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HometownCelebrity

New Money By Adam Brugman

San Diego native Jared Dudley has excelled at every level throughout his young basketball career and is ready make an impact with the Phoenix Suns this upcoming season.

Dudley graduated from Horizon High School in 2003, where he was awarded San Diego Section Player of the Year and Division IV Player of the Year, as he led the team in back-to-back state Division IV titles. Upon graduation he moved east to attend Boston College on a basketball scholarship, finishing his collegiate season with the fifth ranking on Boston College’s career scoring list with 2,071 points, and the title of ACC Player of the Year. The dream Jared set for himself in the fourth grade became a reality in 2007, when he was drafted 22nd overall in the NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. He was quickly traded to the Phoenix Suns in 2008, with Jason Richardson in exchange for Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, and Sean Singletary.

With the impending motivation that his contract year was before him, Dudley took to this offseason with a new level of dedication by working out two to three times a day and improving his eating habits. We sat down with Dudley during his Training Camp in La Jolla and we were quite impressed with his weight loss and his humbling personality; the personality that has gained him distinct popularity on his entertaining Twitter account.

If you have a Twitter account, follow @JaredDudley619 and find out why over 50,000 people, and growing, already have. Jared takes you behind the scenes and interviews teammates in a feature he’s named, JMZ/JSPN. He recently bought and gave away 100 jerseys to his followers this offseason, and it seems as if he may be giving away tickets to every Suns away and home game.

Moments before the magazine was set to print, Jared signed a five-year deal worth $21.5 million that goes into effect next season!

Get to know San Diego’s own Jared Dudley, one of the best 3-Point shooters in the game.

Birthdate: 7/10/85
Position: Forward
Height: 6’7”

Favorite Happy Hour: RA Sushi

Favorite Club: FLUXX. It’s the best club in San Diego, you feel like you’re in Vegas.
Favorite Restaurant: El Indio (Mission Hills). I’ve been going there for years.
Favorite Cocktail: Grey Goose and Cranberry

What is something only a local would know about San Diego?
Muni Gym, Balboa Park (Basketball Court)

How often do you get back to San Diego?
My mom and brother still live here, so in the offseason at least four weeks out of the summer. I’ll be buying out here soon, so I’ll be here more in the future.

How is living in Phoenix?
I love it! It’s good weather, it’s terrible in the summertime, but I’m never there.

What’d your off-season workout regimen consist of?
I worked out four to five times a week and ate healthy 70% of the time. I try to improve one to two things every year; I’m not a guy that tries to improve five things. This year it was my body and losing weight, and just watching what I eat.

I worked out all the time even when I was on vacation, I did cardio once or twice a day. In August, I worked out three times a day, so it was constant cardio and smaller food portions.

What items in your fridge can you not live without?
Diet Coke. I drink it all the time.

What’s your goal(s) for the upcoming season?
Be healthy! I know if I’m healthy, I’ll have a good season. Injury free and shoot the ball at least 40% from the 3-point line. It’s a big year!

Last year, your teammates had an over/under that you would get two slam dunks over the course of the season. Now tell us, what’s the over/under on slam dunks for you this year?
Ten.

We like the confidence, but we’ll take the under. Who would you most want to slam dunk on?
Dwight Howard. Nine times out of ten, I would lay it up or shoot over him, but if I catch him slipping that one time.

Who was your Favorite NBA team growing up?
Bulls and Lakers, I was a Jordan fan.

Who was your role model growing up or might still be?
I try to watch people and learn from their successes and failures; so my mom, brother, and dad. In doing that I try to see what they were successful at and what their failures are and try to live my life. There isn’t just that one person I looked up to.

If you had the number one pick in fantasy basketball, who would you pick? LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, or Steve Nash?
I think Kobe is the best right now, but LeBron then Steve.

You were all over the sports blogs and sports channels when you tweeted that you had insider information that LeBron James was indeed going to the Knicks. What happened with your prediction?
My source(s) was incorrect; it was someone in the Knicks organization. I got 5,000 followers though because of it in 48 hours.

What has the better news twitter, you (JMZ/JSPN) or Ocho Cinco (OCNN)?
I think Ocho does a great job, but the difference between his and mine is that I actually give you coverage on players. I don’t see him doing any behind the scenes coverage with T.O. I did a video yesterday on the rookie hazing with the costumes they were wearing; you see Nash in it, Turkoglu, Amare. He has over a million followers because of Dancing with the Stars and he’s a Pro Bowler, but if I ever make it as an All-Star, mine would become that way.

Who’s been the worst interviewee on JMZ/JSPN to date?
Turkoglu, his English isn’t the best—or any other European.

Does Grant Hill really drink Sprite?
I’ve never seen him.

Who has the most groupies on the team?
Last year it was Amare, but obviously the bigger the name, the more you’ll have.

What’s been your career highlight to date?
Getting drafted to the NBA.

What’s your most prized possession that you’ve purchased?
Xbox.

Who’s your celebrity crush?
J. Lo or Beyonce. J. Lo is getting kind of old though; I’m not going to lie.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Cookies, Brownies, Sundaes and the show “Flash Forward” on ABC. It’s a great show!

Best hip-hop artist out right now?
Jay-Z or Lil’ Wayne.

Best song of all-time?
“2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted” by 2Pac.

Who is the best and worst dressed on the team?
Worst is Channing Frye by far and best style is J-Rich (Jason Richardson).

Who has the worst car on the team?
Robin Lopez, it’s a Corolla or Camry - he can barely fit in it.

How has your life changed now that you’re in the NBA?
I can basically do whatever I want, whenever I want. It’s changed for the better; all the desires and wants I ever had, I am now doing them.

What would be you be doing if you weren’t playing basketball for a living?
I’d try to become an Agent, Broadcaster or Assistant Coach at the college level.

Any plans of starting your own charity?
I will get one started after my next contract, something with younger kids in San Diego.

Life after Basketball:
I want to try something like the “Best Damn Sports Show,” something that is comedy and sports related, nothing too serious.

Favorite motivational quote:
“Take care of your feet and your feet will take care of you.”— Michael Jordan

Anything else we missed or you would like to add?
Shout out to DJ Bamboozle, he’s coming to a club or bar near you!

CLICK HERE FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN AUTOGRAPHED BASKETBALL SIGNED BY JARED DUDLEY!