Episode 529: Jared Grasso, National Post Grad Coach & Head of Development

Today’s guest is Darren Heitner, one of the most respected and influential voices in college sports, sports business, and the ever-evolving NIL landscape. Darren wears many hats—he’s an attorney, author, college professor, and founder of Heitner Legal, which he established in 2014. Over the years, Darren has worked with some of the biggest names in sports, guiding them through pivotal moments and major deals. Beyond his legal expertise, Darren has been a driving force in shaping the dialogue and policies surrounding Name, Image, and Likeness. Not only has he guided athletes and universities in groundbreaking NIL deals; he’s also a leading advocate for reform and a trusted source for decoding the complexities of this transformative era in college athletics. Whether through his advocacy, teaching, or legal practice, Darren continues to leave an enduring mark on the industry, paving the way for athletes, institutions, and fans alike to navigate this exciting new chapter. Today we talked about: Getting involved in the business early with a unique internship The infamous New Year's resolution that started it all The difference between an agent and a manager What prompted the launch of Heitner Legal Some of the services that he provides An update on the current NIL landscape Some common misconceptions & the need for education Brief overview of the House v NCAA Settlement What the future of college sports might look like... and much more Appreciate you tuning in. Hope you enjoy! www.kevintarca.com

Back at it after a few months of focus... here to finish the year strong as we approach 100,000 listens! what I've been working on Roy updates KTA clients what's next...

Today’s guest is Yannie Chan, Women's Basketball player at Iona University! Yannie was was born and raised in Hong Kong, and was the first ever local girls basketball player in the history of Hong Kong to come the United States to play in the NCAA!   She started her college career at Emmanuel College where she won the Player of the Year in 2023. This year she made the transfer to Iona University will she will be gearing up for her first year in Division 1 basketball! She was a member of the national team this year, representing her country with pride at the Asian Games. She is not only a remarkable player on the court, but she brings just as much passion and enthusiasm to projects off the court, like creating content & giving back to the community. And today we get to hear more about Yannie's extraordinary story! Today we talked about: Growing up in Hong Kong and how she fell in love with basketball How different the youth basketball landscape is at home versus the USA When she first knew she had the skill set to play at a high level The process of reaching out to schools & getting her first opportunity Some of the challenges she faced when first arriving at Emmanuel Who she is OFF the court (content creation & community service) Battling through her injury to make sure she's ready The transition to Division 1 and expectations for the season Her goal to play at the next level and future career aspirations and much more Appreciate you tuning in. Hope you enjoy! https://www.kevintarca.com/blog

Today’s guest is Dejan Kamenjaševic, Co-Founder & GM of Dubai Basketball Club! Dejan's journey began in Bosnia, where a defining moment in his early years brought a sudden change to his life. When the war broke out, he and his family relocated to Spain, where he continued pursuing his passion for basketball -- a sport that became a cornerstone in his life and would shape his future for many years to come. From playing professionally to coaching, and now leading teams from both the bench AND the boardroom, Dejan has made a significant impact across multiple countries. As he embarks on this new chapter with Dubai Basketball Club, he's set to shape the future of basketball in the UAE and beyond. And today we get to hear all about this groundbreaking project! Today we talked about: Growing up in Bosnia & where his basketball love started Fleeing with his family to Spain when the war broke out The challenges of starting his life in a new environment Making the decision to hang up his shoes The challenges of finding a new identity The sacrifices that went un-noticed behind the scenes His mentors who gave him his first opportunities in coaching The importance of relationships and how he builds trust The move to the UAE even when most thought he was crazy Building his new basketball academy from scratch The constant misconceptions about living in Dubai All about Dubai Basketball Club and his new role How they built the roster & the players they signed The opportunity to join the Adriatic League this season The power sports has to eliminate borders + unite people and much more Appreciate you tuning in. Hope you enjoy! https://www.kevintarca.com/

Part one covered how athletes could leverage tech to level up ON the court. Today we dive into how athletes could leverage tech to level up OFF the court! Personal branding, networking, personal growth, etc. https://www.kevintarca.com/

Today’s guest is Cale Johnston, Founder & CEO of Roy! Cale grew up in Iowa, a state deeply embedded in Big Ten culture, which ignited his passion for college sports. He carried this enthusiasm into his own athletic career, eventually earning a scholarship to play football at the collegiate level. After graduation he transitioned seamlessly into the business world and hasn’t looked back. During his early years in banking, Cale identified a significant market gap and launched a fintech firm that delivered innovative solutions to financial institutions. His company was acquired in 2021, and after a few years of transitioning out and contemplating his next move, Cale rediscovered his passion for college sports, which sparked the vision for his latest venture, Roy, Inc. Today we talked about: Growing up playing sports in Big 10 country His journey of playing football at the collegiate level Falling into the fintech industry right out of school Starting, scaling and selling his own fintech firm The search to find fulfillment after the acquisition The current landscape of college sports & collectives All about Roy and the problems we’re solving How Roy changes the recruiting landscape NIL projected value vs true market value Why the current collective system is not sustainable Go-To-Market strategy & working with collectives What fans can expect from the exclusive content The three different workflows in Roy And much more! https://www.kevintarca.com/blog https://joinroy.com/

Sports + Technology. What a great combination. Here are several ways that athletes could utilize technology to level up!

Today’s guest is Michael Visenberg, Scout & Basketball Database Manager at ProInsight, a leading company in grassroots basketball scouting. Michael grew up in Toronto, Canada where he began projecting future NBA All-Star lineups and participating in mock drafts from a young age. With his extensive knowledge and expertise in the field, he plays a crucial role in identifying and evaluating emerging basketball talent. He has covered the top events around the world including the Nike Hoop Summit, Adidas Global Nations, the Nike Global Challenge, the Les Schwab Invitational, Border League and many others. Michael is a basketball scout, a sports writer, a prospect analyzer, a draft guru and I'm sure we could come up with many more labels by the end of this episode! Today we talked about: When he first started falling in love with the NBA His first NBA Draft analysis that opened the door for business His scouting workflow and how he organizes his notes Weighing analytics & measurements versus the eye test How many games he watches before he has a good feel Defining athleticism and what "being athletic" really means What BAM Testing is & why they use it in pre-draft combines How deep NBA teams really dive for player intel Which stats & movements he uses to analyze defense His reaction to the 2024 NBA Draft (some sleepers) and much more Thanks for tuning in! https://www.kevintarca.com/blog https://www.kreationtalent.com/

It was a long 10 days on the road... Here's a little recap of NBA Summer League and what's on the agenda for the week...

Today’s guest is Jared Grasso, newly appointed National Post Grad Coach and Head of Development at the Knox School. Coach Grasso grew up on the sidelines of basketball courts everywhere, watching his Father coach at the high school, collegiate and pro levels. He quickly outgrew the sidelines and developed into quite the player himself earning a McDonald’s All-American nomination when he was at St. Anthony’s HS. He chose Quinnipiac University to play his collegiate ball, where he was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2014. After a brief opportunity at the next level in Italy, it was inevitable that he would return to the sidelines and get into coaching. He's had stops at Hofstra, Hartford, Quinnipiac, Fordham, Iona and Bryant before accepting the new role at the Knox School this spring. Today we talked about: Growing up living, eating and breathing basketball with his Father The opportunity to play at the infamous ABCD Camp His roles and responsibilities as a young assistant coach How he learned to balance his job with his family Questions he was asked during the coaching interview process How he turned a struggling Division 1 program into an NCAA birth How he adapted to NIL and how it's changed college forever The mental side of coaching that the public doesn't see Searching for purpose after being at "the top of the mountain" All about the Knox School and his new role The youth development landscape in the USA The characteristics is takes to get to the next level and much more Appreciate you tuning in. Hope you enjoy! https://www.kevintarca.com/