One-on-One With Obi Muonelo

Oklahoma State freshman Obi Muonelo arrived on campus earlier this month and has spent the last few weeks taking a summer school class and getting acclimated to the college lifestyle. We visited with the All-stater from Edmond (Santa Fe), Okla., earlier this week.

How have things gone since you’ve been on campus now for what about three weeks?
Obi: Yeah, it’s been about three weeks. It’s tough because there are a lot of work outs. Get up at six o’clock in the morning to work out for lifting and running, and then you have to get your own stuff in – shooting. Then you have to go to work from 1 to 5, after work we play (pickup games) from 5:30 to 7:30, and then after playing you finally get to eat, and after you eat you’re done.

How many classes are you taking?
Obi: I’m just taking three hours this month, and six hours next month. Class is just from 10 to 11 a.m. each day. I think I needed that my first month (on campus). Your first month is your hardest month, so I needed that 10-to-11 o’clock class. This next month I’ll be used to it and be able to do a little more.

Is college what you expected it to be?
Obi: It’s exactly what I expected it to be. Everything is what I expected.

How are the pickup games going?
Obi: Very intense. They are very intense games. Everybody is battling like it’s real practice.

Who has impressed you the most in the pickup games?
Obi: Probably the freshman who came in with me – Gary Flowers. He’s the real deal. He’s a beast.

What’s been the biggest adjustment you’ve had to make playing in the pickup games?
Obi: When you go into the lane you have to dunk it. There’s no laying it in there.

Have you tried to lay it in there?
Obi: Yeah. They get blocked.

Who’s blocked you?
Obi: From Byron Eaton to David Monds. Little Byron got me from behind. The little guys come from behind you and the big guys come up top and swat you. You’ve got to be ready at all times. You’ve got to go in there ready to dunk it.

Did you expect the game to be different?
Obi: I expected some changes but I didn’t expect that.

I know it’s early but where do you see yourself fitting in on this team?
Obi: Any guard spot. I’m not going to try to take spots. I’m just looking to play. Whatever I can do to help this team win is what I want to do.

What can you add to the team that was lacking last season?
Obi: I think the thing this team is lacking the most is a slasher that’s willing just to pass it. I’m going to slash it and pass it freely. I think that’s what we need. It’s important for the guys to know that if you give the ball up you’re going to get it back. That’s no problem for me. It shouldn’t be a thing to pass the ball to another teammate.

Do you plan to play this year or is redshirting even an option?
Obi: No way. I came here to play. I wanted to be on the court so bad last year (when I was at Gallagher-Iba watching games). There’s no way I can sit this year.