Freddie Perry keeps busy. The Eastern sophomore guard didn’t last long as a team manager for the men’s basketball team, joining the active roster his freshman year when the team was short on players. The physical education major and aspiring coach also works several jobs and is a member of Phi Beta Sigma. Last but not least, Perry was also crowned Homecoming King last month. The East St. Louis native recently talked with staff reporter Mike Mears.

You started out as a manager, and now you’re on the team. How did that happen?

I got a call from one of the coaches when I was headed home one weekend, and he asked me to start practicing with the team because they were short on practice players. So I came, started practicing, played a little bit and they saw that I had a little game, and they asked me to continue to practice and play with them. Then one day he came to me in the locker room and he said, “You got your suit?” I said, “Coach, I don’t own a suit.” He was talking about my actual jersey. He said, “It’s in the back, go ahead and get it.” So I went and got it and suited up.

How did the transition go from being a manager to being a player?

It was nice, I really liked it. I was shocked, I never thought that I’d be playing Division I college basketball.

You were homecoming king. What was that like?

That was an experience. That was really off the wall when it came to me because I didn’t think I was going to win, first of all. Then I thought about all the criteria I had to go through, the meetings. They asked me about all the different stuff I do on campus. I’m in a lot of different organizations, I work and I’m just a person that people know as a nice, friendly person. I was shocked when they called my name. I didn’t expect it at all.

What organizations in campus are you involved in?

I work at the Student Rec Center, I work at the food court and I work at Panther Catering. I’m in MTA, I’m in the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and I’m on the basketball team.

So you keep yourself busy.

Pretty busy.

If you could be homecoming king or lead the team in scoring, which would you choose?

(Laughs). Oh, wow, that’s a tough question. To be homecoming king or lead the team in scoring. I’d be both. As long as we’re winning.

Eastern was 10-20 last year, what do you guys have to do to improve?

I think this year with a lot of us coming back from last year we all have that year under us playing together as one. We know how different people will play in different situations. I figure we’re going to improve that record a lot. Much better.

Who on the team are you closest to?

I’m close to all of my teammates. They all like me. I like all of them. We all get along.