Postin Up with Eshaunte Jones
In this week's edition of Postin' Up, we sit down with redshirt freshman guard Eshaunte Jones. Better known by his nickname "Bear", the Fort Wayne, Ind., native shows some instate pride both on the court and on the gridiron, and he also gives out his best and worst dressed awards for Nebraska's basketball team.
HI: I know one of the first things I think of when I think Indiana is basketball. Being a native of the Hoosier State, where would you say Indiana high school basketball ranks among the rest of the country?
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EJ: "We've got to be at least top three, I would say. Easily. We're a basketball state. We bleed basketball. That's the first thing I was taught when I was a little kid was how to play basketball. Ever since then I've been doing it."
HI: When did you first know that you were going to be a basketball player?
EJ: "My sister taught me how to play basketball. After a while I just kept watching the game when I was little and it just seemed so fun and I enjoyed it. Ever since then I just kept playing and playing, and I haven't stopped yet."
HI: So I'm going to go ahead and assume you were a big Reggie Miller fan growing up?
EJ: "Yeah, but I was always a Michael Jordan guy. But Reggie Miller, he's always going to be one of the best."
HI: There's another Indiana team that has a pretty big game coming up on Sunday. You follow the Colts at all?
EJ: "I'm a big time Colts fan. I give everybody in the locker room crap for it. We're going to win the Super Bowl."
HI: OK, give me the final score for the AFC Championship.
EJ: "Maybe 21-7 Colts. Yeah, 21-7 Colts."
HI: Tell me about the nickname "Bear". How did that name get started?
EJ: "I got it from an outfit my mom gave to me when I was little, like a little toddler outfit. Ever since then it just stuck with me. Everybody calls me Bear. That's really what my first name is now, basically."
HI: Last week, Lance Jeter told me you were his No. 1 shopping buddy on the team and that you two both consider yourselves fashion experts of sorts. Be honest - who's the better dresser?
EJ: "Oh, come on now. I'm gonna to have to take that one. But when it comes to shopping, that's our thing. We love to shop. He's just like a brother to me, and we have fun on and off the court."
HI: Let's flip it around now. Who is the worst dresser on the team?
EJ: "(Laughs) Worst? I'm gonna have to say (Sek Henry). Sek just does some different stuff."
HI: What's the worst outfit you've ever seen him wear?
EJ: "He wore a Pink Panther shirt about as long as to my knees, with diamond things all over his shirt. It was just ridiculous. It was a ridiculous shirt. I don't know why he would even consider buying it."