WSU senior on other side of career

PULLMAN – Four seasons ago a Washington State freshman named Kyle Weaver sat down with The Spokesman-Review for a Q&A.

Since that time, the 6-foot-6 guard from Beloit, Wis., has exceeded 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 400 assists, 150 steals and 75 blocked shots in his career, the only Cougar to surpass all those numbers.

So we decided to sit down with Weaver again as his WSU career winds down and see what’s changed.

SR: Almost over. Is it weird to think about that?

KW: It is. Not only is my basketball career almost over, but my academic (career) is wrapping up, too. It’s one of those bittersweet things. You’re glad to be finishing up, but you’ve been doing this a while and you know you’ll miss it.

SR: What have you improved at most? Dealing with the media?

KW: (Laughs) Yeah, biggest improvement. By far.

SR: Have you accomplished all you wanted to?

KW: I think so. I’m almost there. I think I took a few steps since I got here to get to the place I want to be. I’m not there yet. As a player and as a person, too. You know, I grew up quick out here. Being alone and everything.

SR: Do you think about next year, trying to play at the next level, does that come into your mind at all?

KW: It does. I don’t see how it couldn’t. … (but) right now, I’m in the situation where I try to not think about it. I try to keep my focus on the season, on my teammates, on trying to take this year as far as I can before I worry about anything else.

SR: You play Saturday at the University of Oregon, where you’ve never won, for the final time. Does that eat at you?

KW: It’s a little frustrating, not to be able to knock a team off. Anywhere. Beating them at home was big for us. Going to their place will be a great test mentally, how we can handle a rough environment. … The people there love their Oregon teams. (I’m) glad I’m not from Oregon, and played here, to have to worry about the people like Kevin (Love) did.

SR: You’ve had a chance to meet the new recruiting class for next year. Who is the next Kyle Weaver?

KW: I didn’t get a chance to play with them. I hope to this summer. Klay (Thompson) has the size to potentially do the things I can do. Marcus (Capers) maybe, he’s a slasher type of guy from what I’ve heard. Probably a mix of those two.