Jimmer and Abouo featured in ESPN the Mag

http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/insider/news/story?id=4834048



Not sure if you guys saw it.

I didn't see it and still can't!!!

Partly because the BYU locker room houses four married players, junior PG Jimmer Fredette and sophomore SF Charles Abouo are the only Cougars who cohabit. So who's more qualified to spill about national POY hopeful Fredette than his high-flying roomie? No one. (And vice versa.)



Charles Abouo talks about Jimmer Fredette



Who does Jimmer call when he's homesick?



Definitely his older brother, T.J. He taught Jimmer most of what he knows. (These days, T.J. is a rapper in the Fredettes' hometown of Glens Falls, N.Y.)



Which class does he study hardest for?



Basketball. Every player gets a half credit for being on the team. He probably puts most of his work into that. (Maybe, but he actually majors in American studies.)



You guys have been bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament three years running. What would Jimmer give to make it further?



Anything but a limb or family member. The second round is a big goal for us. (Another goal: Avoid Texas A&M. The Aggies ousted BYU in two of the past three Tourneys.)



What's his favorite move?



The crossover. Jimmer likes to go hard to the basket. Then when his man tries to cut him off, he just pulls it back and shoots the J. He's obviously good at it. (Yes, he is: 44.6% 3FG.)



Pregame ritual?



He doesn't eat breakfast. And instead of taking the elevator to our locker room, he walks the stairs alone. (Not sure what he does on the road but he did drop 49 at Arizona.)



Jimmer Fredette talks about Charles Abouo



Who is the toughest player Charles has faced?



Angola's Olimpio Cipriano. Charles is from Ivory Coast, and he played against Cipriano in last summer's African championship. Charles says the guy would bulldoze his way to the basket or do a simple crossover when he anticipated the hard take. Two basic moves, but Charles couldn't stop either. (Angola beat Ivory Coast 82-72 in the final.)



Where is his favorite place to play?



Utah State. Though he grew up in Africa, he went to high school in Logan, where Utah State is. The Aggies really wanted him, so whenever he goes back there he gets yelled at by all the fans. But he likes that; it gives him motivation. (Alas, it wasn't enough this season: Utah State handed BYU its lone loss on Dec. 2.)



Any hidden talents?



Aside from speaking three languages -- English, French and Spanish? Well, he's an amazing chef. His best dish is when he gets white rice, grabs about 20 different seasonings and cooks it with chicken or steak for about an hour and a half. It's some of the best food I've ever had in my life. (Then you should know what it's called, Jimmer: Riz gras, or "fat rice.")

Ah... a fellow American Studies major. Good for Jimmer. It's a great major if you plan to go on to grad school, since it's a pretty diverse liberal arts degree. Also, it's one of fastest paths to a BA because the number of credits required is pretty low. So you can double major in something else if you're really ambitious, or take a really solid minor. I ended up doing a minor in Business Management to keep my options open for an MBA, but ended up going for a JD in the end.



Side note: Patty Edwards, LaVell's wife, was an American Studies major too. We had a few classes together and sat next to each other when we graduated in 1994. I also had dinner with LaVell a couple times. We all know LaVell is a great man, but his wife is pretty great too.