really?
A: I think for my seventh grade mind, I'm thinking to the tournaments that summer. In a way where, obviously at that time college D1 is my overall goal to get there and then hopefully the next level as it just transitions with my age. But yeah, when I'm in the camp with him and just kind of enjoying it in the moment and then just getting his information, getting his social media, and just talking to him about when we play each other next in that summer or something like that.
Q: Did you know, was that note planted there specifically for you or was it just for the guy that was in the room? The little note from Ochi?
A: I had no idea when I was going in the room, but like they said, Coach Q told me he had no idea till I let him know. And I don't know for sure, but I got in there and he said "check the upper drawer" and I checked it and like I said earlier, it was an autograph of his head. I was like, "yeah. Okay, thanks for the autograph." But I turned it over and it was a nice note. I texted him after that and he was like, "just tell him you're next," everything like that.
Q: We saw your reaction and with your mom, but what was it like being there in that moment? What was that like?
A: Oh, it was extremely special. Just everything that whole day was just special of moving into my dream school and then to get out on top of that. And I think part of the reason my mom was just so emotional was I'm the fourth kid leaving, so I'm kind of her baby leaving out. And I was the last one. So for her to get emotional and then that kind of put her over the top. So it's great.
Q: Do you have a favorite all time Jayhawk.
A: All time?
Q: Maybe someone you watched growing up.
A: I have a couple, but one, I remember specifically when Selden, I went in there for, it was kind of on one of my AAU teams when it was probably sixth, seventh grade. And we got team tickets because Perry Ellis was playing on the players at that time with, not at the time, but that was his AAU team. So we got tickets through him. So yeah, Perry, love him. And we got there on the court and took pictures of Wayne Selden. I remember how special was he like commented on one of my pictures when I was little and then to me, him and being in his shoes is crazy.
Q: What do you think of the early workouts so far compared to Sunrise, the talent here and everything?
A:The talent is where I see what's going to benefit me the most because that's what my high school decision would go to Sunrise was to go to that next high school level and play against those guys in that competition. And I knew it would be a whole new level, because it's just how basketball just works with different levels, different stages. And you have to go into college. I knew it was just going to be a big change, but I feel like if you go a hundred percent, you can make it that much smoother.
Q: How much fun is it to be back with Zach and think about that idea. I know we've asked him that about you coming in, but what about for you? You know what he can do. He knows what you can do.
A: Yeah. It's a ton of fun. I've seen him change tremendously and just upgrade his everything and from Sunrise, me being his roommate, other roommates, and just being with each other that much and then to come in here, like you said, and be back right with him. It's just like we never left.
Q: You didn't need it because you're familiar with this place. You knew the coaches, you knew a lot of the guys, but does it help to have a former teammate like that who's already here and you can go through this picking his brain and things like that?
A: It does but I say, my personality is, I get along with everyone, or probably at least I try to, but coming into this team and just seeing how everyone acts with each other. There's no one person that's separate on this team. I've heard from a bunch of guys that just this team is just hitting the ground running and that's like what our goal was. And Coach Self's goal was, after the championship, to leave where we left off or they left off and bring me in the freshman in and just help as much as we can. So the fact that like we get along already at this early stage, I feel like its just that huge.
Q: What do you need to do in terms of weight? Do you have to gain any? And how heavy are you now?
A: As of right now, we're just doing some small workouts. It's just staying in shape. I think more of, it's just getting the conditioning just up because the college level, we're already doing crazy workouts versus four and four, so it's just getting the condition and then weight is going to come with it with Ramsey, one of the best weight coaches in the world. So I feel like if I stick to his techniques and everything like that, I'm going to eventually just upgrade with that.
Q: What do you think of Kevin as a player in person?
A: Oh, I love Kevin. That's one of my- we're all close, but that's one of the closest I've been with since I've been here just with him because his room's right across from mine. And plus we're the kind of newer guys, but he's been a great mentor to me because he's played at that level last year.
Q: You guys haven't had the most structured scrimmages necessarily, but getting out in that environment, running floor, the game pace. How have you felt like you've handled that?
A: One of the most beneficial things for me, since I've been here just because obviously we're doing our individual work, which is, I'm getting the gym shooting on my own, but the fact that we're having like those scrimmages and actually going up and down on Allen Field House and just seeing the length of the court and getting up and down and I think once you start to play and your game just builds with that.
Q: What do you think of Wiggins' performance? Are you following it?
A: Of course. Yeah, I think he's making his statement for the VP. So obviously I loves Steph, but he has a great background for that.
Q: Gradey, what do you want work on the most this off season for your game?
A: Just kind of the overall game of just getting myself ready for the D1 physicality, like I said, get in the weight room. Just everything that we're all doing, but obviously I'm going to try to do a little more and just work my hardest while I'm here.
Q: Will that be the biggest challenge, just adjusting to the physicality? And I wonder also if you think, we've seen MJ in person a couple of times now. He seems to have that part down a little bit. He looks, he looks pretty thick. You feel like he's more ready maybe? Not more than you, but just than your average freshman?
A: Average freshman, yeah. You've seen him, he's huge. But at the same time, there's so many different facets to the game that, I'm not going to say anyone's better or anything, but I'm doing something in this spot of the game and then different players are focused on different spots because obviously everyone plays different positions, but I feel like everyone has something to work on and I just got to find mine and just keep going every day.
A: I had a great idea of it just with the history of my family going through it with my siblings, and just going to games when I was younger. But fortunately for me, like it was during that COVID time, obviously, where I was getting recruited by my schools that I was interested in and yeah, fortunately for me, I had most of my unofficial visits already finished before they cut everything off for COVID. Then it just turned into zooms and then I narrowed it down obviously to Kansas.
Q: And did you know early on? You did.
A: Actually, like I said before, Kansas was always in my top two, I'd say. And then just from like the fan boyish standpoint of me going the games, but then once I actually got the background information and guys like CB, that already had relationships beforehand, and just seeing the background of everything that goes into the school, I knew it was number one.
Q: Gradey, maybe coaches told you this, or maybe you heard him say yesterday, but he basically told us that it seems good likelihood that you and MJ might be competing for a starting spot. I wondered if you could take us through your relationship with MJ. I know you guys have gotten close. When did that first happen and how's it been like having him here and what do you think of when you think of competing with him for a spot? I'm sure you both have roles, does that add to this bond that you guys are having in developing?
A: Yeah, for sure. MJ is my guy. I mean, we've actually known each other since I like to say maybe seventh or eighth grade. I first met him at this little, it was kind of like a showcase tournament that me and him got invited to in California for this Adidas stuff. And we actually had some pictures from that, which was kind of cool and kind of led up into us playing against each other on the prep school level and with him at Oak Hill and then transitioning to his other school and just building that relationship over time and obviously into McDonald's and those camps and everything like that. And the fact that we get to push each other every single day and he's actually my roommate and it's just pretty much 24/7. And I feel like that only helps us that much more that we can not only push each other, but just other guys on the team, making each other better.
Q: I don't know if you fully knew then that you were going to have this opportunity. I know it was probably your goal, but his too, but what's that like in seventh, eighth grade to meet a guy like that and him meet you. Do you guys even think this far ahead about someday we're going to go to college, maybe we'll play at Kansas, maybe we'll play against each other, whatever it is. Does that stuff even happen in a seventh grader's mind, or not really?
A: I think for my seventh grade mind, I'm thinking to the tournaments that summer. In a way where, obviously at that time college D1 is my overall goal to get there and then hopefully the next level as it just transitions with my age. But yeah, when I'm in the camp with him and just kind of enjoying it in the moment and then just getting his information, getting his social media, and just talking to him about when we play each other next in that summer or something like that.
Q: Did you know, was that note planted there specifically for you or was it just for the guy that was in the room? The little note from Ochi?
A: I had no idea when I was going in the room, but like they said, Coach Q told me he had no idea till I let him know. And I don't know for sure, but I got in there and he said "check the upper drawer" and I checked it and like I said earlier, it was an autograph of his head. I was like, "yeah. Okay, thanks for the autograph." But I turned it over and it was a nice note. I texted him after that and he was like, "just tell him you're next," everything like that.
Q: We saw your reaction and with your mom, but what was it like being there in that moment? What was that like?
A: Oh, it was extremely special. Just everything that whole day was just special of moving into my dream school and then to get out on top of that. And I think part of the reason my mom was just so emotional was I'm the fourth kid leaving, so I'm kind of her baby leaving out. And I was the last one. So for her to get emotional and then that kind of put her over the top. So it's great.
Q: Do you have a favorite all time Jayhawk.
A: All time?
Q: Maybe someone you watched growing up.
A: I have a couple, but one, I remember specifically when Selden, I went in there for, it was kind of on one of my AAU teams when it was probably sixth, seventh grade. And we got team tickets because Perry Ellis was playing on the players at that time with, not at the time, but that was his AAU team. So we got tickets through him. So yeah, Perry, love him. And we got there on the court and took pictures of Wayne Selden. I remember how special was he like commented on one of my pictures when I was little and then to me, him and being in his shoes is crazy.
Q: What do you think of the early workouts so far compared to Sunrise, the talent here and everything?
A:The talent is where I see what's going to benefit me the most because that's what my high school decision would go to Sunrise was to go to that next high school level and play against those guys in that competition. And I knew it would be a whole new level, because it's just how basketball just works with different levels, different stages. And you have to go into college. I knew it was just going to be a big change, but I feel like if you go a hundred percent, you can make it that much smoother.
Q: How much fun is it to be back with Zach and think about that idea. I know we've asked him that about you coming in, but what about for you? You know what he can do. He knows what you can do.
A: Yeah. It's a ton of fun. I've seen him change tremendously and just upgrade his everything and from Sunrise, me being his roommate, other roommates, and just being with each other that much and then to come in here, like you said, and be back right with him. It's just like we never left.
Q: You didn't need it because you're familiar with this place. You knew the coaches, you knew a lot of the guys, but does it help to have a former teammate like that who's already here and you can go through this picking his brain and things like that?
A: It does but I say, my personality is, I get along with everyone, or probably at least I try to, but coming into this team and just seeing how everyone acts with each other. There's no one person that's separate on this team. I've heard from a bunch of guys that just this team is just hitting the ground running and that's like what our goal was. And Coach Self's goal was, after the championship, to leave where we left off or they left off and bring me in the freshman in and just help as much as we can. So the fact that like we get along already at this early stage, I feel like its just that huge.
Q: What do you need to do in terms of weight? Do you have to gain any? And how heavy are you now?
A: As of right now, we're just doing some small workouts. It's just staying in shape. I think more of, it's just getting the conditioning just up because the college level, we're already doing crazy workouts versus four and four, so it's just getting the condition and then weight is going to come with it with Ramsey, one of the best weight coaches in the world. So I feel like if I stick to his techniques and everything like that, I'm going to eventually just upgrade with that.
Q: What do you think of Kevin as a player in person?
A: Oh, I love Kevin. That's one of my- we're all close, but that's one of the closest I've been with since I've been here just with him because his room's right across from mine. And plus we're the kind of newer guys, but he's been a great mentor to me because he's played at that level last year.
Q: You guys haven't had the most structured scrimmages necessarily, but getting out in that environment, running floor, the game pace. How have you felt like you've handled that?
A: One of the most beneficial things for me, since I've been here just because obviously we're doing our individual work, which is, I'm getting the gym shooting on my own, but the fact that we're having like those scrimmages and actually going up and down on Allen Field House and just seeing the length of the court and getting up and down and I think once you start to play and your game just builds with that.
Q: What do you think of Wiggins' performance? Are you following it?
A: Of course. Yeah, I think he's making his statement for the VP. So obviously I loves Steph, but he has a great background for that.
Q: Gradey, what do you want work on the most this off season for your game?
A: Just kind of the overall game of just getting myself ready for the D1 physicality, like I said, get in the weight room. Just everything that we're all doing, but obviously I'm going to try to do a little more and just work my hardest while I'm here.
Q: Will that be the biggest challenge, just adjusting to the physicality? And I wonder also if you think, we've seen MJ in person a couple of times now. He seems to have that part down a little bit. He looks, he looks pretty thick. You feel like he's more ready maybe? Not more than you, but just than your average freshman?
A: Average freshman, yeah. You've seen him, he's huge. But at the same time, there's so many different facets to the game that, I'm not going to say anyone's better or anything, but I'm doing something in this spot of the game and then different players are focused on different spots because obviously everyone plays different positions, but I feel like everyone has something to work on and I just got to find mine and just keep going every day.
