BYU NewsNet - Fredette: Being a Cougar an honor

By JAMIE BRITTNER

Q: When you suit up in your BYU uniform, you are representing the school. What does being a Cougar mean to you?

Fredette: Being a Cougar means representing the school to the best of your ability. It means having high morals. It is a big honor to play for BYU, and I am fortunate enough to be able to do it. It really means a lot to me because a lot of kids don’t get this opportunity.

Q: Do you have any pre-game rituals? Any particular songs you listen to right before the game?

Fredette: I listen to the same songs before every game. Rap music, mostly. My favorites are Eminem and Jay-Z. And I wear new socks for every game. It’s just comfortable.

Q: What inspired you to become a basketball player?

Fredette: I grew up in a family that really enjoyed sports and basketball. My sister and brother played in high school and my brother played in junior college, so I just grew up around older people who played.

Q: Who would you say is your role model?

Fredette: My parents because they have been there for me through everything. Being LDS, I was the minority in high school. I always talked to my parents about it, and my dad was always there for me. He was the person who would always help me.

Q: What do you feel is the biggest challenge you have had to overcome as an athlete?

Fredette: I wasn’t the most athletic kid growing up, so I had to work hard to get my body in shape and get faster. My uncle was like my personal trainer and I worked really hard to improve my time and my skills. Sometimes I have to step back and realize what I have the opportunity to be doing. It makes me want to give thanks to everyone back home, my family, my coaches — they really got me into it.

Q: Do you feel like being a student athlete that you are treated differently or given special privileges?

Fredette: No not really. We have the student athlete building where we can study. We also get tutors who give us extra help but as far as teachers go, we don’t get any special exceptions. We just have to make sure that if we are going to miss a deadline due to a game or something that we plan ahead and get our work in because some teachers won’t allow emailing. It’s tougher to finish schoolwork but you just have to plan in your schedule to get it done.

Q: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Fredette: I am hoping to play pro basketball. It’s been my dream ever since I was a kid. I would like to have a family and be married.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring athletes?

Fredette: Continue to work hard. If you want to pursue something then you have to go and get it. You have to practice to get a one-up on someone else, on the other people who are practicing just as hard as you and try different drills to improve yourself.