By David Cordova
Preface
This interview on incoming Kentucky freshman Wenyen Gabriel was originally featured on Gotham Hoops in the summer of 2015.
An Interview With……..Wenyen Gabriel
By David Cordova
It’s always good to see a player rise from obscurity. Whenever you see an unknown player that puts on a great performance. One of the biggest surprises of the summer circuit has been Wenyen Gabriel. The 6-9 forward from Wilbraham & Monson Academy in New Hampshire has been one of the fastest rising stars in the country. He built up his stock on the Adidas Uprising circuit with the Mass Rivals AAU program.
He is a player that is long, but very athletic and is very versatile when going to the basket and hitting jump shots from long range. His final list of colleges has been shortened to five schools, among them being Duke, Kentucky, Providence, and Wake Forest. As long as he continues to improve, Gabriel will continue to rise and become a productive college player.
Here’s the Q & A with Wenyen Gabriel:
When did you first start playing basketball?
Around the fifth or sixth grade.
When did you decide that you were going to take the game serious?
I went to this place where we played basketball. I thought I was just going to shoot around. But then I went through a serious workout, and I just went from there.
What drives you to be successful?
It’s just that, I want to play in the NBA and take care of my family. I want us to have it all.
How do you feel about being invited to a prestigious event such as the Big Strick Classic?
I think it’s fun to be with all of these good players. I don’t feel as if I have to prove myself anymore.
How do you feel about your recruitment so far?
I feel that there’s a lot of things to work out. I want to see where I fit in and go from there. I’m just trying to weigh out my options and I want to see where I fit in before I commit to a school.
How did you feel about your performances at the Adidas Uprising All-American Camp and Adidas Nations?
I feel like I started off slow at camp, but then I finished off strong. At Adidas Nations, I had a couple of strong performances that boosted my confidence a lot. The experience there was great, I would definitely do it again.
Do you feel content with where you’re at or do you feel like there’s more to accomplish?
There’s a whole lot more. I still have one more year of high school left. I’m happy with my summer. But I feel like I want to do more.
What’s in the future for Wenyen Gabriel?
Playing in the NBA and making the all-star game.
Prologue
In October 2015, Gabriel, ranked No. 13 in the country by Rivals.com in the Class of 2016, committed to the University of Kentucky. As a senior, he averaged 22 points, 14 rebounds, 7 blocks and 6.3 assists per game at Wilbraham & Monson in the prestigious NEPSAC conference, which is one of the toughest high school leagues in America. He was selected to participate in events such as the Nike Hoop Summit, the Jordan Brand Classic and the biggest high-school all-star game of them all, the McDonald’s All-American Game. He is also a part of the No. 2 recruiting class in the country at Kentucky, as he joins an incoming class of five-star players such as Edrice “Bam” Adebayo, Sacha Killeya-Jones, Malik Monk and De’Aaron Fox. Will this group of players be able to lead the Wildcats to another national championship? We will just have to wait and see.
Highlights of Wenyen Gabriel:
Courtesy of Buzzer Beater Basketball.
Courtesy of RI Affiliated.
Courtesy of MakePlayz.
Courtesy of Rivals.
Courtesy of GD Factory Clips.
Courtesy of Fresh Focus Sports.
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