Jeremy Senglin began his college career at Weber State as Big Sky Freshman of the Year in 2014…and it only got better from there. 1st-team All-Conference as a junior/senior, 4th in conference history to scored 2000+ PTS, and graduated with the most 3-pointers made in conference history. The 2016 Big Sky tourney MVP also helped his team make it to the NCAA tourney in both 2014/2016. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jeremy about being a great 3-PT shooter and playing pro basketball. Today is Jeremy’s 27th birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!
You were born in Missouri and went to high school in Texas: what made you choose Weber State? A lot of different things. I wanted to get away from home and get out on my own. I enjoyed my visit and got along with the coaching staff. The main thing was how they treated their players and taught you how to work hard both on/off the court.
As a freshman you started all 31 games and were named conference ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? Mainly due to the confidence from my coaches/teammates to give me the ball in different situations and believe in me.
In November of 2015 you scored a career-high 34 PTS/8-12 3PM in a win over Drake: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yes. I had quite a few college games where I made 6+ threes. I was throwing up some off-balance shots where I was not even facing the hoop but they were going in!
In the 2016 conference tourney title game you scored 20 PTS in a 3-PT win over Montana en route to being named conference tourney MVP: what did it mean to you to win a title, and how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? It meant a lot to win that title. We won a title during my freshman year, but to do it 3 years later against our rival was really good. I entered the game with a positive mindset and it was all about the team.
You were named 1st-team All-Conference during each of your last 2 seasons: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It meant a lot. The conference at that time was guard-heavy so it was an honor and showed that my hard work was paying off.
You made a pair of NCAA tourney appearances during your career: what is your favorite memory from March Madness? Just the experience with my teammates: the travel, the atmosphere, etc. Especially coming from a mid-major school: we had to fight just to get there.
As a senior you led the nation with 132 3PM and your 345 career 3PM remains #1 in Big Sky history: what is the key to making shots from behind the arc? Just shooting with confidence, even if they are not falling. You have to put in the hours in the gym and get reps up all of the time.
You graduated as the leading scorer in school history: what is the secret to being a great scorer? There is no secret: just hard work/confidence. When you go out in the game it just feels like practice because you have done it before. It was fun to get a record but sooner or later I knew that it would get broken: just to be in the top-5 is nice.
You have played in the G League as well as in some foreign countries: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? It is a big difference. The 3-PT line is further back in the US and they call more ticky-tack fouls in America as well. It is tougher to drive the lanes here so you have to pick your spots better.
How long do you hope to play pro basketball for, and what is the plan for after you retire? I want to play basketball for as long as I can: I love playing and I can make a nice career out of it. Right now I am just focused on the next practice. I have some plans in the back of my mind but do not want to get specific.