To say that Andre Arruda is a playmaker would be a massive understatement. The 6’4 Canada West rookie sensation out of Garden City has done just about everything for the Bisons this season. He leads the team in average minutes per game (31.2), scoring average (14.2), and has been the top point-getter in five of Manitoba’s 15 games so far. Following another 14-point performance and a big win over the Regina Cougars on Friday, Arudda took a few minutes post-game to talk to the Manitoban.
The Manitoban:
When did you start playing basketball?
Andre Arruda:
I started playing about 11 years ago. I was in a lot of sports and trying them out and seeing what was happening. At that point I wasn’t really all basketball. I played volleyball too, all the way through high school.
M:
What do you enjoy most about the game?
AA:
Just the competitiveness. Going out and trying to win every day. It’s just fun to get away.
M:
How many hours do you spend training during the week?
AA:
We have a practice every day, for two hours. Usually we get in to shoot and stuff before and a little bit after, so about two and a half hours total.
M:
What other things do you like to do in your free time?
AA:
I just like all sports. I like watching sports, and I like to dance.
M:
What types of dance do you do?
AA:
A lot of types of dance. I was in it in school, and just for fun.
M:
Would you say there’s anyone you try to model your game around?
AA:
Well my favourite player was Kobe. I saw the way he shot the fadeaway and I liked it, I like that shot. I guess the passion and stuff comes from my high school coach. He was always really fired up and made
us work hard.
M:
Was there anything about your experience in high school that moulded you into the player you are now?
AA:
Just the whole aspect of hard work – always working hard. There’s no point in coming to the gym and just playing around. You just always got to want to work and want to win. You get good results out of working hard.
M:
Do you have any role models?
AA:
A lot of my role models are just my coaches and people I’ve played with throughout high school.
M:
What are your goals for the rest of the season and going into next?
AA:
For the rest of the season we want to finish with a respectable record. I know we’re a good team. We’ve had some really tough games that were pretty close but there’s nothing we can do about it now, just finish off strong. For next season just keep working hard, keep doing what we’re doing. We’ll get our guys back from injury and stuff.
M:
What kind of effect has [Bison basketball head coach Kirby] Schepp had on you?
AA:
He’s taught me how to always work hard, always communicate with your teammates, and be a part of the team. Off the court, focus on school as much as you can. Do everything we got to do to make sure we’re successful both in school and as a man, and on the basketball court.
M:
What kind of chemistry do you have with your teammates? Do you do anything together outside of basketball?
AA:
We always do an event once or twice a year as a team, whether it’s paintball or anything like that. A lot of us hang out outside of classes too, even if it’s just on campus.
M:
What would you like to do with basketball after university?
AA:
I would like to see if I could play pro, or in Portugal and see what happens.
M:
What motivates you?
AA:
What motivates me is to just go out there every day with my teammates and try to get a win, not only for me, but also for them. To work as a team, just do whatever you gotta do to get the win.
