Alex Santos, a 6-foot-3-inch freshman wing out of Lawrence, has adjusted quite well to Division 3 college basketball and the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. He already owns a Worcester State program record — his nine 3-pointers in a win over Fitchburg State on Jan. 16 set the school mark by one (Al Pettway in 1993 and Kyler Ferreira in 2013 had eight) — and he has earned MASCAC Rookie of the Week honors seven times and been named ECAC New England Rookie of the Week twice.

“He’s shot the ball very well at times and I’m not sure we expected that coming into the season,’’ said Lancer coach David Lindberg. “But the biggest thing he’s learned this year is when he’s not shooting the ball as well, he can get to the basket. He’s evolved in his ability to get to the basket and create and that gives him the ability to get other people shots when defenders collapse on him.’’

And that’s just talking about offense, where Santos averages 13.8 points and 2.3 assists per game, both second on the team.

“He’s also one of our better defenders and can cover anybody from a point guard to a center,’’ Lindberg said. “He’s very diverse. That makes my job easier. If we’re having trouble with a particular player, I can move him around.’’

Q. How has the transition to college basketball gone for you?

A. It’s been great. I’ve been able to play my game and I’ve had a much different role, a bigger role, than I had I high school. It’s easy to lead in my role. It’s what I always wanted and always worked hard for and have been looking for my whole life. Every time I go out there I’m looking first of all at how I can get into the game, how I can get my teammates involved.

Q. What’s up with all those Rookie of the Week awards?

A. I’m just working hard every day to be the best player I can be. I’m not really looking for awards. I play the hardest I can every day. At the end of the day I look back to see if we won the game and if I got my teammates involved and see if we’re having fun. If I do that, everything else will come.

Q. What is your best memory of your high school basketball playing days?

A. Making it to the DCU and playing in Boston Garden as a junior were amazing experiences (Central Catholic lost in the Division 1 North final to Putnam at the Garden). I just loved the experience overall and being there with my teammates. The team was a second home, a second family to me.

Q. Do you have a major or know yet what you want to major in?

A. I’m working on that. When I get older, I want to have my own business and work with kids and give back to the community like people helped me out when I was young. When I was young, I didn’t have anything.

Q. Did you have a tough upbringing?

A. I did and that’s what motivates me when I get up every morning. Greatness comes from nothing. I have a chance to be successful because of all the help I’ve had in many situations. There were times when I really didn’t have anyone and didn’t have a place to stay and lived in the shelter.

Q. Do you have role models?

A. When I was growing up I had two. I always wanted to be like my uncle, Joshua Medina. He inspires me to this day. I want to be like him. He’s been in the same situation I was in. He lives in Lawrence and graduated from BU and owns a business. In basketball, my role model is Kevin Durant. I always wanted to be like Kevin Durant.

Q. Nine 3-pointers in one game? What was that game like?

A. I never had a game like that before. At the beginning, I think it was the first play, I hit a three. They came down and scored and we came back and I hit another one. I missed the next one and then hit another. There were some that were back to back. Definitely, I was in a zone. I had so much confidence in myself. Every time I shot I knew it was going in. It was an amazing thing. I didn’t really pay attention to it, but my teammates kept telling me, ‘Keep shooting, keep shooting.’ It definitely was a surprise.

Allen Lessels

For full interview, go to bostonglobe.com/north.