[ido=right]250[/ido][imgpic]http://www.sycamorehoops.com/images/recruiting/2011/justin_gant1.jpg[/imgpic][cap]Justin Gant becomes Greg Lansing's first recruit as head coach of the Sycamores[/cap][idc][/idc]SycamorePride.com: What is your current height and weight?
Justin Gant: I'm currently 6-foot-8½, 215 pounds.
SycamorePride.com: When did you start playing basketball?
Justin Gant: Like most kids, I started at the boys club in biddy ball, and haven’t stopped since.
SycamorePride.com: Who or what got you started?
Justin Gant: My parents had my brothers and I in various activities. I played soccer, baseball, and football.
SycamorePride.com: Up to this point, what is your greatest achievement in basketball?
Justin Gant: Being selected all MIC conference team. The MIC conference is the best basketball conference in the state and many feel in the Midwest. This was selected by the coaches in the conference and was a great honor. Being selected to the Junior All-star team was right up there also.
SycamorePride.com: Who has been the most influential person in your basketball career?
Justin Gant: God, first of all. I have been blessed with a tremendous gift. I need to work on it continuously and never ever take it for granted. My parents are next. The love and support they have given me has helped me get to this point. I have an incredible family and friend support network. They are with me no matter what. My coaches, everyone who has coached me said I could do great things if I put the work in. I need to thank them all.
SycamorePride.com: When did you realize you were on track to play in college?
Justin Gant: I had always hoped, but not for sure until the first offer came in after my freshman year.
SycamorePride.com: What were the reasons why you ultimately choose Indiana State?
Justin Gant: Relationships were important from day one. I had to feel it was a good fit in all areas. Academics, staff and style of play. Coach Lansing was the coach on staff that was my contact from the beginning. I liked what Coach Lansing has told me about style of play and I can’t wait to see it in action this season. There were never any doubts about the academics. I wanted to do my job and look at all my options. We did several visits to various colleges and talked to a lot of people about how I would fit and where was the best place for me. In the end there was no doubt. I would become a Sycamore.
SycamorePride.com: Why make the choice now?
Justin Gant: There was not a need to wait. I had done everything I could do to look around and see what the best fit was. I had made my decision last week and didn’t want Coach Lansing to waste any more time sitting at my games, and wanted to let the other staffs know also.
SycamorePride.com: Did the fact that Indiana State is so close to home make a difference?
Justin Gant: It was a plus, but I wouldn’t be doing a good job picking a college by location only.
SycamorePride.com: I know you've played in some open gyms, but have you had a chance to spend time with the players or team off the floor?
Justin Gant: I watched game 7 of the NBA finals with the team after we played open gym. They treated me great and I had a fun time.
SycamorePride.com: I know you had offers from several other great schools like Iowa and Creighton, among others. If you didn't choose Indiana State, what school was your next option?
Justin Gant: I didn’t have a list like that. All of the schools who offered had positives about them.
SycamorePride.com: What was your craziest experience during the recruiting process?
Justin Gant: The mail and phone calls were really getting tough here near the end. Some schools were sending 8-10 pieces of mail a day.
[ido=left]300[/ido][imgpic]http://www.sycamorehoops.com/images/recruiting/2011/justin_gant2.jpg[/imgpic][cap]Justin Gant in studio with Rick Semmler at WTHI-10 as he gets ready to announce his college decision[/cap][idc][/idc]SycamorePride.com: Sometimes in recruiting, a guy might make a decision but try to keep his options open. Is that the case for you here or do you consider this a done deal?
Justin Gant: It’s a done deal. I am a Sycamore.
SycamorePride.com: I know some kids get frustrated with the recruiting process with coaches calling, texting and sending mail all of the time. Are you glad the process is over?
Justin Gant: I wouldn’t say I’m glad, but it is a great feeling having this behind me. I was being asked by everyone for my top schools and where I was going. It was a lot of fun working through this, but I’m glad it is behind me and I can concentrate in the weight room and individual workouts.
SycamorePride.com: The program actually has offers out to a lot of highly-rated kids besides yourself. Now that you're a Sycamore, do you plan on doing some recruiting of your own?
Justin Gant: I will do whatever Coach Lansing needs me to do. I know a lot of these players from AAU and High School games and will do what I can to bring them in.
SycamorePride.com: What do you feel is the strongest part of your game? What do you feel is the weakest part of your game? How will you improve it?
Justin Gant: My versatility is my strength. I hope I can be a matchup problem for the teams we play. I will need to add strength and weight for the college level. I have a great high school staff who works me very hard on the court and in the weight room. I have gained 15 lbs since November and plan on working even harder now that I can concentrate on it.
SycamorePride.com: Have you set any personal goals to accomplish before you hit campus in 2011?
Justin Gant: I want to get better playing with and against my Sycamore teammates. I would like to play in Conseco with my high school team and then play on the Senior All-star team.
SycamorePride.com: Finally, is there anything that you'd like to say to the Sycamore fans that will be eagerly awaiting your arrival into the program?
Justin Gant: I would like to help ISU play in the final game in St. Louis and watch the NCAA tourney draw at Coach Lansing’s house to see where we will play. I can't wait to put on the Indiana State jersey. 237-3737 for season tickets.
Justin Gant: I'm currently 6-foot-8½, 215 pounds.
SycamorePride.com: When did you start playing basketball?
Justin Gant: Like most kids, I started at the boys club in biddy ball, and haven’t stopped since.
SycamorePride.com: Who or what got you started?
Justin Gant: My parents had my brothers and I in various activities. I played soccer, baseball, and football.
SycamorePride.com: Up to this point, what is your greatest achievement in basketball?
Justin Gant: Being selected all MIC conference team. The MIC conference is the best basketball conference in the state and many feel in the Midwest. This was selected by the coaches in the conference and was a great honor. Being selected to the Junior All-star team was right up there also.
SycamorePride.com: Who has been the most influential person in your basketball career?
Justin Gant: God, first of all. I have been blessed with a tremendous gift. I need to work on it continuously and never ever take it for granted. My parents are next. The love and support they have given me has helped me get to this point. I have an incredible family and friend support network. They are with me no matter what. My coaches, everyone who has coached me said I could do great things if I put the work in. I need to thank them all.
SycamorePride.com: When did you realize you were on track to play in college?
Justin Gant: I had always hoped, but not for sure until the first offer came in after my freshman year.
SycamorePride.com: What were the reasons why you ultimately choose Indiana State?
Justin Gant: Relationships were important from day one. I had to feel it was a good fit in all areas. Academics, staff and style of play. Coach Lansing was the coach on staff that was my contact from the beginning. I liked what Coach Lansing has told me about style of play and I can’t wait to see it in action this season. There were never any doubts about the academics. I wanted to do my job and look at all my options. We did several visits to various colleges and talked to a lot of people about how I would fit and where was the best place for me. In the end there was no doubt. I would become a Sycamore.
SycamorePride.com: Why make the choice now?
Justin Gant: There was not a need to wait. I had done everything I could do to look around and see what the best fit was. I had made my decision last week and didn’t want Coach Lansing to waste any more time sitting at my games, and wanted to let the other staffs know also.
SycamorePride.com: Did the fact that Indiana State is so close to home make a difference?
Justin Gant: It was a plus, but I wouldn’t be doing a good job picking a college by location only.
SycamorePride.com: I know you've played in some open gyms, but have you had a chance to spend time with the players or team off the floor?
Justin Gant: I watched game 7 of the NBA finals with the team after we played open gym. They treated me great and I had a fun time.
SycamorePride.com: I know you had offers from several other great schools like Iowa and Creighton, among others. If you didn't choose Indiana State, what school was your next option?
Justin Gant: I didn’t have a list like that. All of the schools who offered had positives about them.
SycamorePride.com: What was your craziest experience during the recruiting process?
Justin Gant: The mail and phone calls were really getting tough here near the end. Some schools were sending 8-10 pieces of mail a day.
[ido=left]300[/ido][imgpic]http://www.sycamorehoops.com/images/recruiting/2011/justin_gant2.jpg[/imgpic][cap]Justin Gant in studio with Rick Semmler at WTHI-10 as he gets ready to announce his college decision[/cap][idc][/idc]SycamorePride.com: Sometimes in recruiting, a guy might make a decision but try to keep his options open. Is that the case for you here or do you consider this a done deal?
Justin Gant: It’s a done deal. I am a Sycamore.
SycamorePride.com: I know some kids get frustrated with the recruiting process with coaches calling, texting and sending mail all of the time. Are you glad the process is over?
Justin Gant: I wouldn’t say I’m glad, but it is a great feeling having this behind me. I was being asked by everyone for my top schools and where I was going. It was a lot of fun working through this, but I’m glad it is behind me and I can concentrate in the weight room and individual workouts.
SycamorePride.com: The program actually has offers out to a lot of highly-rated kids besides yourself. Now that you're a Sycamore, do you plan on doing some recruiting of your own?
Justin Gant: I will do whatever Coach Lansing needs me to do. I know a lot of these players from AAU and High School games and will do what I can to bring them in.
SycamorePride.com: What do you feel is the strongest part of your game? What do you feel is the weakest part of your game? How will you improve it?
Justin Gant: My versatility is my strength. I hope I can be a matchup problem for the teams we play. I will need to add strength and weight for the college level. I have a great high school staff who works me very hard on the court and in the weight room. I have gained 15 lbs since November and plan on working even harder now that I can concentrate on it.
SycamorePride.com: Have you set any personal goals to accomplish before you hit campus in 2011?
Justin Gant: I want to get better playing with and against my Sycamore teammates. I would like to play in Conseco with my high school team and then play on the Senior All-star team.
SycamorePride.com: Finally, is there anything that you'd like to say to the Sycamore fans that will be eagerly awaiting your arrival into the program?
Justin Gant: I would like to help ISU play in the final game in St. Louis and watch the NCAA tourney draw at Coach Lansing’s house to see where we will play. I can't wait to put on the Indiana State jersey. 237-3737 for season tickets.
