Lehigh Hoops Nation, as part of the continuing effort to get everyone prepared and ready for the ’13-’14 edition of Lehigh Basketball, was fortunate enough to chat with freshman shooting guard Austin Price in an attempt to help introduce him to Mountain Hawk fans. Special thanks to AP for taking the time to chat!
Q.) What is your earliest basketball memory?
A.) 3rd grade travel team. I hit the first game winner of my career. I received the ball around the volleyball line with about seven seconds left. I just shot it because I was tired of passing the ball around and I wanted to take the matter into my own hands. The ball banked in and my mom screamed so loud.
Q.) Where do the athletic genes come from, because obviously you and your brother Jodan(Eastern Michigan Basketball player) got good genes?
A.) I get my athleticism from my Dad’s side of the family. My Dad played in high school and also played at Taylor University. My Uncle Joseph, who now coaches at Grambling, played at Notre Dame with Tim’s dad. My Uncle Jovan played at Purdue. So basketball is huge in my family. My more distant relatives on my Dad’s side are really talented football players.
Q.) Was it always a dream of yours to play college basketball?
A.) Yes, I wanted to be just like my Dad and my Uncles. My brother and I would always shoot around outside and talk about seeing each other on TV when we started playing college basketball.
Q.) Why did you decide to come to Lehigh and was there one specific moment or event where everything clicked and made you realize that LU was where you were going to go to college?
A.) I came to Lehigh because it was the best fit more me. I wanted to go to a college that had great academics, great basketball, great coaching, and a nice campus. Lehigh fit all of those categories. There was not really a specific event, but it all clicked one day while playing kabob, which is game sort of like tennis after we eat our lunch.
Q.) It was reported that you and Kempton both had your official visits on the same weekend, how much did seeing him commit help push you to do the same?
A.) Yes definitely! Tim looked great in the post and did well against Gabe. When he committed, I knew I would have a great post man coming in with me if I were to commit to Lehigh.
Q.) You played your high school ball at the famous Detroit Country Day School, home of Chris Webber and Shane Battier to name a couple well known alums, and your season ended the way every kid dreams, with a state championship. Can you talk about how fulfilling it was for you to go out on top and continue to build the DCDS program legacy?
A.) Winning the State Championship was definitely my most memorable moment in my basketball career so far. I had been there the previous two years and lost. When the final buzzer went off, I just had the greatest feeling. We won our ninth state championship in school history. Just to get the last one for our legendary coach was awesome. I always dreamed of winning it but to finally break the barrier was an indescribable moment. I just had an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment to go out on top.
Q.) Can you give a self-scouting report on your game for Lehigh fans?
A.) I am a great shooter. I have a pretty quick release. I pride myself in playing great defense. I love to score and I never give up on a play. My ball handling is coming along as well.
Q.) What NBA player best describes your style of play?
A.) I don’t know if any player describes my game right now, but I’m trying to get mine like Stephen Curry. I love his style of play and I have working on my handles to hopefully get to that level of play.
Q.) What part of your game have you been working on the most since your DCDS season ended last spring?
A.) My handles have been top priority, but I have also been working on my shot to be a lot more consistent off the dribble.
Q.) You got to campus well before the majority of your non-basketball playing classmates, as you enrolled in summer school to take a class and workout with other LU players and coaches, what was that experience like?
A.) It was great experience. Very eye opening as well. There are so many new concepts in college basketball I needed to learn. The level of play is a lot more intense and a lot faster. The court is also a lot larger so I needed more conditioning. Overall, the summer was a great learning experience. I was able to know where everything was and the best ways to get across campus.
Q.) I thought it was pretty cool how you, Tim, Shane, Miles, and Cole all regularly conversed via Twitter before even arriving in July, but how has it been getting to meet and get to know all of these guys?
A.) It’s great I really click well with all guys in my class. We all are funny guys and share a lot of similarities. It was quiet at first but after the first day, it was like we were brothers.
Q.) What goals have you set for yourself in your first season?
A.) My goals have always been set for me to be the best. The goals for myself individually is to the Patriot League Rookie of the Year. The team goal is to win the Patriot League title. If I meet my goal, I know we will get to the Big Dance.
Q.) Tell us about AP off the court?
A.) Off the court, AP is real laid back. I just go about my business. I socialize with friends, watch some TV, do my schoolwork, and go to sleep.
Thanks again for the time AP.
LHN
