Dec. 10, 2002
Freshman big man Kevin Young came to Missouri a lot bigger than he is now. The 6-9 center from Kingston, Jamaica, tipped the scales at around 325 when he arrived last summer. However, after dedicating himself to a summer conditioning program under the watchful eye of Strength and Conditioning Coach Jeff Watkinson, Young has dropped nearly 60 pounds and is in what he says is the "best shape of this life."
The Jamaican Sensation played well in the Tigers' two exhibition games earlier this month, putting in 11 points and pulling down 14 rebounds in 20 total minutes of playing time in the two contests. The kid who said he could barely get up and down the court earlier this summer is now showing signs of being a significant contributor for the Tigers down low this year.
In this edition of Tiger Court Side's Q & A, Young talks about his love of swimming, chicken and what he hopes to bring to the table for the Tigers this season.
Q: What's your name? A: "Kevin Young, and I was born February 22, 1984...that's 2-22 not 3-22."
Q: That's a correction for the media guide I'm guessing. A: "Yes, since you can't fix it there, everyone should know it's 2-22-84 (smiles)."
Q: Do you have any nicknames? A: "Yeah, Big Cap'." Q: How did you get it? A: "One of my high school teammates gave it to me, and when I came here, it just stuck, so everyone calls me Cap' now."
Q: What CD is in your CD player at this moment? A: " Right now, the Whole Nine."
Q: If you weren't playing basketball what would you be doing with your time? A: "Maybe Swimming. I was a good swimmer in high school."
Q: What actress or musician would you most like to meet? A: "Alicia Keys." Q: Why? " Because she's pretty." Q: Pretty. A: "Pretty and talented."
Q: What's your favorite food? A: "Chicken, chicken, chicken." Q: Do you eat a lot of it during the season? A: "That's what I eat everyday."
Q: What NBA player do you emulate/compare your game style to? A: "Shaq"
Q: Why is that? A: "Because he gets any ball that comes near him."
Q: What do you bring to this team? What are your strengths? A: "I bring my rebounds and fun."
Q: Who do you think the funniest person on this team is? A: "Besides myself, Arthur Johnson."
Q: Name your favorite movie? A: "It depends on my mood." Q: So your favorite varies whether you're happy or not? A: "Not in that way, just in what I feel like watching. It's either Pretty Woman or one of the Rocky movies."
Q: Tell me what has been the hardest part of adjusting to college basketball? A: "Getting in shape, conditioning. It's a lot of work." Q: Who's had the most impact in your game during your career thus far? A: "Here I would say Coach Harvey and Coach Perez."
Q: What about before college? A: "Before, I would say my high school coach Rolando de Barrera."