Hoop Threads

We spoke with Alex about his basketball journey, being raised by two former players, his strengths and weaknesses on the floor, his goals, his why, and so much more!1:00 The warm up4:00 Basketball beginnings5:00 Circle5:45 Self scout7:00 BABC8:00 Adversity8:30 Gym schedule9:00 Undervalued skills10:00  GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop10:30  What do you value?11:00 Off court/career interests11:30 Goals**14:00 Connecticut basketball14:45 Why should people believe in you as a prospect?15:30 Alex’s why

0:45 Where did the nickname book come from?4:00 Winning a state championship 7:00 Coach’s impact14:45 Survival mode22:00 Gauchos25:30 Hoop Group to Marist28:45 Back to Gauchos30:00 Kemba 33:30 University Games35:30 Xavier41:15 Arizona 45:00 Coaching development 48:45 Recruiting50:30 2011 NCAA Tournament 54:30 Being a HM Assistant 57:00 Dark days1:00:00 Moving on without an apology1:04:00 Transition back to society1:08:15 The St James1:12:15 Green room1:15:30 Book’s Why

We spoke with Coach Johnson about his playing career, growing up in Canada, coming from a coaching family, coaching overseas, learning from Coach Hardaway at Memphis, coaching under Coach Becker at Vermont, and much more!0:30 Learning from mom3:00 Coaching family5:00 St Francis Xavier University AC6:45 Coaching Prep8:55 quote9:30 Coaching in China11:15** Cutting teeth in prep world12:30 Covid14:00* Memphis16:00 Role and Growth18:00 Learning from Coach Becker21:45 Building a program23:45 Finding your voice as an assistant26:30 Assistant Coach Excellence28:15 Evaluations29:10** evaluation32:00 Evaluating mental makeup 33:00** Dylan story34:45 Retention37:30 Building culture39:30 Blind belief40:15 Daily habits41:45 Whats your superpower?42:30 Advice to younger self44:00 Coaching at a MM46:15 Timing in recruiting47:45 Vermont standards48:45 Do you hate losing or love winning49:45 Eliciting buy-in51:30 Key to coaching development54:30- working backwards, cut55:00 NCAAB would be better if…57:15 Legacy58:30 Canadian basketball

We spoke with the McDonald's All American about his journey from Texas to the DMV, playing for Coach Wootten at O'Connell, his thoughts on some of his doubters, and much more!0:30 From Texas to St. Mary’s1:30 Being recruited in the portal era2:00 Recruitment priorities2:30 Leadership3:10 McDonald’s AA Selection3:45 McDonald’s AA reaction4:45 Connections5:15 Favorite HS moment5:45 What can fans expect from you at St. Mary’s? 

Austin Pitts ’29 6’2 Boys Latin/ Team Thrill 1:00 The warm up2:30 Family ties2:45 Parents3:15 Circle3:45 Who do you model your game after?4:15 Strengths/Weaknesses 5:00 Communication 5:30 Gameday routine6:00 Do you love to win or hate to lose?6:15 Coaching6:35 HS Basketball7:15 Choosing HS7:45 Choosing AAU8:15 Adversity **9:15 Gym schedule10:15 Self talk10:45 Under-valued attributes 11:00 What parts of the floor do you feel the most/least comfortable?11:50 What do you value?12:45 College criteria  13:00 Interests13:30 Career goals13:45 Give me your goals for this season   14:15 When did you know that basketball might be it for you?14:45 What has been your happiest moment on a basketball court?15:45 What sets Baltimore basketball apart?16:15 Why should people believe in you as a prospect?16:45 What is your why?17:15 Legacy

Next Up: Mike Sotsky Harvard MBB Associate HC1:00 What moment did you know that you wanted to be a coach?2:00 Beginnings at Duke3:30 Duke memories3:30-4:45 Quinn5:45 Coach K7:30 Team USA experience10:15 Harvard beginnings12:45 Early career advice13:00 Coaching in the Ivy League17:00 Ivy League Success19:00 Building a program18:55-20:00,20:30 Amaker CEO21:00 Connecting with community24:00 Coaching toolbox25:45 Assistant coaching excellence29:15 The less I say, the more I’m heard31:15 Evaluating mental makeup34:15 Adversity36:30 Harvard analytics38:15 Plus points39:30 Under taught skill 41:45 Upcoming trends45:30 Development47:15 Buy-in48:30 Coaching MM basketball50:30 Defensive unselfishness52:30 Distilling the message55:00 Balancing personalities56:45 Leadership59:00 Character1:00:00 Legacy1:07:45 My Why1:09:30 Developmental skill1:10:30 Feel1:11:30 Special traits

0:30 Take me through your journey as a prospect8:45 How was your game/role different in HS vs college9:00 Rebounding10:30 Weber defense12:00 Advice for 1st year HC13:45 Building a coaching staff15:45 Give me a moment of assistant coach excellence19:15 Overcoming stereotypes21:15 Elite offense qualities24:30 How has this stop informed your evaluations?27:00 Coaching foreign born players29:30 Evaluating character31:30 Building a roster in the portal era37:15 Tough love coaching39:00 Setting the tone in recruiting41:00 What have you learned from each HC that you will take forward with you in your first job?44:15 What do the most successful coaches do to elicit buy-in?46:00 -What do you want your legacy and reputation to be?47:15 Adversity 50:45 Happiest moment52:45 College basketball would be better if ______53:15 Who are 3 guys that I should interview next? I need some sharks55:00 Parents59:30-What is your why?

1:00 Basketball journey2:00 What moment did you know that you wanted to be a coach?4:00 From player to coach 5:45 Playing career informing coaching8:00 Advice for young coaches10:15 George Mason13:15 Structuring a program15:30 Connecting with staff17:30 Finding your coaching voice21:15 Assistant coach excellence 23:45 Evaluation26:00 Portal Recruiting31:30 Balancing in recruitment34:15 Challenges of coaching at a MM40:15 Lessons from head coaches43:15 Buy-in 45:15 Legacy45:30 NCAAB would be better if___46:10  Thinking like a HC48:30 Next Up Assistants49:15 What is your why?

We interviewed international basketball player Ricards Aizpurs of Stella Azzurra to ask about his Latvian roots, his basketball journey, playing professionally in Italy, favorite pregame meal, goals, and much more!0:45 The Warm Up5:00 How did you get started in the game? Did your family play?6:45 Parents8:15 When did you know that basketball might be it for you?10:00 Development 11:30 Self-scout your strengths/weaknesses 13:15 Competing in the States14:30 Do you love to win or hate to lose?14:45 What type of coaching do you respond to? 15:15 Facing adversity16:00 Gym schedule16:30 Ranking GW assist, bucket, defensive stop17:00 Values18:00 College criteria18:30 Interests and hobbies19:00 Goals19:45 Happiest moment on a basketball court20:45 Why should people believe in you as a prospect?21:00 Latvian roots 22:15 What is your why?

We spoke with Terry about his York PA roots, his transfer to McNamara, playing in the WCAC, his development, long term goals, AAU, and much more!0:30 The Warmup3:15 How did you get started in the game?3:45 Talk about the role that your parents have had in your development 4:15 Talk about your circle. 4:30 Who do you model your game after?5:30 Strengths/Weaknesses 6:15 Communication and self talk7:30 WCAC Basketball8:15 How do you prepare for each game day-of?8:30 Do you love to win or hate to lose8:45 What type of coaching do you respond to9:00 Facing Adversity9:45 Development10:30 Under-valued Skillsets11:00 When did you know that basketball might be it for you?11:15 What parts of the floor do you feel the most/least comfortable?11:45 GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop?12:15 What do you value?13:00 College criteria  13:30 Interests and hobbies 14:00 Career Goals14:15 Give me your goals for this season   14:45 What has been your happiest moment on a basketball court?15:15 What sets the DMV apart 15:45 Why should people believe in you as a prospect?16:45 Choosing Durant17:30 What is your why?