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Shaquille
O'Neal: "When you are 60, hang out with 60-year-olds, not 20-year-olds.
That is all I got to say about Jerry Buss."
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HoopsHype.com Interviews Charlie
Villanueva: "I'm gonna surprise a lot of people
out there"
Charlie
Villanueva: Two words come to mind: staying focused. Since
the day I officially announced my early entry for this year's draft, I've
been in the gym practically every day. The first couple of days I stayed
in school working out with the team and lifting weights individually.
Now, I'm back in my hometown, NYC, working out twice a day, six days a
week, with two different personal trainers – one to improve both
my basketball offensive and defensive skills, the other to improve my
strength and speed. I'm on that zone of getting right and getting ready
to become an impact on what ever team I land on. You officially declared for the draft three weeks ago. How tough was the decision process? Did you change your mind a lot or you had it clear you wanted to put your name in the draft? CV: It was a big decision for me, real tough. I never expected the college experience to be such a great one. The people and the fans in Connecticut are the best. The UConn program and the coaches have done a great job with me. I know there's still a lot that I need to learn and get better at. It wasn't really till the season ended that something just clicked in my head and I felt mentally I was ready for the challenge. I've never felt this way before. It was something I felt strong and determined about. When I first tested the waters with the NBA coming out of high school, I wasn't at all confident, I was actually nervous and a bit scared. But now, I'm 110 percent confident with myself. But I must say, before I made my decision, I needed to hear what Coach Calhoun thought and what my family had to say. They were key in making my decision. Calhoun gave me the support I needed to make it official. Why did you decide to hire an agent instead of playing it safe and just work out for the teams like two years ago? CV: Two years
ago, I didn't know what I was getting myself into, so I had to play it
safe. It was the right thing to do at the time, I'm glad it really worked
out well for me. Now, it's different. I understand what I'm about to be
faced with and I'm working with the right folks to physically prepare
me for the battle. What are the best memories of your time at UConn? CV: There's lots of good memories at UConn, too many (laughs). UConn was such a good experience for me and I couldn't never regret my decision in attending the school. I had so much fun there enjoying my time with all the fans, my teammates, my coaches, and my fellow students. If I had to pick one, it would probably be winning the NCAA championship. Just seeing all the different smiles and happiness on all of my teammates and coaches had was priceless. It's an unforgettable feeling. I will be telling my grandkids about that one. And the toughest part for you of your days in Connecticut? CV: For me, the toughest part about UConn was the transition from high school to college. First off, I had to become a role player versus the main player, which I wasn't use to at the time. Second, it was more competitive, I wasn't always the tallest guy on the court. Third, the learning process working with the coaches at first was a bit difficult for me to adjust. They were on me frequently, but that's exactly what I needed. I just listened and things worked out pretty smooth. And the NCAA investigation? How hard was that? CV: To be honest,
at first I didn't have a problem at all with it because I understood this
was something that was part of the process. They were just doing their
job. But, as the investigation began to stretch longer and longer, Would you like to have a coach of the demanding type like Jim Calhoun in the NBA or a more laid-back coach? CV: I would love to have a coach type of a Jim Calhoun. He's one of the great ones. There's a reason why he's a Hall of Famer today. Many different coaches have different approaches when working with a player. The key is being able to communicate. It doesn't matter if it's hardcore demanding or laid-back. It's finding a way to understand each other as a player and a coach. I think something as simple as listening is one of those things people take for granted and working with Calhoun I learned to get better at. How much of a factor was the economical issue and being able to take care of your family in your decision to declare? CV: Like every
good son should, the first thing that came up in my mind was I need to
take care of my mom. We currently don't live in the best neighborhood
in Brooklyn and I was eager to provide her with a better living situation.
Especially, after her accident, she probably will never be able to use
her right arm again. But, after talking to my mom about the whole situation,
she surprised me in wanting me to go back to school. She was new to the
game of college basketball and had developed a passion to see the Huskies.
She helped me understand to make my decision for the right reasons, not
for a financial reason. So, it wasn't a factor at all. Regardless of what
happens to me in my basketball career, I will always find a way to take
care of my mom Is your mother doing better now? CV: She's doing better than before, but still having a difficult time in recovering for her accident. Thanks for asking. She's not the main reason, but she's one of the reasons. What are your plans regarding Chicago? Are you going to play in the pre-draft camp? CV: No, I don't believe I will be participating in the pre-draft games, but I will be in Chicago for everything else. What do you think you'll have to show to the NBA scouts and executives in these coming weeks? CV: I need to show the NBA world that I'm no longer this young kid most people saw and judged me by when I was coming out of high school. I'm a totally different person now – from my basketball skills to my body and, more importantly, mentally. Before, I didn't have it mentally. Now I do. So, I need to demonstrate the real me and make them believers. My mind is set on coming into the league to make an immediate impact. I now need to prove that. Nobody questions your talent, but some people question your attitude or your effort. What do you think about that? CV: I would
agree with them that my efforts weren't where they should have been. But
now, it's a whole different story. I'm gonna surprise a lot of people
out there. They're gonna have to see for themselves and I'm confident
many will see the difference and won't be disappointed. Even as I work
out now, day to day, every day is a new day, a new learning experience.
I feel stronger already in these last three weeks of hard exercising.
It just goes to show you hard work pays off. Would you rather play small forward or power forward in the NBA? CV: One of the main things that I'm working on is improving my speed and agility. Ideally, I would like to become a dominant tall small forward, but I have to be quick enough to defend the smaller and faster players in the league. I am also getting stronger, building upper body strength to be able to compete against the power forwards. I could see myself rotating a lot between the 3 and 4. Depending on the team and who we match up against, I'm comfortable in playing multiple positions. I know I can be a matchup problem and take advantage of the 3 spot, I just need to work hard on becoming a total threat, both on offensive and defensive side. What type of player do you see yourself becoming in the NBA? A role player, a star, a superstar? CV: At first, like most rookies, I believe I will be more of a role player. But, I have to prepare myself as if I were coming in to become a superstar. Prepare to be the best that I can be, to play against the best in the world. What happens if you fall to the second round? Are you a scared about that possibility? CV: I'm not
worried about that. I'm going to work as hard as I can not to be in that
situation. But, if it did occur, I would do whatever it takes to keep
my job on a team's roster. Would you trade your NCAA ring for a lottery selection? CV: No way! An NCAA championship is priceless. No money in the world can buy a championship ring. It's takes hard work and teamwork to earn one of those things, not cash. Jorge Sierra is the editor of HoopsHype.com. Rob Elias Villanueva helped conduct the interview Tell us what you think about this interview. E-mail us at HoopsHype@HoopsHype.com _____________________ |
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