Michigan freshman forward Jon Horford
Michigan forward Jon Horford is one of four new men's basketball players beginning summer school this month in Ann Arbor.
The only in-state recruit, Horford sat down with AnnArbor.com earlier this year for a wide-ranging interview. Here are a few excerpts:
Q: What have you been doing to prep for coming here? Have you gotten in the gym a lot?
Jon Horford: "I’ve been doing just that, been getting in the gym every day to shoot and do my workouts. Michigan sent me some stuff so I’ve been doing that. Been doing some of my own stuff. They have me on a lifting regimen so I’ve been doing that. It’s been going pretty well."
Q: Have you noticed a difference?
JH: "It has me doing a lot of squats and stuff and I can already tell that my legs are stronger and I’m gaining weight, too. I’m up to 225 right now. Before the season I was 220. After the season I was down about 7 or 8 pounds. Now I’m about to 225.
"By the time I get to campus, I want to be at least 230. By the time the season starts I’m hoping to be about 240 because I know I’m going to lose during the season, at least 10 pounds and I want to be 230 by the end of last season."
Q: You were telling me you used to skateboard. Do you still do that?
JH: "The only thing I have that is even reminiscent of skateboarders is that I play hacky sack. I’m pretty good. We play every day, my friends and I at school. I can do a lot of tricks but compared to the professionals, I can’t compare to them, they are ridiculous. But I can play."
Q: What's the coolest trick you can do?
JH: "Around the world behind the back. I can do that. You stall it on your foot, throw it up in the air and you bring your foot, circle around, bring it up with your foot and fling it behind your back. It’s really hard."
Q: Do you have a disadvantage with your height (Horford is 6-9)?
JH: "A lot of people think so with coordination, but having bigger feet is an advantage, I think."
Q: How'd you end up getting started with hacky sack?
JH: "I think, when Al (Horford, Jon's brother) came and he was younger, he brought a hacky sack from the Dominican Republic and we used to play around with it all the time. I just like playing. I stopped for a while and then I picked it up again in high school, no idea why. Al used to play soccer when he was younger, he has good footwork."
Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein
Comments
aarox
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 3:33 p.m.
pa, definitly not being hard on him. He's a good kid and one of the top 100 power forwards. I was trying to protect him from some comments that might lead him to believe he is expected to step on the court and be a factor this fall. That's asking a lot. That kind of pressure can do a lot of damage to a young fella.
1998pa
Wed, Jun 23, 2010 : 4:52 a.m.
I wouldn't be so hard on him, aarox. I agree those rankings are wrong plenty of times. Say it's not, though...Michigan could still use as many top 100 kids as it can get, even if they're ranked in the 80s or 90s.
aarox
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 6:50 p.m.
Not sure I share the optimism. He's a nice kid and we need a few of them. But he gets an 88 ESPN ranking, is ranked only at #77 Power Forward. fwiw, he also looked at Minnesota, Providence, and Cal. No Duke, no Texas, no MSU, no Connecticut, etc. Doesn't sound like an impact player to me especially as a frosh. The pundits are wrong from time to time so I hope they're wrong this time.
rnich231
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 4:42 p.m.
Gary Coleman would have challenged for immediate playing time for this team.
bigtenknight
Tue, Jun 22, 2010 : 4:38 p.m.
Let's all hope so Tatertot...Michigan needs at least one good player on their team after losing Manny and Sims in Beeeeeline's last year. GO GREEN!!