Junior college transfer Gregoryshon Magee is one of the more recognizable players on the University of South Alabama men’s basketball team. Standing 6-foot-9 with long dreadlocks, Magee followed his former junior college assistant coach to Mobile where he will be one of the Jaguars’ key post men this season. He spoke with USAJaguars.com and explained how he got his nickname and when he’ll cut his hair again.

When did you start playing basketball?
I started playing my junior year of high school. I tried to play it my 10th-grade year of high school, but I didn’t like it, but I got serious about it my junior year. I never played before high school. I played pickup ball in the park but I never got serious about it until high school.

Describe your journey to get to South Alabama
In my two years of high school I was one of the top players in the city and the junior college I chose was Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kan. It’s a basketball town. I was there three years – I redshirted my freshman year – and came to South Alabama. I had a long journey to get here. I went through a lot to play Division I basketball – I spent three years in a small town and it was a long road.

Why did you choose South Alabama?
The atmosphere and I had a good connection with the coaches and the team. We have a good chance of winning the Sun Belt this year with the team we have. I had good chemistry with them when I came on my visit.

Who recruited you and what was your relationship with them like?
Coach (Dominique) Taylor recruited me. He was an assistant coach at my junior college, so he and I had a good relationship. When he came here I told him I wanted to come to the same school.

What were your impressions of the Canada trip?
It was real fun. The first game we lost on a buzzer-beater and Coach Arrow wasn’t happy. We came out the next game ready to play. I had never been out of the country before so everything was new to me.

You had a double-double in the last game – what came together to have that kind of game?
The first game Coach Arrow was telling me that I wasn’t physical enough and he was in my ear. He said to me, ‘Slim, this is your chance right now.’ Nobody wants their coach to be on them 24/7 so I just went out there and played hard. I tried to get all the rebounds, block a few shots and keep scoring buckets. I just didn’t want to hear him anymore.

What is it like to battle Augustine and Javier in practice?
Aug is really hard to guard. Every day he brings it. Javier is harder to score on because he’s a real good shot blocker. I’ve never played against someone as skilled on defense as Javier and as skilled on offense as Aug. It’s pretty tough, but I’m getting used to it. I think every bucket Aug scores, I’ll make him earn it. He’s not going to just come down there and score on me. It’s the same thing with Javier – he’s going to have to earn it too.

When people watch you play, what kind of player do they see?
I don’t want to say a finesse player, but a big kid that’s really good around the rim, can run the floor and step out and shoot the ball a little bit.

What do you consider to be the strongest part of your game?
The face-up and my mid-range jumper because I’m a lefty.

What do you enjoy the most of the game of basketball?
Just beating people bad. I love everything about basketball.

Other than basketball what are some of the things you’re into off the court?
I really like talking to my daughter. I have a one-year old daughter (Leyah) and I love talking to her and relaxing. She’s back home in New Orleans with her mom.

What are the origins of the nickname ‘Slim?’
Coach Taylor gave me that name. When I was at Neosho, the head coach, Coach Coombs, told me I was going to meet the new coach. I walked up and he said, ‘I’m going to call you Slim.’ It stuck with me after that. None of my teachers called me my real name – I was on the roll as ‘Slim Magee.’ I tell everyone my name is Slim.

When is the last time you cut your hair?
Ten years ago. I stopped cutting my hair in seventh grade. When I was growing up I used to read rasta books and I read in a book that the dreads are like a crown on your head so that’s why I don’t cut my dreads.

When are you going to cut your hair?
When I become a professional basketball player. It will be a new beginning.

What are your expectations of yourself this season?
My expectations are to average at least a double-double and for the whole team to win a conference championship.

Quick hits:
Favorite NBA team: New Orleans Hornets
Favorite college team growing up: LSU
Favorite sport other than basketball: Golf, because it puts me to sleep.
Favorite musical artist: Lil Wayne
Favorite class: History – the Revolutionary War, slavery, stuff like that.
Favorite movie: Boyz n the Hood

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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