I’ve been a fan of Tre Simmons aka Tre Murder since his playing days at the University of Washington, where he departed as the school record holder in single-season 3-pointers with 80 in 2005. My first official introduction to him was on a hot summer day in August. Tre was a few hours away from getting married to my childhood friend and Jefferson High classmate Creseta Simmons. Creseta has always been supportive of 503tv and insisted that we make the drive up to Seattle to take photos and help capture her special day. I walked into Tre’s hotel around 3pm. As I got off the elevator I realized that I forgot his room number, as I pulled out my phone to give him a ring I heard Mac Dre blasting from a nearby room with several voices singing along. I walked in to see him and his groomsmen enjoying themselves as if there was no wedding to prepare for, they were singing, dancing and reminiscing on old times.

On a side note, his groomsmen, including Jamal Crawford and Will Conroy would give your favorite team’s back court work!

After introducing myself to the groom I was shocked at how calm and collected he was. Apparently that isn’t just his on-court demeanor, that’s who he is. A gamer, unafraid of the big moment. That could not have been clearer than when he came to Portland Community College over the summer for the I-5 showdown and gave the Portland team 35 points on his way to victory in front of a raucous home crowd.Truth be told, he wasn’t even going to play in that game. However, after seeing the crowd and the fact that the Portland team won the first game decisively (there were two Portland teams and two Seattle teams), he had to rep for his city.

We were fortunate enough to catch up with Tre for a quick interview so our readers could hear from the man himself.

503tv: For those that aren’t familiar with you can you share your basketball resume with us?

Tre: Man it’s pretty long. I played for University of Washington from 03-05 before was a tough journey. But that’s another story. But I been playing overseas for 8 yrs.. I have 2 championships in Israel (back to back on different teams), I have 2 back to back championships in Czech Republic, 2 Czech cups also, I have a European championship also when I played with Aaron Miles last year (MVP of the finals). My journey has been pretty good.

503tv: Growing up in Seattle what hoopers did you look up to?

Tre: If your talking about Seattle hoopers I always looked up to Jamal Crawford in high school, Doug Wrenn was a beast too.. My cousin Antwine Williams, he played with Jason terry in high school. But I didn’t take hoop seriously until the 11th grade so I really didn’t care too much.

503tv: You have been a professional basketball player for years now. How does it feel to be able to provide for your family doing what you love? Is or has the NBA ever been a goal of yours?

Tre: It feels great to provide for my loved ones sometimes it’s overwhelming haha but it’s all good. I really didn’t care about going to the NBA or nothing my goal was to just have a good job and take care of my family.

503tv: How is life overseas? What do you find the toughest about it?

Tre: life overseas is way different than back home. Sometimes u go to the store and can’t find what u looking for haha.. Craving for places that u have back home that isn’t here. This ain’t for everybody, and everybody can’t do what we do.. The hardest part is being away from ur family, but I been doing it for so long I’m use to it.. My family comes and visits so it’s ok.

503tv: We couldn’t interview you without bringing up the Portland/Seattle rivalry, what is your impression of the rivalry and and how it has helped to shape NW basketball.

Tre: Man honestly I wasn’t even going to play in that game but I seen the atmosphere and it just took me in, I love playing in environments like that, I think these rivalry games will show the rest of the country we got as much talent as anywhere else. I think the northwest will be more recognized sooner than later.

We’d like to thank Tre for agreeing to this interview. We’re most impressed with the fact that playing ball doesn’t define him. He’s a good dude that happens to be really good at basketball. As a Northwest representative we salute him and want nothing but the best for him and his family.