HSH 1-on-1: Shabazz Muhammad’s breakout summer
Words. Jason Jordan
You’d be hard pressed to find anyone, regardless of class, that had a more productive summer than Bishop Gorman High (Las Vegas) swingman Shabazz Muhammad. He led Dream Vision AAU, averaging 31 points a game, even dropping 52 in one game at the Adidas Super 64.
That type of production would make it hard for any player to find something to improve on … Any player but Muhammad.
“There’s a lot more that I could’ve done,” said Muhammad, a rising junior. “I’m never satisfied. Now that the summer’s over it just means it’s time to go to work.”
HighSchoolHoop: So you averaged 31 a game?
Shabazz Muhammad: (Laughs) Yeah. I had a pretty good summer.
HSH: That’s a little better than “pretty good.”
SM: Well, there’s always things that you could do better. No one is perfect out there, but I know that I can do even more out there.
HSH: Like?
SM: Well, for one I could’ve shot the ball better on a more consistent basis. That’s one of my strengths, but I think even that can be improved.
HSH: Talk about the 52-point game you had.
SM: Oh yeah that was against the Galveston Hornets. They were No. 1 in their pool at Adidas 64. It was a blowout, but I was definitely feeling it. I remember feeling good headed into that game.
HSH: Felt even better headed out of that game, huh?
SM: (Laughs) Oh yeah!
HSH: OK, let’s be cliché for a sec and talk about your recruitment.
SM: Let’s do it.
HSH: Hit me with your list of schools.
SM: Duke, Memphis, North Carolina, USC, UNLV, Louisville, Kentucky, UCLA…
HSH: Who has made you their No. 1 priority?
SM: Duke, UNLV, Memphis, UCLA… I think that’s it.
HSH: Who have you visited?
SM: Duke, North Carolina, Memphis and Southern Cal too.
HSH: Tell me about those visits…
SM: Well, they were all really cool. Just different experiences. Like when I went to Duke I got a chance to meet Coach K. He was real cool. I really liked him. They’re the champs and all that, but he was just really down to earth. I talked to him a lot this summer about their program and I’m gonna get down there to see some games this season. North Carolina was a cool visit too. Coach Williams was a good guy. I’m going to their Late Night so that should be fun I’m sure. I may visit Duke while I’m down there too. I’m not sure yet though.
HSH: Have you locked down any other future visits to this point?
SM: No, just the North Carolina one for now.
HSH: What will factor heavy in to your decision?
SM: The relationship with the coach. Just getting to know him and the team’s style of play. That’s pretty much it.
HSH: You were at Adidas Nations with a lot of guys who have the same schools on their list as you do.
SM: Yep!
HSH: So do you guys talk about playing together in your downtime?
SM: Absolutely! We talk about going to the same college and how that would be and things like that.
HSH: OK, so let me in on one of your conversations with another player about playing together.
SM: Well, me and Alex Murphy talked about both of us going to Duke and how that would be and how we would fit into their program. I know that we would play well together. I loved playing with him on the USA team. I would love to play with him in college.
HSH: Give me your best highlight of the summer.
SM: There were so many… We got a chance to go to a Team USA practice down here. That was great! Just watching the guys we see on TV all the time. They really play hard and they’re so skilled! It just makes you want to work even harder to get on their level. That’s what I mean when I say I’ve always got more work to do.
Got a burning question for Jason? Email him: JasonJ@DimeMag.com
Thanks for the update, Jason. Speaking for Duke fans (and students, I guess), I would love to see Bazz become a Blue Devil. Really like his attitude, his hunger to improve. And of course his game.
He’ll be at Duke for our early season showdown against Michigan State…hope he can stop by on his visit to Chapel Hill as well.
Dude read the UNC boards and they’re making up things about you JJ after this article… They’re bitter man! Pathetic lil losers.
i know jason, for about 15yrs now, he’s nothing but a stand up guy….and thats coming from a UNC fan!!!!!
left handers re garbage alwayz