I caught up with Andreas Schreiber for an interview. Andreas is a 28 year old, 6’10” Power Forward currently playing basketball in the British Basketball League (BBL) for the Surrey Scorchers. He is also a Swedish International. I asked him a range of questions, and here are his responses:
Q: At what age did you first start playing basketball?
A: “At the age of 12 or 13.”
Q: Which players did you look up to the most growing up?
A: “Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant”
Q: How was your college experience playing for Pennsylvania?
A: “Both positive and negative. I was injured a lot, but my first year was amazing. We went to the tournament and played Deandre Jordan’s Texas A&M. We switched coaches 3x so it was very hard to be consistent when I was at the University of Pennsylvania. The academics were amazing and Philadelphia is a really cool city to live in!”
Q: Do the (Surrey) Scorchers fans help you and the team play better at home?
A: “Definitely. They are like the 6th man out there. They help us stay energized throughout the game, and give us an extra edge in the 4th quarter when we really need to push through.”
Q: Do you think you (Surrey) can go to the playoffs?
A: “I think we definitely have the talent to go the playoffs this year, even though it is our first year as a re-branded team. We have to stick together and make sure we stay injury free.”
Q: What advice would you give to any young hoopers looking to go pro in the future?
A: “You have to eventually make a decision about how willing you are to sacrifice everything to become the best baller you can. Time, money, friends, family. When your friends are out partying, you have to put in extra time in the gym. That extra time fine tuning your skills will eventually add up in the future. You have to make hard work a habit.”
Q: What is your favorite inspirational quote?
A: “Champions are made when nobody is looking” -Mia Hamm
Q: Which pair of sneakers are your favorite to wear in games?
A: “Nike Hyperdunks”
Q: How did it feel when you were first called up to play for Sweden?
A: “I started playing for Sweden at a very young age. It was an honor, and it has always been a pleasure representing my country in front of the fans, but especially my family. They are very proud about it, and so am I.”
You can see Andreas Schreiber in action with the Surrey Scorchers in the BBL.
