Getting to know C.J. Wilcox

Had a chance to talk to C.J. Wilcox before Friday's Midnight Madness and the Washington freshman talked about the origins of his jump shot and possibily redshirting this season.

Wilcox had the audience buzzing after easily winning the three-point contest and knocking down a pair long treys in the intrasquad scrimmage.

(So I hear you're the best shooter on the team.) "Coming out of high school I guess I was a shooter, but to already be called the best on the team that's a big responsibility to live up to."

(How does that feel?) "I don't know. I like the challenge. It's just exciting."

(What type of a shooter are you?) "Mostly I like to come off screens, but I can hit the open 3 or I can dribble and pull up."

(Have you always been a good shooter?) "I guess I started working on it a little more my junior year. My junior and senior year, that's when I started getting comfortable with it."

(What changed for you?) "I guess just my confidence level shooting the ball. Before I was thinking about getting my elbow in or something else with my shot. Now it's just shoot it. I don't have to think about it."

(Did you pattern your shot after anybody?) "I tried to earlier, but then my dad said to scratch that. We're going to work on it and make it look right. So I came up with my own shot."

(Who did you try to pattern yourself after?) "Tracy McGrady."

(Why him?) "I just liked how he got the ball so high over his head. It makes it hard to block him. It seems a little awkward and that's why my dad wanted me to change it."

(Do you think your shooting alone will allow you to carve out minutes in the rotation?) "I'm hoping so, but mostly it's just defense that you have to play to play on this team. Everyone can shoot, but you have to be able to play defense."

(Is it important for you to play this season?) "I would like to. I came in not knowing if I'm going to redshirt. I still don't know. But it's a great opportunity."

(It sounds like you're open to the idea of redshirting?) "Yeah. It could happen. We're still trying to see how practice is going to go and all of that stuff. But we should know by the time the season starts."