10 Questions with Muhlenberg’s Jay’Daniel Mosquera, presented by the Weeber/Langdon Team of Merrill Lynch
MikeDragoSports.com goes one-on-one with a Berks basketball player to find out what’s on his or her mind — on the court and off.
Jay’Daniel Mosquera, Muhlenberg
Senior guard
Q: Do you think opponents underestimate you because of your size, and how do you try to take advantage of that?
I feel like everyone who goes against me thinks they’re just going to look right past me; that puts a chip on my shoulder. I use that to my advantage because it instills that extra motivation to go out there and dominate them to earn that respect.
Q: By the way, you’re listed on the roster as 5-9. How tall are you, really?
I’m actually around 5-4, 5-5 butttt I feel the way I play I seem taller.
Q: What did you do in the offseason to improve your game?
I worked hard to put muscle on. I went to Garage Strength in the mornings, worked out during the early afternoon and then would either work out with the team or play a summer league games in the evening
Q: You obviously spend a lot of time on basketball. How do you balance that and your school work?
Balancing basketball and school is very difficult at times. In my freshman year, my grades slipped and it opened my eyes to time management. School is time for school work and basketball is time for basketball.
Q: Which of your teammates would win an NBA All-Star style 3-point shooting contest?
Oh, for sure me. You could throw in Xzayvion Robertson, Luis Valentin, Alex Collado, and Eric Branch.
Q: When did people start calling you Dandan, and do you like the nickname?
My actual name is Jay’Daniel, a mix between my mother’s name (Jannette) and my father’s name (Daniel). Since it was too long and close to Daniel my mother started calling me Dandan. I love the nickname since it has a sentimental attachment to it. In school I get called JD by staff and students
Q: If you could be recruited by any college basketball coach in the country, who would it be?
Auburn University. What Bruce Pearl did with smaller guards in recent years would be a perfect fit for me. Honestly, I would take any opportunity regardless of division or school.
Q: Which of your teammates makes you laugh the most at practice?
The funniest teammate would definitely have to be Jermaine Towles. He either makes a funny expression or jokes in a serious moment. Either we get blasted by Coach Flowers or take a test in school.
Q: Who’s the best player you have had to guard in a game?
It would have to be Stevie Mitchell, in my sophomore year, even though it was for a couple of possessions. For the full game it would have to be Nate Ellis from William Allen the summer of my junior year.
10 Questions, presented by the Weeber/Langdon Team of Merrill Lynch, will appear on MikeDragoSports.com throughout the 2022-2023 basketball season.
