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We hope you are ready for a season unlike any other: testing, distancing, and bubbles, oh my! Nobody knows exactly what is going to happen, when it is going to happen, or whether anything actually will happen…but in the meantime we will try to restore some order with season previews featuring the best players/coaches/administrators in the country. We continue our coverage with Mississippi State SO SG Iverson Molinar. He grew up in Panama, moved to the US a few years ago, and last year played in all 31 games as a freshman. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Iverson about why he chose the Bulldogs and his expectations for this year.
You were born/raised in Panama: how big is the sport in your home country? I came to the United States when I was 14 to play basketball. The top-2 sports in Panama are soccer/baseball but basketball is a strong 3rd.
You ended up playing on an AAU team with Cassius Stanley: what makes Cassius such a good player, and how do you think he is going to do in pro basketball? It was good to play with him and I think that he will be very good in the pros.
What made you choose Mississippi State? I really liked their style of play and thought that it would make my transition from high school easier. It is like a family here: they are always asking questions and paying attention to me.
You play for Coach Ben Howland: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He taught me how to be more patient on offense and read the defense. I have improved so much on defense as well.
You played in all 31 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I just tried to play as hard as I could. I learned a lot as a freshman by watching film and doing whatever Coach wanted me to do.
In the 2020 SEC tourney you were scheduled to play in the quarterfinals before learning that the rest of the postseason was being cancelled due to the coronavirus: what was your reaction when you 1st heard the news, and do you think that it was the right decision? I was devastated because I really wanted to play in the SEC tourney and gain some more experience. I felt bad for our seniors because they missed out on their last postseason.
You have teammates from the Dominican Republic (Andersson Garcia)/Nigeria (Abdul Ado)/the Netherlands (Quinten Post): how do the guys from foreign countries fit in with their American teammates? They are good. We get along with all of them and try to show them what our culture is like. They stuck with it and took it well: we all accept each other.
You only have 2 seniors/1 junior on the roster: is there any pressure on the younger guys like yourself to be a leader this year? Yes. I always try to stay active on the court and help the freshmen because I was in that situation last year. Last year our senior class did the same thing for me.
You have a big birthday coming up this December: what will it be like to turn 21 during a pandemic? It is going to be weird/different but I will still be in the gym working out and getting better.
What are your goals for this season, and what are your expectations for this season? I really want to make the NCAA tourney. I want to be responsible on the court and help carry the team: we will have a lot of great chemistry. As far as expectations, I am just focused on the present rather than worrying about the future.