Quick Chat: Lamariyon “Mari” Jordan

By John Frierson
Staff Writer

Lamariyon "Mari" Jordan didn't always like being the tallest person in his classes when he was young. Now a 6-foot-6 freshman guard on the Georgia men's basketball team, Jordan needed time to get comfortable being the "giant." And these days, he's grateful for his size.

During a recent Quick Chat, Jordan, from Atlanta, talked about being big, his first dunk, his favorite player, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:

Frierson: Who was your favorite player when you were growing up?

Jordan: I like Demar Derozan a lot. I feel like we're both mid-range (jump shot) killers, and we both play defense and lock up on defense. He's always been a guy I liked to watch and model my game after.

Frierson: How old were you when you first got started in basketball?

Jordan: I started when I was about six years old, I think. It was my grandmother throwing me in different leagues like the YMCA. I used to play a lot of different sports, including swimming, but basketball was the thing I stuck with once I got to eight or nine years old. I was like, yeah, this is what I really want to do.

Frierson: Were you always the tall kid in your classes, or did you have a big growth spurt at some point?

Jordan: I was always considered the tall kid in my class. When I was little, I just wanted to be shorter. I felt like a giant compared to everybody else. They're all little and I'm a big giant. But as I got older, I started to embrace it, and now I like being tall.

Frierson: Do you remember your first dunk?

Jordan: Oh, my first dunk was exciting. I was in eighth grade, and it was in my third game. I got a fast break, and I was like, I'm trying it. I went up there and poked that thing [laughs].

Frierson: Did it feel as good as you imagined it would?

Jordan: Oh, yeah, it feels great to get your first dunk. You got the crowd in there and they're pumping you up. You feel like The Man.

Frierson: How confident were you that it was going to do down?

Jordan: I'd done it a couple of times in practice, plus, in the game my adrenaline was rushing, so I knew I was going to clear the rim.

Frierson: What do you do to get away from basketball and school? What do you do to relax?

Jordan: In my chill time, I watch a lot of Netflix. I see my family, talk to my family, and then just chill, watch TV, play a (video) game here and there.

Frierson: Who is the funniest guy on the team?

Jordan: I would have to say, ooh, that's a hard one. I would go with myself or Jabri Abdur-Rahim. Yeah, Jabri is really funny. Actually, can I change that? I'll say J.J. (Jalen) DeLoach.

Frierson: How valuable are the funny guys during the season?

Jordan: It can get very serious and very overwhelming sometimes, so the funny guys crack a little joke here and there to get your mind off things and keep you in that spiritual team atmosphere. You need those guys.

Frierson: What has the transition to college been like for you?

Jordan: It's about what I expected, just longer days. By the time I get home, I'm actually ready to go to bed. As far as high school, I still had a lot of energy once I got home. That's the biggest thing, but everything else has been about what I expected.

(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)

Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.

Players Mentioned

Jabri Abdur-Rahim

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