Brian Long knows a thing or two about basketball.
The Kentucky freshman walk-on has been around the sport all of his life. His brother Keith Long played at UNLV and his other sibling Travis, was on the team at the University of Memphis.
Long’s father Brian played at Creighton and served as his son’s high school coach at River Dell High School in New Jersey. Brian Long also has a friendship with Kentucky coach John Calipari that spans more than two decades.
The younger Long is learning the ropes of playing for the Wildcats and answered a few questions during Media Day last week at the Craft Center.
How would you describe the Kentucky program so far?
“My experience so far has been great. This program is unbelievable and coming here and play for coach Calipari is amazing. This program has a lot (tradition and with) the professionals and everyone coming back says a lot about the program, coach Cal and about our players here.”
Have you always been a Kentucky fan or a John Calipari fan?
“I’ve known coach Cal my whole life. I’ve always been a fan of his teams and being here at Kentucky playing for one of his teams is unbelievable. I just jumped ship with him from Memphis to Kentucky.”
How did you get to know coach Cal?
“My father and coach Cal met each other through five-star camp before I was even born. I’ve known
him my whole life. They talk a lot and they were friends.”
What has been you impression of this team so far?
“I feel like this team is very good and very deep. This team definitely has the opportunity to do something special, so I am very fortunate to be here and be a part of it.”
How far do you see this team going?
“Obviously, the ultimate goal is to try to win a national championship. You never know, especially during March Madness and you never know what can happen during the season, but the ultimate goal is to win a national title.”
What players have impressed you the most so far?
“Different players have different days, but all of them have impressed me in some ways. We’re deep, so there are a lot of guys that on any given day can impress you.”
Who is going to be the go-to player on this team?
“I think it will be different guys at times and in different games.¿Someone else is going to step up and lead the team in scoring.”
What’s your goal as being a walk-on with this team? How do you approach practice and the games?
“I’m just trying to do the best I can in practice and do everything I can and help contribute to the team. The team is really good and I’m really fortunate to be here.”
Is this the most experienced team that you’ve ever been a part of?
“This team is unbelievable talent-wise. To be here is amazing.”
The Kentucky freshman walk-on has been around the sport all of his life. His brother Keith Long played at UNLV and his other sibling Travis, was on the team at the University of Memphis.
Long’s father Brian played at Creighton and served as his son’s high school coach at River Dell High School in New Jersey. Brian Long also has a friendship with Kentucky coach John Calipari that spans more than two decades.
The younger Long is learning the ropes of playing for the Wildcats and answered a few questions during Media Day last week at the Craft Center.
How would you describe the Kentucky program so far?
“My experience so far has been great. This program is unbelievable and coming here and play for coach Calipari is amazing. This program has a lot (tradition and with) the professionals and everyone coming back says a lot about the program, coach Cal and about our players here.”
Have you always been a Kentucky fan or a John Calipari fan?
“I’ve known coach Cal my whole life. I’ve always been a fan of his teams and being here at Kentucky playing for one of his teams is unbelievable. I just jumped ship with him from Memphis to Kentucky.”
How did you get to know coach Cal?
“My father and coach Cal met each other through five-star camp before I was even born. I’ve known
him my whole life. They talk a lot and they were friends.”
What has been you impression of this team so far?
“I feel like this team is very good and very deep. This team definitely has the opportunity to do something special, so I am very fortunate to be here and be a part of it.”
How far do you see this team going?
“Obviously, the ultimate goal is to try to win a national championship. You never know, especially during March Madness and you never know what can happen during the season, but the ultimate goal is to win a national title.”
What players have impressed you the most so far?
“Different players have different days, but all of them have impressed me in some ways. We’re deep, so there are a lot of guys that on any given day can impress you.”
Who is going to be the go-to player on this team?
“I think it will be different guys at times and in different games.¿Someone else is going to step up and lead the team in scoring.”
What’s your goal as being a walk-on with this team? How do you approach practice and the games?
“I’m just trying to do the best I can in practice and do everything I can and help contribute to the team. The team is really good and I’m really fortunate to be here.”
Is this the most experienced team that you’ve ever been a part of?
“This team is unbelievable talent-wise. To be here is amazing.”
