MBB: Dain Dainja on why he chose Baylor

Dain Dainja gave his verbal pledge to Scott Drew and Baylor.  The 6-10 260 lb big from Minneapolis, Minnesota chose Baylor over offers from Ohio St, Louisville, Marquette, Arizona St, Clemson, Georgetown, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa St, Kansas St, Minnesota, Texas, NC State, Syracuse, Tennessee,  Texas A&M, West Virginia, Xavier and a host of other schools.  

I am going to start with a very important question:  what is your wingspan?  And a follow-up is your accurate height and weight?  

Dainja:  My wingspan is 7-6.  I’m 6-10 and weight 260.  

Why Baylor?  I know they have recruited you for a while now.  I remember when you went to the big man camp in Waco.  But what made you pull the trigger for the Bears?

Dainja:  Baylor has always felt like home to me from the jump.  Their coaches have always kept it real to me and they have always wanted the best for me on and off the floor.  It’s crazy because they truly care about how I am as an individual and what my career will look like after I play ball, and they have been the only school to care like that.  

Their facilities are high quality and they have a great plan for strength development and nutrition.  Just hearing from the coaches that they will take care of me like family and help me get to the next level of life and basketball.  

What areas do you feel like you need to work on before college?

Dainja:  I need to work on my conditioning and getting my body in tip top shape.  I also need to become a better leader and play with a constant high motor even when things don’t go my way.  

Do you have plans for a course of study at Baylor yet?

Dainja:  Kinesiology or Finance.  

Are there any NBA players you want to pattern your game after?

Dainja:  I’m one of a kind.  Just trying to be the best version of me.  

What do you like to do outside of basketball?

Dainja:  Just hanging with my friends.