ProCanes: One-on-One with John Salmons

Interview with Toronto Raptors, John Salmons

HurricaneSports.com: You have been in the NBA for a while. Do you still get a chance to follow @CanesHoops?

John Salmons: When I can. We travel so much so it’s hard to catch all the games, but any time that I get a chance to catch them, I always try to tune in. 

HurricaneSports.com: Last year @CanesHoops won the ACC Championship, how do you think Coach Larrañaga has helped change the appearance of the University of Miami Basketball?

JS: I think he has done a great job. He has really changed the culture over there. Last year they made a great run, and he is a really good coach, and hopefully they can continue to get some good recruits and make a run like they did last year.

HurricaneSports.com: You are former teammates with James Jones who you have been in the NBA with on separate teams for a while. Now, there is a younger new generation of #ProCanes working their way into the NBA. What does that mean for the Miami Hurricanes basketball program?

JS: I think it’ll help with recruiting. For the kids that want to make it to the NBA, they can feel confident that if they go to the University of Miami they’ll be given a fair shot at making it to the NBA, so I think it definitely helps recruiting- wise and getting us notoriety throughout the country.

HurricaneSports.com: Are there any former hurricanes teammates that you still talk to on a regular basis?

JS: James Jones, Bernie Jennings, OC Roberts are pretty much the main three. I still talk with Alex Frazier, but he wasn’t a teammate. He was here before me, but we still talk. 

HurricaneSports.com: What do you think was the most important lesson that you learned from your time at the University of Miami?

JS: When you go to college you’re pretty much on your own, so I had to learn how to fend for myself. I had to grow up a little bit to get me ready for the real world, and I think that’s the biggest lesson I learned at Miami.

HurricaneSports.com: Do you have a favorite memory from your time as a Hurricane?

JS: Definitely being with my teammates. We had a good group of guys and just being around with all of them on the road, like going out to dinner and other stuff like that.