This week, I sat down with men’s basketball’s Miles Wright ’18. This season, Wright became the second Big Green player to be named Ivy League Rookie of the Week for two consecutive weeks, while also earning the accolade of Northeast Credit Union Athlete of the Week this past week.
How did you first get into basketball?
MW: As soon as I was born — it was about the first thing that I remember. I’ve been playing since I was about four years old. My dad just put the ball in my hands, and I’ve been dribbling ever since.
What has been your favorite part about the sport?
MW: My favorite part about basketball is that all you need is a ball and hoop. You don’t really need anything else to go out and play. With a lot of other sports you need equipment and all that, but all you need in basketball is a ball and a hoop.
Did you play any other sports growing up?
MW: I played baseball for a little bit, then I played football up until senior year of high school. I enjoyed playing both, but I’m definitely glad I stuck with basketball as my main sport.
Did anyone else in your family play college basketball?
MW: One of my great uncles played basketball back in the ‘50s of ‘60s, but other than that my family has a lot of college football players.
What ultimately made you choose Dartmouth?
MW: Dartmouth has a great education that you really can’t beat. At the end of the day, the ball is going to stop bouncing at some point in time so you need a great education to fall back on.
What’s been your favorite part about playing here?
MW: My teammates. It’s the first time that I’ve been on a team where everyone is so skilled. There’s not one guy on our team that can’t play. It makes practices more fun. It makes games more fun.
What’s been the biggest transition between high school and college level ball?
MW; The biggest difference is probably just size. I’ve played against some bigger guys in my career, but now at this level everyone is generally bigger and stronger and faster. It’s tougher, and you have to learn to score in different ways.
How specifically have you tried to change your game this season?
MW: As an individual I’ve just been working on my skill set. In high school you can make it off your athleticism, but now in college you really need to have skill as well in order to have success.
What has the team been working on collectively to improve?
MW: Our team’s been working on togetherness. Our coach is really big on playing as a team, not as individuals. So for the last six games of the season we are really trying to come together as a team for six wins.
Aside from basketball, how do you like to spend your time at Dartmouth?
MW: Usually when I’m not in the gym or doing something basketball-related, I’m working on homework. I’ve met a lot of cool and interesting people here that I wouldn’t have otherwise met. So that’s definitely been the most enjoyable part about being here at Dartmouth,.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
