Back in Hollister for the summer, University of Montana basketball player Kyle Sharp is mixing in some vacation with a whole lot of training – on the court, in the weight room … and even at the dinner table. The transition to big-time Division I hoops? Staring down two-time Western Athletic Conference player of the year Nick Fazekas of Nevada and Boston College’s NBA-bound Craig Smith in March Madness? Just what happened while vacationing in Cabo San Lucas? It’s all here. In the first installment of a regular series, sports editor Scott Campbell sits down with an impact player in South Valley athletics.
Free Lance: Kyle, thanks for taking the time. How’s your summer going so far?
Kyle Sharp: It’s going good. Just enjoying the weather and the people in Hollister. I’ve been in town for about a month now. I’ve just been working out, playing a lot of basketball. I just decided I wanted to come back and be with my family and friends. I felt like I could train here and get better, and then go back to Montana and get ready instead of staying up there. I wanted to be back with my friends after my first year of college.
FL: Let’s talk about your first year. What were the highlights?
KS: Definitely, a big highlight was going to the NCAA Tournament. I never really expected to go my first year. I’d always dreamed about going and it was kind of a big deal going my freshman year. It was fun, but another big highlight was definitely to be playing in it. And it was the greatest experience I’ve ever had.
FL: Talk about going up against two premier college players in your two tournament games. What kind of experience was it going up against Nick Fazekas and Craig Smith in the tournament?
KS: (They) were players you see on TV, players you see on ESPN in different games, playing premier teams like Duke and North Carolina. You don’t really imagine yourself out there with them. But when I went out there, I mean, they are just people. You kind of are in awe until you go out there and you run up and down the court with them and you realize that they’re the same as you are. And you just kind of adjust from there and get used to it. But it was exciting for a little while.
FL: The tournament has the nickname March Madness. Talk about what goes on away from the court that makes it such an incredible experience.
KS: It’s definitely your college town. It’s the people of your town that really make the madness happen because people are so excited for you and they’re always coming up and talking to you about everything. And people always want to hear about it. It’s the media and it’s everything around that. It’s playing the top teams in the entire NCAA Tournament and it’s just exciting. That’s what really makes it March Madness. The people make it exciting.
FL: How much of an adjustment was it, growing up in Hollister, playing high school ball in the Bay Area and then going to a foreign state and playing D-I ball?
KS: It was a tough adjustment at first … just to get used to the people and the weather and that area. But after a while, you get used to it and start to really enjoy the people and stuff.
FL: Does it feel like you have a second home up there now?
KS: Definitely. Definitely. Now, when I go back, I have a lot of people that I know and I have my coaches. And my teammates? I’m excited to go back and see them and what they’ve done. And we’ve brought in new people. It’s like another family up there.
FL: How tough of an adjustment was it academic-wise?
KS: It was pretty tough just by the fact because, at high school, you’re at school for eight hours or whatever it is, and in college, you’re only there for five hours, but you have so much homework to do. So you have to be more diligent with your time, especially as an athlete. And so it’s kind of tough to work that schedule out with practice and weight-lifting, and having to go back and study.
FL: Dean’s List your second semester? Not too shabby for a D-I basketball player.
KS: Yeah, it was a good year for me.
FL: Basketball-wise, grade your first season at Montana.
KS: Individually? Individually, I would say I had a B, B-minus because I have high expectations for myself and, going in, I expected to not play, but I did play. And when I played, I would’ve liked to have done more for my team. But you can only do what you’re told to do. My coach told me to go in and rebound and play defense, and that’s what I could’ve done. I mean, I was happy with the season, happy with the way I played, but I always have high expectations for myself. I wish I could’ve done what I did my senior year, my junior year in high school.
FL: How is the summer going to help set you up for your sophomore season?
KS: This summer, I’m definitely trying to improve on … I’m actually just trying to gain some weight and just be able to be more physical out there, be more of a presence out on the court. I’m trying to help my team by being more versatile and being able to play more of a wing a position, a ‘three,’ and then also being able to play down on the post, like a ‘four’ or ‘five.’
FL: So when you’re talking about gaining weight, is it a lot of mom’s cooking?
KS: It is. It is. She’ll take a lot of credit for it. I helps out. I have to over-eat. I’m working out hard, so if I don’t gain a lot of weight, I’ll just gain strength which either one, I would love to do. I’m not trying to gain 40 pounds. I’m just trying to gain 10 pounds at a time. Just getting bigger and stronger and being able to hold my own down there in the post.
FL: How good is the competition you’ve been able to find down here in the summer? Where have you been playing and how has that been going?
KS: I’ve been playing up in San Jose with my AAU team and I’ve been trying to go over to the local junior colleges. Those are all college prospects or guys that have gone and played in some type of college basketball, so all the guys I’ve played with so far have been great. I mean, I’m trying to get guys that are going to really challenge me, play me tough so I can improve and I’m going to challenge them so they can improve.
FL: What were your thoughts on the NBA Finals? Who were you enjoying watching? Who were you rooting for?
KS: I was rooting for the Miami Heat even though I’m a big Dirk Nowitzki fan. I love the way he plays. I love how tall he his and how he can play different positions than he’s supposed to play at his height. But I like the fact that Shaquille O’Neal won a championship without Kobe. I love the way Dwyane Wade plays, but neither of them are my favorite teams.
FL: Who is your favorite team?
KS: I have to go with the locals – the Golden State Warriors. Even when I’m up in Montana, I always root for ’em. But they don’t seem to do as well as I always hope.
FL: If you could pattern your game after any player, who would it be?
KS: I have to think about that one. I would actually say Dirk Nowitzki though. The way he plays … I guess I really enjoy the way he can make the ‘three’ and he can dribble the ball and he can pass. He can do everything really well. And he motivates his teammates. He doesn’t talk a lot. He just does what he has to do.
FL: I understand you had a little R&R down south. Tell us about Cabo.
KS: Yes. I decided before I came home this summer that I needed about a five-day break and my girlfriend Jennifer’s family was going to Cabo so I decided to go with them. And it was fun. I had a great time. Just relaxing by the pool, enjoying the sun.
FL: Any hazardous activities? Any deep-sea diving or snorkeling? Anything that isn’t written into your …
KS: No, I tried to stay away from that. I mean, I did some snorkeling, but that wasn’t too bad. Just snorkeling off the beach and just things like that. … Nothing too hazardous. I don’t want to jeopardize my basketball career.
FL: No Roethlisbergers in the water?
KS: Nope. Nope. Stay away from all that.
FL: What’re you looking forward to for the rest of this summer? You have a couple of months before you head back up to Montana.
KS: This summer, I just want to keep with what I’m doing, my training schedule. I think it’s important that I stick with it very strictly because if I do, I think I can really improve upon the things I really need to improve on. … I’d really like to see a lot of my friends and spend time with my family because when I’m up in Montana, I’m pretty much in Montana for the next 8-9 months and I don’t get a lot of chances to come home and see everybody.
FL: Everyone in Hollister had a great time following you throughout the season, especially in the tournament. How nice has it been for you to be back here and have the chance to see some of these old faces, these friends.
KS: It’s been really nice. I’ve enjoyed being able to see people I haven’t seen in … a whole year since I graduated and they come up to me and tell me how much they enjoy watching me and following me. It’s really rewarding and exciting. It’s been an enjoyable summer so far.
