By LARRY VAUGHT

Darnell Dodson has no problem explaining what has impressed him the most about the University of Kentucky basketball program since he arrived on campus in August.

“Just the chemistry everybody has. Nobody thinks they are above the team. Everybody is after the same goal. That is the most important thing on any team. If you have some people who think they are above the team, then you won’t come together at rough times or in adversity. We don’t have that,” said Dodson, a junior college transfer.

He admits much of the credit for that belief obviously comes from junior Patrick Patterson because he demands other players understand the team comes first.

“We get it a lot from Pat. Just watching him and going through workouts, his attitude toward everything is positive and he always tries to bring us together,” Dodson said. “He could definitely will knock heads or tell us when we are out of line. Pat is the team leader. He has been here and obviously he could have left (for the NBA). I respect that a lot. Anything he says, I listen to.”

And how does he like UK?

“I love it here. At first, I wasn’t sure. But now I love it. Everything about Kentucky is just so much better than even I thought it would be. It’s all outstanding,” he said.

Dodson is not as outgoing as some of Kentucky’s other newcomers. Or at least not around the media.

Is he shy? “No, I am definitely not shy. Once you get to know me, you will see that,” he said.

Is it just the media attention that keeps him from talking a lot? “I had some media time out of high school, but this is my first time in front of a lot of microphones. I think I can handle it and keep a smile. But that part is different,” Dodson said. “I just take it as it goes and try to be ready when the interviews come. I do enjoy talking and guess that will mean I am playing well if people talk to me a lot. So that will be a good thing.”

Dodson says the biggest surprise among his teammates has been freshman DeMarcus Cousins.

“DeMarcus is real good. To me, he is better than I thought he would be just from hearing stuff from the public about him. He has a lot of aspects to his game that people might not know about. He shoots the ball real well. He can move off the dribble and create his own shots. He is a great defensive presence inside,” Dodson said.
He is a cut-up too. His will to win takes over on the court, but he is a good kid. He’s not hard headed. He is a comedian and keeps everyone loose.”

He says Patrick Patterson is the person “always diving on the floor and doing anything it takes to win” to set the right example.

Count him as a John Wall fan, too.

“John has the talent to be great. He is capable of playing at a high level. Playing with him every day, you see he could play in the NBA with no trouble right now probably,” Dodson said.

“Overall, the talent here is a whole lot better than what I thought it would be. We are all good and everybody is good at what they do. Everybody knows how to play. If everybody is playing and doing what they are supposed to do, you will get your chance to be out on the floor playing. That is the way we have to look at it because with the talent here, you better play well if you want a chance to play.”

5 Responses to “Dodson likes team’s chemistry, talent”