Lehigh Hoops Nation, as part of the continuing effort to get everyone prepared and ready for the ’14-’15 edition of Lehigh Basketball, was fortunate enough to chat with freshman guard Brandon Alston. This Q&A should help Mountain Hawk fans get to know Brandon. Special thanks to the freshman guard from Virginia for sitting down to chat.
Q.) What is your earliest basketball memory?
A.) I played with a team out of Baltimore called Baltimore Panthers and we got second place in 10u AAU Nationals.
Q.) Where do your athletic genes come from?
A.) My dad was a two time all conference cornerback at VMI. My mom was a swimmer.
Q.) Can you talk about the decision to reclassify into the high school class of 2014 and commit to Lehigh?
A.) I decided to leave high school early and come to Lehigh because I felt that I was ready for something new. I had been to a few high schools and what I was looking for, I felt I could find at Lehigh.
Q.) What made you feel that you were ready for the college game a year earlier than originally planned?
A.) I never felt I wasn’t able to play with my original class from a talent standpoint, I actually thought I was under-rated originally. I decided to graduate because reclassifying started to hold me back instead of get me better.
Q.) Can you give Lehigh fans a self-scouting report on your game?
A.) I don’t have a specific scouting report for myself, but I like to think of myself as an aggressive player who can do many things on the court.
Q.) What NBA player best describes your style of play? LHN sees a little Paul Pierce.
A.) I have never modeled my game specifically after anybody else. Although Paul Pierce is one of the best players ever in my opinion, I would say my game more closely resembles James Harden. Paul Pierce often only finishes the break whereas James Harden likes to both start the break and finish. Also, James Harden likes to do more off the bounce.
Q.)What parts of your game have you spent the most time working on since the high school season ended?
A.) I always work the most on dribbling and shooting.
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 to get to know the campus well before the official year began. Also, I was able to get good grades in two classes to get me off to a good start.
Q.) How has it been getting to meet all your fellow classmates in Kahron and Tyler?
A.) All three of us have gotten along better than could be expected. We are all interested in pretty much the same stuff and are happy to be here.
Q.) What goals have you set for yourself in your first year?
A.) My main goal for this season is to win a Patriot League Championship and get to the NCAA tournament.
Q.) Can you tell us a little bit about Brandon off the court?
A.) I like to eat good food and watch Netflix.
Thanks for taking the time to chat Brandon. Best of luck this season.
