Getting to Know Carl Pierre
10/22/2021 12:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
RiceOwls.com sat down with this year's Men's Basketball newcomers for a Q&A. The first installment features graduate transfer guard Carl Pierre.
How different was the recruiting process for you this time as opposed to coming out of high school?
"Honestly, it was completely different. I wasn't highly recruited out of high school. My buzz started picking up late, but I still wasn't highly recruited. This time around, I was getting calls from a bunch of different schools, a bunch of different coaches all of the time almost as soon as I entered the (transfer) portal."
Having already spent a few years in college, did you know exactly what you were looking for this time around?
"For sure. I wanted a great culture (and) a great group of guys. That was really important to me. I knew Rice was that. I also wanted to play with my guy Travis Evee in my last year."
Speaking of Travis, how much did he influence you in your decision to come to Rice?
"It did a lot. We played together for three years in high school and I really wanted to play with Travis for another year. Just get back together with him. We still have some unfinished business. It was definitely a big part of my decision."
As you were going through the recruiting process, was Travis encouraging you to come to Rice?
"Definitely. We had discussed it before. So when I entered the portal, he was one of the first people that I talked to. He definitely was in my ear throughout the entire process."
What was it about Rice that stood out to you?
"Rice is an up-and-coming program. We've been making a lot of great progress over the past few years and I think that Rice has a good chance to be good this year and make some noise."
What basketball player do you try to model your game after?
"I don't necessarily try to model my game after one person. I try to take pieces from everybody. Some guys move really well off the ball. Some guys are really good with the ball in their hands and I just try to watch everybody."
What are your goals for the season?
"I think we're all shooting to get 20-plus wins and make the (NCAA) Tournament."
When you are not on the court or dealing with school, what do you like to do in your downtime?
"I'm a big YouTube guy. I'm on YouTube all of the time. I also like to hang out with my teammates. Terrance (McBride) and I, he's my roommate. We're together all of the time."
What are you listening to before a game?
"That's kind of interesting. It really depends. Sometimes I listen to slow music before a game. Sometimes fast. It could go anywhere from Rick Ross to The Weeknd."
What is your favorite movie?
"I really don't have one."
What is your favorite television show?
"Right now, I just got finished watching On My Block. I thought that was pretty good."
What is your favorite color?
"Blue."
Who is your favorite athlete to watch?
"Kevin Durant"
What is your favorite food?
"My mom's macaroni and cheese."
What is something you found out about yourself during quarantine?
"I learned how family-oriented I am. I was pretty comfortable being home and with my family. I enjoyed the extra time that I got with them."
If you could have dinner with any three people, past or present, who would it be?
"I would have to say Jay-Z, Jackie Robinson and Serena Williams."
How different was the recruiting process for you this time as opposed to coming out of high school?
"Honestly, it was completely different. I wasn't highly recruited out of high school. My buzz started picking up late, but I still wasn't highly recruited. This time around, I was getting calls from a bunch of different schools, a bunch of different coaches all of the time almost as soon as I entered the (transfer) portal."
Having already spent a few years in college, did you know exactly what you were looking for this time around?
"For sure. I wanted a great culture (and) a great group of guys. That was really important to me. I knew Rice was that. I also wanted to play with my guy Travis Evee in my last year."
Speaking of Travis, how much did he influence you in your decision to come to Rice?
"It did a lot. We played together for three years in high school and I really wanted to play with Travis for another year. Just get back together with him. We still have some unfinished business. It was definitely a big part of my decision."
As you were going through the recruiting process, was Travis encouraging you to come to Rice?
"Definitely. We had discussed it before. So when I entered the portal, he was one of the first people that I talked to. He definitely was in my ear throughout the entire process."
What was it about Rice that stood out to you?
"Rice is an up-and-coming program. We've been making a lot of great progress over the past few years and I think that Rice has a good chance to be good this year and make some noise."
What basketball player do you try to model your game after?
"I don't necessarily try to model my game after one person. I try to take pieces from everybody. Some guys move really well off the ball. Some guys are really good with the ball in their hands and I just try to watch everybody."
What are your goals for the season?
"I think we're all shooting to get 20-plus wins and make the (NCAA) Tournament."
When you are not on the court or dealing with school, what do you like to do in your downtime?
"I'm a big YouTube guy. I'm on YouTube all of the time. I also like to hang out with my teammates. Terrance (McBride) and I, he's my roommate. We're together all of the time."
What are you listening to before a game?
"That's kind of interesting. It really depends. Sometimes I listen to slow music before a game. Sometimes fast. It could go anywhere from Rick Ross to The Weeknd."
What is your favorite movie?
"I really don't have one."
What is your favorite television show?
"Right now, I just got finished watching On My Block. I thought that was pretty good."
What is your favorite color?
"Blue."
Who is your favorite athlete to watch?
"Kevin Durant"
What is your favorite food?
"My mom's macaroni and cheese."
What is something you found out about yourself during quarantine?
"I learned how family-oriented I am. I was pretty comfortable being home and with my family. I enjoyed the extra time that I got with them."
If you could have dinner with any three people, past or present, who would it be?
"I would have to say Jay-Z, Jackie Robinson and Serena Williams."
Players Mentioned
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