Name: Xavier McDaniel Jr.
Sport: Basketball
Position: Guard
Classification: Freshman
Major: Undeclared
Age: 19
Hometown: Columbia, S.C.
Who is your favorite athlete? “Jamal Crawford, because I grew up in Seattle before I moved to South Carolina. I used to see him around the parks and always thought he was kind of cool.”
Who is your role model? “My parents, because they taught me a lot about life in general. A lot of things, you know, and just being good parents.” McDaniel’s father played 870 games in the NBA and was named an all-star during the 1988 season.
What is the best advice you’ve been given and by whom? “My dad always tells me do what you want to do. Don’t do anything for anyone else, do what makes you happy.”
When did you begin playing basketball, and why? “Around age 7, I started taking it more serious. I was always shooting outside with my dad.”
What’s your favorite place to hang out on campus? “My room, because I like to sleep. Every chance I get, I try to get some rest.”
What are your academic goals? “This semester I am just trying to get a 3.0 and getting the best grades possible.”
How do you feel about being part of this team? “Right now we’re going through a kind of low time. We’ve got enough here to win, we just need to put everything together. We score enough points; we just need to get more defensive stops.”
What are your personal goals for this season? “I want to try get Freshman of the Year for conference, but I don’t know, it’s a little shaky right now.”
–Compiled by Sarah Carvajal
