Catching Up With: New Trier Alum Alex Rossi

“Catching Up With” is Winnetka-Glencoe Patch’s newest column that will feature interviews with current and former high school athletes from the area. We’ll catch you up on everything that’s been going on in their lives on and off the field.

The first interview in the series is University of California-Berkeley basketball player Alex Rossi. After being named Central Suburban League Player of the Year in the 2009-10 season, the former New Trier star accepted a scholarship to play basketball for the Golden Bears.

Patch: What attracted you to Cal Berkeley originally?

I’ve always wanted to go to the West Coast. I’d never been to California, but for some reason I just always wanted to come out here. Once I got here it was really my teammates and the coaching staff that made me feel comfortable. And it’s obviously a great academic school so that was easy.

Did you consider any other offers?

I was definitely looking at other schools. I visited Stanford, Virginia and Notre Dame and Northwestern. But I was really only serious about Cal. It was easy. [The offer] came early and it was a great choice. It all just fell in place.

Although you are redshirting this season, that wasn’t the original plan?

I was planning on playing. I was fighting for playing time at the beginning of the year and then in October right before our first game I tore an abdominal muscle. So I have a medical redshirt.

What’s been the most difficult thing for you in terms of having to sit out for a year?

It’d be one thing if I could practice or work out or anything, but I got hurt in October and I just started working out for the first time this past week. So I’ve just had to sit on the sidelines and watch practice and it’s awful. It’s so hard to watch my teammates out there working hard and not being able to do anything.

I just started running a little bit and doing core rehab stuff. I won’t be able to practice full on until the summer. It’s been a long time.

Do you travel on all road trips or are you staying back in Berkeley when the team travels?

I get to travel on some road trips. I think I’ve made half the trips. I’m going to the Pac-10 Tournament.  It just depends on whether I have a big test or not.

Even though you haven’t been playing, what’s the biggest difference between the game at the high school and the college level?

I got to work out all summer and train and the whole offseason and preseason. During the practices, the speed and the strength and the IQ is just completely different. In high school you can kind of pick and choose when to play hard and when you don’t play hard, you’ll still be successful. But if I don’t come in with my all, all the time, I’m just going to get my butt kicked. At least that’s what it was over the summer.

What is something you want to improve on before next season?

Obviously what makes me different is my jump shot so I’m going to continue to shoot every day. My ball-handling, of course. For me mainly, I just need a stronger base. I need to work on my core strength and my leg strength and that will help me not get pushed around as much and stay balanced.

How is it playing under Coach Mike Montgomery, one of the most well-respected college coaches and someone who has coached at the pro level?

It’s awesome. He’s one of the smartest coaches I’ve ever talked to. He goes into such great detail about everything and he doesn’t just say something and expect you to know it; he’ll take time to explain it and he’ll really make sure you know it before he makes you go out and do it.

Have you followed New Trier at all this season?

I haven’t been able to follow them as well as I’ve liked. But I catch up with some of the guys every now and then to see how they’re doing.

Have you decided on a major and how has the academic course load been at Berkeley?

It hasn’t been easy. Since I’ve been hurt I’ve been able to get a little head start on my schoolwork. I’m trying to get into the Haas School of Business, which is pretty tough. It’s been a while since a basketball player has gotten into it. We’ll see what happens.

Is there anything else you want people to know about your time at Cal so far?

I’m having a good time, making some good friends. I’m happy out here.