2019 Guard Logan Alters Talks U-School, Incoming Transfers, and Goals
PH: How would you describe this team’s style of play under Coach Carr and what are the key aspects he emphasizes as a coach?
LA: Coach Carr is a basketball genius. Through his 20+ years as a D1 coach his knowledge about the game is truly amazing. His intensity in every practice is like no other coach I have ever had. Regarding the team, his emphasis is that we are a family before anything. We all have to be united as one before we step foot on the court.
Each person on the team and staff is important in someway there is no one that is considered less than the other. He always mentions that we have to be better than yesterday. His basketball emphasis is on making the game fast paced while being organized.
PH: It’s no secret the team lost two high level guys in Drue Drinnon and Trey Droomes to 2018 graduation. How does the new incoming transfers help cushion the loss and what do these guys bring to the program?
LA: The new transfers so far have impressed me. Jace Howard is the big that we have been looking for. He has a great attitude, is great on defense, and can really shoot it. Jett Howard is a young, raw, talented guard. With the practice and experience he gets in the preseason he will make a big impact in games. David Perez is another great pickup that will help us tremendously at the guard position. He is a strong guard who can really shoot it and has sneaky bounce. He is the type of player that will come up clutch for us in big games. Roger Mcfarlane impressed me the most. Unlike Jace David and Jett, I had no idea what he is going to be like except for the film I saw. He is a strong guard who can really score and has great defense. He will be a huge pickup for this season.
PH: How would you describe your role on this year’s team? Being a veteran senior with a wealth of big game experience, what’s the expectation level like for you?
LA: My role on the team this year is much greater than last year. Being a veteran senior, I am the new leader of this team. I do have to fill those shoes that Drue Drinnon left with his leadership. That is leading the team through every practice and being a captain by running the team during the games. My expectation level is through the roof. I think that our team this year will be better than last year. Although we lost our 2 guards, the rest of the team improved tremendously and the new pickups were a huge turnaround.
PH: After winning a state championship last season, you guys had a very irregular performance against yet another Florida team in the national championship game in Montverde Academy. While that team was front-loaded with high profile talent, it was a lopsided loss. How does that loss give you guys motivation heading into this season and where is the bar set as far as goals for the year?
LA: That loss is my motivation. I am looking to be in the position that we were in last year and finish the job. But first our goals are a gradual pick up. Our focus is to take each game as if it would cost us the whole season. We have to win each game one at a time and then we will be in the position we want to be in.
PH: Which aspects led you to choose CAL-Berkeley and what about the school and the program attracted you to them?
LA: First, academics are extremely important to me. The opportunity to play Pac 12 basketball and attend a top 4 university in the world played a big role in my decision. Once I got on campus for my unofficial visit this year I fell in love. Cal is the whole package. Not only do their athletic facilities and programs rival the the best in the country, their academics are world renowned.
During my visit, the bond Coach Jones and I made was unbreakable and the thought that he would become my future coach made this decision a no brainer. I believe in him and his vision for the program. I established a connection with Coach Grace throughout my sophomore year. Once I heard he was hired at Cal it seemed like it was meant to be. The combination of Coach Wilson, Coach Walker, Coach Oakes, Coach Brown and Coach Jackson just puts the cherry on top. The way they run their practices and their style of coaching is exactly what I am looking for in a program.