Chris Collinsworth on Basketball

Where would you be without basketball?

I probably wouldn’t be at BYU. I’d probably be off going to school, probably trying to start a company or something, trying to make a lot of money. I’d probably be doing the same thing other Utah Valley kids are doing.

Why basketball?

It was probably in seventh or eighth grade when I realized how good I was at it and that I did have a shot to be good. I met some people who were good and successful in basketball and saw how hard they worked and that’s when I decided that’s what I needed to do as well.

Why do you love basketball?

Basketball hasn’t been everything for me but it’s been a lot. It’s where I spent the majority of my time all through high school and even before high school. It’s kind of been my go to. When I’m having a rough day I go to the gym and shoot and if I’m having a good day it’s probably because I was at the gym and shot. It’s meant a lot.

Best family basketball memory?

My senior year of high school me and Kyle were able to be on the same basketball team at Provo High and we were able to win a state championship. That was really fun, to have my little brother be there, a part of that. Kyle is obviously at a much different level than he was when he was a freshman in high school and he’s really, really good. I think me and him, we’re going to be able to play a lot together and make a good run this year at winning championships and I’m excited for it.

What is your favorite sound in basketball?

It’d probably definitely be when at a home game in the Marriot Center, right before the game starts, we’re standing there and everyone’s cheering and it’s super loud and super intense. Then it gets really quiet right before the tip. That whole feeling is awesome. I guess it’s not a sound but a bunch of sounds but it’s good.

Any advice for young players?

You’ve got to work extremely hard and you’ve got to sacrifice a lot. A lot of times in high school on a lot of Friday nights I was in the gym shooting when all my friends were out hanging out. But it’s because I knew this is were I wanted to be and I knew I’d have to work hard to get here. You just have to evaluate if it’s really what you want and if it is you’ve got to give everything you have to get it.