BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 63,076
- Reaction score
- 20,759
- Points
- 113
Per the U:
Why Minnesota?
To be honest, I really wanted to follow my coach. When I was at CSU with him, he challenged me, he pushed me through a lot of effort and I wanted to continue to be coached by someone who would challenge me. I want to be a pro, he wants to make me into a pro. This is closer to my family as well, but Coach Medved is a good coach. He's always got a good game plan, good coaching staff and I just wanted to continue to be a part of it. Plus, the Big Ten is a great conference, good exposure and great experience. It's a great time to learn at a higher level and see where it takes me to the next level.
You're the only one on the team that has been coached by Niko. Tell us about his coaching and playing style and how you've learned from him?
He's competitive, that's for sure. He loves to compete, we both hate losing and that's one thing we both can agree on. I need someone I can rock with and he knows I'll go hard for him and he'll go hard for me. We are going to keep riding this out as long as we can.
You played in the NCAA Tournament last year, tell us what that experience was like for you?
It's words I can't even describe. That first game against Memphis, when we knew we secured the victory and seeing all those people cheering us on, that's an experience that everyone wants to feel in college athletics. Just that opportunity to play there and actually get the win and move to the next round, that was a great experience.
Tell us about yourself, when did you get into basketball and did you play other sports?
To be honest, football was my first sport I played. I was a tight end and end. I then started basketball around third grade. I cut football off around my freshman year in high school and started taking basketball more serious from there.
With a lot of new faces, how have you been able to get to know your teammates?
A lot of new guys and a lot of new systems, but I can definitely burn with them on and off the court. There's good energy, good environment around here. Everyone came here and we know we want to work and put the effort into it. Everyone is committed to being together so I'm definitely excited for this new group and seeing where it takes us.
Have you been able to help in the transition and if so, how?
At the end of the day, I'm still learning too because there's a lot of terminology and we still might change things up because of a totally new system and players than CSU, but trying to be a leader and take that next role. Coach wants me to take that next role and guide all the guys through that terminology and the actions. He and I have high expectations from that aspect to be a leader and help the guys.
Why No. 5 since you were No. 8 at CSU?
My brother and I always had No. 5 in college so I started wearing No. 5 all through high school. My freshman year, I was No. 5 and then when I went to CSU, another player had No. 5. My brother wore No. 8 overseas so I took No. 8 and rocked that at CSU. Here I had the opportunity to get No. 5 back so I went back to No. 5.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Just being in a new culture here and bringing a lot of Ws around here as well. We want to bring a winning environment here and get the U back going again.
Favorite NBA Player: Anthony Edwards
Favorite Food: BBQ or Italian
Video game or streaming are you playing/watching: Call of Duty and 2K and being on my PS5 playin with my boys
Postgame win snacktime: I could throw some lifesavers, grandma cookies, cookies and cream milkshake for sure, you could even throw in a glacier freeze drink. There's a lot of options out there! Skittles, powdered donuts, but any of those are my top.
gophersports.com
Go Gophers!!
Why Minnesota?
To be honest, I really wanted to follow my coach. When I was at CSU with him, he challenged me, he pushed me through a lot of effort and I wanted to continue to be coached by someone who would challenge me. I want to be a pro, he wants to make me into a pro. This is closer to my family as well, but Coach Medved is a good coach. He's always got a good game plan, good coaching staff and I just wanted to continue to be a part of it. Plus, the Big Ten is a great conference, good exposure and great experience. It's a great time to learn at a higher level and see where it takes me to the next level.
You're the only one on the team that has been coached by Niko. Tell us about his coaching and playing style and how you've learned from him?
He's competitive, that's for sure. He loves to compete, we both hate losing and that's one thing we both can agree on. I need someone I can rock with and he knows I'll go hard for him and he'll go hard for me. We are going to keep riding this out as long as we can.
You played in the NCAA Tournament last year, tell us what that experience was like for you?
It's words I can't even describe. That first game against Memphis, when we knew we secured the victory and seeing all those people cheering us on, that's an experience that everyone wants to feel in college athletics. Just that opportunity to play there and actually get the win and move to the next round, that was a great experience.
Tell us about yourself, when did you get into basketball and did you play other sports?
To be honest, football was my first sport I played. I was a tight end and end. I then started basketball around third grade. I cut football off around my freshman year in high school and started taking basketball more serious from there.
With a lot of new faces, how have you been able to get to know your teammates?
A lot of new guys and a lot of new systems, but I can definitely burn with them on and off the court. There's good energy, good environment around here. Everyone came here and we know we want to work and put the effort into it. Everyone is committed to being together so I'm definitely excited for this new group and seeing where it takes us.
Have you been able to help in the transition and if so, how?
At the end of the day, I'm still learning too because there's a lot of terminology and we still might change things up because of a totally new system and players than CSU, but trying to be a leader and take that next role. Coach wants me to take that next role and guide all the guys through that terminology and the actions. He and I have high expectations from that aspect to be a leader and help the guys.
Why No. 5 since you were No. 8 at CSU?
My brother and I always had No. 5 in college so I started wearing No. 5 all through high school. My freshman year, I was No. 5 and then when I went to CSU, another player had No. 5. My brother wore No. 8 overseas so I took No. 8 and rocked that at CSU. Here I had the opportunity to get No. 5 back so I went back to No. 5.
What are you most looking forward to this season?
Just being in a new culture here and bringing a lot of Ws around here as well. We want to bring a winning environment here and get the U back going again.
Favorite NBA Player: Anthony Edwards
Favorite Food: BBQ or Italian
Video game or streaming are you playing/watching: Call of Duty and 2K and being on my PS5 playin with my boys
Postgame win snacktime: I could throw some lifesavers, grandma cookies, cookies and cream milkshake for sure, you could even throw in a glacier freeze drink. There's a lot of options out there! Skittles, powdered donuts, but any of those are my top.
Get to Know Gopher Men's Basketball's Jaylen Crocker-Johnson - University of Minnesota Athletics
Get to know Jaylen Crocker-Johnson as he gets ready for his junior season with the Gophers.
Go Gophers!!
