SAN ANTONIO - Keith Spencer, a junior transfer from Seward County Community College in Liberal, Kan., has put up big numbers in rebounding and scoring through the first month of the season. The San Diego, Calif., native took a minute out of his busy schedule to talk with goUTSA.com about his transition from the junior college ranks to UTSA, his family and success thus far with the Roadrunners.
How has the transition from a junior college to a Division I program been?
“It’s a huge transition as far as the classroom goes. We have tutoring and study hall every day, so it’s all about time management. The schoolwork isn’t too much more difficult, but I just have a lot more on my plate now. As far as basketball, though, the conference I played in was pretty tough, probably one of the best junior college conferences in the nation. The speed of the game is about the same, but the main thing that’s really different is that some of the guys are just bigger.”
How have you prepared for this season physically?
“During the summer, along with going to summer school, I just tried to work out as much as I could. Once school started, it was a strict schedule. We began lifting weights and running every day. It’s been pretty intense.”
You played at Cal State Fullerton earlier this month. While in California, were you able to see your family?
“Yes, I had about 25 to 30 people at the game, so it was really nice to see a lot of familiar faces in the crowd. They all had shirts on that they had made, so it was real nice. I was hoping that we would have gotten the ‘w’ but things didn’t work out that way. All in all, family is really important to me. Family comes first and I was really happy that my family had a chance to see me play.”
How do you think the team is meshing together?
“On and off the court, we’re meshing real well. A lot of us knew each other from previous schools. There are a couple of guys from Kansas junior colleges that I’ve played against, so it is pretty cool. We have a nice little bond on our team. The coaching staff really reached out to us. They’re really player friendly, so it’s easy for us to communicate with them. It’s a good situation to be in.”
How do you think the team is doing so far this season?
“We’ve been like a roller coaster, just up and down. We’ve had a lot of injuries, but we have a lot more basketball to play. We have to learn from the mistakes we’ve made and continue to move forward. We still have conference play coming up, so we have to keep our heads up and keep trying to reach to the top and get to the tournament. That’s the ultimate goal.”
So far this year, you are one of the best rebounders on the team. How would you assess your play?
“Rebounding has always been one of my things. I try to grab every board. That’s my mentality when I step on the floor, I try to get every rebound I possibly can. It’s all a mental thing. I do feel like I can bring more to the table, though. I’m not content with the way I’ve been playing. I know I can do much more, so I’m just focused on executing every game.”
How do you like San Antonio compared to San Diego and Liberal?
“San Antonio is way better than Liberal, because Liberal was a small town with nothing to do. There is no comparison. San Diego is beautiful. It has everything I want in a city. It’s a little slow here, but it is cool for college because I can focus on school and basketball. It’s a good environment for me to finish college.”
What made you decide to attend UTSA?
“My family just moved to Dallas, I had a couple of other options that were in California, but when I met the coaches, staff and some players here, I really felt comfortable. I felt as if this was the best fit for me to finish my college career and I think I made the right decision.”
What are your plans after college?
“If I have an opportunity for basketball, then I’m going to pursue that. If not, I want to run a business, so I’m trying to set myself up now. For a backup plan, I’m a psychology major, so I would be interested in opening a counseling service.”
