Hoop Threads

We spoke with Jordan about his love for the game, creating his own website, growing with MaxPreps, what goes into team rankings, role models within the space, and much more!

0:30 What got you into basketball?

1:45 Building HS Hoops Elite

3:30 Starting with MaxPreps

5:00 Carving out a role

6:45 Facing adversity

9:30 Growing the MaxPreps brand

11:15 The process for ranking teams

13:45 The politics of HS sports

15:45 Balancing schedules

18:45 Rise of independent schools

23:00 Rosters+Stats

25:45 Favorite events

28:30 HS basketball rule changes

33:45 Biggest upset

35:15 Underrated national names

43:00 Legacy

45:45 Role models

Podcast: @hoopthreadspod

Host: @pr0ia

Guest: jordan_divens

We spoke with Christian about his basketball journey, choosing DeMatha, his development, his goals, what makes the DMV special, and much more!

0:30 The warm up

We spoke to NBA veteran Raja Bell about his beginnings in the game, HS basketball, recruiting, transferring to FIU, surviving semi-pro basketball to play in the NBA Finals, playing in the NBA for over a decade, raising athletes, philosophy, and much more!

0:30 Virgin Islands

2:15 Athletic family

3:30 Raising athletes

11:00 Welcome to college

16:30 Fitting in at FIU

19:30 Competitive drive

23:30 Senior Year at FIU

26:30 Undrafted

28:30 Minor league grind

32:00 Conquering self doubt

33:45 Getting that call

39:15 Playing for high level coaches

42:30 Development

46:00 Defensive stoppers

48:30 Defensive details

50:30 Kobe

54:30 Advice for youngins

57:15 Steve Nash MVPs

58:30 Locker room stories

1:00:00 Working in media

1:04:00 Eras

1:05:00 Team USA

1:06:30 Happiest moment+legacy

Jaden McDuffie ’26 6’3 South River/Shooters

0:30 The warm up

2:30 How did you get started in the game?

3:30 Who do you model your game after?

4:00 Strengths/Weaknesses

5:30 Game day routine

6:30 Differences in the game at the HS level

7:15 Spalding to South River

9:00 Roles

9:45 Gym schedule

10:30 Facing adversity

11:15 Undervalued traits

12:00 What parts of the floor do you feel the most/least comfortable?

12:45 GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop?

13:45 What do you value?

14:45 College criteria

15:15 Interests and hobbies

15:45 If basketball didn’t work out for you, if your career ended tomorrow, what would your plan be?

16:15 Goals

17:15 What has been your happiest moment on a basketball court?

18:00 What sets the DMV apart?

18:45 What is your why?

Delton Prescott ’27 5’11 PG Sunnyslope HS/AZ Unity

0:30 The warm up

2:15 Playing Darius Wabbington

3:00 How did you get started in the game?

3:15 Who do you model your game after?

3:45 Strengths/Weaknesses

5:15 Game day routine

5:45 HS Hoops

6:30 Choosing Sunnyslope

7:15 AZ Unity

7:45 Tony Miller

8:15 Freshman year

9:00 Facing adversity

10:00 Winning basketball

10:15 Undervalued abilities

10:45 What parts of the floor do you feel the most/least comfortable?

11:15 GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop

11:30 What do you value?

11:45 Interests and hobbies

12:15 Post hoops career

13:45 College criteria

14:30 Goals

15:15 Best PGs in the country

16:00 What has been your happiest moment on a basketball court?

16:15 What sets Arizona basketball apart?

17:00 What is your why?

'28 6'5 W Ian Archbold of New Heights/Blair Academy

0:30 The warm up

2:30 Basketball beginnings

3:30 Who do you model your game after?

4:00 Strengths/Weaknesses 

5:45 How do you prepare for each game day-of?

6:30 Differences in the game at the HS level 

8:15 Choosing Blair

8:45 Choosing AAU

9:30 Facing adversity

10:45 Development

11:45 Contributing to winning

12:30 Undervalued skillsets

13:00 What parts of the floor do you feel the most/least comfortable?

13:15 GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop?

14:15 What do you value?

14:45 Interests and hobbies 

15:30 Post-basketball plans

16:15 Give me your goals for this season   

16:45 What has been your happiest moment on a basketball court?

17:15 What sets the NYC area apart?

18:00 What is your why?

'27 6'4 PG Omari Chaudhry of Jet Academy/ OTE

0:30 The Warm Up

2:30 Beginnings

3:15 Who do you model your game after?

3:30 When you watch film, what are you looking at?

3:45 Strengths/Weaknesses 

4:45 How do you prepare for each game day-of?

5:30 Differences in the game at the HS level 

6:00 Roles

7:00 Jet Academy and EYBL

7:30 Facing adversity

8:00 Tell me about your gym schedule

8:30 Contributing to winning

9:30 Undervalued skillsets

10:00 What parts of the floor do you feel the most/least comfortable?

10:45 GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop?

11:15 What do you value?

11:45 College criteria  

12:15 Interests and hobbies

12:45 Post-basketball

13:15 Goals  

13:45 Happiest moment

15:00 What sets Georgia basketball apart?

15:15 What is your why?

Myles Jones ’26 6’3 PG Modesto Christian/Jalen Green Elite

0:30 The warm up

2:30 Basketball beginnings

3:30 Circle’s approach

4:00 Who do you model your game after?

5:00 Strengths/Weaknesses

7:00 How do you prepare for each game day-of?

8:00 Jalen Green Elite

8:45 Filling a role

9:15 Modesto Christian

10:30 Facing adversity

11:15 Gym schedule

12:15 Contributing to winning at the college level

12:45 Undervalued skillsets

13:45 What parts of the floor do you feel the most/least comfortable?

14:15 GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop?

14:30 What do you value?

15:45 College criteria

16:30 Tell me about your Interests and hobbies off the court

17:00 If basketball didn’t work out for you, if your career ended tomorrow, what would your plan be?

17:30 Give me your goals for this season

17:45 What has been your happiest moment on a basketball court?

18:30 What sets California basketball apart?

19:15 Advice for youngins

19:45 What is your why?

'27 6'5 Tayron Malonga of Mt. Zion HS/Thrill

0:45 The warm up

4:00 Basketball family

5:00 Cameroon to France to the DMV

6:00 Choosing Team Thrill

7:45 Roles

8:30 Strengths/Weaknesses 

10:30 Game Day

12:15 Facing adversity

12:45 Development

13:45 Contributing to winning at the college level

15:15 Tell me a part of your game that flies under the radar or is undervalued 

15:00 Comfortable/least comfortable spots on floor

16:45 GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop?

17:15 What do you value?

16:45 Tell me about your Interests and hobbies off the court, 

17:45 Practicing with the French National Team

18:30 Plan B

19:00 Goals

20:00 Happiest moment on a basketball court

20:15 What sets the DMV apart 

21:15 College criteria

22:30 Coaching

23:15 What is your why?

Sammy Jackson ‘26 6’7 Roman Catholic/Philly Pride 16u 

0:30 The Warm Up

2:30 Advice from dad

3:30 Who do you model your game after?

3:45 Strengths/Weaknesses 

5:00 Circle’s approach to recruiting

6:30 How do you prepare for each game day-of?

7:00 Differences in role between AAU and HS

7:45 Choosing Roman and playing with brothers 

8:45 Facing adversity 

9:45 Gym schedule

10:15 Favorite actions

11:00 Contributing to winning

11:45 Undervalued attributes

12:30 Most/least comfortable?

13:15 GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop?

13:45 What do you value?

15:00 College criteria  

16:15 Interests and hobbies 

17:15 Happiest moment on a basketball court?

17:45 What sets the Philly apart?

18:30 What is your why?