Today’s episode is with one of the most decorated Canadian hoopers ever, Ms. Miranda Ayim! The three-time Olympian, Japan Team Canada flag bearer and overseas pro has such a great conversation with Mitch!

We go back and talk about Miranda as a young person, what it’s like going through a growth spurt at a young age, especially as a female, and lots more. After high school, Miranda went all the way west to Pepperdine University to not only hoop (One of the all-time great women's basketball players in Pepperdine program history, Ayim was a three-time All-WCC first-team selection during her four-year career. Ayim is Pepperdine's eighth-leading scorer with 1,377 points, ranks ninth with 735 career rebounds and is the program leader with 182 career blocks) but for school as well. At Pepperdine, Miranda was even the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete of the Year!!

Later in the episode, we take a trip down memory lane discussing Team Canada, the Olympics, playing overseas, the WNBA, NIL and so much more. Miranda has a great energy and spirit about her, she continues to lead and guide many in her profession and will do so for years to come. It was an honour and privilege to chat with Miranda, hear more of her story and have some fun connecting. This episode you won’t want to miss, Tap in!

Miranda Ayim

Aaron Mitchell - Host

Episode 133 with 2024 Canada West All-Rookie, Adam Olsen. It was fun to sit down with the recently drafted Vancouver Bandit to talk further about his high school years and rookie season.

Born and raised in South Surrey and being the youngest of three Adam learned to be a competitor and loved the game at an early age. From there and with a big growth spurt the UBC Forward found a group of buddies for life all on the same block, which ended up becoming the Elgin Park High School team. Under the guidance of legends Kirk Homenick (CC: @hardbitechips) and Mike McDonnell, the Orcas made two straight trips to the BC’s with deep runs.

After a successful Grade 11 year, playing on Team B.C. and seeing the AAU scene, Adam took time going back and forth about where he wanted to go, in the end deciding early in his grade 12 year that the T-Birds were the right place for him. Last season was one of personal growth both physically and mentally with Adam finding himself playing key minutes for a majority of the season, averaging 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. He reflects on what he has learned, the power of routines and gives really good advice to young players about what’s appropriate to send to a post-secondary coach and what’s not.

After his upcoming off-season with the Bandits under the guidance of Kyle Julius, Adam is excited to get back with UBC and see if they can make it to the Final 8 consistently once again! We know Adam is just getting started and we wish him all the best in his future, more to come!

Ep. 133 is live, tap in!

To see more of the work Josh has made you can find it on his website https://www.joshkahn.tv/.

We thank Josh for being with us!

Tap in!

Adam Olsen

Aaron Mitchell - Host

Episode 132 is a banger as we dive into the life of a gentleman who has found himself behind the scenes in the professional sports world and NBA; Josh Kahn. A New York native Josh has an interesting story about how he has been able to carve out a life of directing and film/content producing.

From starting at NYU film school, then interning at NBC Josh slowly built his resume right before the economy crashed in the United States. From there a funny but also inspiring story about going after something you want has Josh landing a position as the senior creative producer for the Chicago Bulls! With the Bulls, Josh had to really find his skill set as his role was a pretty unique one for that time; not many NBA teams were creating content and it wasn’t a priority yet.

Using his interpersonal skills to connect with players like Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol and Jimmy Butler, Josh has great reflection and insight on what it takes to keep moving forward in the industry.

After his time with the Bulls, Josh gets a unique opportunity to work for Uninterrupted led by Maverick Carter and Lebron James, leading to Josh being involved in many major projects. Josh is an award-winning director and holds a unique (not so anymore) hidden talent which has become a fun little adventure for him. A creative, insightful and talented person this episode has some great stories and conversation.

To see more of the work Josh has made you can find it on his website https://www.joshkahn.tv/.

We thank Josh for being with us!

Tap in!

Josh Kahn

Aaron Mitchell - Host

A local BC Legend joins us on A Hoops Journey today; Mr. Chris Porteous. Chris's basketball life is literally a “journey”, one that is full of ups, downs and so many in-betweens. The 2-time Provincial Champion and former MVP goes back to tell us about his early life, growing up in Whistler and then moving all the way to Montreal.

From there Chris finds himself back in Vancouver at the age of 12 and stepping into the historical program at Kitsilano Secondary. Chris took off and built a huge name for himself in the hoops world, filling the bucket and being one of the best players in the Province for a two-year dominant run. Alongside many great teammates Kits was able to be one of the few programs to win back-to-back Championships.

The important part of this episode is how Chis reflects on his struggles with school, and how being able to go to post-secondary wasn’t as easy for him as it might be for many. In the end, Chris found himself at Cap University College under Paul Eberhardt. Chris dominated the league in his rookie year being the leading scorer and helping guide the Blues to the Nationals.

After Cap Chris then has a turn with basketball where he tries to find himself as a person, working hard and trying to figure out what his future might be. Today he is an employee for Safe Schools and coaching with one of the local clubs in Vancouver, knowing he will have and is having an impact on kids means the world to Chris. What an episode, so many takeaways and possibly some things you may have not known about him. Episode 131 is legendary! Tap in!

Chris Porteous

Aaron Mitchell - Host

Today we chop it up with a coach whose name has been mentioned many times on AHJ, Ro Russell. Coach Ro has an extensive resume with ties to many people in our game not only in Canada but in all of North America.

At an early age, the Jamaican immigrant was taking notes from his entrepreneurial parents and started his vision at the ripe age of 18. Decades ago Coach Ro started taking club teams and programs across America and many say he was the first to do so!

Coach has great reflection on the things he’s learned along the way, sometimes not always the greatest moments but lessons that have helped him get to where he is today. Yes, the man is still coaching after all this time and he’s doing his best to impact the youth and find them places to hoop!

Mitch and coach also discuss the current state of AAU in Ontario compared to other Provinces, if the high school game can last and so much more! An episode you need to check out, we thank Coach for being with us! Tap in!

Ro Russell

Aaron Mitchell - Host

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On Episode 129 of A Hoops Journey, we get a unique opportunity to sit down with the CEO of Canada Basketball Michael Bartlett. Growing up around sports and loving the intricacies that came with it, Michael had a passion for all but baseball is what stood out most!

With the madness of March just around the corner, it’s perfect timing to sit down with a long-time Division 1 basketball coach and 2002 Naismith Coach of the Year; Ben Howland.

Born in Oregon but growing up in Santa Barbara, Coach Howland fell in love with the game like many of our former guests; he was invited to check out a neighbourhood youth league and it all went from there! Shout out to the Goleta Boys and Girls Club! Developing and growing his skills as a player, Ben then had his eyes set on Division 1 and he ended up going the Junior College route first, with his final years being played out at Weber State.

From there Coach had some great opportunities as an assistant, including being a graduate assistant at Gonzaga and having to guard future HOF PG John Stockton! Ben got his first head coaching gig at the University of Northern Arizona where he turned the program from one of the worst in the whole NCAA to Conference Champions and the schools first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament in 1997-98. (Yes you are correct, our friend and former guest Andrew Mavis was a key part of this tournament run and program turnaround).

From Northern Arizona to PITT, then onto UCLA Coach Howland gives great reflection on how he approached each program with a different lens and mindset on who he wanted to recruit and why, finding a way to lead all those programs (including NAU) to a tournament appearance.

At UCLA coach worked with numerous future overseas and NBA pros, most notably names like Jrue Holiday, Kevin Love, Norman Powell and Russell Westbrook. He also led the Bruins to three straight Final Fours from 2006-2008.

The last chapter finds Ben at Mississippi State where in 2018-19 he took his team to yet another Tournament appearance, their first since 2009 (Sidenote- Only a handful of coaches have led four programs to March Madness appearances, with Coach Howland being one of them). His resume, pedigree and experience speak for themselves, this episode is fantastic and one you really won’t want to miss.

In the meantime please don’t forget to like, share and subscribe, we thank Coach Howland for being with us! Tap in!

Ben Howland

Aaron Mitchell - Host

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Episode 127 is an opportunity to meet and know more about young gun, Villanova commit and National Team member; Jasmine Bascoe. Someone who shows maturity and game beyond her age, Mitch and Jasmine have a great conversation about life and hoops!

Early in the episode, Mitch realizes that Jasmine is indeed the daughter of Shane, a former CCAA All-Canadian and Player of the Year! From there the conversation turns to having a family so tied to the game (Mom and older brother included) and what that means for the Bascoe’s. Jasmine is another product of being around hoops at a young age, finding herself riding her bike and watching her dad’s team practices from day one! From there she was drawn to the sport and everything that came with it, embracing and enjoying the grind to get better and hopefully play Division 1 for her Country.

Knowing that Jasmine has her best years ahead of her, she discusses how she was able to become the player she is, why representing her Country means so much to her, having a positive mindset during COVID, being called up an age level for Team Canada and why Villanova felt like home!!

Next up are the playoffs for her Kings Christian team and then getting ready for post-secondary! We will be watching, and wish Jasmine all the best in her future career!

Tap in!

Jasmine Bascoe

Aaron Mitchell - Host

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Episode 126 has us chopping it up with long-time coach and specifically with our women’s national teams; Steve Baur. Steve truly has one of the most unique stories out there with his career starting in an unorthodox way.

After spending time finishing his degree and coaching some community ball in his hometown, Steve then has a few opportunities that come across his table, luckily for him he decided to go for it and follow his heart!

Steve ends up going all the way to Brandon, Manitoba where he and Mitch first met. Helping take over the women’s program in a rebuild, Steve and long-time mentor Les Berry stayed the course recruiting and trying to get the lady Bobcats on the map. From there is where things get wild, moving to coaching the Men’s program in Brandon, heading back to his alma mater and so much in between, this episode cannot be missed.

Throw in his experience with Canada Basketball to this day, Steve carries one of the best coaching stories in Canada, he offers great reflection and insight, sit back and enjoy this one!

Steve Baur

Aaron Mitchell - Host

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Episode 125 might be one of the most unique stories you’ve heard to this day! Sean Anthony is a born and raised Vancouverite but his path turned into an interesting one.

A young Sean was not exposed to the game early on, and it wasn’t until he made the move to St. George’s School that he was introduced to the game and why it was so great. From there Sean played Provincial team, and had successful high school years but carries some interesting reflection on why his grade 12 year maybe wasn’t as heavy a recruiting list as he would have hoped!

Ending up at McGill, where the coach that recruited him had left made for another interesting experience where Sean persevered learning lots about himself and his game! In 2010 Sean was the 6th overall pick and adjusted to the pro game quickly! Fast forward to today, Sean is a long-standing PBA basketball player, with many career and league highlights!

We also touch on things like perspective on business and life after hoops! A great story that shows how many paths there are for us and the game, tap in and hear more about Sean! Let’s go!

Sean Anthony

Aaron Mitchell - Host

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