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 up

4:00 Basketball beginnings

5:00 Circle

5:45 Self scout

7:00 BABC

8:00 Adversity

8:30 Gym schedule

9:00 Undervalued skills

10:00  GW assist, bucket, or defensive stop

10:30  What do you value?

11:00 Off court/career interests

11:30 Goals**

14:00 Connecticut basketball

14:45 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 mom

3:00 Coaching family

5:00 St Francis Xavier University AC

6:45 Coaching Prep

8:55 quote

9:30 Coaching in China

11:15** Cutting teeth in prep world

12:30 Covid

14:00* Memphis

16:00 Role and Growth

18:00 Learning from Coach Becker

21:45 Building a program

23:45 Finding your voice as an assistant

26:30 Assistant Coach Excellence

28:15 Evaluations

29:10** evaluation

32:00 Evaluating mental makeup 

33:00** Dylan story

34:45 Retention

37:30 Building culture

39:30 Blind belief

40:15 Daily habits

41:45 Whats your superpower?

42:30 Advice to younger self

44:00 Coaching at a MM

46:15 Timing in recruiting

47:45 Vermont standards

48:45 Do you hate losing or love winning

49:45 Eliciting buy-in

51:30 Key to coaching development

54:30- working backwards, cut

55:00 NCAAB would be better if…

57:15 Legacy

58:30 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’s

1:30 Being recruited in the portal era

2:00 Recruitment priorities

2:30 Leadership

3:10 McDonald’s AA Selection

3:45 McDonald’s AA reaction

4:45 Connections

5:15 Favorite HS moment

5:45 What can fans expect from you at St. Mary’s? 

Austin Pitts ’29 6’2 Boys Latin/ Team Thrill 

1:00 The warm up

2:30 Family ties

2:45 Parents

3:15 Circle

3:45 Who do you model your game after?

4:15 Strengths/Weaknesses 

5:00 Communication 

5:30 Gameday routine

6:00 Do you love to win or hate to lose?

6:15 Coaching

6:35 HS Basketball

7:15 Choosing HS

7:45 Choosing AAU

8:15 Adversity **

9:15 Gym schedule

10:15 Self talk

10:45 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 Interests

13:30 Career goals

13:45 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 HC

1:00 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 prospect

8:45 How was your game/role different in HS vs college

9:00 Rebounding

10:30 Weber defense

12:00 Advice for 1st year HC

13:45 Building a coaching staff

15:45 Give me a moment of assistant coach excellence

19:15 Overcoming stereotypes

21:15 Elite offense qualities

24:30 How has this stop informed your evaluations?

27:00 Coaching foreign born players

29:30 Evaluating character

31:30 Building a roster in the portal era

37:15 Tough love coaching

39:00 Setting the tone in recruiting

41:00 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 moment

52:45 College basketball would be better if ______

53:15 Who are 3 guys that I should interview next? I need some sharks

55:00 Parents

59:30-What is your why?

1:00 Basketball journey

2:00 What moment did you know that you wanted to be a coach?

4:00 From player to coach 

5:45 Playing career informing coaching

8:00 Advice for young coaches

10:15 George Mason

13:15 Structuring a program

15:30 Connecting with staff

17:30 Finding your coaching voice

21:15 Assistant coach excellence 

23:45 Evaluation

26:00 Portal Recruiting

31:30 Balancing in recruitment

34:15 Challenges of coaching at a MM

40:15 Lessons from head coaches

43:15 Buy-in

45:15 Legacy

45:30 NCAAB would be better if___

46:10  Thinking like a HC

48:30 Next Up Assistants

49:15 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 Warmup

3:15 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 talk

7:30 WCAC Basketball

8:15 How do you prepare for each game day-of?

8:30 Do you love to win or hate to lose

8:45 What type of coaching do you respond to

9:00 Facing Adversity

9:45 Development

10:30 Under-valued Skillsets

11:00 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 Goals

14:15 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 Durant

17:30 What is your why?