FARMVILLE, Va. – Longwood University redshirt-sophomore men’s basketball student-athlete Jeylani Dublin|Brooklyn, New York is this week’s Longwood Male Athlete of the Week. The 6-6 forward averaged 10.5 points and 6.0 rebounds, adding two steals and one block in two games last week. He scored 12 points (5-8 FG, 2-4 FT) for the Lancers against Campbell University on January 9, and followed that effort with nine points (3-6 FG, 3-4 FT), six rebounds, two steals and one block against Charleston Southern University on Jan. 12. He is averaging 9.6 points and 6.5 rebounds through 17 games, while shooting 54% (70-129) from the field and 62% (24-39) at the free throw line.
Question and Answer Session with Jeylani Dublin and Bethany Drury
BD: Why did you choose to play basketball?
JD: Growing up in Brooklyn, everyone played basketball. I started in elementary school and it became my passion.
BD: Do you have any role models?
JD: My mother because she has a high level of responsibility.
BD: What is your favorite team?
JD: The Lakers
BD: Who is your favorite player?
JD: Kobe Bryant because of his determination, hard work and skill level.
BD: Why did you choose Longwood?
JD: I wanted to be away from home and I wanted to be at a school where I could balance my academics and athletics well. Longwood seemed like a perfect fit for me.
BD: What is your favorite Longwood tradition?
JD: The big pep rally we have at the beginning of the year in Willett Hall.
BD: What is your major?
JD: Biology
BD: What are your post-grad plans?
JD: I think I want to go to physical therapy school. I want to be a physical therapist for sports. I feel like in my future, I have to do something with sports.
BD: Are there any interesting facts about you?
JD: Sometimes I listen to Soundscapes, the nature music, while I’m doing work.
BD: Are you involved in anything else on campus?
JD: I’m in SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee).
BD: What is your favorite food?
JD: Chicken quesadillas.
BD: What is your favorite movie?
JD: Saving Private Ryan
BD: What is your favorite song?
JD: Doing it Wrong by Drake
BD: What is your favorite book?
JD: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
BD: If one song could play every time you walked into a room, what would it be?
JD: Headlines by Drake
BD: What is your favorite thing about Longwood basketball?
JD: The camaraderie. We’re more like a family because we’re close on and off the court.
BD: What’s it like being a veteran leader on the team?
JD: It’s great. I get to tell younger guys things they don’t know coming from high school. The coaches also have high expectations of the juniors and seniors on the team, so I like being in that position on the team.
BD: Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
JD: Always have a goal in mind and when you achieve that goal, set another one.
