1. When did your love for basketball begin?

Kim: I think I started loving basketball when I was first introduced to it back in kindergarten. My cousins and my older brother were always playing in the front yard and I eventually got hooked on it as well. As I got older and learned more about the game, I grew to like the sport more and more. I played a lot of sports growing up but none of them had as many dimensions as basketball. To me, it was more than just a game. Basketball served as an opportunity to work hard at something and achieve goals. And it allowed me to express my imagination, create some great friendships, and it helped satisfy me competitively.

2. How do you balance your time between athletics and academics?

Kim: My freshman year, I had some difficulty with it. I tried to cram the two together and ended up studying many late nights and early mornings. I have gotten a lot better at managing my time. There definitely are some sacrifices you have to make, but I feel it’s well worth it to have the opportunity to play ball at the collegiate level and represent your school.

3. How do you prepare yourself for a game night?

Kim: I just try to do whatever I can to give my body the best chance to perform. One of the worst feelings for me during a game is when my body isn’t in its best shape. Of course I’m going to get fatigued throughout the game, but if I am a step slow because I didn’t eat right before the game, or I’m not thinking my clearest because I didn’t get enough sleep, then I know I didn’t give myself the best chance to succeed. I also pray before games. I like to remember who I’m playing for, and remind myself to give thanks to God for every chance I get to step out on the court.

4. Who are your biggest fans/supporters?

Kim: Definitely my family. My parents have come to every game this year including the road trips up to Sonoma and Humboldt. They have been to all my games since I was a kid, and have showed me love throughout the whole journey. I also have a lot of cousins, who I grew up with, that yell their heads off at the games. They think they embarrass me for being so loud up in the stands, but I like feeling their presence in the gym whenever I play. I think my brother is my biggest fan though. Unfortunately he’s out of the country for the year, but he’s been there since the start of my basketball experience. Whether it was playing against him growing up, playing on the same team as him in high school, or him cheering in the stands during my college career, he has always been there for me. I also have some loyal friends. I definitely have appreciated their support.

5. What is your fondest memory on the court?

Kim: My fondest memories on the court are from high school. Every weekend during the summer, some of my teammates and I would play pick up at parks across Orange County. We had such a good time playing against the older vets who’d been playing at those courts forever or other local high school or college kids that we recognized. Whenever we played the older guys, we felt like the underdogs, so beating them was always a good time, especially if there was a crowd watching. Looking back at those days, there wasn’t a worry on our minds, and we played the game for the sheer fun and competition of it. Now that I’m in college, it’s not like it used to be. I feel like whenever I go back, I’m now one of those regulars that I used to love beating up on.

6. What is your favorite part of being a UC San Diego student and athlete?

Kim: There are a lot of cool things about being an athlete at UCSD. I think my favorite part is that it has helped me develop a lot of pride in the university. Being involved in athletics has also made me feel more like a part of the school by being a representative of it through basketball. It’s kind of sad, but I feel like a lot of the students here are missing that pride aspect of their experience. Hopefully, we give the school something to cheer about and something to be proud of through basketball.

7. Why did you transfer to UCSD from UCLA?

Kim: I transferred here for a lot of reasons but they all revolved around basketball somehow. Coming out of high school, I didn’t know if I wanted to continue playing basketball. I decided to play at UCLA, not really expecting anything, and knowing that being a part of the team would be an unforgettable experience. It definitely was an amazing experience – getting to the national championship game, playing against some of the best collegiate and now NBA players, and being humbled by the level of talent. But most importantly, I realized how much I enjoyed the competitiveness of the game and the camaraderie formed while being on a close-knit team. After the season, I felt that the best thing for me was to look for a school where I could live out my new passion for the game and my desire to be part of a team where I would have a bigger role.

So with the help of Coach Carlson (then at UCLA, now at UCSD), I decided to transfer and felt that UCSD was the best fit for me. UC San Diego was a great academic institution and also provided a chance to play basketball at a very competitive level. I also got a good vibe from the team. It was the hardest decision of my life to leave UCLA, the school that I had always wanted to go to, and to transfer to a school that I wasn’t really familiar with. But I know God has great plans for me here, whether or not they have to do with basketball.

8. What were your first impressions of UCSD?

Kim: I actually didn’t have the best first impression of the school. I was excited for the change but I felt like my heart was still at UCLA. However, after awhile I realized that I needed to get over thinking about all of the “what-ifs,” had I stayed at UCLA, and tell myself that UCSD was my new home. Looking back on it now, those feelings seem so unfamiliar because I’m loving school right now.

9. What are some "outside the classroom" or "on the court" life lessons you've learned as a UCSD student-athlete?

Kim: Basketball has taught me so many things throughout the years, about myself, my peers, and selflessness. I appreciate, and have learned to love, the feeling of winning, especially after barely surviving through a 12-15 record last season. As far as sports go, there is no greater feeling.

The best lesson I have learned came from one of my teammates at UCLA, Jordan Farmar. I asked him, before his sophomore season, how he felt about the NBA draft the following year. I won’t ever forget what he said. He said that he wasn’t thinking about it at all. All he thought about were the little steps required to get to the draft. While he was in practice, he only focused on that practice and doing his best. Or while he was lifting, he would only focus on getting in a great lift. He felt that by solely keeping his eyes on his goal, the NBA, he could easily get distracted by the glory of it or the outside pressures. But by concentrating his all into what was important at the time in reaching his goal, then over time, all these steps would stack up and eventually lead him to his destination.

10. What are your favorite spots on campus?

Kim: I have a few favorite spots on campus where you might find me. I love taking naps during breaks between my classes or before practice. My favorite spot is on the benches on the little hill by Price Center. That area is shady, and even though it is in the middle of Price Center, it’s very relaxing. Another spot that I recently have grown fond of is Porter’s Pub. It’s basically a little venue for small bands to play, and I’ve gone to a couple of shows already this year, including one of my favorite musicians, Rocky Votolato. I like it because it’s a real low-key and intimate setting.

During finals week, you’ll probably find me at Panda Express almost everyday. There’s something that draws me to their food. It guarantees that I’ll be full for at least six hours. This is crucial for the long hours spent studying at Geisel afterwards.

11. What is your major?

Kim: I am a psychology major. I picked it because it sounded interesting.

12. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Kim: In 10 years, I see myself settled into a profession that I love and that I can work hard at. I’ll probably have a family with some kids and hopefully be married to the girl of my dreams. And I’ll try to stay in touch with my friends.