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Carroll slam dunks into his
first year of college basketball
By Jerome Le Carrou / photo by Josh Russell
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March 31, 2005 | Jaycee Carroll's
first college basketball's season has been everything
he has expected and hoped for. Not only did he
help win the Big West Tournament, play a first-round
NCAA Tournament game and earn important awards,
but he also learned a lot.
Carroll is the first freshman player in the Big
West history to be named Most Valuable Player
of the tournament. It is a great honor to receive,
he said.
"I am just glad that my teammates didn't
get mad, they were unselfish, there is no complaining
as I shot the ball," Carroll said. "I
also thanked the coaches for the confidence they
had in me to build the play and compete at this
level."
Carroll said one of his best memories of the
season is winning the tournament against nationally
ranked Pacific. Carroll was glad that his team
finally beat Pacific, especially after losing
twice to the team this season.
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"Beating [Pacific] was a real privilege,"
Carroll said. "Finally we are the best team, we
now have proved it, 15 points win, you could really
see who is the champion." His second best memory
is having the chance to compete against nationally renowned
players, like Andrew Bogut from University of Utah,
and Salim Stoudemire from Arizona.
Carroll said he was really excited to get into the
NCAA first round. Utah State was one of 65 out of 365
teams to make it to the tournament.
"To get there was a big step," Carroll said.
He said playing against "a great bunch of athletes"
in Arizona's tournament-experienced team was a tough
draw.
For Carroll, the most exciting part was playing against
Stoudemire.
"I had a chance to go head a head with him for
most of the game. It was great," he said.
Carroll said he likes to observe Stoudemire, who plays
Carroll's position, and learn from the good plays he
does during a game.
During the season, Carroll said he learned a lot from
Senior Spencer Nelson. Nelson helped Carroll to handle
his return from his mission in Chile. Nelson had previously
experienced the same situation.
"[Playing with Nelson] It was a great learning
experience for me, and I probably couldn't have had
a better senior to look at for a first year," Carroll
said.
Last August, Carroll returned to Logan after serving
an LDS mission in Chile. Carroll needed to quickly get
back in shape in orderfor the coming season.
"My second day back here in the U.S., I went to
the gym, and three weeks later I came down here and
started the workout program [the team] had," Carroll
said.
Carroll said the players helped him to figure out how
to play in Coach Morrill's system.
"The team helped me to learn a lot more quickly
than if I was just kind of on my own," said Carroll.
During the season, Carroll's schedule was busy. Every
day the team met at 1 p.m. and left the Spectrum at
5.30 p.m. The team practiced and studied game footage.
For Carroll, Monday was the busiest day, which started
at 7 a.m. He had to lift weights, attend classes in
the morning, and go to afternoon practice. Just when
the day was thought to be over, Carroll still had to
study before bed.
"It was kind of hectic to begin with, but I have
found a pretty balance," Carroll said.
Coach Morrill said Carroll plays with "no fear."
Carroll said "no fear and self-confidence"
is the key to his success. Carroll said his experience
as a missionary in Chile helped him to behave in that
way.
"As a missionary, you get down there, you don't
know how to speak the language, I would get a new kid
that just came from the U.S. and he couldn't speak Spanish
and I have always taught to act like you belong, act
like you know what you are doing. It's just the same
I did this year, act like you belong, act like you play
basketball, no fear and just confidence that you are
able to play." Carroll said.
Carroll is able to play without any apprehension, however,
he said playing in the Spectrum was very impressive.
"Our fans are very important, there is no other
gym we have ever been to where the other teams' fans
are louder than ours," Carroll said. "It's
so much fun to sit there on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
nights and just kind of think about what's going to
happen Thursday night at the Gym."
Carroll said he was really impressed during the game
against Utah, when for the first time the Spectrum was
in "full-force" at halftime.
"My ears were ringing, It was a real feeling especially
when you hit a shot everyone is kind of going crazy,"
said Carroll.
Far from all this agitation, Carroll said he has taken
a two weeks break with no basketball. During this period
Carroll said he has spent time playing others sports
that he likes, as racquetball, tennis, frisbee, football
baseball and golf. He also likes fishing, hunting, hiking
and is also going snowboarding for the second time in
a few days.
Carroll said he likes watching NBA, his favorite team
for the moment is the Heat, however he often wears his
Celtics jersey, another team he likes. Carroll listens
to the rock group, Creed, Linkin Park, Nelly and some
classical music.
Carroll said he is looking forward to the next season.
"I have very high expectations, I expect to improve
my skills this summer to be a better ball-handler, a
better shooter, a better passer as well, as a team we
are going to a tougher conference so I expect my teammates
to improve individually and when we get back together
in the Fall, we can just work our team stuff,"
said Carroll.
Carroll is one of those players every university would
like to have. Carroll will be playing for Utah Stae
for three more years. For those who dream to succeed
as a college basketball player, Carroll is a model to
follow. Carroll gives golden nugget advice for success.
"Believe you can play, no matter how big you are,
how tall you are, just first of all believe you can
play. Practice to prove it, practice to get the skills,
take some dedications and take the time to perfect the
skills that you need," he said fearlessly.
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