WIZARDS: WashingtonWizards.com Q&A: Jarvis Hayes

WashingtonWizards.com Q&A: Jarvis Hayes

June 30, 2003

Hayes averaged 18.3 points per game last season at Georgia.
Mitchell Layton/NBAE/Getty Images

Jarvis Hayes was selected in the first round (10th overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards after leaving the University of Georgia as a junior.

Some of his highlights while in the Bulldog red and black were being named Honorable Mention All-America by AP after sophomore and junior seasons at Georgia. He was Georgia’s first two-time consensus First Team All-SEC honoree since Dominique Wilkins in 1981-82. Hayes played two seasons at Georgia after starting collegiate career at Western Carolina. He sat out 2000-01 season under NCAA transfer rules.

Hayes holds the rare distinction of having led two different conferences (Southern Conference & Southeastern Conference) in scoring. He reached the career 1,000-point mark in only 55 games, the second fastest in school history after Litterial Green.

When he suits up in the Wizards blue, it will be the first time Jarvis will play a game without his twin brother Jonas, who was his teammate at both Western Carolina and Georgia.

How does it feel to be in Washington?

Jarvis Hayes: It feels great to be in Washington. I think, and I'm honestly saying this, this is probably the place I wanted to be all along. It is the perfect situation with Coach [Eddie] Jordan, Ernie Grunfeld and Mr. Pollin, it's just a great time to be here.

What do you think impressed the Wizards the most during your workout?

Jarvis Hayes: I think most importantly the way that I shot the ball and how competitive I was. They saw that I could fit in their offense and in their grand scheme of things, and that I was poised and just wanted to play basketball.

Which position do you feel most comfortable playing?

Jarvis Hayes: The small forward because I feel like I can defend most small forwards with my strength and my size and also guard some shooting guards. But I'll play wherever coach wants to put me.

What do you hope to accomplish in summer league?

Jarvis Hayes:Getting more acclimated to the NBA style. We're playing six games in seven days, so it's going to be tough but I'm looking forward to doing it.

How happy is your twin brother, Jonas, that you were selected by the Wizards?

Jarvis Hayes: We knew this day was going to come. We talked about this two weeks before the draft knowing that our date to split up was coming soon, we just didn’t know how soon. Now that we know that I won't be coming back to Georgia and I'm playing up here in Washington it’s a little bit better feeling. He's happy that I didn’t go way out to the west coast where we would be farther away from each other, but we're coping with it pretty well.