Gilbert Has Seen, Hurt It All

NORMAN, Okla. -- Without question the most respected player on the OU men's basketball team among staff and players, Johnnie Gilbert is finally concluding his long stint as a member of the program.

Gilbert, a humble, lead-by-example captain who is in his fifth year as a Sooner, has seen just about everything during his time in Norman. He's been to a Final Four and an Elite Eight, and has been a part of three Big 12 Tournament championship teams.

And the Minneapolis, Minn., native has become intimately acquainted with the Lloyd Noble Center training room and area hospitals. One of the most diversely and chronically injured Sooners 18th-year trainer Alex Brown has encountered, there aren't many parts of the body Gilbert hasn't hurt.

A check of Gilbert's medical history reveals a list of injuries to both knees, both feet, his right ankle, both shoulders, both wrists, both thumbs, his back, his neck, his groin and his abdomen. And that doesn't include the multiple facial lacerations that have required stitches.

However, Gilbert, who sat out the majority of OU's 2001-02 Final Four season because of injuries, has persevered through it all. The 6-8 lefty says he would even do everything all over again.

Question: Does it seem like you've really been at OU for almost five years?
Gilbert: "It seems like everything's gone so fast. It doesn't seem like I've been here that long. I've had a great five years here and I wouldn't trade it for the world."

Question: Looking back, how have you progressed in your time here?
Gilbert: "I've grown a lot as a person and as a man, understanding how to deal with my teammates and learning what being a family really means. Because I'm not with my immediate family right now, this is my family. We're like brothers."

Question: Who are some of the people with whom you've developed close friendships at OU?
Gilbert: "I'd say Aaron McGhee, Daryan Selvy, Tim Heskett, Hollis Price, Jabahri Brown and Jason Detrick, who I lived with for two years. I'd say all the guys I've played with, really. I even still talk to guys like Matt Gipson, who left after a couple of years. I've still got a bond with every player."

Question: How come you didn't mention Alex Brown - your trainer?
Gilbert: "Oh, A.B.! Definitely A.B! I thought you were talking about just teammates. If you want to extend it out like that, I'll say Alex Brown and Dr. Brock Schnebel and all the doctors. I haven't forgotten about them!"

Question: Serving as a captain, how has this season been different for you in terms of your approach?
Gilbert: "I just try to do the right things off the court and set a prime example for the guys. I'm graduating in May. I try to tell them that there's a life after basketball and you have to prepare yourself for it. That's what we're in school for. We're blessed with this opportunity to play basketball, but it's only two to four hours out of your day. You still have to live your life right off the court."

Question: Speaking of life after basketball, what do you see yourself doing a year from now?
Gilbert: "I've been thinking about a lot of things, but at the present time I really do want to get my master's. I'll probably take a year off from school, hang out in Minnesota and figure out where I want to head with things. A couple of different graduate programs have interested me - the human relations program and an urbanized planning program. I like Oklahoma and all, but I'm a traveling man and I think I'd like to get out and go somewhere else for those two years. Maybe Florida."

Question: What's been the toughest part about playing for the OU basketball program?
Gilbert: "It's a mental strain a lot of times. You want to play well for your teammates each and every day. You just can't do it right all the time, and that kind of hurts. The good part, though, is that you've got another day to prove yourself."

Question: When you're all finished here, what are you going to look back at and cherish the most?
Gilbert: "Being a part of this family. I'm not going to call it a team because it's really a family. Getting to talk to the coaches and players each and every day is something I cherish right now - just knowing that they're checking up on you to make sure you're all right, or you're checking on them and asking if they're okay. "

Question: What are your top two or three memories from your playing days here?
Gilbert (laughing): "I remember back to the Missouri game a few years ago, watching Jameel Heywood hit the game-winner up at their place."

Question: What do you remember more - the actual shot or his reaction after making it?
Gilbert: "His reaction, definitely his reaction. He was running with a big, old smile, looking for the TV camera. I'll never forget that. And then just being in the Final Four and having an opportunity to be a part of that. I have a lot of memories, but it's hard to pinpoint just a few."

Question: How tough was that for you - having to redshirt on one of the best teams in school history and not get to actually play in the Final Four?
Gilbert: "It was tough that I had to sit out that year regardless of the fact it was one of the best teams in school history. I was really anxious to be out there with the guys and help them any way I could. But they treated me like everyone else and I'll never forget that. I was with them for the whole ride."

Question: Are you glad that you chose OU?
Gilbert: "If I had to do it all over again I'd choose OU. Being able to go to the Final Four and the Elite Eight, and being a part of a prestigious program, I'm happy with the decision I made."

Question: You've gathered a few nicknames over the years. What are they?
Gilbert: "Let's see. I've got 'Franchise' - that's a new one that Kellen (Sampson) gave me. I've got 'Jilla" - that one I got before I came here but people didn't really start saying it until I got here. I've got 'Old Man' and there's 'Been Awhile.' And Coach Sampson calls me 'Seabiscuit.' I'm stilly trying to figure out that one. I guess I'll have to rent the movie. I like 'Jilla' because it's unique."

Question: Some of the answers you gave in your media guide Q & A have to be made up. Is Beaches really your favorite movie?
Gilbert (laughing): "Beaches is my favorite movie. I'd say that is maybe one of about three things on that list that are true."

Question: So C-SPAN is not your favorite TV channel?
Gilbert: "C-SPAN is NOT my favorite channel."

Question: With all your injuries over the years, is it harder to get out of bed in the morning now than it was when you were a freshman?
Gilbert: "I've got a lot of wear and tear on me, so it's a little harder. But I get to wake up to a beautiful day every day. I'm anxious to get to practice. I've always got something to look forward to that motivates me."

Question: Do you miss Minnesota winters?
Gilbert (without hesitation): "I definitely have. I'm anxious to get back and hang out there in the winter time - get back on the snowmobile and maybe go ice fishing one more time."

Question: So would a week's worth of zero-degree temperatures be enough to make you want to head back to Oklahoma?
Gilbert: "Yeah, I'm definitely only going to do a week. Then it's off to somewhere warm again."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors