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Prep Confidential

Jackson's 5 Part VII

Posted by: Marcus Jackson

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 8:31 AM

Each week staff writer Marcus Jackson poses five questions to an area prep athlete. This week's guest is recent Bismarck-Henning graduate Murad Abbed, an All-Area performer in football and basketball who's headed to Eureka College to play hoops.

MJ: A while back you said college coaches were turned off by your small hands and slow release. Is Eureka OK with the size of your mitts?

MA: Actually the first thing the coach said to me was 'You've got some pretty good-sized hands.' No, the coach was pretty cool and everything and all the players were awesome and I think it'll be fun to go over there and be a part of that.

MJ: So they didn't break out the tape measure when you got there?

MA: They put my hands up to one of their senior guards and everything was cool.

MJ: Are you pretty excited to be teaming with Chrisman's Jordan Kindred at Eureka?

MA: It's awesome to play with him because when you watch him during high school ball, you're amazed at some of the things he does. It's kind of like watching Kobe sometimes. Some of the things he does when you watch him on TV are amazing.

MJ: You had a pretty good high school career in football and basketball. Does any one moment stand out to you?

MA: There isn't really one I can remember, it's all bee a lot of fun. I remember all the summer tournaments and just being able to travel with the team and everything was awesome.

MJ: Was it tough deciding between football and basketball in college?

MA: Yeah it was real tough. There is still the option at Eureka if I want to play football they would allow that. It would be a lot of work, so I'm sticking with basketball right now, but giving up football was a had decision.

MJ: I heard you and some of the other Vermilion County football players organizing a pick-up football game at the All-Area photo shoot. What are those games like?

MA: They used to play at the Salt Fork field in Catlin every Sunday and me and my brother would go up there. It would be a lot of fun to play. It's all fun and games and everyone is competitive so we all want to win.

MJ: During the high school games, would you draw back on some of those memories and talk trash to one another?

MA: It depends who it is. (Salt Fork's) Jon Knoll and me can trash talk because we've been friends ever since we were little because I grew up in Catlin. A kid like that, I can joke around with.

MJ: What are you listening to these days?

MA: You know everyone likes Lil' Wayne lately. I've been listening to a lot of country lately, which is weird but I listen to a little bit of everything. My brother likes rap, my sister likes punk rock and my little brother likes rap, too. I get a variety of music. My mom likes the oldies.

MJ: How do you go from Lil' Wayne to country?

MA: I honestly don't know how that happened. I hung out with my cousin in Bethany one week and that's where that started.

MJ: Do you listen to anything people might find embarrassing?

MA: Sometimes I mess around with my friends and we sing the songs to High School Musical. I know all the words.

MJ: You really want people to know that?

MA: Yeah it's cool. You can put it in the paper.

MJ: I don't know a whole lot about Bismarck, but what is there for people to do there?

MA: If we hang out there it's just at someone's house to watch a movie or something like that. We'll go to a movie or we go bowling, but there isn't a whole lot to do in Danville either.

MJ: So are you really looking forward to getting to Eureka?

MA: Not necessarily in the town of Eureka because it's a small town. It's pretty close to Bloomington. I think it'll be a good time though, get away from home a little bit and try to grow up like a man.