Jake Vieth heads into his senior campaign as the point guard of the University of La Verne men's basketball team. Vieth has been a consistent performer in each of his previous three seasons, and will be called upon to provide leadership in 2012-13 after the Leopard squad lost six players to graduation.
Q: How will the Leopards be competitive during the conference portion of the schedule?
I believe that we will be very successful during our conference run due to our depth and our willingness to do the little things this year. We have a lot of guys that have bought in to what coach has said and you can see a difference in our team and we believe that we can do it this year.
Q: What are your strengths do you feel help the team?
My experience will help because many of the guys on the team have yet to play in conference games and I have been in many over these past four years. I think my leadership and determination are also my strengths that will help us along the way because by being a leader you have to model hard work and I have always tried to go 100%. If I go my hardest every time and I’m a leader then everyone else is forced to do the same.
Q: How old were you when you first started playing basketball?
I was 5 years old and I began playing in the La Verne youth league where we actually played in the Old Gym that was eventually replaced by the new Campus Center.
Q: If you could spend the day with an NBA player who would it be?
I would spend it with new Lakers point guard Steve Nash because I have tried to model his game.
Q: How has your game changed from your freshman season?
My game has changed since my freshman year with the help of my coaches and teammates. I have become more comfortable handling the ball and I am more aggressive then I have ever been. I look to score now and that was never a part of my game so I would say my whole game has changed.
Q: In the last year, what have you done (on or off the court) that you are most proud of?
I am really proud of myself for getting in the gym this off season and really pushing my limits. Also, I am also proud of my team and how far we have come since last spring. I pushed guy’s buttons on the team and I got on them and they have answered the challenge every time.
Q: How do you get pumped up for a game?
I don’t really listen to music like most guys. I kind of like to just have fun in warm-ups and laugh a little bit because it is supposed to be fun. I also think to myself that I am only guaranteed so many games each year so I try to go and give it my all for my team.
Q: What’s your favorite part about the University of La Verne?
I love the team and Coach Reed. Coach has always been there for me through thick and thin as well as my teammates and without them La Verne would not be the same because they have made my experience at this institution something I will never forget.
Q: What is the most difficult class you have had? What is the most enjoyable class you have had?
Anatomy was most definitely the hardest class I've had during my four years at La Verne. The most enjoyable course was probably Jimmy Paschal’s Fitness for Life class or his Sports Theory class.
Q: What is the one material object in your life that you could absolutely not live without?
My phone.
Q: What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Playing video games
Q: What are your plans upon graduation?
I would like to go and take classes to become a Firefighter.
