By Admin february 21, 2018

HOW DID YOU ADJUST TO AMERICAN COACHES IN AMERICA?
“What I’m enjoying the most is to have a new approach of work out, discover new exercises for shooting, dribbling, I think during timeout coaches are less drawing up schemes it’s more talking on the bad point and the try to adjust it in game.”

WHAT ARE YOU ENJOYING THE MOST ABOUT BASKETBALL IN YOUR SCHOOL?
“What I’m enjoying the most is to have a new approach of work out discover new exercises for shooting, dribbling, I think during timeout coaches are more drawing up schemes and more talking on the bad point and then to adjusting it in the game.”

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST REACTION TO PRESEASON TRAININGS IN AMERICA ? WHERE THEY DIFFICULT AND HAD YOU EVER DONE SUCH TRAINING?
“It was alright it was hard but not horrible, we are used to run a lot in Switzerland. But yes we did a lot of physical training for the preseason that I wasn’t used to do in Switzerland.”

YOU WHERE ONE OF THE MAIN PLAYERS FOR YOUR U20 AND PRO B SWISS CLUB TEAM LAST SEASON? ALSO A WELL KNOWN YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM PLAYER. HOW BIG OF AN ADJUSTMENT HAS THIS BEEN FOR YOU?
“The way to play basketball is obviously different from Switzerland, that’s my opinion. But it stays basketball and I’m trying to play like I’m used to.”

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS WITH BASKETBALL IN AMERICA??
“My goals are to improve my game as much as I can, then if I can get a scholarship to a good college why not stay. Otherwise just improve to come back play in Switzerland stronger than before.”

PLAYING AGAINST TOUGHER OPPONENTS ATHLETICALLY AND PHYSICALLY IN AMERICA, DO YOU THINK THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN ADVANTAGE COMING BACK TO PLAY AGAINST YOUR FELLOW OPPONENTs IN YOUR COUNTRY?
“Yes it will, We are playing against players who are really athletic, tall and who have a lot confidence. I think it will probably give me an advantage when I go back in Switzerland.”

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE PRESSURE OF HAVING TO PLAY AGAINST PLAYERS THAT ARE ATHLETIC AND TALK A LOT OF TRASH DURING THE GAME?
“I don’t have the choice to play with the trash talking. We are not used to that in Switzerland but here it’s really like a part of the game everybody love trash talking. I just don’t mind and keep playing my game.”

HOW WAS IT TO INTEGRATE WITH YOUR TEAMMATES? THEY ALL COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS. DO TOU HAVE A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON WHY BASKETBALL IS SO IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES IN THEIR LIVES?
“At the beginning it was pretty hard because our game is not the same as mine it was a lot of 1on1 try to show what they can do etc but it has been changing now. And yes like sport in general is really important for the students in the US it helps them to have a good university and also important for their future.”

BEING AWAY FROM HOME IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS USUALLY DIFFICULT FOR PLAYERS!!! WHAT HELPS YOU MENTALLY TO BEIGN SO FAR AWAY?
“Have friends family or someone who’s here that you can call and text helps a lot ! And come back for Christmas helps me too.”

WHAT HAS BASKETBALL TAUGHT YOU THAT CARRIES OVER INTO THE OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE?
“It has taught me to not think about myself only but also the others. It has made me understand the importance to have something that I love doing everyday that it’s more than a sport and helps me also in life.”

OVERALL HAVE YOU ENJOYED YOUR EXPERIENCE THIS FAR AND IN WHAT AREA DO YOU FEEL YOU’VE IMPROVED THE MOST?
“Yes I’ve been enjoying my experience until now I think what I’ve improved the most is to work hard and keep going without give up.”

WOULD YOU RECOMMEND OTHER YOUNG PLAYERS WHO WANT TO DEVELOP TO GO TO PREP SCHOOL YOUR ATTENDING? WHY?
“I’ll advise him to do it without hesitation and play as much as he can because the time goes really fast and all the time he can spend at the gym it all beneficial for him or her.”

Thank you Leo Fragniere for taking the time and sharing with us. We wish you and your teammates well in the month of February and March as we know prime opportunity in front of coaches those months.

Leo Fragniere has the potential to grasp a opportunity and and take it to the next level for continue development. Its in his hands we look forward to following him on his continued journey so stay tuned for Part 2 so stay updated..

He plays For Lang Prep in Springdale Arkansas.

Can follow him on Instagram: @leo_fragniere