One on one with "Thrill"

I don't think that there's ever been more hype about a player who'd never played for the Gamecocks than the hype that surrounded Jay Heard before the start of the 2000-01 basketball season.

Everyone and their mom were asking about Jay Heard last season. He had to sit out one season because he transferred from Auburn. He hasn't quite lived up to all of the hype YET, but he's far from a disappointment. A lot is expected of a player who was second in 3-point shots at Auburn. Heard also scorched Arkansas for 15 points during the 2000 SEC championship game. Who knows how good the Gamecocks will be once he gets ALL of his mechanics working correctly here at JSU?

Thrill: What's up, Jay?
Jay: Nothin'.
Thrill: I guess that I will begin by asking you how frustrating this is for you to finally get back on the court and then begin the season like we have? I'm sure you thought things would be a little different.
Jay: I think that everyone expected us to have a better start. The season isn't over yet. We just have to keep playing hard and hopefully, the tables will turn.
Thrill: What happened against Belmont last Saturday? We were dominating them and then they began to play like Dan Dickau and Gonzaga.
Jay: We've had a lot of trouble closing out games this year. We've got to learn how to play 40 minutes and not 30 and 35 minutes.
Thrill: Do you think that you guys will turn things around before the A-Sun tournament?
Jay: Yeah, I hope so. They're only letting eight teams go this year. So, we're goin' to have to get in the eighth spot and see what happens from there.
Thrill: Is the team lacking a key element right now? Do you think you all could use more players at key positions?
Jay: No. I think we have great chemistry and plenty of talent to win. We're just losing a lot of tough games. Hopefully, the guys can keep their heads up and we can get out of this.
Thrill: How confident are you that we'll beat Georgia State tonight? They can be beaten. Jacksonville University beat them over the weekend. Do you think that we can beat them?
Jay: I think anyone can be beaten on any given night in this league. Hopefully, we can get a victory against them tonight.

Thrill: Why did you transfer from Auburn University to come to JSU? You looked to be on your way to a promising career at an SEC school.
Jay: After we won the SEC championship I began to think about my future more. I was basically a role player over there. Coach LaPlante got the job over here and I felt like I could become a starter here. I wanted to better myself.
Thrill: How much of a difference is the talent level from Auburn to Jax State? Be honest.
Jay: When I was at Auburn we had Chris Porter, Doc (Robinson) and Mamadou (N'Diaye). Obviously, all of those guys are good enough to play in that league. They're all playing for money. I think we have the athletes to play in this league.
Thrill: Do you ever regret that you transferred?
Jay: No, no. You can never regret the decision that you've made. You just have to be a man about it and take whatever comes.

Thrill: Let's talk about something besides basketball. (Pause.) What's the worst job that you've ever worked?
Jay: (Laughs.) I guess you can consider me spoiled. I worked out at the Anniston Ice House the summer after my senior year in high school. That wasn't really bad or anything, it's just the only job I've ever had.
Thrill: What do you think about the women at Jax State?
Jay: Man, we have some nice women here. This is a great campus, ya know?
Thrill: Give me two women that you would love to date.
Jay: Ooh, man. That's a tough one. Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez.

Thrill: I know what I wanted to ask you. What did you think when you heard about the fraternity party during Halloween at Auburn last semester? Is it like that at Auburn?
Jay: You know what? I don't know whether that was a racist act or an extreme joke. I never saw anything like that when I was at Auburn. But, we are in the south and it does exist. I don't think they thought all of that would get out like it did.

Thrill: Tell me who's going to the Super Bowl. I gotta go with St. Louis and Oakland.
Jay: (Laughs.) I guess that we can both run with them. Those two teams look unstoppable right now.
Thrill: How's your relationship with head coach Mike LaPlante?
Jay: It's great. He recruited me out of high school. I was at Auburn with him for two years. It's a good situation to play for someone that believes in you.
Thrill: Is there a single player who you modeled your game after or tried to imitate as a child?
Jay: I've never really watched a lot of NBA games as a child. I guess I would have to say, "Ray Allen." I like his game.
Thrill: Who's the best player you've ever played against or with?
Jay: I've played against Mike Miller, who is with the Magic now. The Kentucky team had a lot of NBA players on it. I guess that you play against a lot of good players in the SEC.
Thrill: Now, your name isn't really Jay. It's Japheth, isn't it? Does that have a special meaning?
Jay: No, not really. It's a biblical name and my dad is a religious person and he gave me that name when I was younger. I don't use it because most people don't pronounce it right.
Thrill: Do you have any nicknames or aliases.
Jay: Nah, people just call me Jay.
Thrill: Tell me two guards in the NBA who you would hate to guard, past or present.
Jay: Michael Jordan and Vince Carter. Both of those players will put you on a poster.
Thrill: (Both laugh.) What was the last CD you bought?
Jay: "Word of Mouth," Ludacris.

Thrill: What goes through your mind before a game? Do you have a pre-game ritual?
Jay: I try to find that comfort zone and keep myself from being too silly and tense. I'm focused and relaxed.
Thrill: Does the team have any trash talkers?
Jay: Yeah. People talk trash in practice after somebody gets dunked on. I would have to say Carl (Brown) and Omar (Barlett). No, I got to say, "Sleepy."
Thrill: "Sleepy?"
Jay: Yeah, Josh Perry is the biggest trash talker on the team. He rights a list before practice and puts a check by the names of players he's dunked on.

Thrill: (Both laugh.) Let's do some free association. Redd Foxx. ("Fred" on Sanford & Son)
Jay: Funny guy.
Thrill: Jennifer Lopez and Nia Long.
Jay: Fine and fine. (Both laugh.)
Thrill: Oxford Yellow Jackets. (Jay's high school team)
Jay: (Laughs.) My old high school.
Thrill: The NBA.
Jay: Hopefully, I will have a chance to be there one day.
Thrill: Dirk Nowitzk. (Dallas Mavericks forward)
Jay: A great player. He's seven-foot and can handle a ball well. That's serious.
Thrill: Omar Barlett.
Jay: Great player that plays with a lot of passion. He's just a hard worker.
Thrill: That's it man. Thanks for the time.
Jay: All right, man. Thank you.