It was after I had already put the story out. It's not often that I speak to both coach and player. I will add this to the story, but here is the transcript with Tajh.
CI: What did you think about Westchester’s play this season, and your overall play?
Ariza: “I think it was all around pretty good. We had our ups and down early in the season, but I think we figured it out toward the end.”
CI: You play in a super league, and you have celebrities at your games all of the time. You are also playing against great competition. Is this something you are already used to?
Ariza: “Well, I’m kind of used it by now. I’m like there are a lot of people who pop out of L.A. You never know who you are going to see. So I think it is pretty normal.”
CI: Coach DeWitt said you had to take on the leadership role with a lot of young players.
Ariza: “It was different. Coming from St. Bernard, I had a couple of seniors leading me. To become the leader of my team it took a little bit, but I figured it out.”
CI: How do you see that being able to help you in the long run?
Ariza: “On an off the court I think it is going to make me a better person. It has made me more strategic, because you can’t lead everybody the same way. I think ultimately there are multiple ways to lead.”
CI: Coach said you are still growing. Your knees and back have been hurting in the growing pains style.
Ariza: “The past probably like two weeks I think I’ve been growing. I think I grew again. My back has been tightening again, and my knees, so my doctor has estimated me being 6-11. I think I’m getting there.”
CI: Coach DeWitt says he can see you being a 6-11 point guard.
Ariza: “I think I’m predominately a wing, but I had to play point guard at Bernard, and I had to play point guard here. I can play point guard, although it may not a traditional point guard. So I’ve developed multiple skills, and I can play multiple positions.”
CI: What kind of scouting report would you give about your game right now?
Ariza: “I think I’m a versatile player, a two-way player. I’m a great rebounder, an elite passer. I think I can score the ball at anytime. I play in the lanes. I’m pretty well rounded.”
CI: Coach DeWitt compared you to a more athletic and better shooting Ben Simmons. Do you have a player comp for yourself?
Ariza: “I would say like Tracy McGrady and Paul George.”
CI: How about recruiting? Are there certain coaches contacting you the most frequently?
Ariza: “I hear from Alabama, Arkansas, USC, UDub (Washington), pretty much every other day. I just got an offer from Utah. Michigan, they hit me up every once in awhile. Oregon, Kentucky, JHart hits me up every other day. Kansas hits me up every other day.”
CI: Jason Hart knows you and your dad well. What has that relationship been like with them?
Ariza: “Just texting, he tells me stories about being from L.A.”
CI: Have you got to watch Kentucky play this year?
Ariza: “Yeah, I watch all of them play. I think he (Mark Pope) has done a really good job considering they are all transfer players. You are seeing a lot of others schools with lots of transfer players not doing as well. I think he did very well.”
CI: Are you looking at any spring visits?
Ariza: “Probably not, I’ll probably wait until next year. I was going to, but the season but I couldn’t because the high school stays so busy.”
CI: What did you think about Westchester’s play this season, and your overall play?
Ariza: “I think it was all around pretty good. We had our ups and down early in the season, but I think we figured it out toward the end.”
CI: You play in a super league, and you have celebrities at your games all of the time. You are also playing against great competition. Is this something you are already used to?
Ariza: “Well, I’m kind of used it by now. I’m like there are a lot of people who pop out of L.A. You never know who you are going to see. So I think it is pretty normal.”
CI: Coach DeWitt said you had to take on the leadership role with a lot of young players.
Ariza: “It was different. Coming from St. Bernard, I had a couple of seniors leading me. To become the leader of my team it took a little bit, but I figured it out.”
CI: How do you see that being able to help you in the long run?
Ariza: “On an off the court I think it is going to make me a better person. It has made me more strategic, because you can’t lead everybody the same way. I think ultimately there are multiple ways to lead.”
CI: Coach said you are still growing. Your knees and back have been hurting in the growing pains style.
Ariza: “The past probably like two weeks I think I’ve been growing. I think I grew again. My back has been tightening again, and my knees, so my doctor has estimated me being 6-11. I think I’m getting there.”
CI: Coach DeWitt says he can see you being a 6-11 point guard.
Ariza: “I think I’m predominately a wing, but I had to play point guard at Bernard, and I had to play point guard here. I can play point guard, although it may not a traditional point guard. So I’ve developed multiple skills, and I can play multiple positions.”
CI: What kind of scouting report would you give about your game right now?
Ariza: “I think I’m a versatile player, a two-way player. I’m a great rebounder, an elite passer. I think I can score the ball at anytime. I play in the lanes. I’m pretty well rounded.”
CI: Coach DeWitt compared you to a more athletic and better shooting Ben Simmons. Do you have a player comp for yourself?
Ariza: “I would say like Tracy McGrady and Paul George.”
CI: How about recruiting? Are there certain coaches contacting you the most frequently?
Ariza: “I hear from Alabama, Arkansas, USC, UDub (Washington), pretty much every other day. I just got an offer from Utah. Michigan, they hit me up every once in awhile. Oregon, Kentucky, JHart hits me up every other day. Kansas hits me up every other day.”
CI: Jason Hart knows you and your dad well. What has that relationship been like with them?
Ariza: “Just texting, he tells me stories about being from L.A.”
CI: Have you got to watch Kentucky play this year?
Ariza: “Yeah, I watch all of them play. I think he (Mark Pope) has done a really good job considering they are all transfer players. You are seeing a lot of others schools with lots of transfer players not doing as well. I think he did very well.”
CI: Are you looking at any spring visits?
Ariza: “Probably not, I’ll probably wait until next year. I was going to, but the season but I couldn’t because the high school stays so busy.”
