Welcome to our first ever Dishin' with the Sycamores! In this first (and hopefully not the last) installment, we were able to catch up with new Sycamore point guard Jake Kelly. Kelly was kind enought to sit down with us and opened up on his feelings about returning to Indiana, his expectations, and many other questions that were submitted by the great folks here at Fight On State. Without further ado, let's get to it!
SycamoreHoops.com: Alright... let's start with what is still the hot button topic and on the mind of every Sycamore fan. Have you heard any timeline on when a decision will be made regarding your eligibility?
Jake Kelly: I should hear within the next couple weeks. We have written the letter and now it is all up to the NCAA. I have talked to some people involved and they like my chances of playing next year.
SycamoreHoops.com: Are you excited about returning to play basketball in Indiana?
Jake Kelly: Im very excited about playing in Indiana, especially Terre Haute. I grew up going to all the ISU games and summer camps as a kid.
SycamoreHoops.com: How did you go about choosing Indiana State as the place you wanted to transfer?
Jake Kelly: I chose ISU because it is in my home town and all most of my family is here. I wanted to play in front of my home crowd and do something really special for Terre Haute. I had offers from Kentucky, Notre Dame, etc., but I really liked the idea of taking a mid-major deep in the tournament. My mom went to every game during the '79 season with Bird and would tell me how awesome it was.
SycamoreHoops.com: How is the transition to your new surroundings and teammates coming along?
Jake Kelly: I am very pleased with my new teammates. They are very talented and want to win. Everyone on the team seem like good guys. I think chemistry will be no problem for us. The biggest challenge we will face as a team this year will be for all of us to accept our roles.
SycamoreHoops.com: What are your expectations for the team in the next couple of years?
Jake Kelly: I have extremely high expectations for us. I always do, but with this team I am confident that we can be successful. I want nothing more than to have a chance to play in the NCAA tournament.
SycamoreHoops.com: Have you set any personal goals -- like making the All-MVC team, becoming the conference MVP, etc?
Jake Kelly: Right now my goals for next year are to be a leader, be in the best shape in the country, and to win the MVC championship. If I get MVP it will be because I play for the best team.
SycamoreHoops.com: With your skill set and size, you've got a very versatile game that allows you to play at multiple spots on the floor. What position are you most comfortable playing? Why?
Jake Kelly: I am naturally a point guard. Coaches in the past have always played me as a shooting guard or a small forward so I've adjusted my game over the years so I could play off the ball, but I am at my best when I am in a position to make plays for teammates. I am a scorer, but I think its best when I'm a playmaker for 35 minutes then take over if needed in the last 5.
SycamoreHoops.com: What changes will you have to make to your game coming from Coach Lickliter's system into Coach McKenna's system?
Jake Kelly: Lickliter's system was very unique. It took me awhile to really grasp what he was wanting. It consisted of using a lot of the shot clock and penetration for kick-out threes. McKenna's system will be much different but more suitable to my abilities. The faster pace offense will be exciting to play and for fans to watch. I think I will be able to pick up the offense very quick.
SycamoreHoops.com: How different do you think the style of play will be in the MVC compared to the Big Ten?
Jake Kelly: Big Ten is a very physical, grind it out type of league. I think the MVC is a very good defensive league with very good guard play, but the majority of the teams don't have the same type of size that I was accustomed to playing in the Big Ten. MVC just seems more guard oriented.
SycamoreHoops.com: What do you feel are your greatest strengths on the basketball court?
Jake Kelly: My greatest strengths is my ability to break down the defense and I'm am always a threat to finish or make the right pass. I'm very quick and long for my position.
SycamoreHoops.com: Do you have aspirations to play in the NBA? What do you think you would need to work on to play at the next level?
Jake Kelly: I've always had aspirations to play in the NBA. I think I have a shot at it, I just need to keep working at all phases of my game and get stronger.
SycamoreHoops.com: If there was anything you wanted Sycamore fans to know about you, what would that be?
Jake Kelly: I just want sycamore fans to know that I will give 100 percent effort everyday.
SycamoreHoops.com: Have you had a chance to snag a BBQ Chicken pizza from the Bally yet? If not, what places do you like to eat in Terre Haute?
Jake Kelly: I have not gotten any pizza from the Bally yet, but I hear good things about it. *Laughs*
We hope everyone enjoyed this... we really did and I was even able to sneak in my Bally BBQ Chicken obession. Hopefully the news Jake receives from the NCAA in the next couple weeks will be what he and all the Sycamore fans want to hear -- that he'll be eligible to play this upcoming season for Coach McKenna and the Sycamores! Until next time, Go Trees and... FIGHT ON STATE!
SycamoreHoops.com: Alright... let's start with what is still the hot button topic and on the mind of every Sycamore fan. Have you heard any timeline on when a decision will be made regarding your eligibility?
Jake Kelly: I should hear within the next couple weeks. We have written the letter and now it is all up to the NCAA. I have talked to some people involved and they like my chances of playing next year.
SycamoreHoops.com: Are you excited about returning to play basketball in Indiana?
Jake Kelly: Im very excited about playing in Indiana, especially Terre Haute. I grew up going to all the ISU games and summer camps as a kid.
SycamoreHoops.com: How did you go about choosing Indiana State as the place you wanted to transfer?
Jake Kelly: I chose ISU because it is in my home town and all most of my family is here. I wanted to play in front of my home crowd and do something really special for Terre Haute. I had offers from Kentucky, Notre Dame, etc., but I really liked the idea of taking a mid-major deep in the tournament. My mom went to every game during the '79 season with Bird and would tell me how awesome it was.
SycamoreHoops.com: How is the transition to your new surroundings and teammates coming along?
Jake Kelly: I am very pleased with my new teammates. They are very talented and want to win. Everyone on the team seem like good guys. I think chemistry will be no problem for us. The biggest challenge we will face as a team this year will be for all of us to accept our roles.
SycamoreHoops.com: What are your expectations for the team in the next couple of years?
Jake Kelly: I have extremely high expectations for us. I always do, but with this team I am confident that we can be successful. I want nothing more than to have a chance to play in the NCAA tournament.
SycamoreHoops.com: Have you set any personal goals -- like making the All-MVC team, becoming the conference MVP, etc?
Jake Kelly: Right now my goals for next year are to be a leader, be in the best shape in the country, and to win the MVC championship. If I get MVP it will be because I play for the best team.
SycamoreHoops.com: With your skill set and size, you've got a very versatile game that allows you to play at multiple spots on the floor. What position are you most comfortable playing? Why?
Jake Kelly: I am naturally a point guard. Coaches in the past have always played me as a shooting guard or a small forward so I've adjusted my game over the years so I could play off the ball, but I am at my best when I am in a position to make plays for teammates. I am a scorer, but I think its best when I'm a playmaker for 35 minutes then take over if needed in the last 5.
SycamoreHoops.com: What changes will you have to make to your game coming from Coach Lickliter's system into Coach McKenna's system?
Jake Kelly: Lickliter's system was very unique. It took me awhile to really grasp what he was wanting. It consisted of using a lot of the shot clock and penetration for kick-out threes. McKenna's system will be much different but more suitable to my abilities. The faster pace offense will be exciting to play and for fans to watch. I think I will be able to pick up the offense very quick.
SycamoreHoops.com: How different do you think the style of play will be in the MVC compared to the Big Ten?
Jake Kelly: Big Ten is a very physical, grind it out type of league. I think the MVC is a very good defensive league with very good guard play, but the majority of the teams don't have the same type of size that I was accustomed to playing in the Big Ten. MVC just seems more guard oriented.
SycamoreHoops.com: What do you feel are your greatest strengths on the basketball court?
Jake Kelly: My greatest strengths is my ability to break down the defense and I'm am always a threat to finish or make the right pass. I'm very quick and long for my position.
SycamoreHoops.com: Do you have aspirations to play in the NBA? What do you think you would need to work on to play at the next level?
Jake Kelly: I've always had aspirations to play in the NBA. I think I have a shot at it, I just need to keep working at all phases of my game and get stronger.
SycamoreHoops.com: If there was anything you wanted Sycamore fans to know about you, what would that be?
Jake Kelly: I just want sycamore fans to know that I will give 100 percent effort everyday.
SycamoreHoops.com: Have you had a chance to snag a BBQ Chicken pizza from the Bally yet? If not, what places do you like to eat in Terre Haute?
Jake Kelly: I have not gotten any pizza from the Bally yet, but I hear good things about it. *Laughs*
We hope everyone enjoyed this... we really did and I was even able to sneak in my Bally BBQ Chicken obession. Hopefully the news Jake receives from the NCAA in the next couple weeks will be what he and all the Sycamore fans want to hear -- that he'll be eligible to play this upcoming season for Coach McKenna and the Sycamores! Until next time, Go Trees and... FIGHT ON STATE!
