Getting to Know… Hilton Armstrong
June 30, 2006
NEW ORLEANS – The No. 12 overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft, Hilton Armstrong capped a four-year career at Connecticut last winter by averaging 9.7 points per game on a star-studded Huskies squad. The 6-foot-11 forward/center was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year, swatting an impressive 3.2 shots per game as a senior.
A native of Peeskill, N.Y. and a political science major at UConn, Armstrong attended the same high school as Los Angeles Clippers superstar Elton Brand. As a Hornets rookie, he will sport jersey No. 12 – the same number as his NBA draft slot.
After taking a tour of New Orleans Arena on Thursday morning, Armstrong sat down with Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer in the Hornets’ New Orleans locker room to answer 10 questions and provide a closer look at the 21-year-old.
Eichenhofer: When did you first realize that you had a chance to play in the NBA?
Armstrong: I started hearing a lot of things that I might (become) a second-round pick when I was a junior. Then, when I saw (former Connecticut teammate) Charlie Villanueva get taken (in the 2005 draft) as the seventh pick, I knew it was possible I could slide into the first round, because I competed against him every day in practice. And he wasn’t (dominating) me.
Eichenhofer: You’re from Peekskill, N.Y. Were you a Knicks fan, or did you have some other NBA team that you rooted for when you were growing up?
Armstrong: I actually really liked the Sacramento Kings when they had Chris Webber and Jason Williams. They also had Peja Stojakovic. It was really good team basketball, and it was fun to watch the way they passed the ball around.
Eichenhofer: For Hornets fans who may not know much about you, or may meet you for the first time soon, how would you describe your personality?
Armstrong: I’m a clown. I love to joke and smile a lot and be silly. People think I’m very serious, but I like to joke around.
Eichenhofer: When you look back at Wednesday’s draft, are there any sleepers out there who were later picks and may surprise people?
Armstrong: [Armstrong’s sleepers are both former Connecticut Huskies teammates]. New Jersey got Marcus Williams, even though everyone was expecting him to go higher. He’s in a great situation playing behind Jason Kidd. And he actually said he wore (jersey) No. 5 because of Jason Kidd. That’s one of his idols. I’m guessing it’s a dream for him. Then there’s Denham (Brown), he was picked 40th by Seattle – that’s a great pick. I love Denham. He was the most solid player on our team, but he went in the second round.
Eichenhofer: Of all the players in the NBA, who do you respect the most and look forward to having a chance to face on the court?
Armstrong: Elton Brand. I’ve talked to him a little bit (because they’re both from Peekskill, N.Y.).
Eichenhofer: Do you have a non-sports person you admire?
Armstrong: My grandfather. He passed away a couple years ago. He was a man among men in every aspect. He was a great husband, a great father and a great grandfather. A great guy. Everybody loved him.
Eichenhofer: What was the most memorable moment of your college career?
Armstrong: It would have to be the first 3-pointer of my career last season. I forget what game it was, but the shot was from the top of the key and it felt good [Note: Armstrong attempted only one other 3-pointer later in the season but missed]. The whole crowd went crazy. I led the entire country in (3-point) percentage for a little while [laughs]!
Eichenhofer: If you didn’t have the talent to be an NBA player, what would you be doing?
Armstrong: I don’t know exactly, but it would be something with kids. I would probably be a mentor, someone to keep them out of trouble.
Eichenhofer: What are a couple CDs you are listening to right now?
Armstrong: I haven’t listened to too much music in a while, but I like Ray Charles, and The Temptations. I like a lot of slow stuff.
Eichenhofer: Any TV shows you never miss?
Armstrong: The Family Guy is a very funny show. Another show that just came out that I like is Where Are My Dogs At? It’s on MTV2. It’s so funny.
NEW ORLEANS – The No. 12 overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft, Hilton Armstrong capped a four-year career at Connecticut last winter by averaging 9.7 points per game on a star-studded Huskies squad. The 6-foot-11 forward/center was named Big East Defensive Player of the Year, swatting an impressive 3.2 shots per game as a senior.
A native of Peeskill, N.Y. and a political science major at UConn, Armstrong attended the same high school as Los Angeles Clippers superstar Elton Brand. As a Hornets rookie, he will sport jersey No. 12 – the same number as his NBA draft slot.
After taking a tour of New Orleans Arena on Thursday morning, Armstrong sat down with Hornets.com’s Jim Eichenhofer in the Hornets’ New Orleans locker room to answer 10 questions and provide a closer look at the 21-year-old.
Eichenhofer: When did you first realize that you had a chance to play in the NBA?
Armstrong: I started hearing a lot of things that I might (become) a second-round pick when I was a junior. Then, when I saw (former Connecticut teammate) Charlie Villanueva get taken (in the 2005 draft) as the seventh pick, I knew it was possible I could slide into the first round, because I competed against him every day in practice. And he wasn’t (dominating) me.
Eichenhofer: You’re from Peekskill, N.Y. Were you a Knicks fan, or did you have some other NBA team that you rooted for when you were growing up?
Armstrong: I actually really liked the Sacramento Kings when they had Chris Webber and Jason Williams. They also had Peja Stojakovic. It was really good team basketball, and it was fun to watch the way they passed the ball around.
Eichenhofer: For Hornets fans who may not know much about you, or may meet you for the first time soon, how would you describe your personality?
Armstrong: I’m a clown. I love to joke and smile a lot and be silly. People think I’m very serious, but I like to joke around.
Eichenhofer: When you look back at Wednesday’s draft, are there any sleepers out there who were later picks and may surprise people?
Armstrong: [Armstrong’s sleepers are both former Connecticut Huskies teammates]. New Jersey got Marcus Williams, even though everyone was expecting him to go higher. He’s in a great situation playing behind Jason Kidd. And he actually said he wore (jersey) No. 5 because of Jason Kidd. That’s one of his idols. I’m guessing it’s a dream for him. Then there’s Denham (Brown), he was picked 40th by Seattle – that’s a great pick. I love Denham. He was the most solid player on our team, but he went in the second round.
Eichenhofer: Of all the players in the NBA, who do you respect the most and look forward to having a chance to face on the court?
Armstrong: Elton Brand. I’ve talked to him a little bit (because they’re both from Peekskill, N.Y.).
Eichenhofer: Do you have a non-sports person you admire?
Armstrong: My grandfather. He passed away a couple years ago. He was a man among men in every aspect. He was a great husband, a great father and a great grandfather. A great guy. Everybody loved him.
Eichenhofer: What was the most memorable moment of your college career?
Armstrong: It would have to be the first 3-pointer of my career last season. I forget what game it was, but the shot was from the top of the key and it felt good [Note: Armstrong attempted only one other 3-pointer later in the season but missed]. The whole crowd went crazy. I led the entire country in (3-point) percentage for a little while [laughs]!
Eichenhofer: If you didn’t have the talent to be an NBA player, what would you be doing?
Armstrong: I don’t know exactly, but it would be something with kids. I would probably be a mentor, someone to keep them out of trouble.
Eichenhofer: What are a couple CDs you are listening to right now?
Armstrong: I haven’t listened to too much music in a while, but I like Ray Charles, and The Temptations. I like a lot of slow stuff.
Eichenhofer: Any TV shows you never miss?
Armstrong: The Family Guy is a very funny show. Another show that just came out that I like is Where Are My Dogs At? It’s on MTV2. It’s so funny.
