Q&A with Aaron Dotson
Words. HShoop
Class of 2009 guard Aaron Dotson is the latest in long line of elite ballplayers to come out of Rainier Beach H.S. in Seattle. Following in the footsteps of, among others, Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Terrence Williams (Louisville) and Rodrick Stewart, who just won a national championship at Kansas, Dotson is one of the nation’s top players and has been a standout at this weekend’s Nike Global Challenge in Oregon. We got up with Aaron shortly after his USA #3 team beat Puerto Rico in a loser’s bracket game, the night after they’d lost to Serbia.
High School Hoop: What’s been the highlight of your summer?
Aaron Dotson: I would say the LeBron academy — there was so many good plays I can’t pick out one. Yesterday I had a good one when I dunked on a kid. Did you see that?
HSH: Yeah, that seemed like the dagger, but then Serbia came back.
AD: We came out slow. We got the lead but we lost it. Our team is filled with superstars; I guess we just started to collide.
HSH: Despite the loss, how has the Global Challenge been overall? Is it tough playing under FIBA rules?
AD: It’s been kind of hard to adjust, but once you start playing more and more you get used to it. It’s been a good experience getting to play against players from other countries.
HSH: How is the competition?
AD: It’s good competition. It’s a good measuring stick for us. Some of these guys are 20 years old. Like yesterday when we lost, we felt bad ’cause we know we should have won, but we were like, “They’re older. They’ve been playing together for years.” We’re so used to playing against each other that it took a little getting used to.
HSH: Do you feel like the U.S. teams have a bulls-eye on their back in this tournament? It was a big deal when Serbia beat you guys.
AD: Yeah. Yesterday after we lost, they were cheering like they just won the national championship. It was a good feeling for us — we must have made their year.
HSH: What are your thoughts on the Brandon Jennings situation with him going overseas instead of college?
AD: Hey, you have to do what you have to do. If he didn’t qualify for college, I don’t blame him. He’s going to get paid, he’s still playing the game he loves, and he’ll better himself to make it to the NBA. I’m happy for him.
HSH: Where are you concerning college? Do you have a list of schools?
AD: I have five right now; LSU, USC, Washington, Louisville and Miami.
HSH: What’s going to be the difference-maker when you have to make a decision?
AD: Immediate playing time and how I fit in with the coaches and players.
HSH: Is there any one part of your game you’ve been trying to improve this summer?
AD: I really worked on my handles a lot.
HSH: Are there any NBA players you pattern your game after?
AD: I wanna make my game like Deron Williams, that’s why I’m working on my handles. That’s who I watch and study.
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