NEXT LEVEL WITH KIKKO HAYDAR
BY BRADLEY LINAM
Kikko Haydar is a very familiar name to basketball fans in Northwest Arkansas. The former All-State basketball star from Fayetteville High School was also a two-time team captain for the University of Arkansas Men’s Basketball Team during his playing days on the Hill.
These days, Kikko is attending medical school in Little Rock. He’s busy balancing school work and spending time with his wonderful family. We recently had the opportunity to talk to Kikko about his playing career and memories of growing up in Northwest Arkansas.
The Varsity Report:
What is your first memory of playing organized sports?
Haydar:
My earliest memory is of my first year playing recreational league soccer. It was around the time of the World Cup in 1998 and I was a big Brazil soccer fan. I remember heading to my first practice and thinking that I would be going to a big stadium and would be announced running out of a tunnel. That obviously didn’t happen!
The Varsity Report:
How has your family helped through the years in your academic and athletic endeavors?
Haydar:
I have been extremely blessed to have an amazing support system my whole life. Everything I am and everything I will ever be is because of my parents, who supported all of my dreams and endeavors. Now, at this stage of life, I have the unrelenting support of my wife and children. My family motivates me, keeps me focused, and allows me to work hard to reach my goals. I can’t thank my family enough.
The Varsity Report:
What is your top high school sports memory?
Haydar:
This is an easy one. No doubt, the best memory is winning the state championship in 2009. We had a really special team that committed to putting the team first and I think it really showed on the court.
The Varsity Report:
Please tell us about your decision to attend the University of Arkansas and play basketball there.
Haydar:
Well, I wasn’t really recruited at the D1 level, but I had a strong belief that if I was given a chance I could compete. With that being said, the main reason I went to the University of Arkansas was the Bodenhamer Fellowship Scholarship. I was extremely fortunate and honored to receive this full academic scholarship and there was really no way to say no!
The Varsity Report:
Academics have always been such an important part of your life. How did you balance academics and athletics at the collegiate level so well?
Haydar:
I think it all boils down to commitment. I had high aspirations in both sports and academics, so I spent all of my time working hard to be successful at both. Because of that, I had to sacrifice many of the other things people typically do in college. I decided early on that if I weren’t successful it wouldn’t be because I didn’t put in the effort. So when I had free time, I would usually go to the gym and put in extra work, instead of going and hanging out with friends. I just wanted to make sure that I was doing all I could to put myself in a position to be successful.
The Varsity Report:
You were chosen as a two-year captain for the Razorback Men’s Basketball Team. Please talk about that honor and some lessons you learned in that role.
Haydar:
Being team captain was a tremendous honor. I was deeply humbled to be chosen by my teammates and coaches as a leader on the team. I think one of the most valuable lessons I learned was that everyone is motivated in different ways and that as a leader, it is your job to find what works on an individual level. Some guys need tough love, others need positive reinforcement. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences and we have to find the right way to mesh as a unit. Also, I learned that it is a tremendous responsibility to be a leader. There is no room for slacking off because others are watching what you are doing and you have to keep doing things the right way no matter what happens.
The Varsity Report:
How have you been able to balance your family life as a husband and father, while also being in medical school?
Haydar:
Medical school is probably the hardest thing I have ever been a part of. There are many long days and nights studying and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed with information. There is also a certain level of fear in knowing that someday soon, you will be treating real patients and mistakes can cause catastrophic consequences. At the same time, I want to be a good father and do all I can to make sure that I have protected time with my family without bringing the stress of medical school home. My wife has been amazing and really is my rock. She takes care of everything outside of school and makes sure that I have adequate time to devote to my studies. I truly couldn’t do this without her and owe everything to her.
The Varsity Report:
What is your favorite sports movie?
Haydar:
There are so many sports movies that I love, but I have always really liked the movie, “Rudy.” I think as a walk-on who had to somewhat beat the odds to get some playing time and respect in basketball, the story of Rudy resonated with me.
The Varsity Report:
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Haydar:
I think one of the biggest lessons I have learned in life is that things rarely go as planned and so many things can happen, so I try to live outside the present. Still, I hope to be a practicing emergency physician with a healthy family. That’s all I could really ask for.
The Varsity Report:
What advice would you give to a young student-athlete?
Haydar:
My best advice is to believe in yourself. If basketball (or any sport) is what you want to pursue in college or after, you are going to be met with a lot of obstacles to overcome. Many times along the way, you will be the only person who has any real faith that you will succeed. Also, I have always believed in hard work. There are millions of people that want to be good at sports, what are you willing to do to ensure that you make it? Finally, I believe that it is important to treat people with kindness and respect. Be gracious in wins and in losses and keep a level head and try to be a little bit better today than you were yesterday.