Hilton Armstrong QA

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Hilton Armstrong has all of a sudden become a buzzword this fall in high Division I recruiting circles, and the soft-spoken 6-9 big man from Peekskill H.S. in Peekskill, N.Y., recently sat down with the Insiders Report/Rivalshoops.com to discuss his recruitment.

Though he was widely reported by some internet services as an early LaSalle commitment, Armstrong did not sign a national letter of intent with the Explorers this fall.

Since the end of the early signing period, programs such as Illinois, North Carolina and Connecticut have come up to scout Armstrong in games or practices.

In addition to the schools mentioned above, Armstrong also told us that his list also includes St. Joseph's, Texas A&M and South Florida.

We had a chance to sit down and conduct an extensive interview on Saturday night with Armstrong after he scored 13 points, grabbed five rebounds and blocked four shots in a 69-59 loss to St. Raymond's H.S. of the Bronx at the Slam Dunk Challenge.

Here is a transcript of that Q &A session:

IR: Many people reported that you signed early with LaSalle, but you did not, and now all of a sudden, it seems like every high major program in the country is after you.

HA: It's good to have all of the attention. I wanted to sign with LaSalle, but my father told me to wait, so I am waiting until the spring signing period. Right now, LaSalle is still at the top of my list. I know North Carolina and Illinois are two of the best schools or whatever, but I am still considering LaSalle, and so far they still are at the top of my list.

IR: Do you look who comes to your games or practices? Is that something that you really value?

HA: I am glad that they come to see me, but I really try not to concentrate on them too much. I try to focus on my game and try to improve it. I know that if I worry about them, I will make more mistakes trying to impress them. I just know that I can't impress nobody, so I just try and play my game.

IR: If somebody told you six months ago that North Carolina would coming to watch you play, would you say that they were right or they were crazy?

HA: I would think that they were crazy, personally. Right now, I still don't think I am really that good. I look at the next level in college and the NBA, and they work hard. I try and work hard, but they play hard, so I am just try and step up to the plate and see if it's my turn or not. I always look forward to the competition.

IR: Can you talk about some of the newcomers on your list? Specifically, North Carolina, Illinois and UConn.

HA: They came out to see me, but I really don't know too much about college basketball, I have not watched much of it. I only started watching it a few weeks ago. I just heard the word go around that they are some of the best schools. I am glad that they are calling me. That seems like a good accomplishment, to have somebody like that looking at me. I know last year, nobody was even looking at me. But now I feel good about that.

IR: Illinois is a top ten team this year and off to a very strong start. What are your impressions of them?

HA: Having a top ten team in the country come and look at me, I feel really happy about that.

IR: UConn is another nationally ranked and perennially strong program. What are your impressions of Jim Calhoun's program?

HA: The same thing. They are one of the best schools and to come and look at me, I feel real proud about that too.

IR: North Carolina is another perennially strong program, although they've gotten off to a rough start this season. What's your take on Coach Doherty and his program?

HA: I really have not watched many of their games yet, so I really don't know how they are doing. I know they have not won that much, but I want to see what their mistakes are, so I really can't comment on that.

IR: Do you like one of those three programs more than the other?

HA: No, they are all even right now.

IR: What schools have been up to see you?

HA: Illinois and North Carolina have been to see me practice. UConn was at the game tonight. LaSalle and South Florida came into my home in the fall. And Texas A&M came to see me practice once.

IR: Obviously, you are going to sign late. What is your timetable on a decision? Do you want to take some more visits soon?

HA: I am not really sure right now. If I have the opportunity, I will take some more visits.

IR: Have you discussed taking visits with any of the schools?

HA: No, not yet. [Peekskill Head] Coach Panzanaro and my father are handling a lot of that. If I want to go on a visit, I will go, but if I don't, I will just lay back and look at my options.

IR: You only took one visit to LaSalle in the fall, so you have four visits left. So it sounds like nothing is etched in stone in terms of future visits.

HA: Not yet. Not right now. I am just trying to weigh my options and see where everything is and see how things go. Whatever happens, happens.

IR: Can you talk a little about your game. You're 6-9, you can run and jump, although of course you need to get stronger. For fans that have not seen you play, can you just explain what you do well and what you need to work on.

HA: I know I have a little handle, playing with Keith Staton and Rashard Turner. I usually dribble. But since I have been on varsity, my coach has been trying to post me up more. I am trying to put those two together so that I can have an all-around game. My jump shot fell off a little bit from last year, and my free throws, as you can see, those fell off a lot. All I have been working with this year is in the post, trying to get a complete game. I really want to be a three, but this year, my coach is making me a five, because I am the biggest man. Whatever coach wants me to be is what I will be.

IR: How long have you been on the varsity at Peekskill?

HA: I was playing on the JV two years ago. Coach wanted me to go to varsity, but my dad did not want me to. He wanted me to stay on the JV, since I just started playing basketball in the eighth grade. He wanted me to develop more. He did not want me to play against too much competition too early, since I had just started playing.

IR: So you did not start playing competitive ball until the eighth grade?

HA: I used to play baseball. I was a pitcher, but I did not like it any more. I just wanted to try a different sport and it was basketball, seeing that I was all right in basketball. I played JV my sophomore year at Peekskill. I did not play my freshman year, I played modified in eighth grade, and ninth grade I did not play anything.

IR: You talked about some of the things you need to work on, what are some of the strengths of your game right now?

HA: I think my defense. I know today I had a lot of fouls but they were cheap fouls. I think my defense is my strongest point right now.

IR: In tonight's game, you showed pretty quick moves to the basket, a drop step, good hands...

HA: I really try not and think about it too much. I really don't think [offense] is one of my strong points. With defense, I think about it and try to make it work. Offense, it just comes.