One on One with Khem Birch
New England produced two McDonald’s All-Americans this year and for Khem Birch the accomplishment is the culmination of a tremendous career since arriving in the region.
The New England Recruiting Report spoke with Birch and his coach at Notre Dame Prep Ryan Hurd:
NERR: First of all Khem, congratulations on being named to the McDonald’s All-American game. Tell us how it felt to be selected as one of the top 20 players in the country and what your reaction was when you heard the news.
KB: Being picked was very exciting because I was the first player from my city, Montreal, to ever be picked. It was a big accomplishment because I didn’t think I was going to be a McDonald’s All-American.
NERR: Did you do anything special for the selection show?
KB: Me and the whole team watched it and all my friends and family back home were watching too.
NERR: Despite being from Montreal and playing in New England you were still placed on the west team. Do you know any of the guys you are going to be playing with?
KB: I know the other two Canadians, Myck Kabongo and Kyle Wiltjer.
NERR: The last few months have been pretty busy for you. You started this year in the class of 2012 and when you signed with Pittsburgh not only did you reclassify to 2011 but now you are also a McDonald’s All-American.
KB: Well Coach Hurd told me that I could leave this year. I thought it was a good idea because I could get better quicker by going to college and once I did it people started saying I could possibly make the McDonald’s game and the Jordan game.
NERR: And have you heard anything about the Jordan Game?
KB: Yes I made that game too.
NERR: The McDonald’s game is March 30th at the United Center in Chicago. Who is going to go out to the game with you?
KB: I think my mother.
NERR: Next year you are moving on to Pittsburgh. What do you envision your role being there?
KB: First it will be playing good defense because that’s what I do. As the year goes by I’ll probably do more on the offensive end.
NERR: Speaking of offense, your skills have real come along nicely in the last year or so. What have you done to expand your game so well?
KB: Just going into the gym and shooting a lot of shots, especially from the corner to the top of the free-throw line.
NERR: What’s the next step in your development?
KB: I want to work on my left hand, be able to make left handed hook shots and stuff in the paint.
NERR: You’ve been such a big part of New England basketball over the last few years I think a lot of people forget you’re not originally from here. When did you first play here?
KB: I went to a Phenom Camp in 2007 and then came down for a Hoop Mountain Camp in the summer of 2008. I started paying AAU around here right after that.
NERR: Do you have any one memorable playing experience in particular from your time playing in New England?
KB: When I was a Winchendon and we went to the NEPSAC finals. I liked that tournament. It was a lot of fun playing in such a great atmosphere.
NERR: Khem thanks for your time and congratulations again on being a McDonald’s All-American.
KB: Thank you.
One on One with Notre Dame Prep head coach Ryan Hurd
NERR: Coach, obviously Khem’s selection to the McDonald’s All-American game is a great accomplishment for him but it’s also a very big deal for your school.
RH: Definitely. We are all tremendously proud of him. It couldn’t have happened to a better kid.
NERR: As you look back at Khem’s career with you at Notre Dame Prep what stands out most to you about his development?
RH: I just think that the thing that’s most impressive about him now is that he is stretching his game to that of a true four. He has range out to 17, 18 feet and that added element makes him really tough to defend. He’s really consistent out there now and it just opens up so many different options for him off the pick and roll.
NERR: With a lot of people now starting to notice his improved skill set and his athleticism having always been easy to see, is there any part of his game that he doesn’t get enough credit for?
RH: At this level someone who understands the importance of setting good screens and knowing how to get your teammates open and also realizing that is a great way to score yourself is a pretty sure sign of maturity. That’s a little thing that people don’t always see, but it goes a long way.
NERR: In addition to the added skill, what’s the biggest difference in Khem’s game now and when he first arrived at Notre Dame Prep?
RH: Just assertiveness. He’s not waiting for the game to come to him anymore. He knows he can go out and change the game from the opening tip. Some of that has been the development of his body and some of that has been from the development of his overall game.
NERR: And in your opinion what’s the future hold for him?
RH: I think the sky is the limit. That’s why I think when he gets to Pitt and in their strength and conditioning program that’s going to be the next step. His body has shown that it is going to put on muscle while maintaining the same amount of explosiveness and that’s the next step in his development.
Khem Birch