If you want to know how to go far in the postseason, Kendall Pollard is a good person to ask. As a high school player at Simeon Career Academy, he teamed with Jabari Parker to win 3 straight Illinois 4A state titles. As a freshman at Dayton he helped his team reach the Elite 8, then followed that up last March by scoring a team-high 17 PTS in a 1-PT win over Boise State in the 1st 4. The Flyers return 4 of their starters from last year, so do not bet against them returning to the NCAA tourney for the 3rd year in a row. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Kendall about being the most improved player in the conference and having a 7′ wingspan.
You grew up in Chicago where you won a trio of 4A state titles at Simeon Career Academy as a teammate of Jabari Parker: could you tell even back then that Jabari was going to become a star, and what made you choose Dayton? I knew that Jabari was going to be a star from the time I played against him back in the 7th grade: we teamed up at Simeon and won a bunch of championships. I picked Dayton because it gave me the best opportunity to win and it was not that far away from home.
You are 6’6” but have a wingspan of nearly 7’: how much of an advantage is your length on the court? It is an advantage because it allows me to get in passing lanes and block shots.
You play for Coach Archie Miller: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from him? He knows what he is talking about and has the blueprint for success, so all we have to do is listen. He taught me to handle my business and control only what I can control.
You played in all 37 games as a freshman and shot almost 55 FG%: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I just found my niche on the team as someone who would just play hard every day. I did whatever the team needed me to do.
In the 2014 NCAA tourney you had 2 STL and Vee Sanford made a layup with 3.8 seconds left in a 1-PT win over your in-state rival Ohio State: did you think Aaron Craft’s 10-footer at the buzzer was going in, and what was the reaction like in the locker room afterward? I really did think Craft’s shot was going in: I was surprised that he was able to get that close to the rim. I was amazed when Vee hit the game-winning shot and I was just begging everyone to get back on defense. It was crazy in the locker room because it was our school’s 1st tourney win in a long time. Everyone thought the Buckeyes were the best team in the state…but we took them down.
Last year you were named the A-10 Most Improved Player: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It means a lot to me. I was striving to make the All-Conference team, but winning the award I got helped make up for it. I am still trying to improve and want to win it again next year.
In the 2015 NCAA tourney you scored 13 PTS in a 6-PT loss to Oklahoma: what did you learn from that loss that you think can help you this year? We need to come out of the gate playing hard. We fell behind very early in that game and once reality set in that our season was going to end, we all finally played hard at the end of the game.
Your non-conference schedule includes games against Alabama/Vandy/Arkansas: when did you decide to join the SEC, and which of these games do you feel will present your biggest test?! I have not really watched any of those teams, but I know they each lost some good players from last year.
Your leading scorer from last year (Jordan Sibert) graduated but you are 1 of 4 returning starters: how do you hope to replace Jordan’s offense, and how crucial will all of that experience be to your team’s success? I think our experience will be very crucial because we know what it takes to get to the tourney. I do not know if any 1 player can replace Jordan, but we will try to come together and do it as a team.
What are your goals for the upcoming season, and what are your expectations for the upcoming season? I just want to win games and win championships. On a team level, we are trying to accomplish some things that have not been done at Dayton at a long time. On an individual level, I would like to be named 1st-team All-Conference.