Somewhere along his journey to the NBA Draft Frank Kaminsky made a fantastic social adaptation. From growing up in Naperville to prepping at Benet Academy (Lisle, IL) to his four years at the University of Wisconsin, Frank the Tank grew into an affable personality with a quirky sense of humor.
Some considered him awkward due to his height. So Kaminsky used comedy as a way to fit in among his peers.
“I think I have a pretty unique story, coming from pretty much out of nowhere, and being able to leave my college career pretty much on top,” he said during our exclusive interview.
“I’m just always joking around, that’s how my whole family is, we’re always joking around about everything,” the former Badgers big man continued.
Related: where Frank Kaminsky might get selected in the NBA Draft.
“That’s how my personality is and I’m not going to change who I am because of the situation I’m in. I kind of stay true to who I am and it’s worked out, some people seem to like me, so I think it’s going well.”
It’s sound advice for recent graduates of any school at any level; in any field. Among college basketball stars, Kaminsky is as good a role model for kids as anybody else out there.
Yes, the NBA Draft is a graduation class of sorts. (Except here all the grads make an obscene amount money fresh out of school) And although everyone is “the jock” in this class, you have valedictorians, salutatorians, best dressed, best dancer, and of course class clowns.
“When I was younger, I really kind of had to be a goofball in order to fit in with some people. I kind of took on that class clown role, and I’ve always kind of had that goofy attitude with me the whole time,” Kaminsky said.
Before he became the 2015 Collegiate Player of the Year Kaminsky overcame many self-doubts during childhood. Frank was never the strongest or fastest kid, and he struggled to grow into his unusually tall frame at a young age. Led by tough love and unwavering support from his parents, Kaminsky persevered through his early years before averaging 19 points and 8 rebounds per game as a senior at Wisconsin.
Frank Kaminsky is now projected to go anywhere from #11 to #13 overall in Thursday night’s draft. Here’s where we have him slotted in our latest mock. Speed Stick highlights the story of the purposeful moments that have mattered most in Frank’s journey in the video below:
Be sure to check out the Kaminsky highlight reel too:
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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