Thursday, December 15th, 2011 at 12:38 pm  |  27 responses

Shabazz Muhammad, Diary 2

Our diary writer is happy for the NBA’s return, but he’s got more pressing concerns. Somebody mention a college list?

December 14, 2011

by Shabazz Muhammad / @phenom15balla

Hey, this is Shabazz. I’m so glad the NBA lockout is over. I can’t wait for Christmas so we can finally start watching games. Who do I like this year? I like Miami… I like Dallas now that they got Lamar… and of course I’m a Lakers fan, so I still think the Lakers are good, especially if they can get Dwight Howard. It’s just going to be great to be able to see games again.

For me, right now it’s just basketball, basketball, basketball. We played our first game last Friday, and it felt good. We beat Durango, 93-53, and we really played well together. (You can see video highlights here.) One of the big things for us this year is that we unite as a team, trust each other, and just play hard. Being the number one player in the country, I know a lot of guys on my team look up to me, the younger guys especially. But they’re really catching on. Those guys really listen.

We know we’re going to have a target on our backs this season, so it’s going to be interesting to see how we come out in big tournaments like City of Palms this weekend, or when we play DeMatha up in Springfield in January. I think we have a really good team and a great mindset as a group. Those games are a chance to show what we’re made of.

Rosco Allen plays a really big role for us—he can shoot the ball, and he helps me out when I’m getting double-teamed. Ben Carter is out right now with a fractured foot, but he’s really going to help us when he comes back. And then I think my brother, Rashad, is going to help us out a lot this year, too. We have a really good relationship, and he’s used to practicing against me, which is big.

No changes on my college list. Of course, living in Las Vegas, I hear a lot from UNLV fans. They’re great. Our first game, there were a whole bunch of them there. They’ve had some great victories this year, like beating North Carolina. I’ve seen video of those great old teams with Coach Tarkanian, and they really emphasize that, saying how we can bring it back to that. It’s a great program, that’s why they’re still in the mix for me.

I’m still talking to lots of other guys in my class, too. At pretty much all the schools I’m looking at, I’m good friends with someone who’s already signed, so everybody’s in my ear. It’s been fun.

Alright, check me out in the next issue. I’ll be back next month.

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  • Ryan Jones Posted: Dec.15 at 12:41 pm
    Make sure you watch the video and check how his hometown TV station spelled his last name.

  • world Posted: Dec.15 at 2:42 pm
    Kids try to gain weight to early i think it stunts their growth knees may not be ready for that kind of weight..well see…i like the kid tho

  • Don Watkins Posted: Dec.15 at 3:31 pm
    All Kentuckians want for Christmas is Shabazz Muhammad!

  • WildcatFan Posted: Dec.15 at 3:55 pm
    The Kentucky Effect, The Kentucky Effect, The Kentucky Effect….Merry Christmas to you and yours, Shabazz:) Go.Big.Blue.

  • BigBlueNation Posted: Dec.15 at 7:23 pm
    Come to Lexington and lead us to a championship so we can get rowdy. CATS BABY Team LongHair

  • Flippy23 Posted: Dec.15 at 7:51 pm
    There is no experience on earth that compares to being a star freshman on Kentucky’s campus…..think Beatles 1964…….You have to trust me. There are fans, then their are Kentucky fans…..I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes. Walk off an elevator in Moscow in 2029 and there will be 4 UK fans in the lobby wanting to have their picture made with you. Ask John Wall. Shabazz was made for UK……..biggest stage in the nation, best players on it nightly.

  • BBN14mkg Posted: Dec.15 at 9:36 pm
    Come to uk so u can repeat next year !

  • The Black Rick Kamla Posted: Dec.15 at 10:39 pm
    ….please don’t go to Duke or Kentucky…please…

  • Rex Chapman's Bodyguard Posted: Dec.16 at 4:14 am
    Lexington’s a nice town to rule for a year, Shabazz. Believe that. GO BIG BLUE! #lafamilia

  • runninrebel Posted: Dec.16 at 4:18 am
    Looking forward to seeing gorman and findlay prep play this year and hope to see you in a unlv jersey next year. You would round out a nice incoming class with katin and demetris.

  • spit hot fiyah Posted: Dec.16 at 7:14 am
    @ryan they spelled it Muhammad just like he does

  • spit hot fiyah Posted: Dec.16 at 7:14 am
    @ryan they spelled it Muhammad just like he does

  • KYkim41042 Posted: Dec.16 at 9:53 am
    If you play for UK years to come you automatically get status and respect. Only the elite players play at UK. Fans in the US and around the world know what playing at “UK” means you are one of the best basketball players. You will automatically get more media and pro recruiters. The rest of your life you will be forever stamped “UK”. But, the last thing is you will be family.

  • Nella Posted: Dec.16 at 9:54 am
    They didn’t spell it right on the first screen…

  • Pac-12 Morning Five: 12.16.11 Edition « Rush The Court Posted: Dec.16 at 11:00 am
    [...] Muhammad has said all along that he won’t make a final decision until the spring and confirmed in his diary for SLAM Magazine that there has been no change to his list. In the meantime, fans from coast to coast cling to every little hint that Muhammad could be [...]

  • Michael Posted: Dec.16 at 8:33 pm
    UCLA has it all!! Best basketball program in history, campus in the middle of one of the great cities of the world, beautiful women, a chance to see the Lakers and Clippers regularly, as good an education as is available anywhere in the world….any questions? Lexington does not sound like much fun in January to me. Do what make you happy Shabazz, but UCLA is the obvious choice

  • lribookend Posted: Dec.17 at 11:41 am
    UCLA has it all….except for a basketball team. Last time I checked, UK was top 5, UCLA was….well, not there. If a player wants to compete for a national championship, UCLA is not the ticket, unless a player wants to stay for 3 or 4 years. Muhammad is too good to tread water for that long. He is NBA bound, and UK is the train to ride. Sorry ucla fans, you just aren’t relevant these days.

  • Will C Posted: Dec.17 at 11:47 am
    Shabazz don’t you want to play for a coach that will bring you to that next level the best coach at any level play in the best college raivaly thee colleges less than 10 miles apart you know you want to experience the best basketball conference the ACC come to DUKE and together we can shock the world

  • Will C Posted: Dec.17 at 11:49 am
    LETS GO DUKE!!!!!!!

  • wagers Posted: Dec.17 at 12:52 pm
    UCLA has a horrible coach and a terrible team right now. That’s a death sentence. Kentucky is where its at bruhhh.

  • T-Money Posted: Dec.18 at 3:54 am
    This guy doesnt need ncaa ball. Hes ready.

  • wagers Posted: Dec.18 at 9:42 pm
    True that ^^^

  • Teddy-the-Bear Posted: Dec.20 at 10:55 pm
    Shabazz Muhammad is nice… But he is better than Shabazz Mohummad?

  • JerseyJayhawks Posted: Dec.21 at 12:06 pm
    Ummm…being a freshman at Kentucky may be “Beatles status”…that is if you have yet to visit the Kansas campus. Talk about being a celebrity! I’d ride with Bill Self over Calipari 8 days out of 7 (NO TYPO THERE). Shabazz will beast no matter what school he chooses and trust and believe i’ll be watching!

  • unlv Posted: Dec.24 at 9:35 am
    shabazz, whatever you do, just do not pick duke, we will never forgive you here in vegas. We all know your going to the nba, and your going to be great, so I ask you this, would you rather go to a school that top recruits just pick because of past status, or would you rather be a hero of the city you represent and really bring something in for vegas? unlv = local hero forever. your NBA no matter where you go. Run this city and bring some hope back into it man. #real-talk

  • Shark Nation Posted: Jan.31 at 7:04 pm
    I must agree with real-talk. Ive been here since ’78 and was lovin the vibe in Vegas during the Championship year. Shabazz you are the only one that can bring that kind of excitement back to Vegas. Can you imagine what the Rebs would do if Shabazz stays home? I say chamionship caliber.

  • Eddie Posted: Mar.28 at 4:27 pm
    Where are you going to play college hoops?

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