University of Minnesota Athletics
Devron Bostick Q & A
2/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Senior guard Devron Bostick joined the Gophers last season after
graduating from Southwestern Illinois Community College. He averaged a
team-high 18.2 points per game in 2008 for Southwestern Illinois and
was the 2008 Division I National Junior College Athletic Association
(NJCAA) Player of the Year. He attended St. Catherine's High School in
Racine, Wisconsin where he led them to two state titles (Division 3 as
a senior and Division 2 as a junior).
Bostick has had some memorable moments playing for the Gophers as
well. He scored a career-high 19 points off the bench to lead the
Gophers past Penn State in a key Big Ten win last season on January
11. He became one of the Gophers key players down the stretch last
season, averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 23.0 minutes per game
in the Big Ten Tournament. He played in 23 minutes in both Tournament
games and scored 13 points to go with three rebounds against Michigan
State in the Quarterfinals.
Q: Being a senior, have you had any thoughts about what you want to do
after college? What is your field of study here at the University of
Minnesota?
A: I'm majoring in business marketing education. I'm really looking
forward to going into that field. After college, I want to start
looking for a job in general business or in marketing.
Q: Coming from a junior college (Southwestern Illinois CC), do you
think it's more difficult to transition from a junior college to
Division I basketball or straight from high school?
A: Any transition to Division I basketball is tough, no matter where
you are coming from. I felt that playing at a junior college really
prepared me well to play Big Ten basketball. When you get here, you
have to do a lot of work to get up to speed with everyone on the team.
The hardest thing was to build up more strength and muscle for the
more physical play.
Q: So you really saw a big difference from playing at Southwestern
Illinois CC and playing at the University of Minnesota?
A: It really was a lot different. Players at this level play a lot
bigger and a lot stronger. The pace of play is a lot faster as well.
There were definitely some good players in junior college, but I've
found that players in the Big Ten are well coached and know how to use
their body well. One of my teammates went to Kentucky and another one
went to Alabama, so there was definitely some talent on our team.
Q: Thinking back over all the years you have played basketball, what
is the best memory that you have?
A: My favorite memory was hitting the last two free throws in high
school to win the state tournament. We played in the second division
in Wisconsin that year and it is definitely something I'll always
remember.
Q: You originally hail from Racine, Wisconsin (just south of
Milwaukee). Do you get to travel home a lot?
A: Whenever we have time off, I'll drive home. It's not too bad of a
drive and I love a good home-cooked meal.
Q: Racine is right between Chicago and Milwaukee. Which city do you
like better?
A: I'd say Milwaukee. I'm definitely a big Brewers fan and I like the
city better overall. I'm not as big of a fan of the Packers as some
people are in Wisconsin, though.
Q: Where do you live on campus right now? Who is your roommate?
A: I live in Roy Wilkins (Hall) with Al (Nolen). It's real fun to live
there with the guys on the team.
Q: Other than making pizzas in the oven like most of the players on
the team, where else do you like to eat on campus?
A: I love Subway. I know it's a chain restaurant, but it's my
favorite. Tony's Diner on University is always a great place too.
interview by Preston Davis
graduating from Southwestern Illinois Community College. He averaged a
team-high 18.2 points per game in 2008 for Southwestern Illinois and
was the 2008 Division I National Junior College Athletic Association
(NJCAA) Player of the Year. He attended St. Catherine's High School in
Racine, Wisconsin where he led them to two state titles (Division 3 as
a senior and Division 2 as a junior).
Bostick has had some memorable moments playing for the Gophers as
well. He scored a career-high 19 points off the bench to lead the
Gophers past Penn State in a key Big Ten win last season on January
11. He became one of the Gophers key players down the stretch last
season, averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 23.0 minutes per game
in the Big Ten Tournament. He played in 23 minutes in both Tournament
games and scored 13 points to go with three rebounds against Michigan
State in the Quarterfinals.
Q: Being a senior, have you had any thoughts about what you want to do
after college? What is your field of study here at the University of
Minnesota?
A: I'm majoring in business marketing education. I'm really looking
forward to going into that field. After college, I want to start
looking for a job in general business or in marketing.
Q: Coming from a junior college (Southwestern Illinois CC), do you
think it's more difficult to transition from a junior college to
Division I basketball or straight from high school?
A: Any transition to Division I basketball is tough, no matter where
you are coming from. I felt that playing at a junior college really
prepared me well to play Big Ten basketball. When you get here, you
have to do a lot of work to get up to speed with everyone on the team.
The hardest thing was to build up more strength and muscle for the
more physical play.
Q: So you really saw a big difference from playing at Southwestern
Illinois CC and playing at the University of Minnesota?
A: It really was a lot different. Players at this level play a lot
bigger and a lot stronger. The pace of play is a lot faster as well.
There were definitely some good players in junior college, but I've
found that players in the Big Ten are well coached and know how to use
their body well. One of my teammates went to Kentucky and another one
went to Alabama, so there was definitely some talent on our team.
Q: Thinking back over all the years you have played basketball, what
is the best memory that you have?
A: My favorite memory was hitting the last two free throws in high
school to win the state tournament. We played in the second division
in Wisconsin that year and it is definitely something I'll always
remember.
Q: You originally hail from Racine, Wisconsin (just south of
Milwaukee). Do you get to travel home a lot?
A: Whenever we have time off, I'll drive home. It's not too bad of a
drive and I love a good home-cooked meal.
Q: Racine is right between Chicago and Milwaukee. Which city do you
like better?
A: I'd say Milwaukee. I'm definitely a big Brewers fan and I like the
city better overall. I'm not as big of a fan of the Packers as some
people are in Wisconsin, though.
Q: Where do you live on campus right now? Who is your roommate?
A: I live in Roy Wilkins (Hall) with Al (Nolen). It's real fun to live
there with the guys on the team.
Q: Other than making pizzas in the oven like most of the players on
the team, where else do you like to eat on campus?
A: I love Subway. I know it's a chain restaurant, but it's my
favorite. Tony's Diner on University is always a great place too.
interview by Preston Davis
Players Mentioned
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