Q&A with Owls' freshman guard Julian DeBose

Posted: October 30, 2011 - 12:03pm CDT.

HRR chat w/ Rice Owls' Julian DeBose.

Julian DeBose, is one of six talented freshman on the 2011-'12 Rice Owls basketball team. DeBose, 6'4", 196 pounds, hails from Washington D.C.

Julian averaged 17.5 points, six rebounds and two blocks at St. John College High.

HRR: You're from Washington, D.C. How did you end up at Rice?

Julian: Coach (Marco) Morcos recruited me; and, when I came on my visit, I really liked Rice. I liked the atmosphere on campus and basketball-wise; so, it was an easy decision for me to pick Rice.

HRR: Had you heard about Rice before?

Julian: I had heard about Rice before; so, when Coach Morcos called me, Rice popped up in my head right away.

HRR: What other schools did you consider?

Julian: Marshall. VCU. UNC-Charlotte. UNC-Wilmington. A few other mid-majors.

HRR: Tell me about your basketball skills. What can you do well?

Julian: I think I'm a very good teammate. I look to create for my teammates. Not just for myself but for my team as well. I think I'm best at getting to the rim and finishing as well as mid-range.

HRR: How long have you been here at Rice?

Julian: We started summer school the day after I graduated high school; so, I've been here since early June.

HRR: Have you adjusted to college life?

Julian: I've adjusted well. I haven't really been homesick. I went home a couple of weeks ago; and, I was ready to come right back.

HRR: How has practice gone for you?

Julian: Practice, for me, has gone well. I think I'm learning my role on the team. I've gotten closer with the team; and, we've improved.

HRR: Have you gotten stronger physically these few months?

Julian: Definitely. I've gotten stronger. I've worked out a lot with (strength and conditioning coach) Scott (McLafferty) since we got here this summer; and, I definitely see improvement. I've gained weight and muscle mass.

HRR: Is it too soon to tell how different college ball differs from high school ball?

Julian: No, it's definitely not too early. It's more physical. It's more of a mental game. It's much faster. You need to be able to think on your feet quicker because coaches are throwing new things at us everyday; and, need to pick it up right away if we expect to play and contribute to the team.