Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston speak at McDAAG

Five-star signees Cason Wallace and Chris Livingston will represent the University of Kentucky at the 2022 McDonald’s All-American Games in Chicago on March 29. Prior to Tuesday evening’s prestigious game, though, the pair of future Wildcats sat down with KSR at Media Day on Monday.

Meeting virtually, Wallace and Livingston discussed Kentucky’s disappointing loss in the NCAA Tournament, their decisions to play for John Calipari, their anticipated roles in Lexington, and what it means to be McDonald’s All-Americans, among other topics.

You can find the complete transcripts from the interviews below.

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Cason Wallace

On multiple players from Texas making the McDonald’s All-American Game…

It’s a good feeling knowing that my guys that I grew up with playing against, playing with, we’re all here together. Just being on (the roster with them), it’s a good feeling.

On his brother’s role in his development…

It means everything. He’s been there, he’s the reason why I started playing basketball. I started playing basketball on his AAU team, playing up. Just watching him and how hard he worked. He dragged me to the gym even when I didn’t want to. To this day, he gives me tips and pointers about how I should go about the game of basketball. He’s done great things throughout his career, so I model my game after him a little bit.

On his relationship with Chris Livingston…

As a person, he’s a cool dude. We’ve been talking a little trash since we got here, but we know we’re gonna have to team up in the future. Seeing his game, having to guard him yesterday in the scrimmage, it was pretty cool. I’m ready to get to that dog mentality (at Kentucky), you know? We’re both dogs on the court, so being able to play alongside (Livingston) will be a good experience.

On their goals together once they make it to Kentucky…

We haven’t talked about that, but we both have common goals. I’m pretty sure we both want to go far into our college season and get out of there as soon as possible.

On his conversations with John Calipari and the staff following Kentucky’s loss in the NCAA Tournament…

They had a pretty good season after that COVID year where they struggled a little more than this year. It was more about how we’re going to go about my career at Kentucky. Getting me enrolled in school, when I’ve got to go there, how our workouts are gonna be, things like that. You know, just regular conversation.

On his anticipated role at Kentucky…

(Calipari) just told me to go be a player. I’m going to be on the court. Numbers don’t really matter, it’s just a spot that you’ve got to be in. Being able to go out there and be myself is something that I’m glad to have.

On who he’s recruiting with him to Kentucky…

Right now, nobody (laughs). I’m not a recruiter, I’m a player. I’m not a really good recruiter, I should say.

On what it means to be a McDonald’s All-American…

It means everything to me. It’s something I’ve dreamed about my whole life. My cousin made me write down goals that I wanted and that was the first thing I wrote down, so being able to be here and play and show everybody what I’m capable of is a very special moment for me.

On what made Kentucky the choice for him…

Their legacy and it’s always been a dream of mine. I like to stick to my path. If I put my mind to something, I want to go and get it. So I went and got it. It was kind of a no-brainer for me. I wanted it, I went and got it, so why not just go ahead and go there?

On why Kentucky was the school he wanted to push for…

I’ve seen the type of players they put into the league. I see how the players they put into the league, stick in the league. And that’s what I want to be. I want to stick in the league for many years.

On the pressure that comes with being at Kentucky…

Pressure is everything for me. I like pressure, really. Pressure is who I am. I’ve been dealing with pressure my whole life, so I’m good for a little challenge, you know? Adversity is pretty good. So just doing what I’m capable of and showing the fans and supporters that we’ll go pretty far next year.

Chris Livingston

On the move to Oak Hill and what it did for him as a player…

I think, for sure whether I was still in Akron or at Oak Hill, I’d definitely be an All-American. Oak Hill just put me on a bigger stage and platform as far as being able to play on ESPN and things like that. Those are a few positive things that Oak Hill did for me, but I definitely think I would be an All-American regardless.

On how the move to Oak Hill helped his game…

Just the competition level, they play in the NIBC. It’s a big conference full of big-time matchups and good players, you know what I’m saying? Playing against better coaches and things like that. Playing against better competition really helped me in that way, too.

On his conversations with John Calipari and the staff following Kentucky’s loss in the NCAA Tournament…

It was tough seeing Kentucky lose. I wasn’t discouraged about going there in any form or fashion. I’ve been looking forward to going to Kentucky and still am. I talked to Coach Cal like the next week, he came to my house and he talked to my family. It was a good conversation, talking about the season, next year, things like that, recruiting. He didn’t really want to talk much about the game, it was a tough spot. It was hard, you know, the way they lost and how they lost. But we talked a lot and I’m just looking forward to being at Kentucky whether they won the whole thing or didn’t, you know what I’m saying? It’s still positive thoughts about Kentucky.

On Kentucky’s recruiting for the 2022 class…

We definitely talked about the people that are possibly leaving and staying, talked about who will be going to the draft, obviously (talked) about somebody who already has transferred out of Kentucky. We talked about everything like that, the decommitment that happened early on. I will be able to impact Kentucky positively with whoever Coach brings in, you know what I’m saying? I’m confident in my game and who I am to play with the guys around me. I don’t think that’s really a big concern for me.

On how being at Oak Hill prepares him for Kentucky…

It definitely helps me take a load off offensively. Being at the school I was at before I had to do a lot more to impact winning but now I can do other stuff. I can scale back a little bit playing with high-level players, playing with a seven-footer, that helps a lot. It’s something you’ve always got to get used to as you reach the next level, from middle school to high school to college, even possibly the pro route. Playing with better players can always be beneficial, but you never want to blend in or waver your game. But you always want to be able to play with good players and not be selfish but cohesive. So that’s what I learned how to do. Feel like I did a good job at it.

On Calipari’s vision for his role at Kentucky…

Just being a wing, playing off the ball a lot, obviously. Being a guard and a forward, playing a versatile role. He showed me a lot of film on (Hamidou) Diallo when he was at Kentucky, Devin Booker, how he came off screens and got into catch-and-shoot situations. Being an athlete while also being a knockdown shooter off the ball. And of course, you know, you’ve got to play defense. That’s high school, college, or the next level after that. That’s a given. That’s the role he explained to me and the one I envision being in.

On Cason Wallace as a player and future teammate…

We don’t talk much about Kentucky, what’s going to happen next year. I’ve really just been gelling with him and just getting to know him because this is the first time I’ve met him in person. So just having fun, not really worrying about what’s going to happen at Kentucky and things like that. He’s a good person, great basketball player. Real physical, really strong guard. He loves to shoot floaters; it’s kinda automatic and that’s what Coach Cal loves and tells us to shoot a lot. He’s gonna be good in that aspect. He can shoot it, he plays great, tremendous defense, and he’s a good athlete. Kentucky fans and the coaches are definitely gonna be excited about having Cason next year too.

On the pressure that comes with being at Kentucky next season after a disappointing loss in the NCAA Tournament…

I apply some of that pressure to myself. I’ve seen the roster, what we’re going to have next year. I feel like we should do nothing but great things with that team, you know what I’m saying? It would be underachieving to not achieve some of the goals that I have set in my mind. I feel for what (the fans are) feeling. You know, I kind of agree with them, I just kind of want to do a lot better. I feel like we’ve got a good group to do that. I’m looking forward to it.

On his favorite part about this week at the McDonald’s All-American Games…

Having a ring ceremony, you know, we got to be recognized as McDonald’s All-Americans. It’s been a dream come true. We got to be with our family, they got to recognize us as well as we recognize our parents for working with us and making sure we reached this level and this point. We’ve done nothing on our own, so the ring ceremony was huge. (Former NBA player) Iman Shumpert talked to us, gave us some advice and some pointers. Those were my most loved moments of the McDonald’s All-American weekend.

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Kentucky is one of just six schools with at least two participants, with Arkansas, Duke and Kansas leading the way with three. Texas and UCLA also have two.

The McDonald’s All-American is set to tip-off tonight at 9 p.m. ET, live on ESPN.