QUOTES FROM JASONN HANNIBAL
‘First, I’d like to thank the coaching staff for coming out and recruiting me; Giving a guy like me who didn’t really have that much basketball background, a chance.”
“Also, thank them (the coache) for being patient with me because it took a little time for me to develop. Freshman year was a struggle to say the least and they never gave up on me. They worked with me, kept on showing me things to do and kept on drilling me to get better.”
“I’ve got to thank (Strength and Conditioning) Coach Scott for sculpting me into the person that I am today.”
“I’d like to thank all the people in the athletic office because I was kind of lost when I came here. I definitely, definitely used every resource I could to get to where I am today. Thanks to everyone for being patient with me.”
“I’ve got to thank my teammates for always supporting me and being great teammates. This is the best team I’ve ever been on…….I love everyone on my team. They are the best people I could ever ask for. Even the guys that have graduated, I still keep in touch with them…..I love all you guys!”
“Everyone sees the YouTube videos of us working out and everyone comes to the games but no one really sees the stuff that’s put in when no one is looking. All the nights that me and my teammates would go in to shoot or go in to workout with Coach Scott one-on-one.”
“Now that I’m leaving, I’m going to miss everyone. I had a great time… I’ve got a whole family here in Portland. Even though my family is back home and my mom and dad are always worrying about me they know I can come out here and still be taken care of and be all right. I want to thank everyone for that.”
QUOTES FROM LUKE SIKMA
“I want to thank the entire athletic department. You made our lives a lot easier; from washing our dirty practice clothes to setting up the gym at odd hours of the night to make sure we can practice and shoot, to helping me out with the classes and scheduling flights home. There is so much work that gets done behind the scenes that really doesn’t get recognized.”
“I want to thank Coach Scott. Thanks to your 6am lifts and your conditioning sessions, you helped turn me from a scrawny kid with a big head who couldn’t do a pull-up into the chiseled muscle-bound physical specimen that you see before you now. And you made me a more explosive athlete. The amount of hours you invest in us is really incredible. Over the summer we see you more than we see our families, but you are family. I thank you for all you do for us.”
“I want to thank (Athletic Trainer) Rich Bennett who always tapes our ankles before practice. He’ll wipe up the floor during practice or just do anything he can to help the team. He always has something great to say. He’s always happy… making sure we are in a good mood and ready to go to practice.”
“When guys get hurt he’s in there to make sure they’re healthy and ready to play. If they can’t, he’s not going to stop working.“
“Personally, he’s been a huge help to me; just a really good friend…. He was someone I could talk to, vent to, and bounce things off. He was always willing to lend a listening ear. I just want to thank him for all he does and all the hours he puts in to help this program.”
“There’s not a harder working coaching staff in the country. Every morning walking to class they always had the best parking spots which just goes to show how early they get in to the office and are already working. Weekends, holidays, they are always there trying to make us a better team.”
“I can’t thank you guys enough. You showed me what it means to truly play hard and pushed me to be the best player I could be… How much you have helped improved this program is unbelievable.”
“Lastly, I want to thank my teammates. I spent more time with you guys in the last four years than anyone can imagine. I’ve loved every minute of it. We’ve been through Coach Scott workouts, double-days, 3-hour practices, film sessions, wins, losses, celebrations, struggles, you name it.”
“There are days we get so sick of each other you don’t know how we’re going to make it through the next practice and then there are those times when you look around the locker room and you think to yourself, ‘There’s no one I’d rather be with right now.’ No matter what the situation, you guys have always had my back. You guys make me laugh like no one can.”
“You guys went to battle with me every day, competed against me, competed with me. There have been times that we’ve been at each other’s throats, but we still stay strong and love each other through it."
“We’ve laughed together, cried together and had some of the best times of our lives together. You guys really pushed me to be the best player and person I could be. You really showed me what it takes to be a good friend.”
“I love you guys to death. I find strength and inspiration in you guys each and every day."
QUOTES FROM KRAMER KNUTSON
“I’ve had a great four years here. Coaches talked to me when they were bringing me in about how they were changing things around and I really wanted to be a part of that. I feel like we four seniors, really did leave this program better than we found it.”
“When something means so much to you, it’s hard to talk about in public.”
“I’d like to thank my teammates. The past four years have been more than I could ever ask for. When you have guys that truly want to help each other out, it adds up to something great. I felt like we had that going here and still do.”
“I’d like to thank the athletic department. Every time I go in to the athletic department they are so helpful. Everyone would drop whatever they were doing at a moment’s notice just to help you out. I really appreciate everything they did to allow me to get the most out of my experience here.”
“I’d like to thank Rich Bennett our athletic trainer. I got injured towards the end of the season and started living in the training room. He was there helping me every step of the way. Luckily he did a good enough job that I was able to come back (to play).”
“Coach Scott was our coach over the summer, the guy we saw the most. Hanging out with him, lifting, he always wanted the best for us. I think it was a big part of the turn around of this program, everything he’s done for us.”
“It’s good when you’re waking up to go to class and all the coaches’ cars are lined up there because you know they are in the office working to make you better. I appreciate all the hard work you guys put in.”
QUOTES FROM JARED STOHL
“I’d like to start by giving thanks to the coaches for all the time they invested in me and the team; all the hours they put into to us.”
“I was a pretty good shooter coming into this place and I really think they took me to another level. They made me the best player I could possibly be right now. I owe everything to them and I love those guys (the coaching staff) to death.”
“I’d also like to give thanks to Coach Scott. Four summers, two sessions, a lot of hours with that guy! Any agility test you throw at me, I’m ready for it!”
“Thanks to (Athletic Director) Larry Williams. I used to get hyped up when I saw him at our road games. I said, ‘Larry’s hear, we gotta win this one’.”
“Trish in marketing: Thanks for the billboards and commercials. Thanks for trying to make me famous (LAUGHS). It almost worked.”
“I want to thank (Academic Advisor) Dan McGinty who really did make things easier for me.”
“As far as the season goes, it was truly a blast. I told myself that going into my last year I was going to lay it all on the line, give it everything I’ve got and have fun. Coach tells us that all the time: just have fun, go out there, relax and play.”
“Some memorable moments: St. Mary’s, after we beat them at home, going back that night and seeing Kramer’s dunk on SportsCenter… being ranked in the Top 25, that was awesome!”
“We definitely left our mark on this place. It’s been a fun ride!”
“I wouldn’t trade our team for anyone else’s. I may be biased but I still think we can beat anyone we play.”
“It’s been an incredible ride. I’m going to really miss this place. It’s been a dream come true… I’m truly blessed to be given the opportunity to get an education and a double major.”
“All the people I’ve met along the way, all the friends I’ve made, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. If I had to do it all over again, I’d pick this place because I truly love it. It’s a place that I call home.”
“To my teammates: First of all, I love all of you guys. We’ve been through everything together.”
“For the young guys, it’s been a blast and hopefully we’ve left a good impression on you and you guys continue the success that we started here because this program means everything to us seniors.”
“Advice I would give you would be to believe in yourself and believe in this coaching staff and believe in Portland as a community. It means a lot to us and it will to you.”
