by Jens Deju
Stetson Hairston is a freshman guard on the SIU men's basketball team. He has been a key ingredient to the team's success, as he has started every game and has emerged as one of the better defenders in the Missouri Valley Conference. Hairston recently took some time off to speak to Jens Deju of the Daily Egyptian.
Daily Egyptian: How would you describe yourself as a player?
Stetson Hairston: Improved, active, strong, athletic.
DE: Who's the toughest player you've ever had to guard?
SH: Jason Williams. He plays for Duke.
DE: When did you get to play against him?
SH: In AAU, in a summer league. He's probably the best player I've ever guarded.
DE: How did you do against him?
SH: He hit 35, and he sat out the last five minutes.
DE: Do you try to model yourself after any other player or players?
SH: Yeah, well, my favorite player is Dennis Rodman because he plays defense and he plays hard. Other than him, I don't know. I guess Michael Jordan, you know, everybody likes Mike.
DE: How much pride do you take in playing defense?
SH: Defense is everything. I take so much pride in it. If you don't play defense, you can't win a game. You gotta be able to stop your opponents. If you stop your opponents, you can win, so I take a lot of pride in it.
DE: Did you expect to have this big an impact so quickly?
SH: No I didn't, but I just took it a day at a time and just worked hard, and when you work hard, things fall into place, and you just take it from there.
DE: What goes through your mind while you're covering a player out on the court?
SH: Just hopefully he won't score. Sometimes I don't want him to catch it. If he catches it, I'm hoping he just won't make a move on me and get to the basket.
DE: If you could play in any basketball arena in the nation, which would it be?
SH: That's a tough question. SIU (Arena).
DE: Safe answer.
SH: Yeah. The fans are great here. I love to play here.
DE: People always say how cool and collected you are out on the court. How are you able to stay so calm while you're out there playing?
SH: I think it's in the past years, when I was younger, I used to be all hyper and active and emotional and stuff. I just learned over the years that you can't be emotional. Sometimes it's good, but sometimes it's bad. Just stay calm and things will be all right. Playing basketball, I've matured, settled down a little bit.
DE: How would you describe yourself as a person off the court?
SH: I'm outgoing, nice, kind, simple, honest, hard-working.
DE: Do you have any hobbies that maybe people wouldn't expect of you?
SH: Not really, other than basketball. I would say reading, but I only read a few books in class, and that's about it.
DE: What goes through your mind during the pregame introductions when they say your name and everyone starts cheering?
SH: That they appreciate it. That I'll keep working hard and that's all that goes through my mind. It took me a long time to get here, so I'm just happy to be here.
DE: Would you rather spend a quiet day at home or go out and hang with the guys?
SH: I'd rather spend it in my house, get to relax, watch some TV, watch some good movies, maybe play Playstation 2.
DE: What's your favorite game?
SH: NBA Live 2002. It's the best basketball game ever made for any game system.
DE: Word Association ... Coach Weber?
SH: Good coach.
DE: MVC?
SH: Champions.
DE: Big Dance?
SH: Final 64.
DE: College Hoops?
SH: Exciting.
DE: NBA?
SH: Small steps away.
DE: Favorite musician?
SH: Tupac.
DE: Favorite actor?
SH: Samuel L. Jackson.
DE: Favorite TV show?
SH: The Simpsons.
DE: Favorite movie?
SH: Braveheart.
Reporter Jens Deju can be reached at jdeju@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
