The Basketball Interview with Jake Kava
Fargo Shanley senior Jake Kava is a 6-foot-3, 220 pound multi-sport star who gave PHD one of the more honest interviews yet.
At your school, what is your favorite part or parts about game days in terms of the routine leading up to the game?
JK: Wearing our warm-ups during the day, and then going to Subway and getting a 6” spicy Italian sub. Listening to music is a big part of my pregame too.
What makes your crowd unique? What is a memorable thing that they’ve done that you’ll always remember?
JK: The guys in my class making animal noises while opponents are shooting free throws. Definitely very unique to our crowd. The senior guys this year will have a lot of fun with it.
Who is the toughest player you can recall playing against in South Dakota Basketball and why?
JK: Toughest player I’ve gone against was probably Mark Toe. He was a tough matchup with his strength and athleticism, and it always seemed like we played RR in big games as well.
Who is your biggest rival and what about them makes the rivalry both heated and memorable.
JK: Biggest rival is probably Fargo Davies. With the schools being so close together it’s always a packed house when we play each other. Ever since the Jacobson, Strom vs Kretchman, Koslowski matchups it’s been a huge rivalry.
Who is your favorite player in the world and why?
JK: Favorite player is AJ Jacobson. Grew up watching him and we worked out together for a bit when I was in middle school. He taught me almost everything I know about the game. I’m not a huge NBA fan.
All basketball players love gear. What brand of gear or type of gear are you partial to?
JK: Nike. All Nike. Our team has Adidas jerseys and it kills me every time I have to put it on.
What is your favorite venue to play basketball in that you’ve played in?
JK: Favorite venue I’ve played in is probably the SHAC. EDC was really cool there last year.
What court that you haven’t played on would you dream of playing on?
JK: Dream court to play on is The Barn (Williams Arena where the University of Minnesota plays). I have some good friends from Fergus Falls that got to play at Williams Arena for State the last couple years and I am very jealous of them.
Explain the relationship varsity players have at your school with youth players.
JK: We have a great relationship with the little kids. We run camps in the summer so we spend time with them there. Then at Shanley it’s pretty cool because we hang out with the same younger guys with football and basketball so it builds a pretty good relationship.
Best coaching advice you’ve received is what and who is it from?
JK: Best coaching advice would be from my favorite basketball coach to this day, Casey Bruggeman. He was my AAU coach when I played for the Comets. One of the many things he pounded into my head was that all rebounding is about, is heart and habit. That really stuck out to me. Also him yelling at me to get down in a better defensive stance.
Who is your basketball influence?
JK: My basketball influence was my mom. My dad was a wrestler in high school so he always pushed my brother and I to wrestle, but I guess my mom won out and I’m glad she did. I couldn’t imagine wearing one of those singlets hahah.