Freshman Ryan Felberg received a baptism by fire when Matt Popeck’s injury forced him into the starting lineup earlier than expected. Now, Felberg is averaging almost 7 points a game; including a season-high 22 points in the team’s victory at W&J. The freshman is currently holding his own filling the position of point guard, as Waynesburg battles for a respectable position in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference postseason. 

 

Q: What made you want to play basketball?

A: I played basketball from a young age from two or three years old. My dad played at Hiram College in Ohio. He’s always been my coach. I just learned from him and I just loved the game ever since I started. I just have a passion to go out and getting better every day.

Q: Would you say your dad is your biggest inspiration to play basketball?

A: I would say so. From a young age, he would push me to be the best player I can be. I was always undersized. So, I always had to battle with that. He always was pushing me to get better every day.

Q: What specifically did your dad help you work on in your game with you being undersized?

A: He always had a big emphasis on the defensive end. I wasn’t much of a scorer, but as the years went on, he taught me different scoring moves. Obviously [I] worked on my three, getting my three off against bigger defenders. He always has good tactics on how to score, what to do, because he was a scorer when he was younger.  

Q: What made you decide to come play basketball here at Waynesburg?

A: Waynesburg was the first school that recruited me my senior year. So, the way I looked at it was they gave me a shot. They said they were going to give me a chance.

Q: With the injury to Popeck, your role has obviously increased, and you’ve taken over in the starting lineup for him. Did you feel like there was a little bit of pressure on you to step up and produce as much as he has?

A: Yeah, there is a little pressure. Matt has some big shoes to fill, he’s a great player. Ever since day one he told me; ‘I’m going to take you under my wing.’ Even the first couple of practices we would have [he’d be] around. Just being able to go up against him was amazing. Until this day he’s still telling me stuff on the bench. He’s pulled me over to the side, tells me what I need to be doing better. Definitely have a little pressure on my shoulders for sure, having to fill those shoes.

Q: The other person you worked in the backcourt with is Frank Bozicevic. How much has he helped you with stepping up in the starting role this year?

A: Frank has helped me a lot. Just playing in open gym, that’s who I was guarding most of the time. [He] just helped me with guarding guys now in the regular season. Frank has just pushed [he] every day; he believes in me just like the whole team does.

Q: As your point total and your play level have improved, how big is that for your confidence level as you get deep into PAC play this year?

A: It’s huge that my confidence is up right now. I just know I must keep sticking with it; and even if I have a bad game, I can’t get down on myself because I know those guys are relying on me every night.

Q: Who’s the professional basketball player that you’ve always looked up to in your life?

A: Being a Cleveland kid I have to say LeBron [James]; but Nate Robinson as well just being undersized a lot of times. Those two guys I really looked up to. Nate Robinson is who I style my game after when he was in the league.