In this episode of the podcast, Mike and Jason recap the Bucks/Raptors game before turning their attention to the other story lines in the East including Embiid's big game and the Simmons injury, the Cavs' coaching change, among other things. They then turn their attention to the West to talk about the Lakers continued dominance, the Pelicans surging up the standings, and more!

Mike and Jason finish by talking about the three teams that they have zero interest in tuning into watch the remainder of the season.

Founded in 1966, Five-Star Basketball Camp was the brainchild of two New York City basketball junkies, Howard Garfinkel and Will Klein, who shared a singular passion and purpose: Creating a top-notch teaching camp to help kids improve their games.

Fate has been good to Five-Star. Future Hall of Famers, Hubie Brown and Chuck Daly, taught and lectured at that very first session. Bob Knight invented ‘teaching stations’ as the camp’s lead instructor a year later. Dozens of legendary coaches, including Rick Pitino and John Calipari, all launched their careers at Five Star.

More than a cradle for coaches, Five-Star has been a proving ground for the everyday blue-collar player and blue chips alike: Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Dominique Wilkins, Isiah Thomas, Chris Mullin, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Carmelo Anthony, Kemba Walker, Kyrie Irving, and Karl-Anthony Towns have all worn the iconic orange and white t-shirt.

Joining us on this episode are Peter Robert Casey and Karl Blum from JDS Sports, a next-generation sports, media, and entertainment holding company that owns and manages the Five Star Brand.

Check out our website www.hoopheadspod.com where you can listen to every episode in our archive. After you’ve listened to this episode or one of your other favorites, please head over to your favorite podcast app and leave us a 5 star rating and review. Those reviews help others in the basketball community find our show . Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Podcast so you never miss an episode. The pod is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Google Play, & YouTube.

Five Star is an integral part of basketball here in the United States. We can’t tell the history of the game without it. You’re going to love this episode with Peter Casey and Karl Blum from Five Star Basketball.

Email - [email protected] [email protected]

Twitter - @5starbasketball

Ric Blevins is the Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach at Woodridge High School in Peninsula, Ohio. Prior to taking the head job at Woodridge in 2013 Ric was an assistant coach at both Cuyahoga Falls and Warren Howland High Schools.

A 1985 graduate of Cortland Maplewood High School in Ohio, Blevins played his college basketball at the University of Rhode Island for two seasons before transferring to Kent State University where he was my teammate for two seasons under Head Coach Jim McDonald. Blevins was named First Team All Mid-American Conference in 1990 for the Golden Flashes.

Blevins is currently in his 26th year teaching physical education in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

After you finish listening to this episode please leave us a five star rating and review on your favorite podcast app. Those ratings help others in the basketball community to find our show. Share the Hoop Heads Podcast with your friends and coaching colleagues so they can listen and learn from some of the best minds in the game from all levels of basketball. Make sure you subscribe to the Hoop Heads Podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, or YouTube so you never miss an episode!

Get ready to take some notes as you listen to this episode with Ric Blevins, Head Boys’ Varsity Coach at Woodridge High School in Peninsula, Ohio.

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - @woodridgehoops

In this episode of the podcast, Mike and Jason discuss all the happenings of All-Star Weekend and offer solutions to fix some of the problems of All-Star Saturday night. They discuss the All Star game and how competitive and exciting the new format actually was.

Mike and Jason then dive into some second half story lines they are looking at including the John Beilein debacle, the playoff races, the Bucks chances at winning 70 games, and much more!

Welcome to the fourteenth edition of the Coach’s Corner Round Table on the Hoop Heads Podcast. Each episode of the Coach’s Corner Round Table will feature our All-Star lineup of guests answering a single basketball question. A new Coach’s Corner Round Table will drop around the 15th of each month.

February’s Round Table question is: What is one word or phrase that you hope former players use to describe you?

Our Coaching Lineup this month:

• Matt Grahn – University of Dallas (TX)

• Joe Harris – Lake Chelan (WA) High School

• Bobby Jordan – Wagner College (NY)

• Dell Leonard – Mountain Home (AR) High School

• Don Showalter – USA Basketball

• John Shulman – University of Alabama Huntsville (AL)

• Joe Stasyszyn – Unleashed Potential – Carlisle, PA

• Lee Swanson – Bunker Hill (NC) High School

• Tyler Whitcomb – West Michigan Aviation Academy (MI)

• John Willkom – Author of Walk-On Warrior

• Lee Wimberley – Manila (AR) High School

Please enjoy this Round Table episode of the Hoop Head Podcast and once you’re finished listening please give the show a five star rating and review. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod so you never miss an episode. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play, & YouTube. If you haven’t already, please tell a coaching colleague or friend about the Hoop Heads Podcast so they can listen and learn from some of the best minds in the game!

Justin Brantley is the Ohio & Midwest Recruiting Coordinator for the All Ohio Basketball Program that competes on the Nike EYBL Circuit and the Executive Recruiting and Basketball Operations Consultant for KOA Prep in Bethesda, Maryland. Justin has spent the last decade cultivating, developing and marketing student athletes, athletic programs and corporations of all sizes.

Justin served as the Academy Director at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio helping to create one of the most popular and recognizable brands High School Basketball. Prior to his tenure at SPIRE, Brantley served as the National Scouting Director at NCSA Athletic Recruiting; where he assisted thousands of families in navigating the recruiting process.

As a high school athlete at St. Martin DePorres H.S. (Detroit, MI) Justin utilized the sport of football to earn his education at the University of Illinois & Howard University. After a brief stint in professional football, he transitioned to Coaching & Student Athlete Development and began working with athletes from youth to the professional levels.

As the Hoop Heads Podcast audience grows week by week, your 5 star ratings and reviews help fuel our growth. Please subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app, when you do the latest episodes will hit your phone as soon as they drop. Let a friend or coaching colleague know about the show and join the thousands of others who have become a part of Hoop Heads Nation.

Be prepared to listen and learn from our conversation with Justin Brantley from KOA Prep and All Ohio Basketball.

Email – [email protected]

Twitter - @JustinWBrantley

In this episode of the podcast, Mike and Jason talk about Zion scoring 31 points, the bottom of the west, Toronto continuing their tremendous run, the Embiid drama, and how many wins they think the Bucks can legitimately get to.

They then turn their focus to choosing the top player from each team and then ranking them by how confident Mike and Jason are that they will help lead their team to victory in the playoffs. They wrap up the episode by talking about the Forbes report on valuations of teams in the league.

Vance Downs is the Boys’ Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Ames High School in Iowa. Vance has been the coach at Ames since 2004 and has compiled a career record of 233-116. He is the all-time leader in wins at Ames High and won back to back state championships in 2009 and 2010. Those two teams went undefeated and featured current NBA players Harrison Barnes and Doug McDermott. Ames finished the 2010 season as the third ranked team in the country according to USA Today.

Vance Downs is a four time conference coach of the year, two time state coach of the year, and the USA Today National Coach of the Year in 2010.

After you listen to our conversation with Vance Downs jump over to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen and leave us a 5 star rating and review. To make sure you never miss an episode subscribe right now and visit our website at hoopheadspod.com to find every episode we’ve ever recorded. Let your friends and colleagues in the game know about the show so they can gain insights from some of the best minds in the game from the grassroots to the NBA.

You’ll definitely want to have pen and paper handy as you listen to this episode with Vance Downs from Ames High School in the state of Iowa.

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - @AHSHoops

In this episode, Mike and Jason discuss all of the big trades from the NBA trade deadline. Drummond to the Cavs! Russell and Wiggins swap! Rockets going real small! The Heat making a move! Waiters literally sent to an island!

After discussing the trades, Mike and Jason talk about the All-Star draft and how their teams compare to the teams picked by Giannis and LeBron!

Jamil Santiel is in his first year as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Yellowstone Christian College in Billings, Montana. Coach Santiel began his coaching career at his alma mater, Grace University in Omaha, NE. During his first year he helped lead the Royals to their first regional tournament appearance in three seasons. Santiel has coached at Nebraska Christian College (NCC) as the Lead Assistant the past three years, and helped lead the program to a Regional Championship, followed by an NCCAA D1 National Tournament appearance.

Jamil was born and raised in Indio, California and attended Indio High School where he played basketball all four years, graduating in 2009.

After high school Jamil attended College of the Desert (JUCO) where he played basketball his freshman and sophomore years and graduated in 2012.

Jamil was given the opportunity to continue playing basketball at Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska where he played his final 2 years, graduating in 2016. The following season he joined the Grace coaching staff and began his coaching career.

Hoop Heads Nation, if you love what you’re hearing please leave us a five star rating and review wherever you listen to the show. Believe it or not, those ratings help others in the basketball community find the Hoop Heads Pod. We would also appreciate you sharing the show with one friend or coaching colleague that you know would enjoy listening to the Hoop Heads Pod and if you’re not subscribed yet, just hit the subscribe button in your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode. You can find the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher, Google Play, and YouTube.

Take some notes as you listen to this episode with Jamil Santiel from Yellowstone Christian College in Billings, Montana.

Email - [email protected]

Twitter - @millymil22 @MmbYellowstone