Men’s basketball (1-0, 0-0 ACC) opened their season Monday evening against Eastern Washington (0-1, 0-0 ACC). The team is looking to make an NCAA tournament run and is highlighted by five exciting freshmen, new to the Farm and ready to make an impact. In this interview, get to know Aziz Olajuwon, Julius Price, Drew Anderson, Isaiah Rogers and Elias Obenyah.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

The Stanford Daily (TSD): What has been the biggest adjustment coming from high school to college basketball?

Anderson: Just the physicality. Playing against dudes every day that are big, old, have been in college for a while, it gets really physical.

Olajuwon: Physicality and speed of the game. I’m glad I came prepared for it.

Rogers: Time management.

Price: Physicality, tactical ability, everything’s just another level.

Obenyah: Everyone is faster, stronger, and the process of the game is a little bit quicker, and everyone’s capable.

TSD: How would you describe your playing style, and what do you think you can contribute to this team in your first season?

Olajuwon: My mindset is defense first—energy and defense, and everything else follows. Rebounding as well. I can make open shots and play defense and just help the team win.

Price: I’d describe my playing style as versatile. I play defense and offense, guard the ball, facilitate, score. So that’s what I think I can help the team with this year.

Anderson: I think my best skill is my versatility. Being able to play inside out, as a big or a guard, depending on who’s guarding me.

Rogers: I would describe my playing style as smooth, and I think I can contribute to this team by knocking down shots, controlling the ball on offense, and bringing some energy on defense.

Obenyah: I would probably say playing both sides of the ball, defense and offense. I think I’m good at getting in the paint, distributing, and finding my own shot if it comes to that.

TSD: Who’s the funniest guy in the freshman class?

Olajuwon: I’d say probably Drew Anderson. He’s pretty funny.

Price: I would have to give that one to Aziz Olajuwon.

Anderson: I have to go Aziz. Everyone’s pretty fun, but I think Aziz. Aziz takes it.

Rogers: The funniest guy is Elias.

TSD: In a 1v1 tournament between the freshmen, who would win?

Olajuwon: I’m gonna take myself, but it would be very competitive.

Price: Me.

Anderson: Myself.

Rogers: Me.

Obenyah: I would.

TSD: If I asked the other four freshmen to describe you, what do you think they’d say?

Olajuwon: I’d say a chill guy who likes to have fun, plays hard, and is respectful to everyone.

Price: I would hope a good person, someone they enjoy being around.

Anderson: I think they’d say definitely very energetic and very positive.

Rogers: I don’t know what they would say. Maybe that I have good energy.

Obenyah: I think they would say more reserved, a quieter personality. But I’ve really had fun with the rest of the team since I’ve been here. I’m coming out of my shell a little more.

TSD: What’s been your favorite memory on the team so far?

Obenyah: Having classes with them in the summer, going to Top Golf, going to the Giants games, just stuff like that. I’ve had a good experience so far.

Olajuwon: Medball and volleyball.

Price: I’d say probably just being around all the freshmen. I feel like we have a really good relationship. We grew pretty close pretty fast.

Anderson: You know, it’s been just really fun overall. We all went to the Giants game in the summer, went to SF, so that was really fun.

Rogers: My favorite memory on the team so far was when we were playing pickleball in the summer.

TSD: Is there a particular upperclassman that has been great in teaching you and helping you learn the ropes?

Olajuwon: I’d say when I first came in it was pretty much Don [Donovan Young] and Anthony Batson. They did a good job of advising me and helping me through practice.

Anderson: Nick [Townsend] and Don [Donavan Young]. They’re my position, and Nick has been in college for four years, and Don’s gonna be a junior, so they’re older. They help me with all the little stuff and just everything I do to grow.

Obenyah: Evan Stinson. I think he has a really good attitude. He’s also not the only one. I feel like all the upperclassmen have done a really good job. They just help us, you know, adjust and acclimate to everything that’s going on.

TSD: What was the hardest practice you’ve had at Stanford, and what made it so difficult?

Anderson: Whenever we gotta do conditioning, that’s probably the hardest. The 11-6-4 is rough. That’s 11 touches in 60 seconds, and then 6 touches in 31 seconds, and four in 21 seconds.

Olajuwon: Probably the other day when we had the 11-6-4 conditioning at the end. That was crazy.

Rogers: Probably a couple weeks ago. Usually we do 11-6-4. But if someone in your group didn’t make it, you have to do it again, and we ended up doing it about four times.

TSD: If you could tell Stanford fans one thing about what to expect from this team, what would it be?

Olajuwon: That we’ll just go out there and try our best. We’re gonna play our hardest.

Price: Our goal is to make the NCAA tournament this year, but we need you guys’ support, so pull up to the games!

Anderson: I think definitely a lot of energy. We’re going to continue to grow every single game and be fun to watch.

Rogers: Expect us to go out and play hard and try and win some games. That’s really all we care about on the team, trying to win games, and you’ll see us going out there and competing every day.