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Question: When did you start playing basketball, and what was your inspiration for starting?
Jamie Kaiser: I started playing basketball around kindergarten. I just tried a sport every season, so I played football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring. There was no initial inspiration, I just grew up playing a different sport every season.
Q: Did you try any other sports?
JK: When I was really young, I tried soccer, swimming, I even tried gymnastics. But I'd say my inspiration to keep playing was that it was just fun for me. I just wanted to play it the most and get better and better. I fell in love with it.
Q: What is your favorite or most memorable moment from your high school career?
JK: My summer going into my senior year at AAU, we won the Adidas Championship in South Carolina. I was playing for New World AAU at the time. That was probably the most memorable.
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Q: If you were to organize a team bonding activity or event, what would it be and why?
JK: Probably Top Golf, you get to drive some, eat, chill out. That would be fun with the team.
Q: What type of music do you listen to before the game? Could you give us a song suggestion?
JK: I listen to a lot of rap, not anything heavy, but sometimes I like to calm myself down. Right before a game I listen to "Drinking and Smoking" by Future, because it's not too high energy but it's not too mellow either.
Q: What made you choose Maryland?
JK: I just really liked the coaching staff a lot. I mean, I had tons and tons of offers but I just felt really comfortable being at home. I got to sit down with Coach Willard and Coach Cox who recruited me really hard. Those factors made me feel most comfortable here and I decided to come.
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Q: You mentioned that you were from Burke and that you feel most comfortable at home, so did you know people at Maryland prior to coming in?
JK: Yeah I was about 45 minutes south of Maryland, I knew Deshaun and I knew Jahanathan, so we spoke a lot before we ended up making our decisions.
Q: How have you been preparing for the transition from high school basketball to college basketball? Are there any specific aspects of your game that you have been focusing on improving?
JK: Definitely coming off the pick and rolls, making the right plays. Either to score or make the right pass. I've been trying to keep dribbling, dribbling, dribbling, that's what I have been working on. I have a good shot, I defend hard, I play hard, but I've been focusing extra on my ball handling and working off the pick and roll.
Q: Have you been able to connect with any of your new teammates so far? How do you anticipate building chemistry and camaraderie within the team?
JK: Yeah so I played with Jahanathan when I was a freshman at AAU and I played with Deshaun for a lot of middle school, so we knew each other growing up.
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Q: Since you've been here, what would you say that you're known for so far?
JK: Just making shots.
Q: Outside of basketball, what are your hobbies and interests?
JK: Hanging out with my family and watching TV. I go home a lot on the weekends.
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