Each month, Drake Athletics and the Principal Financial Group features one of the Bulldogs' international student-athletes. This month, men's basketball junior center
Jacob Enevold is the Principal Financial Group featured international student-athlete.
Enevold, a native of Lunderskov, Denmark, has started 51 of 56 games over the last two seasons. Averaging 5.6 rebounds and 5.2 points a game this season, Enevold has been a critical part of the men's basketball team. Enevold recently answered some questions about his experience as an international student-athlete.
Why did you choose to attend Drake? "Coach [Todd] Townsend started recruiting me. He really put an effort towards my academics, and that's why I chose Drake. I felt like they wanted to work to help me."
Why did you choose to start playing basketball? "I played soccer until I was about 11 years old and then stopped playing sports for a year. My parents told me I needed to play a sport to stay active. I was tall so, naturally I chose basketball and I was lucky enough to have a coach that made basketball interesting."
Was there any particular reason you wanted to come to the U.S. to play basketball and attend school? "It's always been a dream or a goal of mine to come over here and play basketball. To pursue an education and develop my basketball skills."
What are some differences in basketball between the U.S. and Denmark? "A lot of the physicality has been taken out of the game over here, which isn't a bad thing. I have the adjustment though every year coming back from playing with the Danish National team at home. We also have less time on the shot clock, with only 24 seconds. My freshman year it was tough getting used to the speed of games and how fast it moves with more athletic guys."
What are some of your favorite things about Drake? "That it's a small school and you get to have relationships with your professors that you probably wouldn't have at other schools. It gives me an opportunity to learn more and have someone I can trust and lean on when stuff isn't going right in a class. I also like the athletics community and how we are so tight-knit. Everyone kind of knows everyone."
How do you feel having an international experience will aid you in your future goals/career? "I've lived away from home since I was 14 years old and I've just matured faster than most guys in college, so I'm able to get by by myself a little bit more. Basketball-wise, I've developed a lot when I came to the U.S. I've played against top-level competition with the Danish National Team so I had an idea coming here of how tough you had to play to be successful."
What are your plans for the future with your degree and basketball? "I'd love to take my TV/Radio production degree back home and work for a well-known station called Denmark Radio and work with them in whatever way possible. For basketball I'm just going with the flow, it's hard to have an idea about the future."
What are some challenges you face on and off the court? "The way you interact with people in the U.S. is a lot different than back home. Back home you wouldn't start a small conversation when you just casually pass people. That was hard to get used to. I thought 'what's the deal with everyone wanting to know how I'm doing?' But now even I do it. On the court, it's just a very different game."
What are some other hobbies or activities you have outside of basketball? "I enjoy listening to old records on my vinyl player, video games and watching Netflix. Right now I'm really into developing websites as well."
What is your favorite part about playing basketball? "Winning. I love the game, but winning is why I play. I like the style of the game and the way that it's played as a team sport. You can't win without having teammates that are willing to play as a team."
What are some goals for the rest of the basketball season? "Being consistent with my play and being able to maintain a certain level of play. I've had a tough time the last few years being consistent with what I'm capable of and that's definitely a goal of mine."
