English brings an East Coast flavor to the Tiger line-up.

June 26, 2008

Columbia, Mo. -

Mizzou Basketball Summer Hardwood Update: Kim English

Missouri Basketball has an incredible seven newcomers entering the program this season to accent the return of all-five starters from the final 12 games of the 2007-08 season. MUTigers.com caught up with one of those seven newcomers, freshman shooting guard Kim English to talk about his game and some of his pastimes off the hardwood.

Talk about your game, what do you plan on bringing to the table for the Tigers next season?

“I guess I was known for my shooting ability coming out of high school and prep school, but I’ll bring whatever it takes to help the team win. You can’t hang your hat in one area, so whatever the team needs, I’ll try to bring it.”

You’ve been known to sleep in the locker room so you can get extra shooting work in… what prompted you to start that routine?

“I like shooting at night and I was up here shooting until about 3 a.m. one night and figured by the time I got to the dorms, I would only have a couple of hours to sleep before I had to get up and come back to shoot again, so I decided to sleep up here. It just makes sense and it saves me some time.”

You are playing in the Demetrius Johnson All-Star game this weekend with your fellow classmates. Any anxiety or excitement about playing in front of the Missouri faithful for the first time?

“It’s always exciting to step out there on the court, but we are going there to get a win. Every time we step on that court, it all comes down to winning and doing whatever it takes to get that win.”

Baltimore is a big sports town and some great players have come out of that city. Who’s the best player you have ever faced from Baltimore?

“I would say there are four players: Carmelo Anthony, Rudy Gay, Kurk Lee and Marcus Hatton. Marcus went to St. John and Kurk Lee went to Towson and then played in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets. Those are four of the best from Baltimore that I have played against. Rudy Gay played on my AAU team, but I played with the other guys at Carmelo’s Rec Center in Baltimore.”

Ravens and Orioles are both mainstays in the city, are you a fan of the local professional organizations?

Of course. I really follow the Orioles. They are 39-37 right now, playing pretty well and I love the Ravens. I never miss a game.

Do you have a favorite player for either franchise?

For the Orioles, I’d go with Cal (Ripken) and Mike Bordick. For the Ravens, I’d say Trent Dilfer. He led us to a Super Bowl, so it’s tough not to go with him.

I’d say my favorite all-time Orioles team would be:

Sindey Ponson – Pitcher

Rafael Palmeiro – First Base

Roberto Alomar – Second Base

Cal Ripken – Shortstop/Third Base

B.J. Surhoff – Outfielder

Brook Fordyce – catcher

Albert Bell – Outfield

Mike Bordick – Shortstop

Jay Gibbons – Outfield

The Tigers faced Maryland last year in the College Basketball Experience in Kansas City. Were there some bragging rights on the line for you and some of your friends being a local product and having friends in school at Maryland?

“Yeah, I talked to a couple of freshman on (Maryland’s) team last year before the game and they were talking it up, but after we beat them by 14, I called those guys back and only one of them answered the phone. It was a great win. I talked to Coach Zimmerman after the game. It was a great way to show the nation the style of basketball we’ll be playing at Missouri.”

How about away from the basketball court, where can we find you spending your free time?

“My free time is pretty much spent here at the Arena, but I am a big sports fan and enjoy watching games and players.”

What’s been the biggest surprise for you since your arrival here in Columbia?

“I’d have to say the weather. It’s so unpredictable. It’s hot one day, cold the next. You just never know about the weather here. On the court, I’d say the combination of size and speed. I’ve played against guys bigger and guys faster, but never the combination of the size and speed. It’s all apart of the adjustment to college basketball.”

You have a large freshman class, in a couple words or less, describe each of your fellow newcomers:

Keith: Big Brother

Marcus: Focused

Miguel: Funny

Steve: He’s just Big Steve

Laurence: He’s pretty funny too