Fresno State Athletics
Transcript of Alexander Press Conference
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
April 12, 1999
Courtney Alexander Press Conference
Courtney Alexander
This certainly was not an easy decision for me to make. But after carefully weighing both options, my heart is telling me to return to Fresno State for my senior year.
Many people wonder why I am doing this. Fresno State welcomed me with open arms when my life was upside down. When my basketball career came to a halt at the University of Virginia, Fresno State looked past all of the negative things that were said about me and really gave me the opportunity to be not only a part of the basketball program, but also a part of this university as well.
Secondly, obtaining my degree was very, very important to me. I'm on track to receive my degree next December. I did well scholastically at the University of Virginia and fortunately I've been able to continue the good work here at Fresno State.
Also, as I've said numerous time this season did not go the way I had planned both for me personally and as a team. We did not make the NCAA tournament; to compound that we were knocked out in the first round of the NIT. I feel deep down in my hear that I have to return with a different attitude and provide the ultimate leadership and help Coach Tarkanian guide this team not only to the NCAA tournament but to go as far as we possibly can once we get there.
I wanted to be a leader this year, but I did not really know what it took to be a leader. I believe I now know.
And lastly, for me personally, at times this season I was great, at times I was good and at times I was very, very bad. I look forward to putting it all together next season so I can have the best year of my basketball career. I will close by saying I look forward to having a successful season with the Fresno State Bulldogs next year. Thank You.
Coach Tarkanian
I know this was a very tough decision and I know that quite a few NBA people we talked to had Courtney rated from the 10th to the 24th pick. I think Courtney realizes that by coming back and being a leader and I know that he can be a leader if he can have a whole year like he did at the end of the season, and I think he can be even better than that, I think he can even be better that he was at the end of the season, which was really excellent anyway. He has an excellent chance, I believe, to be the top three to top five pick in the draft and I think he has an excellent chance to lead this team to the tournament and even a long way in the tournament.
He has shown great leadership this spring and the other thing that is really important is that other guys in Courtney's position when they felt like they were going to turn pro would not have gone to class and continued their school work and Courtney went to class, continued his school work, maintained his good grades and is on target to graduate next December. I'm real proud of that because it would have been real easy for him to sit back and say well, "I'm going to have all that money and I'm not going to worry about anything." He's done it all and I'm really pleased. I think this is a big moment for Courtney; it is a big moment for our basketball program and I'm real excited. Thank You.
Courtney Answering Questions
How do you feel?
I feel more relieved, relaxed. The last 2-3 weeks of my life have been very hectic.
How many times did you change your mind?
I can't even count. As coach can attribute to, I went back and forth. After we lost to Cal I know I told you guys I didn't have my mind made up, but I was ready to leave. I was very frustrated.
When did you make your mind up and what made your mind up for you?
It really hit home yesterday. It was just a gut feeling of mine. A lot of it has to do with what coach said. I honestly feel that I have a lot of unfinished business to take care of here. Like I said, the season didn't go the way I wanted it to and I want to be remembered as a person who got this team to the next level.
How was loyalty to Coach Tarkanian a factor in the decision?
I have a very special relationship with coach and to leave him the way the season ended last year would have haunted me for a long, long time. He stuck his neck out for me numerous times and a part of me does feel like I owe coach a better year.
Other schools were interested, why Fresno?
I came here because of him (Coach Tarkanian). I'd be lying if I said it was any other reason. I didn't know anything about Fresno; I'd never heard of Fresno, actually.
After feedback from NBA scouts was it more difficult to make the decision?
Yeah. Because of the numerous things I was hearing, good things, it made the decision very, very difficult for me. Ultimately it was my decision and I had to make up my mind sooner or later.
Were any of your teammates involved in the decision?
Actually, the only teammate who knew was Nick (Irvin). He was like a little brother to me, a very, very good friend. I really can't wait to get out there and play with him.
What did you think was missing this year?
I honestly believe that if we had a coach on the floor, if we had had a leader on the floor I think the outcome of our season would have been different. Hopefully I will be able to put myself in that role next year.
Did it make it even tougher watching friends go to the NCAA tournament?
Oh yeah. To see Miami of Ohio and Temple and teams we beat there made it tough on me.
What do you plan on getting better at? Consistency?
Every aspect of my game needs improvement. I know that sounds cliche, but my defense, the leadership role that I'm working toward. Offensively as well; knowing when not to push it offensively. To really try to lead by example.
Tark:
As good as Courtney is, there is not one phase of his game that he couldn't be better at. And I mean rebounding, defense, shooting. Every phase of the game we haven't seen his best yet. I think you'll see he'll be better in every aspect of the game and of course his leadership will make the whole team better. We need Courtney to do all the things he is capable of doing. His leadership will play a role. He came in last year with a lot of expectations, but he had been out of basketball for a year and for the first half of the year he had a really difficult time adjusting. His shot selection was down and mentally he was frustrated a lot. We didn't really see the best part of Courtney until the last part of the season. And even then I don't think we saw as good as he can be.
Now you will be billed as one of the top five players in the country. How do you handle the new expectations?
I'm not coming back here for that. I'm coming back to win games. As far as the pressure, I won't look at it as pressure. If I looked at it as pressure, I'd fold. It's an honor to be up for those awards, but the main thing for me is to get better and improve as a basketball player and really try to improve all areas of my game.
Tark:
Courtney comes from a very educated family and I've been in contact with his brother ever since the season ended. I don't know if Courtney knows this but his brother and I have talked. His brother is a very successful attorney in Atlanta and education is very important in their family. I can't tell you how many times his brother emphasized to me that his family wanted him to get that education.
What about financial security for your family?
That weighed a great deal on my decision as I do have an almost two-year-old son and I'm in a position to financially secure him and then my parents for the rest of their lives. That is something that weighed heavily on my decision. I never thought I would put millions of dollars on hold, never in my wildest dreams, but this is the best decision for me.
How much did your family play a part in your decision?
My family never tries to make up my mind for me, they try and guide me, but ultimately they tell me it is my decision. They gave me the pros and cons, as everyone did, but ultimately they pretty much left it up to me.
Did you have agents coming after you?
Yeah. All that stuff comes with the possibility of you declaring for the NBA draft. People were calling, wanting to know, and it became bothersome to say the least.
