Throughout the fall, umterps.com will be featuring a different men's basketball player (or players) each week leading up the start of the 2019-20 campaign. Be sure to follow along with additional player-specific content on Maryland basketball's social media platforms on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for more on each player. Today's featured player is Aaron Wiggins from Greensboro, N.C. here's five burning questions with Aaron! Â
What did you learn about yourself from experience during your freshman season that you can apply to this year?
"My ability to play under pressure. Not being afraid of the big stage. We had a lot of really big games and I think I went out there and played pretty well the majority of the games and I was never under pressure or nervous about anything. I was confident in my abilities. I think I've learned that regardless of the situation I have in front of me, with my confidence and my teammates supporting me I can go through anything."
What's been your advice to the freshmen coming in getting ready for their first college season?
"My biggest advice for them has been to listen and work hard. They listen, they take to what everybody's saying and they make sure that they're doing everything that we're doing. They're paying attention and they're working hard. They've got a lot of potential and they'll only make the team better, and as individuals they'll get so much better."
What do you love about the game of basketball? Where does your passion for the sport come from?
"I just have this strong passion that I've just had since I was a kid to want to play basketball on a big stage and to never stop. Since I was like four or five years old when I could first pick up a basketball and start dribbling it, I've always had a passion and a motive to work hard and do my best."
What's something you're better than anyone on the team at?Â
"I don't talk about it a lot, nobody knows, but singing. I can sing and nobody knows it. I think a few of my teammates know but they haven't really seen it."
Who would be your dream 1-on-1 matchup if you could pick anyone and why?
"Kobe Bryant easily. Growing up watching him, seeing the way he approached the game, seeing his ability to do anything he wanted to on the court – that was something I looked up to. If I had the opportunity to play him one-on-one, I'd do my best, of course. I'd match his same energy, same amount of effort, I'd do my best to beat him. I do think I'd win. I'd think I'd win for real, regardless of what he does. It wouldn't be a blow out, it'd definitely be a really tight game. I might win by one point. It might be a lucky last second shot or something but hey everybody has that lucky moment. Battle of some strong dudes."
-Terps-
