Guard CJ Fredrick, who transferred to the Kentucky men’s basketball team earlier this month from Iowa, met with reporters Tuesday for his introductory UK press conference.
Guard CJ Fredrick
On playing in Rupp Arena again after winning a state title there in high school …
“Yeah, it’s something super special to me. I was able to lead my high school team to a state championship at Rupp. Everybody that plays in the Kentucky state basketball tournament kind of knows that feeling of getting to Rupp and how special that arena is and what it takes to get there. So, I’m excited to do the same thing with this team just come in and help this team do whatever it needs to do to win and create more memories at Rupp Arena.”
On pressure to play for Kentucky as an in-state product …
“I don’t really feel any pressure about playing. I just see it as a great opportunity for me to just come in and get better and help this team win. I love to win. So, I just see it as an opportunity. It’s going to be great for my family to be able to be closer to the games. My grandma can come to the games, my mom, dad, aunts, uncles, all of my family kind of in the area. So, I just see it as a great opportunity for me.”
On his motivation to transfer from Iowa …
“I just kind of wanted something new. I loved my time at Iowa. I had three great years there. I love the people there. They were great to me. They made me feel at home when I first stepped on campus. So, I’m forever grateful for the opportunity they’ve given me and how great the fans and the people were to me. I met my best friends at that school, so I wish nothing but the best for them. Obviously, they’re going to hold a special place in my heart for that. But like I said, I just wanted something new. I felt like it was best for me and my career to make this move and just develop more as a player, a teammate, a person. Like I said, I’m just really excited for this opportunity. Kentucky in no way had reached out to me before the portal. I went through the whole recruiting process when I was in the portal, and like I said I just felt like this was the best opportunity for me. I took my time. I went through all of the information and this was the place that I felt was best for me and my career.”
On if Kentucky was a dream school …
“Yeah, definitely. Being around the area, I kind of know what it means to play on this team. I never thought it would happen. I’m just super excited that it did happen. But I knew that I was going to go to a team that needed me, and Coach Cal was actually one of the first people to call me when I entered the portal. The minute I talked to him I could feel the genuine need for me to come in and help lead the team and help make shots and help spread the floor. That was something that I really liked and enjoyed talking with him about.”
On how much contact he’s had with his future teammates and his excitement for playing with them …
“A lot of them actually reached out when I committed, so I thought that was super cool, super special. Just reaching out saying they were excited to have me and then today actually a lot of the guys got a group chat together just kind of putting names in. But I’m really excited to get down there and just grow with them, learn more about them and create relationships with them. I love all of their games. They’re special players. I think this team this year everyone fits, and I think you’re seeing kind of a complete team. I’m just really excited to get to work with them and get better with them and go on this journey.”
On if Kentucky recruited him at all out of high school and if he wishes he would have waited to see if there was a scholarship offer coming after his performance in the Kentucky Sweet Sixteen …
“No, Kentucky didn’t recruit me in high school. I kind of was locked in on Iowa throughout the whole state tournament. I was honored by that commitment and that opportunity, so I never really thought of a different opportunity. But like I said, I’m super excited for this opportunity now. It’s something that, as a kid, I never thought would happen.”
On if he is better prepared to play at Kentucky now than he was out of high school …
“Much more. My game has just evolved in so many ways. I’m just more mature on the court. In high school I kind of just went out and played, and now being in college I’ve kind of been able to read the game more. There’s so much about the game that you just kind of have to sit back and learn more about. I feel just in control on the court. I can read things a step before it happens, so with the right development and the right people, I think I can really excel.”
On growing up in an athletic family and how that helped him growing up having “athletic genes …”
“You know, it’s funny when you said that. I was talking about that the other day with someone. When I was a freshman in high school, I played on my freshman team and I really wasn’t that good at basketball. I kind of felt just pressure on myself. Like, wow, I mean, my family is really predominant in this area for basketball and I just kind of thought I would be letting them down. But my sophomore year I took a jump. I grew. I kind of thinned out and just lived in the gym and got better. Thankfully, an opportunity to play at Iowa came up. I just tried to carry the family legacy as much as I can. It started with my grandpa. He passed away. He was an AD at Greenhills (High School). He was someone really special to me. He would have loved for me to play on this team so that’s something I keep with me moving forward.”
On if he considers himself to be a Kentuckian or an Ohioan being that he lived in Cincinnati but played basketball in Kentucky …
“That’s a good question. I’ve kind of been all over. I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. I would wake up in the morning and drive over the bridge to Cov(ington) Cath(olic). It was really an easy drive for me. And then I played AAU basketball in Indiana, so I’ve been all over the place. I’m from Cincinnati and that’s always going to be where I’m from. I love this city and everything about it, but as I got older and played high school basketball in Kentucky, that was a new family for me. My grandparents lived up the street. All my family lived up the street, so I had been going to Cov Cath games over in Northern Kentucky since I was a little kid. I always loved that. It’s home. So, I feel like I just have two great homes. I know that’s weird to say but I have family in both areas, and I consider myself home both ways.”
On what John Calipari’s recruiting pitch and message was to him …
“Kind of the minute I talked to him, he just has this competitive drive even when he’s talking to you. I’m a competitive person and I love to win, so the conversations with him were really cool. One thing specifically I liked about him is he didn’t just sit there and tell me how great I was. We went through film and he showed me ways that I need to get better and showed me ways that I can improve my game, so that’s something I really respected from him. I felt like I would be in good hands with him as it came with developing. But right away I felt a need. He told me he needed me to come in, just make shots, set an example for these guys, come in the gym every day to work, and that’s something I love to do. I did it in high school, I did it in college, so I felt needed and I felt like this was the place for me.”
On what his biggest concern is with coming to Kentucky …
“That’s a good question. I would have to think about that. Basketball wise, I’m not concerned about anything. It’s just a super exciting opportunity for me. I’m kind of coming in learning everything, learning about the campus, meeting the guys, getting to summer school and all that stuff. Just a range. But wouldn’t say concerned. I just think getting on campus and meeting the guys is definitely the first priority and creating relationships with them. But nothing I’m too concerned about.”
