GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Like teammate Daniel Turner (McCordsville, Ind.), the summer of 2010 was not ideal for Green Bay's Kam Cerroni (Sussex, Wis.). Unlike Turner, Cerroni did not even have a senior year of high school basketball to prepare him for the transition to the college game. Cerroni missed his senior year and all of the 2010 preseason with the Phoenix with a knee injury and didn't know if he would redshirt his first season at Green Bay.

His uncanny shooting ability and his confidence was enough for head coach Brian Wardle to activate him 10 games into the 2010-11 season, and despite an up-and-down freshman campaign, Cerroni knows his experience on the court should help him as his career continues. As a freshman, Cerroni appeared in 19 games for the Phoenix and knocked down nine three pointers, including three in a home game against Wright State.

Along with his teammates, Cerroni and his teammates are going through voluntary workouts and pick up games while attending summer classes. Throughout the summer, GreenBayPhoenix.com will catch up with members of the men's basketball team with a weekly Q and A.

How has the offseason gone so far? What have your goals been in terms of individual improvement?
"I've been working on trying to get my conditioning up so we can run a lot this year as well as becoming a more consistent shooter and trying to get to the basket. Those are the three main things that I have been working on."

Last season you did not have much of an offseason because of your injury. How has it been different this year and more beneficial having the time both on the court and in the weight room?
"It is different because last season at this time because I was just training myself to get back to running and not to play Division I basketball. That is a big step that I have been taking this summer. It is nice to be able to work on your weaknesses instead of just rehabbing a knee, and it is also nice getting to play with the guys because I obviously wasn't able to play with them last offseason."

You missed preseason practice and were not sure if you were going to redshirt or not. This season you know what to expect. How is that different?
"It is a mindset going in and knowing what to expect and knowing how my teammates play. I know what they are going to bring and they know my game and what I am going to bring."

Despite missing many of the preseason practices, you were able to start 26 games as a freshman. Were you surprised by how much you played and contributed in your first year?
"I think I came in with the mindset with that I wanted to do whatever I could to help the team, and it ended up being that my role was starting and to play some minutes. I was really happy about that, but at the same time it is all about the team."

What did you learn as a freshman that will make you better as a sophomore? What about the Horizon League and Division I basketball in general did you learn?
"About the Horizon League, I learned how big time the league is and how important the regular season is to get a good seed and to do well going into the conference tournament. I learned the importance of playing well down the stretch. In terms of Division I basketball, I just learned that it is faster and more physical."