Kareem Rush & Head Coach Quin Snyder Press Conference Transcript
4/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 10, 2002
Kareem Rush: "I want to say it was a great three years here at Missouri. I've really enjoyed playing with my teammates. Coach has really helped me develop into the player that I've become. I've decided to forego my final year and make myself eligible for the NBA Draft. I'm really excited about the opportunity and I'm going to attack this at 100% and really committed to playing in the NBA next year.
Quin Snyder:"Since the season's been over we've had the chance for Kareem and I to meet and talk to his family to investigate the situation and all the feedback we get leads to this decision. I think it's a really exciting day for Kareem and a great day for our University as well. And we also have a commitment from him that he will get his degree too.
KR: "Exactly."
QS: "So we're excited about that as well."
Q: Kareem, is the door open? And how likely that the re-entry door will also be opened.
KR: "Like I said I'm going to attack this 100% and give it my all, and I look forward to playing in the NBA next year. Like I said, I'm not hiring an agent, but I plan to play in the league next year."
Q: Are you going to have try-outs here, is that how your going to work this?
KR: "We haven't discussed that yet, me and coach will sit down and discuss my itinerary and what I'm going to do as far as workouts are concerned. I'm staying for an extra semester and work towards completing my degree."
QS: "We're going to get a calendar and work through all of the relevant dates. But in this phase it's kind of a decision Kareem has to make."
Q: Kareem, if you are not drafted as high as you hope would that influence your decision? Or if you're drafted, you're going.
KR: "Like a said there is no parameter on where I need to be drafted. I'll make the best decision for me, whether or not I'm drafted where I want to be, I'll sit down with my coaching staff and my family and decide what's the best decision for me."
QS: "You can't decide that though, that decision has to come before the draft and I believe it's June 19th, so he'll be forced to make a decision on that before actually knowing where he'll be drafted."
Q: The parameters you said earlier, you basically want to be a lottery pick is that still enforced by June 19th? If you don't project yourself as a lottery pick, do you see yourself coming back?
KR: "I plan on being [a lottery pick]. I think if I go out there and prove myself and that I deserve to be out there. It's like a said, I'm going to sit down with my coaching staff and right now my projection is to go in the mid to late first round. First round is a great place to be and hopefully I'll show people that I deserve to be there."
Q: Kareem was this a tough decision to make or was this a no-brainer for you?
KR: "It was tough. You know, I really enjoyed my teammates and loved playing for this University for three years. It's so hard to make the decision because I would love to come back and play with guys like AJ (Arthur Johnson) and Travon (Travon Bryant) but this is the best decision for me."
Q: What was the deciding factor?
KR: "Me and coach sat down and we decided that I was ready. I think jumping to the next level will help me prove myself and help me go out there and make the best out of it."
Q: Kareem, ready or not, with one year of college basketball on one hand and millions of dollars on the other, is that really a hard choice?
KR: "You know, it's not really about the money. It's about just playing at the highest level. Since I was a little kid I've always dreamed about playing in the NBA and right now it's the opportunity for me to go out there and do it."
Q: Kareem was being so close to the Final Four the past season have any weight on your decision?
KR: "A little bit. With or without me, the team's going to be great next year. No matter what I do the team will be great like I said. With guys like Rickey (Rickey Paulding) and AJ who'll lead this team there's going to be some great things."
Q: Kareem, who did you talk to for advice? Did you talk to your brother? Did you talk to Keyon (Keyon Dooling, LA Clippers, former MU basketball player)? Who did you lean on?
KR: "This guy right here (Coach Snyder). He's been here ever since I've been here. He's my backbone and led me in the right direction, so I've asked him for advice and he gave it to me."
Q: Did this team getting to the Elite Eight, and with guys coming back next year, did it make it more tempting for you to stay.
KR: "Yeah, obviously. I mean getting that close to the Final Four and the nucleus of the team coming back it's always tempting and now the best decision for me is to get out."
Q: How do you replace what Kareem gave you next year?
QS: "Every year you have the challenge of replacing people, I mean with Kareem and Clarence (Clarence Gilbert) we lose almost 50% of our scoring. Kareem was a guy with the game on the line was capable of winning the game and also put his team on his shoulder. I feel good about the kids that we have and we'll see who'll step up and be able to do some of those things for us. There's some growth that has to take place, just like Kareem had to do that too."
Q: Does that mean more playing time for kids like Jimmy McKinney?
QS: "You know anytime you lose a guy and consequently Kareem and Clarence averaged thirty minutes a game, the kids that are coming in and the kids that are already here will have to fill those minutes, whether it's Jimmy or Rickey or whoever. I think that's clearly out there. Josh (Josh Kroenke) and Najeeb (Najeeb Echols) too. We've had so much depth at that position and I think the current guys, the one's coming back should be really excited about competing next year."
Q: Kareem, how tough did it get this year in respect with the question on whether or not you're staying or going?
KR: "It came a lot more than I expected. It started to come a lot when our team wasn't doing so well. I gave this long thought and I kept it out of mind so it wouldn't interior with my play and I think I did a good job with that, and now that the time has come, I think I've made the right decision."
Q: Kareem with what happened with your brother that's something you've had to think about for two years now. How did that lay on you and your decision, and not just that but the whole picture as well?
KR: "It made me look it at and it made me make sure to make the decision I want to make. I think I don't have to say what the situation with JaRon (JaRon Rush, brother) was. You know, I asked for advice, and all he said was to trust your heart and do what's best for you."
Q: Kareem, are you on track to graduate and do you plan to pursue your degree?
KR: "Yeah, I promised coach and my grandma that when I would leave that I would come back and get my degree. And at the pace I'm at right now, I'll graduate next year."
Q: What has Coach Snyder meant to you as a coach and as a person?
KR: "I don't know how to start. I mean he came in when I was 18 years old. And we were just talking outside on how we we're going to have this conversation on day. When I was 18, he came in and told me what he expected from me and I just followed that path and he's helped me become a better man and a better player and I can't thank him enough for that and I love the guy to death."
Q: Kareem, you said several times this year that you weren't ready to come out last year after your sophomore season, what was in the development of your game this year that changed your decision?
KR: "Dealing with adversity. I had it in different ways, my injury and playing and dealing with pain. But, the year progressed, I learned how to play the game better. Last year was just able to go out there and play and this year I actually had to play a cerebral game. I think that's going to help me in the long run."
Q: Coach what was involvement in the process with Kareem? What did you do?
QS: "I was a sounding board to begin with. No different than my role in a lot of years in his life prior, that was natural. I think Kareem trust me that I have his best interest in at heart allowing him to look at this situation across a number of different categories and then weight his love for his teammates and wanting to go to the Final Four and do all of those things, but what he has now is a very unique individual opportunity and just really helping with him collecting information exactly on where people project him and those type of things that will continue to occur he'll still continue to get more information about as he plays in these workouts and what-not. Just support and guidance."
Q: Kareem, do you have a list of favorite teams right now?
KR: "Not at all. I'm just excited about the opportunity and I'm ready to play."
Q: Have you talked to Keyon (Keyon Dooling)?
KR: "No, I haven't"
QS: "San Jose."
KR: "Ah, yeah in San Jose I have, but I haven't really talked to him about this situation."
Q: Did you guys talk about the situation in San Jose?
KR: "No, not at all, we we're just catching up and he was there to enjoy the game."
Q: Quin, as you're helping him, did you say 'This is what you outta do, this is what you outta do' or was this Kareem and his family?
QS: "I don't know that I did that. Again, it's such a unique decision. Kareem's descision is different from Keyon's and I think more than anything my role was just helping him. And trying to get a good handle on what he and his family felt. How I felt was probably relative to him and his team. He's a grown man and a bright guy, and I think he's capable of making a wise and prudent decision."
Q: Coach a lot of people nationally has attacked the NBA and the whole thing and says it weakens college basketball and beyond that they say a lot of kids get hurt, we've seen it obviously with Kareem's brother, in general, not talking about Kareem, do you think too many kids come out, too many kids hold that dream and they're not realistic?
QS: "I don't believe that. My motto is 'Dream Big, Dream Diverse'. I think you can have multiple dreams and when you do that, it gives you insurances as a young man that you have a shot to have success in many different areas. I think the key thing for us and our program and for Kareem, was that we insured that we had great communication in that situation, and when you have that, the possibility of something happening that is not positive is not very high."
Q: When did you finally make the decision?
KR: "I don't know, I can't remember. At the end of the season, I took a break and had a couple of meetings with coach, and talked with my mother and my grandmother and just made the decision in my head, sitting in home one day, talking to Josh about whether or not I was going to do it.
Q: Coach, does the selfish part of you come out and you really want him to stay and do you try to skew the figures a little bit or does that even play a factor.
QS: "No, no, I think that question goes right to the heart of what your doing as a college basketball coach and sure part of what we're doing is winning basketball games on the court, but the part of the job I value more is seeing these guys succeed."
Q: Coach what it is about Kareem that would make him a good pick in the draft come June?
QS: "There's a lot of guys that are more expert in that than I am, but I feel very strongly about his ability and his prospects, clearly Kareem has a gift to score the basketball. I like hearing what he said about adversity. I feel with that perspective, he provides himself with a real opportunity to continue to improve. As the year progressed, I thought that he started to understand the game at a higher level. You saw games with 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. They we're more impactful games they we're lower scoring games. I don't think we ever doubted his ability to score 30 points when the opportunity presented itself. There's a premium on putting that orange ball in the round basket.
Q: Kareem, will you be participating in any of the games in Chicago for your evaluation or will you go straight to the workouts?
KR: "No, I don't think so. I think I'm just going to the workouts."
QS: "There's no reason for him to play, you look at the draft and people in his position don't play, he's played three years in college and I don't know how many he's played this year and I think they know who he his, they probably want to know him better as person. There's no upside for him doing that."
Q: Kareem what do you have to say to the fans today who might be a little disappointed to hear that you probably won't being playing in the Hearnes Center anymore?
KR: "It's been a great run. I've really enjoyed myself here. It's something I'll never forget for as long as I live."
QS: "He's given our fans so much. As I think they've given to him. But, I think if people feel that way, those are selfish feelings if they're grounded in that. We've got other guys that will be in the Hearnes Center and hopefully they'll be doing what he's doing."
Q: What did your grandma tell you?
KR: "She said, 'Just do what you think is best.'"
Q: Your grandma didn't give you any advice?
KR: "She scaled back a little bit this year. She just told me to do what I thought was best."
Q: Is it difficult to weed out those who aren't being honest with you and what to believe is the truth?
KR: "Definitely, that's why I really appreciate guys like Coach Q. He made sure people didn't lead me astray. As long as I stay true to him, and listen to him I knew that I would be fine."
Q: Did anybody give you a flat out go or no go or was this a decision you made entirely on your own?
KR: "This was all on my own. Coach said that I'm the man and to make the decision that would best impact my life. It was all up to me and that was my decision."
Q: It seems like that you've thrown away the lottery pick number and you'll judge each number on it's own?
KR: "I know I said lottery. I'd love to be a lottery pick, but I definitely like to be higher. But, it's not up to me. I'm going to base my competition on that."
Q: Is there a cut-off in your own mind?
KR: "No. Like I said, the best position for me, I'll be fine."
Q: Yeah, some say the lottery is fine, but if you get picked higher you might find yourself on a better team that has a better chance at making the playoffs, how does that impact your decision?
KR: "It'll come into consideration, but like I said I'm 100% committed to playing next year."
Q: How confident are you that you will land in a prime spot?
KR: "I'm very confident, I don't know with you guys asking all these questions, but I think I'm definitely going to be in a good spot. Once I get to do something individual I think I'll be in good shape."
Q: Kareem, if you can choose one best moment, best aspect of playing here at Mizzou, what would that be?
KR: "Beating UCLA in the Elite Eight. It's as far as we've been in a long time. Not even playing basketball has been the favorite part. Hanging out with the guys and being part of the team is really what I'll miss the most."
