2021 NBA Mock Draft

On this episode of The MyTakeHoops Podcast (bulk of episode starts at 1:38) , I am joined by 5-star guard in the 2023 class Marvel Allen. This interview is from the end of last summer--almost a year ago now. I would've liked to have this out sooner, but my school year was more hectic than I anticipated, which caused the Podcasts to be delayed. My apologies for this taking so long, but this episode was great! Marvel discusses a variety of topics: wanting to quit basketball, his first offer, and his insane work ethic that involves sleeping in cars! It's about nine months later, and Marvel is killing it with The Skill Factory on the Nike EYBL Circuit. Although it wasn't talked about in this interview (because of when this was recorded), he recently decommitted from LSU and will be looking for a college as he rises into his senior year of high school. Thank you to Marvel for coming on, and I hope you enjoy the episode!

On this quick episode of The MyTakeHoops Podcast, I briefly recap the annual Blue-White team scrimmage the Kentucky holds. I was lucky enough to be in person for both this event and Big Blue Madness last week, and in this episode, I share my thoughts on both events. I talk a bit about what to expect from the incoming freshman, TyTy Washington, Daimion Collins, and Bryce Hopkins, as well as give an overview for what to expect from the team this year. Thank you for taking the time to listen!

On this episode of The MyTakeHoops Podcast (bulk of episode starts at 1:48), I am joined by Ohio high school basketball star, Josiah Harris. The West Virginia commit had a phenomenal summer by showing his improved physical profile, technical skill, and competitive nature. In this interview, we discuss his summer performance, the current state of Ohio basketball, his mentality on rankings, and more! Thanks to Josiah for coming on!

On this episode of The MyTakeHoops Podcast (bulk of episode starts at 1:48), I am joined by former 5-star prospect in the 2020 class and now Auburn center, Walker Kessler. While in high school, Kessler earned the honor of Gatorade Player of The Year in the state of Georgia and was elected as a McDonald's All-American. He played his freshman year of college at the University of North Carolina, and he has transferred to Auburn for his sophomore season. In this episode, he details that decision, talks about his year at North Carolina, and reveals that he's studying Mechanical Engineering! Thanks to Walker for coming on!

With the 2021 NBA Draft just hours away, dreams are about to come true for a lot of young men. In this quick episode, I reveal my first round mock draft. This episode contains rapid analysis of each player (nothing too in-depth), but rather it is quick; full breakdowns will be uploaded to YouTube after the draft has concluded. This is my first ever mock draft, and I have confirmed one major thing: I am not a fan of rankings, at any level. So much of ranking a player is subjective, so nobody ever fully agrees. With that being said, here is my first round mock draft; let me know your thoughts!

This past 4th of July weekend, I was blessed to be able to attend an AAU showcase event put on by The Battle. This event, called The Cookout, was held in Akron, Ohio at St. Vincent-St. Mary high school, where LeBron James himself was in attendance. It featured teams such as Strive For Greatness, Midwest Basketball Club, Wildcat Select, All Ohio, and more. I spent the weekend analyzing each game, taking notes on high profile players, and making great connections. My 8 standouts from this event are Tre White, Isaac McKneely, Jaxon Kohler, Sencire Harris, Shy Odom, Gabe Cupps, Vyctorius Miller, and Reed Sheppard. In this episode, I talk about what stood out from each of these players along with my personal experience covering the tournament. I had a blast this weekend; shoutout to @balldawgs for hooking me up with the media credentials! Also, thank you to @nonstopbucket for the photo.

On this episode on The MyTakeHoops Podcast (bulk of episode starts at 1:26), I am joined with top-25 prospect in the 2022 class, Eric Dailey Jr. As a junior this past season, he led a loaded IMG Academy in scoring, was second in rebounds, and was second in assists. In this interview, Dailey talks about this season specifically, his experience in Europe, and how he sees his future in basketball. Eric talks about his recruitment and why he does not play AAU basketball as well. Thanks to him for taking the time to do this!

On this episode of The MyTakeHoops Podcast (bulk of episode starts at 1:45), I am joined by senior Michigan forward, Isaiah Livers to talk about this season and his progression through the program. Livers, who averaged 13.1 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 43.1% from three this year, was an integral piece to the success of the Wolverines this year. On this episode, he talks about this season, his unfortunate season-ending injury, and his NBA aspirations. Thank you to Isaiah for coming on!

On this episode of The MyTakeHoops Podcast (bulk of episode starts at 1:24), I am joined by former Arizona State freshman, Marcus Bagley. This year, he averaged 10.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game on 38.7% shooting from the field and 34.7% from three. Bagley has recently entered the transfer portal, but he is also projected as a second round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Throughout the interview, he discusses his experience from high school to college and now to his next step. Thanks to Marcus for coming on!

On this episode of The MyTakeHoops Podcast (bulk of episode starts at 1:31), I am joined by Sunrise Christian Academy Head Coach, Luke Barnwell. As the coach of one of the top programs in all of high school basketball, Barnwell is tasked with coaching some of the best young players in the entire country. In this episode, he discusses his basketball origin story, this season specifically, and shares his thoughts on some of his key players, including Tennessee commit Kennedy Chandler. Thank you so much for listening, and thank you to Coach Barnwell for coming on!