After the Cal Golden Bears very impressive win over rival Stanford, freshman phenom Allen Crabbe who put up 24 points, 9 rebounds on 10-13 shooting in the victory. I had an opportunity to sit down with the dynamic now PAC-10 Freshman Of The Year. Since I spoke to him last on January 20th, CAL kicked it in to high gear, finishing 8-4 on their schedule to have the 5th seed heading into the PAC-10 Tournament.
NickHamilton (NH): Let me start off by asking you, who is Allen Crabbe?
AllenCrabbe (AC): I'm a laid back guy, Price High graduate, raised in a Christian family, loves God, blessed with opportunities, and a hard worker. Just trusting in God, anything is possible. I love to play basketball, love my family and family is very supportive, without them I don't know where I'd be.
NH: I understand that, how is everything else?
AC: I'm doing good, on this California trip, trying to put this tough loss behind us from UCLA last night. We're looking forward to this USC game.
NH: Yeah that was a tough loss. In the last 3:30 of the game verses the Bruins, what was the mindset coming out of the time out, that caused you to take over?
AC: We had a lot of time left, and I felt we could still win. We gave it that last push, but the Bruins pushed harder and were more aggressive, and just ended up with the victory that night.
NH: Allow me to go back for a moment, you were one of the highly recruited freshmen, what made you choose CAL?
AC: I felt like CAL was a place that wanted me, the coaches came out to every single game, my junior year [Price High] CAL's style of play was perfect for me. Coach [Mike] Montgomery has had experience at the NBA level and he knows what it takes to get there, so that why I'm here at CAL.
NH: How was the first meeting with Coach Montgomery?
AC: It was really good, at the time it was fun to have coaches interested and talking to you, a great experience.
NH: Ok, with your game style, how well do you feel you fit in Coach Montgomery's system?
AC: Good, I definitely feel his system his system fits my style of play. He [Coach Montgomery] runs alot of plays for guards to get open shots, that's what drew me, and I couldn't pass up that opportunity to be here at Cal.
NH: Understandable, what was the biggest transition for you, going from high school to college, academically and athletically?
AC: Academically, you're on your own in college, having to be more responsible, more accountability. Getting to ALL my classes, papers are huge in college, writing papers every other day, its alot.
Athletically, much more intense on the court, more physical play. In college you can't take any plays off, verses high school where they're times where you can take a play off. Much more focus in the college game.
NH: Great. I watched the Arizona State game and Cal was up by three points, the last few seconds of the game you get fouled. You miss the first free throw, what was going through your mind?
AC: Basically I thought about the Arizona game previously, we were down three, and I thought I just have to make one more and we get the win & go home. I saw myself making it, I released it and it went in.
NH: That's great focus. Now when Cal played Washington State and Klay Thompson, that night Thompson scored 36 points. Were you intimated at all in that game?
AC: No, not intimated at all, I’m confident in my game and have been during the season. Having an opportunity to start, definitely built my confidence even more. That night my teammates did a real good job finding me, I was hot knocking down 3’s, and hitting open shots. Some plays I was more aggressive going to the basket and just playing one dimensional type of ball.
NH: I remember, also remember you dropped 30 points that night in the win.
AC: (smiles) Yeah that helps too.
NH: Indeed. I notice alot of your games you start off slow in the first half, then you pick it up in the second half, is that because you are still learning the offense, or are you reserving yourself for the end of games?
AC: Honestly I feel sometimes I'm not locked in at first. Usually I go with the flow of the game and allow that to dictates my play, which is not always a good thing but I'm working on it. Its a problem I had even in high school, I know I have to start well and play 40 minutes. I know I have to do a little extra to help my team and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to help my team. The mindset I have is be aggressive for 40 minutes.
NH: What's your view on the NBA’s one and done rule?
AC: I don’t think its a problem. If a player is talented enough to go pro, why not? School is going to be there forever, but the opportunity to play in the NBA is once in a lifetime, you have to take advantage.
NH: I agree. Its amazing how many people don’t have the same criticism when it comes to players who play baseball or even hockey coming out of high school. Very well said Allen.
Out of all the Pac-10 players you’ve played against who was the most challenging to defend against?
AC: They’re alot, but I have to say between Isiah Thomas at Washington and Klay Thompson. Isiah did an outstanding job breaking down our defense. It was one of those nights where we we’re clicking on defense, so Isiah did want he wanted to do that night (Crabbe shaking his head). Klay [Thompson] is a shooter and a scorer, so he comes off picks, can spot up and shoot from anywhere. Its difficult to guard a guy like that.
NH: Coming up you have USC with Fontainne and the big man Alex Stevenson. How do you defend a team like the Trojans?
AC: We’re going to have to play good team defense, especially stopping Stevenson from getting the ball down low.
NH: USC likes to run, I noticed Coach Montgomery plays some zone, how do you control the tempo to get the victory?
AC: Our zone really works, when everyone is focused on their assignments and communicating, we can take teams out of their rhythm. We are a force to be reckoned with on the floor.
NH: What was your goal at the beginning of the season?
AC: Our goal is to win the Pac-10, even despite our current record (which at the time of this interview was conference 2-4). We have alot of games left, alot can turn around for us. We can get the road wins, which is a huge boost for us, especially in conference play. We stay focus & positive, we can make a top seed and surprise people in the Pac-10 Tournament and hopefully make it into the NCAA Tournament.
NH: Ok sounds good. Being a native of Los Angeles, who do you mold your game after & why?
AC: I would say I mold my game after Kobe Bryant. Not just because he’s my favorite player, but how he’s a leader and his work ethic. His work ethic shows on the floor, I mean he goes hard every night no matter what. He doesn’t take anyone lightly, and he’s focused. He’s that clutch type of player, that's the type of player I want to develop into.
NH: Hard work does pay off. How has your work ethic enhanced since arriving at Cal?
AC: A little more, but just because the schedule of college, up early with classes and the team schedule. Trust me I'm in the gym every day, bettering my game.
NH: Well good luck with the rest of the season, thanks for the time.
AC: Thank you, you got it.
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