More quotes from Media Day, Part 1

PROVO, Utah – BYU basketball held its annual Media Day on Tuesday. Click here for a recap of what happened and what was said. Below, see what sophomore big man Corbin Kaufusi had to say about the offseason and his goals for 2015-16 and get to know newcomers Elijah Bryant, Braiden Shaw and Alan Hamson.

Corbin Kaufusi

“Our goal is to win every game. Just wait and see. It’s never a building year. Every year is the year and that’s the way you got to look at it.”

Improvements in his game over the offseason:
“It’s been technical stuff. I’ve been very picky about the way I move my feet. I credit it all to having coaches and teammates who are willing to work with me during the offseason with that.”

“I think with experience there comes more responsibility. I’m not just the new guy running around not knowing what’s going on. I know what’s happening now. It’s time to help other guys. That’s what I think our team is good at. Everyone is in it for the same reason. We can help each other more. I’m not going to get mad if someone tells me I need to do something. They know what’s going on and I’m going to do it.”

“It’s hard to say. They (newcomers) all bring such a unique skill set or talent to the game that I can’t really pinpoint one guy because every guy brings so much to the table.”

“We’ve been the closest team yet, I’ve only been here a year, but we were close last year and it’s been amazing to see how it’s built up from then. With a huge turnover of guys it might drop off, but we’ve been building from last year. The few guys who are here from last year and those that came in just mesh right in with it. The chemistry is looking really good right now.”

“We’ve done a lot. A lot of the time we’re working straight on defense – close outs or manning up with guys. I think because we’re going to be more aware of what’s happening, we’ll be more prepared as individuals and as a group.”

“He’s (Nate Austin) a huge factor for the team. He’s an upper classmen, a fifth year senior. He knows what’s happening on the court. He can tell you this and that. I love playing with him because I get so much out of him. And he just tells me, ‘Hey, you might want to do this’ and it goes such a long way the advice he gives. He definitely brings a great presence to the team.”

“The focus this offseason has been about doing the little things, the technical stuff. I haven’t played as long as some of these guys. They have a better feel for the game. The offseason has been all about that and learning to have a better feel for the game and working on the small things, foot work, shot stuff and a lot of film work.”

Elijah Bryant

On workouts over the summer:
“They’ve gone really well. I enjoy the workouts a lot. They focus on your skillset and what you can do. They don’t make you do big man stuff. It’s going well.”

“I’m excited about everyone because we all have a connection. It’s a different vibe here compared to other schools. There are no groups here, so I’m excited about the whole team.”

“I just want to be the best I can be in order to allow the team to be the best they can be, because I can’t play this year.”

“It (BYU) was always a dream school of mine growing up as a member of the church. When it came down to it, I just picked the school I felt most comfortable at and took basketball out of it. I wanted to go where I felt most comfortable because the ball is going to stop bouncing one day.”

“I love Coach Rose. He’s a real thorough guy. He’s not going to tell you anything just to make you happy. Some guys may not like that, but I enjoy it. If I mess up I want to know I messed up. I don’t want to know five games later. I want to know it right then.”

“There are three parts to life: physical, mental and spiritual. Basketball and weights is all physical. I get the mental side from the coach’s positive encouragement. I’m LDS, so that’s my spiritual side, which allows me to build all three parts of my life here.”

Braiden Shaw

“I’m most excited to just get on the court and play again after a mission. It’s been two years and it’s great to practice and I’m excited to play some games again. I’m antsy for the season to start, but the coaches are great at getting you back from a mission.”

“I’m undeclared, but I want to go into business. I can’t apply for another two years, so I’ve got a ways to go.”

“Sports have been my whole life. I’ve grown up doing a bunch of music too like piano and singing because of my mom. Sports have been a majority of my life. I played football, baseball and track a little. Once high school started I stuck with basketball.”

On going to high school with Tanner Mangum:
“We played on the same team and we knew each other pretty well. It’s fun to watch him. It’s been amazing to watch him come back after just getting off a mission. He’s a great guy and I’m excited to see what he can do these next four years.”

“He (Mangum) told me to be patient when I first got off my mission. He said it takes time for the body to come back, so I’ve tried to take that advice. I’ve been watching him and he’s doing that, so obviously it’s working really well for him.”

“The whole team has had a role in helping me. It’s been fun to go against Nate, Corbin, Kyle Davis and Jamal. I get to learn from them every single day. It’s an opportunity for me to try and draw as much from them as I can while I have this chance to play with them.”

“My personal goals go along with the team goals, to win every single game we play, to give 100 percent every day on the court and in the weight room, to go out and play as hard as we can.”

Alan Hamson

“I knew I wouldn’t have a lot of scholarships after my surgery because of the unknown and how it would all go. I was headed on my mission right after that. I was planning on walking on somewhere, but I definitely wanted to play college basketball.”

“I just came in, but so far I love the team. It’s a really good group of guys and we’re going to be really good. I’m really excited to be here and to get to be in the environment of a college basketball team and to be a part of it.”

“It’s definitely a transition coming home from a mission, especially trying to play basketball right off the bat. BYU has a really good program for return missionaries. I’ve been working with a trainer and they don’t push you. They take it one step at a time. I’m getting up to speed pretty slowly, but I’ll start practice soon. They have a really good program where I don’t have to jump in too quick, but I’m definitely getting in there.”

“I like to hang out with friends from my mission or friends I haven’t seen in awhile. I play video games every once in awhile too.”

“I haven’t officially decided. I might go into computer science or something like that, but I’m still up for change.”

“My mom played here at BYU so she had a big part in teaching me. I grew up playing sports, so I love them. I played on the soccer team and the swim team. I tried everything. I generally love sports. Growing up and seeing I have the most potential in basketball I was good at it and I had fun. My mom had a lot to do with that.”