CAA Insider Exclusive Interiew with Brad Bald Thursday, 05 July 2007 By Brian Crownover durunner@caainsider.com The University of North Carolina Wilmington recently received a commitment from forward Brad Bald out of Severna Park in Maryland. CAA Insider recently caught up with Brad to get his thoughts on his decision. CAA Insider: Congratulations on choosing the University of North Carolina Wilmington. They had a down season last year, but have been one of the top teams in the CAA over the last decade. CAA Insider: What impressed you most about the following: The team? The coaches? The school? Brad Bald: The team: The University of North Carolina Wilmington plays in the Colonial Athletic Association Conference which is one of the strongest mid major conferences in the Country. UNCW has been to the NCAA four of the past eight years. After meeting with second year Coach Benny Moss and his Coaching staff, I felt confident that he was putting together a team that would have a chance each year to make it to the NCAA's. The coaches: Coach Moss is awesome, he is a very positive Coach and very easy to talk to. I look forward to playing for him for four years. I felt comfortable with all of Coach Moss' coaching staff. I liked the fact that he is rebuilding the program and I will be a part of that building process. I believe his team will be much stronger next year and by the time I enroll in 2008 our team will be at the top of the conference once again. The school: I liked the size of the school, I think around 12,000 students. My mother's family all live in North Carolina, so I am happy that they will be able to come watch many of my games. Since I love the ocean the fact that it is only 5 minutes from the beach was perfect. I also loved the beach volleyball courts and pools on campus. The new student center also looked very nice. On the academic side, I plan on majoring in business and its business program is very strong. CAA Insider: You are a versatile forward who can score inside or step outside and knock down the jump shot. Which do you prefer doing now and what do you see yourself doing more of in college (if different)? How do you feel this versatility will fit in with what UNCW is trying to do? Brad Bald: My AAU coach has me playing mostly with my back to the basket since I have very strong post moves and good foot work. If I am being guarded by a smaller person I prefer playing inside so that I can use my low post moves to score. However, if I am being guarded by a bigger or slower person, I prefer to receive the ball on the perimeter where I can beat him off the dribble or knock down the open jumper. Playing for Coach Moss will be perfect for me since he allows his 4 men not only to play inside but also to play out on the wing. His 4 man also trails the break and is able to shoot the 3 pointer. I actually think my game is more suited for college than it is in high school since most of the teams I have played on have required me to stay in the low post since I was always the tallest on the team. In college, I will not be forced to only play inside and Coach Moss' offense will take advantage of my versatility. CAA Insider: What areas did the UNCW coaches or any other coaches you've talked to tell you that you need to work on? Brad Bald: As with most high school players I know I need to continue to get stronger. Presently I have been working with a trainer and I already have gotten stronger. I have put on 15 pounds since the season ended. I will continue to work with my trainer up until the time I enroll in UNCW. CAA Insider: You play with a pretty high profile AAU team in Triple Threat. What have you learned by playing alongside talented players such as Jason Clark (Georgetown) and Chris Braswell (Georgetown)? Brad Bald: Practicing every day with great players makes you better. I have also learned that when everyone is flowing into the system of play, and we are playing as a team, I play better. CAA Insider: Who is the best player you've ever had to guard? Brad Bald: Rudy Gay. CAA Insider: You are transferring from Archbishop Spalding to Severna Park? Why did you decide to make this move? Brad Bald: At the end of my sophomore year Spalding's Head Coach, Mike Glick, left. I really only went to Spalding because of Coach Glick and the reputation he had as a great basketball coach, having coached the likes of Rudy Guy and several other players who have gone on and had great college careers. Once he left, I wanted to transfer to Severna Park, but my parents wanted me to give it one year with the new coach. Since I didn't have as much fun playing my junior year, I decided to transfer to my local high school so that I could finish up my high school career with my childhood and middle school friends. Severna Park also has a very strong academic reputation and its basketball coach, Paul Pellicani, also has a great reputation having coached previously at Maine Central Prep. CAA Insider: By the time you get to UNCW, they will have graduated a number of frontcourt players? Was potential early playing time a big part of your decision? Brad Bald: Yes, because it’s definitely a plus to know your going to go to a school where you will be able to play your freshman year. CAA Insider: Most of the players making commitments this early on are going to high major programs from conferences like the Big East or ACC? A lot of players hold out in hopes of the bigger offer. What make you decide to commitment a mid major program this early? Brad Bald: Many people have asked me that question. Prior to my commitment to UNCW, I was being actively recruited by over forty schools having received over 22 scholarship offers. The remaining 18+ schools heavily recruiting me were mostly from the Colonial Athletic Conference, Atlantic 10 and Conference USA. I was also starting to get letters from schools like Penn State, Florida, Virginia and Virginia Tech. I felt that even if I did receive offers from a high major conference, I would not find a place that I felt more comfortable at than UNCW. I did not want to make the mistake my choosing to go to a school just because it had a higher rating only to want to transfer after my first year. I know I could have waited like many players do for a "bigger offer", but why wait if you know you have found the school that is a perfect fit for you. CAA Insider: July is a big evaluation period. Do you feel like you'll play more relaxed now that your decision has been made? Brad Bald: I am actually relaxed because I now do not have to respond to all of the text messages and phone calls. It seemed everyday some new school would call me or text me and I am the type of person that felt obligated to respond to every call or every text. Now I can relax and enjoy my summer. As far as playing more relaxed, I never felt uptight about playing in front of coaches because once the game starts you forget about who is watching and just play basketball. The fact that I have committed won't stop me from playing hard. CAA Insider: Speaking of July, what camps or events will you are playing at in the upcoming months? Brad Bald: I recently sprained my ankle and am out for about two weeks. My ankle sprain will cause me to miss the Eastern Camp and a Tournament in West Virginia. The ankle should be fine when I play in Las Vegas with my AAU team, "Triple Threat". Other than that I will wait and see. CAA Insider: Who has had the most impact on your game? Brad Bald: My parents and Triple Threat Coach Keith Stevens. CAA Insider: Do you know what you are going to major in at UNCW? Brad Bald: I'm not sure but possibly business or pre-law. CAA Insider: Thank you for your time and good luck at with the Seahawks.