Emmanuel Negedu loves to please people, and that means pleasing fans.

Negedu's basketball skills and athleticism will surely do that. Muscular at 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, Negedu possesses a 40-inch standing vertical leap and can run a 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds.

And then there is his carnival-like soccer/basketball act - the one where Negedu alley-oop passes to himself for a dunk with a kick off the back of his foot or a bounce off the top of his head.

His personality makes him both pleasant and approachable, and the Tennessee freshman seems to truly enjoy interacting with fellow students and fans.

Negedu's English is somewhat broken (he's from Nigeria), but that doesn't dissuade him from striking up conversations or repeating himself when necessary.

As much as Negedu appreciates the opportunity he has found in America, UT fans will soon appreciate the value of having Negedu on their team.

Negedu left Kaduna (population: 1.6 million) four years ago. He moved from Nigerian Army barracks, where he lived with his father, a soldier, to New Hampshire's Brewster Prep Academy.

Question: What has been the best thing about coming to America?

Answer: It has been education. Before I came here, I never saw myself going to college. I learned to read very well and study. Before, I couldn't even write very well.

Q: What has been the biggest surprise at UT?

A: I thought I would get a scholarship to play ball, and that would be most all I would do. I didn't think it would be that hard, but my first day of school I realized I had to get myself straight. I have realized you have to work for everything.

Q: What would have become of you had you stayed in Nigeria?

A: I would have probably become a solider. My dad was a soldier and so are two of my brothers.

Q: What do you see yourself doing after basketball?

A: I will try to get myself with my people back home and help kids with basketball and soccer so they can come here and achieve an education. They can use their sports for that, and people will help them like people have helped me.

Q: How often do you see your parents?

A: They came for my graduation at Brewster in May. I don't know if they are going to be back up here. It costs a lot of money, and we are poor.

Q: What was Kaduna like?

A: It was Muslim and Christian, it is a violent city that you would be scared of. I lived in the barracks. There is a stereotype of 'Barrack Boys' in the city. You would not invite me over to your house because I lived in the barracks. That's the way it was.

(Editors note: Kaduna is a state capital that has been the scene of deadly religious battles between Muslims and Christians, particularly since 2001. At least 1,000 people were killed in a riot in February of 2000. The the city continues to be segregated.)

Q: What is your favorite food in America?

A: I don't have one. I just eat - the food is to survive. I don't really like the taste of the food in America. Our food in Nigeria was more natural. American food has more chemicals.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.