Ralph Sampson III looks to “Create His Own Light” as he heads into Sophomore Season

When you’re the son of a former NBA great, as Gopher sophomore center Ralph Sampson III is, you won’t find many people within basketball circles that are unfamiliar with you, or at least your name. As a freshman last year, Sampson III found out that, regardless of what your last name may be, the transition from high school to college can be a big step, both on the court and off.

Now, with a year of both playing time (and life in general) already in the rear-view mirror, Sampson feels that he, as well as this year’s Gopher basketball team, is ready to step into the spotlight of major college basketball. In an interview with GopherHole’s Nick Walsh, Sampson III discussed his development as a player over the last year, as well as the transition from high school to college ball and looking to create his own name as a player.

NW: Ralph, you came in here as a true freshman last year”¦what was the transition like from high school to college?

RSIII: It was a big transition for me. Coming in from living just with my mom, and having meals cooked for you when you come home from school, and to be able to come home from school and only have one or two things for homework, and just sitting down and knocking that out quickly, and just being able to mess around with my brother and my sister when I get home.

Now, coming into college, it was a lot different, because I had to find my own food, take care of my own self, and taking care of my own place, keeping it clean. Also, it’s different on the court, too. Coach is demanding of you, and the players go after you too, because you’re a freshman, and get you adjusted to the game. So it kind of feels like everyone’s beating up on you your freshman year, so it was a big adjustment, and it’s a different mentality coming in as a freshman.

NW: Now that you’ve got a year under your belt, are you a little more comfortable with the routines and the roles that are expected of you?

RSIII: Yeah, definitely. Coming into your sophomore year, you know what Coach is asking for; you know what he’s expecting from you on the court. So after your freshman year, and after figuring all of this out, you come into your own on the court, because you know what Coach is asking for, you know what he expects, and you know what your team expects from you. So you just come out, like human nature, and you just automatically do those things, so you can focus on other parts of your game.

NW: Talk about Coach Smith”¦what have you learned from him in the year that you’ve been here so far?

RSIII: I’ve learned that being patient on the court, and being disciplined on the court and doing the right things to get certain things done. Also, how to accomplish certain goals, and just being determined to stay focused and motivated in getting those goals done.

NW: Talk about the on-court transition, particularly in the Big Ten; how much more difficult is it than high school ball?

RSIII: Yeah, it’s like night and day from high school to college. In high school, coming out of your senior year, you’re kind of on top. And then, you go from the top of the line back down to the bottom of the line again, so you’ve got to restart all over, and regain your reputation. So coming in from college, you’ve got bigger, stronger, faster guys, so again going from the top of the world to the bottom of the world. So it’s definitely an adjustment. I think during your freshman year, you kind of come in to your own, and you kind of take off from there, but it’s definitely night and day from high school to college.

NW: What have you tried to work on the most during the offseason with your game in particular?

RSIII: I’ve been trying to expand my game overall in general. I’ve been working on my fundamental base, and try to expand my fundamentals and strengthen them. I’ve been trying to make my weaknesses become strengths, and make my strengths become even better than that. Also, I’m trying to become a more efficient player, as well as work on the mental part of the game, you know, like where to get spurts of energy and when to kind of put it into cruise control. Overall, I’m just working on trying to expand my game in general.

NW: How good do you think this team could be this year?

RSIII: Really, I feel that the sky’s the limit for this team. I think the team has come together a lot more than we were last year, the new guys are coming in and becoming a big part of the team. The majority of guys here got to experience getting to the (NCAA) tournament last year, and so it’s become even more of a team this year, becoming one mind and focusing on one goal. I think the sky’s the limit for this team.

NW: Obviously, your dad (Ralph Sampson, Jr.) was a force on the court, but how nice is it, after a year or so under your belt, to instead of being referred to as “œRalph Sampson Jr.’s son,” to get to the point where you’re not under your dad’s shadow and to start building your own name as a player?

RSIII: I think some people have already begun to recognize me as my own man, Ralph Sampson III, instead of being the son of Ralph Sampson. I feel that people still do recognize me as Ralph Sampson’s son; I don’t think I’ll ever get over that. Except, instead of being in his shadow, I believe I’ll be able to create my own light, and just become my own person, my own man.

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