Learning more than basketball

Q: How much better are you now than when you arrived?

A: On the court, I’m much better offensively. I had skill, but I never practiced. I’ve worked three years perfecting a jump shot. I watch Kevin Durrant whenever I can. I want to shoot the ball over my head because no one can block that shot. And I think I’ve gotten good at it.

Q: How much better can you be?

A: If I keep working, and I intend to do that, I can get a lot better. I want to help the academy win a basketball championship.

Q: What are the things you need most to work on?

A: I need to run the floor better. I must run the floor in college, so I better start now. If I’m not in position for a rebound, I better get out and run. I need to keep working on my rebounding. I’m not a bad free-throw shooter, but I need to keep working on that, too.

Q: You’ve signed with Oregon State. How intense was the recruiting process?

A: A lot of people wanted me, and I talked to a lot of people. I had a lot of information, took all my visits, so it was tough.

Q: What finally swung you to Oregon State?

A: Kansas, UC Irvine, Miami and California were among my final choices, but in the end Oregon State wanted me more and the academics were a good fit. I feel I made the right choice.

Q: Do you have a major picked out?

A: I’d like to do something in accounting or computer science. That interests me very much.

Q: Is the NBA the ultimate goal?

A: I’m still in high school. I’m going to take this step by step. You never know what’s going to happen in the future. I’ll continue to work hard and see where it takes me.

Cheikh N’diaye

School: Army-Navy Academy

Born: Dec. 10, 1993 in Dakar, Senegal

Year: Senior

Sport: Basketball

Position: Center

Quick hits

Favorite gym: Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus.

Least favorite gym: Santa Fe Christian, fans talk a lot of trash during the game.

Favorite shot or move: Turnaround jumper.

Favorite food: Asian, rice with veggies.

What’s on your dorm walls: Posters of Kevin Durrant.

Superstitions: Have to where my favorite compression shirt during games. If I don’t have it, I have to go back and get it.

Favorite NBA team: Boston Celtics.

Favorite basketball player: Kevin Durrant.

Favorite athlete in another sport: Didier Drogba, soccer player from the Ivory Coast. One of the all-time leading scorers for Chelsea. A center/forward, he currently plays for Shanghai Shenhua.

Favorite cities you’ve visited: Las Vegas and Chicago. Las Vegas is exciting. Chicago is a really nice city.


