July 22, 2010
We sat down with the newest members of the Siena men's basketball team Rakeem Brookins and Trenity Burdine to see how they are adjusting to college life. Here's what we learned:
Let's start with the nickname - where did it come from?
I really don't know. It's the short way of saying Rakeem and that's what everybody just calls me.
So, you've heard of Ronald Moore, right? Did you follow his Siena career?
Not really, I knew he came from Plymouth-Whitemarsh and I knew he was a great player at Siena. This year was the first year I really paid attention to him.
Anything you admired?
Oh yeah: His quickness, his change of speed and his leadership.
You know some of the fans out there are already calling you the next Maestro. Is it tough to keep things in perspective?
(Laughs). What does that mean? I don't know. (It's) not really tough. The point guard spot is there, and I need to take full advantage of it and keep the tradition going.
What has the coaching staff told you about your potential role this season?
They said there is a strong possibility that I could get that (point guard) spot if I worked hard. They want me to continue to work on leadership, I mean, I have to work on everything, but leadership is a big part of being successful.
Describe your game and mindset as a point guard
My whole life I have never been titled as a point guard, because I can score the ball too, so I was labeled as a combo guard. I'm fast, I can get to the basket. I can shoot the jump shot, mid-range or beyond the arc, and I can handle the rock.
Siena has quite a few connections to the Philadelphia area - did you know any of your new teammates before you arrived?
Yeah,
Kyle Griffin. Me and Griff played against each other my freshman year when he was a senior at Germantown Academy. When I was a freshman, I didn't get as much time as I wanted, but my time would come. So I played against him just a little bit. But me and Griff, we're cool, we played against each other in Philly.
You had initially committed to Tulane, what made you decide to switch to Siena?
Down at Tulane, Coach Dave Dickerson was a big part of my decision. I was really close to him and that was why I was into Tulane. Since he got fired from the head coaching position, and he was leaving to go somewhere else, I (re)opened my recruiting up and schools came in. I felt the most comfortable with Coach B. Then when I came to visit, the team was family oriented, and I felt really comfortable, so that's when I made my decision to come to Siena.
How has the summer gone so far?
It's going good. I had a couple classes, and I got through them OK. The basketball thing is way different than high school. It's way more aggressive, and way more intense than high school.
Describe your typical day here
Wake up, eat breakfast, go right to class at 8:30 until 11:30. Then chill and do some work. Around three, I go and work out with DT (strength and conditioning coach Dan Taylor), then after workouts we play pick up, and then I take another shower, go to dinner and then I'm back at class from 6-9.
Is there anyone on the team who has kind of shown you the ropes?
Everybody has been guiding me through. Griff, Brandon, CJ, Davis, everybody has helped me through everything. And if I have any questions, I feel like I can go to any of them.
Have a favorite spot on campus?
Not really, not yet. As soon as everyone comes on campus, then I'll figure out where the spot is.
What do you like to do when you're not playing basketball?
Just chilling, playing games. 2K10 Basketball is my favorite right now.
Tell us about your tattoos
This tattoo (points to right wrist) on my wrist is for my grandma. And Maalik Wayns from Villanova, me and Malik are really tight, so we went and got matching tattoos (points to right bicep), so the NCB means "Never Come Between" because nothing is going to come between our relationship - we're that tight. And the rest of them, I just liked the way they looked.
Lastly, I heard you had an adventurous first experience in the weight room, care to share?
(Laughs) Coach Ott, he was telling me I have to drink muscle milk, so I was like `OK, I better drink some muscle milk'. So, I probably drank three or four prior to the workout, like a half hour or 20 minutes prior to the workout. (Laughs). I got through the workout though, until the end. The last session, I felt nauseous, so I was like `hold up, let me take a little break, just a little break.' I was just trying to get through the whole thing. Then I was like - `(No), I gotta go to the bathroom'. So I ran to the bathroom, I puked, and I came back and I finished the workout, and I started to cramp up in my legs - it was just the worst first day. And then I slept. I slept in the training room, and then I came home and just watched the game. But I got through it and from that point on I learned not to drink too many muscle milks.
Siena had a pretty good player from Reading graduate this year, heard of him?
Oh yeah, Alex. Definitely. We never played against each other, but I was always close to him.
So, is it safe to assume that by the time you graduate, you will be MAAC Player of the Year and MAAC Tournament MVP?
I'm gonna try, but it's going to be a hard thing to accomplish.
When Coach McCaffery left for Iowa, you decided to honor your commitment and come to Siena - was that an easy decision?
It was kind of an easy decision because I knew this is where I wanted to come from the beginning. Especially with Alex telling me what it was like and stuff. I mean, there were a lot of other schools, but Coach Buonaguro and I had a bond, and I knew I wasn't just going to break that to go somewhere else. I was more comfortable here then just going somewhere else at the last minute.
What attracted you to Siena?
The school is small. I don't have to run a mile if I'm late for class. The team is like a family, nobody hates each other, we always just do stuff together. So I just feel comfortable here.
What has surprised you most about life at Siena so far?
Nothing really surprised me yet.
Who has taken you under their wing?
Ryan. Ryan is really helping me with stuff. And OD, both of them.
Describe your game and how you think you fit in with the program
I'm basically a slasher, but I can shoot. I mean, I grew up shooting. And then I dunk on anybody, I really try to. I don't know, I guess I really just play hard. My style is similar to how (Edwin) Ubiles played. I'm not going to be as good as Ubiles was as a freshman, but I'm going to work my way up there. But watching him play, and seeing how I play, even coach Fran and Coach Buonaguro would tell me that me and him play exactly the same.
So you like the up-tempo style Siena plays
Oh yeah.
When you aren't on the court or in the classroom, where will we find you?
If I have work to do, then I'll be in the library, but other than that I'm probably in my room watching ESPN or watching a basketball game.
What are your plans for the rest of the summer?
We're going to be working the track, so I'm up here for that, but also staying in the weight room. Staying doing the drills I have to do with Dan. I'm doing this jumping workout so I can jump higher.
What's that like?
I mean, it's crazy. The first time I did it, it was rough, but now I'm getting used to it. But I go 100 percent, so at the end I'm still really tired.
Know anything about Saratoga Race Course?
No, I haven't been up there, but I was a waiter and a busboy before and that's what we're going to be doing up there, so I'm used to that.
Favorite spot on campus?
The library.
How did you do in your classes this summer?
I did good. I did really good in both my classes.
Anything that people would be surprised to know about you?
I'm very much a relaxed dude. I'm not the person that you are going to see not doing my work. I get my work done. I am a basketball player and I know a lot of (basketball players) like to slack off and stuff like that, but one thing my family and I are about is I always have to put my academics first. I mean, if it wasn't for my academics I wouldn't be here right now and I wouldn't be able to play. A lot of people will be like: `Wow, you're actually doing your work?' and I'll be like: `Yeah, what am I supposed to do, not do it?' So that's what a lot of people have found out about me.
You don't have quite as many tattoos as Rahk, but any special meaning behind them?
I just have basketball stuff really on my left arm. But then, my mom passed away (when he was four), so I got this (points to tattoos on right arm) and I have my dad and my mom's name on the back of my legs too.
~Jason Rich - SienaSaints.com
