Q&A: Jaylen Beckham

Lexington Catholic's Jaylen Beckham is one of the top basketball players in the state. The 6-foot-0 point guard will only be a sophomore next season but he already holds two scholarships offers. I caught up with Beckham at the Derek Smith Shootout over the weekend.

Johnston: Could you sum up your game a little bit?

Beckham: I'm defiantly a team player. I like to see my team win. I'm a speed  guy. I like to get the ball up the court. I can score when I want to but I would rather get my team involved.

Johnston: I noticed you played off the ball some today. Are you comfortable doing that as well?

Beckham: Yes I'm comfortable with playing off the ball but the reason I did  that today is because I have an injury to my thigh and my coach didn't feel  very comfortable with me bring the ball up today.

Johnston: Talk about last season and what it was like playing next to Vee Sanford?

Beckham: Last season was a very good year. I looked up to Vee. I still talk to him, even though he's on to bigger and better things.

Johnston: Even though you are only going to be a sophomore next season, they are a lot of colleges looking at you. What schools have been showing interest?

Beckham: I have offers from Depaul and Washington. I have been receiving letters from Arizona, Alabama, Kentucky, Indiana, SMU, LSU and a couple more.

Johnston: You mentioned Kentucky had shown some interest. Have you been in contact with the new staff at UK?

Beckham: I had a really good relationship with the old staff but I have talked with Calipari.

Johnston: What did Calipari say?

Beckham: He told me just keep working hard and that he would continue to look at me.

Johnston: Being from Lexington, how special would it be to play at UK?

Beckham: That would be a big opportunity. It would be very nice to stay home and play for UK.

Beckham is ranked No. 42 in the class of 2012, according to Hoopscoop.

Here is a highlight video of Beckham, taken over the weekend at the Derek Smith Shootout.