From high school at Downers Grove South to club ball

for his dad Mike Mullins’ Illinois Wolves to college at

Southern Illinois, Bryan Mullins has had found success

wherever he’s stepped on to the court. And now, he’s out

to do the same at the highest level. We caught up with

Mullins following a workout at ATTACK Athletics and

talked about his pro chances, his return to basketball after

missing the last port of the college season with a stress

fracture and much more.

Q. How’s this whole professional basketball process

been?

A. It’s exciting definitely. Being able to work out here

with all these guys, especially before the NBA pre-draft

camp that was held here. You get to go against great

players every day you’ve watched the last couple years

on TV and played against in college. It’s definitely a cool

process. It’s a lot of hard work, though.

Q. Has been a ‘Wow’ moment working out here with

some of the NBA guys?

A. You kind of get used to it now. But when you’re lifting

in the weight room, and you see Tracy McGrady, Antoine Walker, Andre Iguodala, Luther Head, all those

guys lifting next to you and talking to you, you kind of take a second look and think about it. When you first

got here, you kind of knew it was different from college and you were at another level.

Q. Being here, do you know realize that you’re that much closer to your dream of playing professionally?

A. After college, you don’t know what’s next, and you get here and you see how you compare against people

and realize that you are close to what you’ve been working for the last four years. It’s definitely exciting, but

then again it’s kind of grind because you don’t know where you’re going to end up. You’re working for something,

but you don’t really know what yet.

Q. Was there more of an uncertainty with this process coming off your injury at Southern Illinois?

A. It was frustrating. I think it hurt me a lot in terms of getting workouts, guys not seeing me. When you’re out

your senior year and your team doesn’t do that well, it’s definitely not a good thing for you. I’m just glad I’m

healthy. I’m healthy really for the first time in a year, a year and a half. My body feels great. Coming to the

gym twice a day is a great feeling, being able to workout.

Q. Was there something that kept you going after suffering the two injuries?

A. It was just frustrating to watch. We had such a young team last year. Watching those guys and not being

able to help them. After the season, I started to feel better. I still knew I worked hard enough that I would still

be get a couple looks and still get that shot. I came up here every weekend during school to rehab. I figured I’d

give it one more shot and see what happens.

Q. You really had to dedicate yourself to this?

A. We’re probably here at 8:30 a.m. and leave around 4:30. It’s a long day, but it’s definitely worth it. It’s a

couple months. You’re not playing for a scholarship now; you’re playing for a job for money. It’s a different

process, but it’s still basketball, and it’s still fun.

Q. What was the hardest part getting back?

A. As terms of my buddy, I just needed to get healthy. I had so many weak spots and spots where I

overcompensated because of my injury. I needed to get all my muscles equal. They did a great job of working

with me. Just having the confidence that I was going to be healthy, that I could push off everything, just the

mindset that now it’s time to go play.

Q. Was there a time that it clicked for you?

A. I had a couple good days in a row around the second week I was. I played well in pick-up games and got

used to it. I got my confidence up. Once you get your confidence back and your mind set, it really turns into a

mental part of the game.

Q. Looking back at your Southern Illinois career are there mixed feelings?

A. I loved it there. I never wish I went somewhere else or anything like that. I love the school, my coach and

all the guys I played with. Obviously, I didn’t want to get hurt, but some things you can’t control. It was unfortunate

that I did get hurt, but my time there was the best four years of my life. I’ll never regret it.

Q. There were rumors you might come back for the conference tournament. How true were they?

A. I tried to practice a couple days before, but being in a boot for five weeks I couldn’t run. I couldn’t sprint.

My muscles were so used to not doing anything. They weren’t able to push off or anything like that. If there

was any way I could spring or anything or just do anything like that, I would have done it. It was kind of a

scary feeling. I tried to go off both feet for a layup, and it was like you couldn’t move.

Q. What was it like having to watch at the end?

A. Kind of painful. You can only do so much from the bench. This year we had so many young guys, and they

didn’t understand how to win, how to play. It was good for them because they got to through it. They’re all

freshmen. They’ll be a lot better next year. But just being a captain for that team, you wish you had left on a

better mark. It’s still four years and a good four years.

Q. Is there something you’re more proud of?

A. I think people respected me there. A lot of people came up

to me every single day after the games in the streets to tell me

how much they appreciated me and the hard work I’ve done.

Especially when I got hurt, other teams in the conference,

stuff like that, I got a lot of compliments. I think I was a good

ambassador for the school. The Sweet 16 is something I’ll

never forget, though.

Q. You’ve always been known for your work ethic. What

drives you?

A. I just want to be the best I can be. I don’t like losing

obviously. Competition, I think I can win. If there’s something

your weak at, all you have to do is spend a couple hours

to get better at. There’s no reason why I can’t get better at this

or I can’t get better at that. If all it takes is more time in the

gym or more shots up, I’ll do the work, and I want to be the

best.

Q. What do you feel you’ll provide a team at the next level?

A. Definitely a leader. I’ll be able to run a team. When I come

into the game, we’re not going to lose the lead. If we’re

losing, I think we’ll be able to get the lead back. I think

defensively I’ll be able to set the tone and keep my man out

of the lane, which is very important.

Q. Do you feel like you can play in the

NBA?

A. Definitely, I think with the right

team and the right club. Obviously, you

got to find the right fit. Just one coach.

All it takes is one coach that likes you,

one coach to keep you. Obviously,

that’s my goal. That’s why I’m working

out here. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll do

whatever is next and maybe get another

shot next year. My goal right now is to

play here.

Q. What influence has your dad had on

your basketball career?

A. He’s been everything, really. He

coached me all my life basically since

second/third game, local basketball at

Downers Grove and everything like

that. He’s always been there for me,

been to all my college games. He’s

been my coach, but more importantly

he’s been a dad to me more than a

coach. He always gave me a hug after

the game no matter how good or how

bad I played. He gave me good advice.

He taught me to be a good person more

than a good basketball player.