Change Promotions is glad to present to you this exclusive interview with the winner of the 2006 Hang Time slam dunk competition..

Adrian “Alien” Reeves

Profile: Adrian “Alien” Reeves
Age: 19; 09 February, 1987
Grade: Graduated St. Xavier
Rap Sheet: Played for St. Xavier’s team in grades 9, 10, 12, OSC, been playing with a team for 3 years now called “GTA Ballers”, plays the small forward position, is known for his quick first step leaving his opponent behind and putting the ball down hard.
Post Grad: Alien is looking to write his S.A.T. and play in the States, because even with opportunities in Canada there is a much better outlook down south.

C.P: Around what age would you say you got serious about basketball?

Alien: Around grade 8 is when I realized that I could really jump, I could almost dunk then, but in grade 9 is when I got much more serious. The first two years of high school I had a very good coach, which kept me motivated and kept me getting more and more serious. Even with an absence (from the grade 11 senior team), I came back with a great season in grade 12 and OSC. In high school is where I learned the most and progressed the most with my skills and with continued effort I hope to do it on even a higher level of play.

C.P:You mentioned “dunk” there, could u maybe elaborate on that a little, about your first dunk perhaps..

Alien:Well let me start by saying that, dunking in a game and just dunking for fun is totally different. I mean I dunked when I was in grade 8 for fun, not consistently, but I never dunked in a game until grade 9. It happened during a game in Hamilton. The teams was down I felt the need to get them hype anyway I knew how, so when I got the ball just outside of the key by the baseline I ran in and sprung up to dunk over the defender whom was guarding me, it got the team really hype and we ended up winning the game.

C.P:Impressive, so with this talent for jumping did you find that other fundamentals of the game came as easy.

Alien: No I can’t say they did, I’m mainly a dunker. I mean all up until grade 12, when I found dunking to be something I didn’t really have to try as hard at, is when I started to concentrate on the other parts of the game; My dribbling, my defence, my jump shot became more important to me because I wanted to further develop my game.

C.P: What about fines do you find that you’re less agile at times?

Alien: Yes fines are a big part of the game, if not the biggest. From even having to concentrate when you’re tired to making that last lay up, even sitting on the bench and cheering your team on through the tough times of the last quarter. Like one time when I was playing, when I say making that last lay up I say that because there was one time when I was tired during third overtime and I had an easy lay up for the win, and I missed it because I lost my concentration due to lack of fines and that’s when I realized that being able to stay focused from start to finish is the only way to play the game..

C.P: So for someone who isn’t sure of what it takes to keep your fines at such a high level what is it that you do?

Alien: Well besides training with the team, I always do training on my own. Since I live in a building it is easy for me to do stairs, running up and down 12 flights of stairs is a very good work out, suicides as well, and I do those with the help of speed bumps using them to help me push off, weight training as well, as well as training with the ball working on the handling skills, shooting, even practising dunks.

C.P: Training as you do, do you find that your style resembles someone else or do you have your own style of play.

Alien: No. I don’t feel my style of play resembles anyone else. I have a great deal of influences but when it comes to game time and even practising I play how I know I can play, coz if I tried to resemble someone else game my game wouldn’t be at its highest calibre simply because it wouldn’t be my game.

C.P:So tell me about the dunk off a little bit, being a serious player, how did you find the competition?

Alien: The competition was good; there were plenty of dunkers with skill.

C.P: What would you say put you over the top in this year’s competition.

Alien: Pretty much my ability to jump, and all my work that I put into my skill of dunking prior to the competition, some people may think it comes easy, it comes easier but I still have to practise my dunks if I want to be able to perform them flawlessly, and I feel that’s what it takes to win these competitions to make your dunks look as you did dunked without even trying. s.

C.P: To finish this great interview, tell me and the readers what will it take to take that belt away from you in the next year’s competition.

Alien: Besides a whole lot of determination and practise, I am going to say a whole lot more determination and practise, because that’s all I do I stay determined and practise, by myself, with the team, any way I can, so pretty much being on top of your game, and having your mind set, as mine is.

C.P: Oh! One more thing I forgot to ask, I noticed your name was Alien when you signed up for the dunk contest at SEE LOW 3on3 this year, but I forgot to ask why that is?

Alien: Well it’s mainly because I get really high above the rim, and come down hard, sort of like out of space. ¢