The Agee and Gates Podcast - What's your Hoop Dream?

We got a good one this week as Chicago native, DePaul Basketball alumni and former NBA 1st Round Draft pick, of the Orlando magic, joins Will Gates and Arthur Agee on his week's episode. Steven went on to play 9 years in the NBA. He got to play for some great teammates in Allen Iverson, Steve Nash, Tracey McGrady, Grant Hill, Patrick Ewing, Amare Stoudamire, QRich, and many more. Steven takes you from his early days growing in the Chi, to the NCAA basketball experience and through his time in the league. He also talks about his personal life, his families experience and raising their son with autism and how that led to his role as an advocate for people that have been diagnosed with it. Listen and learn Stevens origin story.

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We got a real one on the show this week. A Chi town legend, author, journalist and the man with one of the coldest nicknames in the game, Robert “Scoop” Jackson. Unfiltered is the best way to describe this episode as Scoop sits down with Will and Arthur to dive deep into his origin story, from growing up in South Shore, where he still lives today, to hooping all over the city of Chicago. His mother's focus on education for her children led to him going to four different grammar schools by the time he was in grade 8, which means he basically went to school with everybody! He talks about the power basketball can provide for youth and how his love for the game, combined with the confidence his mother instilled in him, helped him to fit in and make friends when he was the new kid at a new school. 

Scoop reflects on his mothers integrity and compassion for kids in the neighborhood and the influence that had on him growing up. He shares stories about his days at Xavier University and receiving a Masters in Arts degree from Howard. His passion for writing, basketball and hip hop eventually led to a career as a journalist covering sports for publications such as SLAM, ESPN, The Source, Vibe, USA Today and many others. Nike even commissioned him to write Sole Provider: 30 Years of Nike Basketball chronicling the inside story of Nike and its influence on the sport. Sit back and strap in for Part 2 of what will go down as a classic episode.

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We got a real one on the show this week. A Chi town legend, author, journalist and the man with one of the coldest nicknames in the game, Robert “Scoop” Jackson. Unfiltered is the best way to describe this episode as Scoop sits down with Will and Arthur to dive deep into his origin story, from growing up in South Shore, where he still lives today, to hooping all over the city of Chicago. His mother's focus on education for her children led to him going to four different grammar schools by the time he was in grade 8, which means he basically went to school with everybody! He talks about the power basketball can provide for youth and how his love for the game, combined with the confidence his mother instilled in him, helped him to fit in and make friends when he was the new kid at a new school. 

Scoop reflects on his mothers integrity and compassion for kids in the neighborhood and the influence that had on him growing up. He shares stories about his days at Xavier University and receiving a Masters in Arts degree from Howard. His passion for writing, basketball and hip hop eventually led to a career as a journalist covering sports for publications such as SLAM, ESPN, The Source, Vibe, USA Today and many others. Nike even commissioned him to write Sole Provider: 30 Years of Nike Basketball chronicling the inside story of Nike and its influence on the sport. Sit back and strap in for Part 1 of what will go down as a classic episode.

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We got a hot one this week, switching it up a little on you, we got a real life, legit, thespian on the show. Vancouver, B.C. native, actor and former Division 1 soccer player, Brandon Jay McLaren, joins Will Gates and Arthur. Brandon talks about how influential the documentary Hoop Dreams was during his teenage years and how it helped form his work ethic and motivate him. He reminisces on playing basketball and soccer in a hockey mad country, his days as a ball boy with the Vancouver Grizzlies (and those NBA logo socks!!) and the difficulties of getting on the radar of American universities as an athlete. After playing D-1 soccer and earning his degree at Albany New York, Brandon has gone on to build an incredible acting career, from being the Red Power Ranger, to roles in shows such as Graceland, The Killing, Fire Fly Lane, Ransom, The Rookie and soon to be appearing in the FX hit Snowfall. The guys get deep on family, education, the recruitment process and the hurdles he overcame in the pursuit of a professional soccer and acting career. Sit back, relax, put your headphones on and get a little education. 

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We got a real one this week, a Chicago legend, a 2x WNBA Champ and a 7x WNBA All-Star, Cappie Pondexter joins Will Gates and Arthur Agee this week. And the list of accolades goes on, Cappie was a 3x All-WNBA First Team, a member of the All-Defensive team and All-Rookie Team, she was voted one of the top 15 WNBA players of all time by the fans and won an Olympic Gold Medal in the 2008 Olympics. Cappie talks about growing up in Chicago and how that shaped her, she recounts her years at Rutgers and the excitement of March Madness. She reminisces on her time playing in Turkey and how much she loved the city of Istanbul. Tune in for a WNBA history lesson from one of the greats.  

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We got a real one this week. Princeton Tigers Men's Basketball alumni, former pro ball player with the Manchester Knights and NCAA Division 1 Men's basketball coach, Craig Robinson, joins Will Gates and Arthur Agee on this week's episode. The older brother of former First Lady Michelle Obama, talks about how close the two of them are and about their days growing up in Chicago. He shares the incredible story of his father introducing him to basketball despite his health struggles and reminisces on his days at Princeton and all the lessons he learned from legendary coach Pete Carril. Make sure you set aside some time to check this episode out.

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Dan Grunfeld, former Stanford University basketball standout, current technology executive with Lightspeed Ventures and author of the book "By the Grace Of The Game" joins Will and Arthur on this episode. Dan Talks about how his father, former NBA star Ernie Gunfeld, inspired his love for the game of basketball, how important his grandmother has been in his life, his days playing overseas, the experiences and friendships he developed through basketball and what led to him writing his new book, "By The Grace Of The Game". The story shares his family's incredible story of surviving the Holocaust, the only know know journey from Auschwitz to the NBA. It details the perseverance it took and how basketball helped his father survive and succeed in America. A unique and memorable episode that you gotta listen to.

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We got a Chicago basketball legend on the show this week. A member of The Michigan Wolverines Fab Five, a 2x NBA Champ, a McDonald's All American and the 2021 AP College Coach of the Year, Juwan Howard! Juwan, currently the head coach for the University of Michigan chops it up with Will and Arthur about the Hoop Dreams documentary, growing up in Chicago and the important role his Grandmother played in his life. With a 19 year NBA career under his belt and 8 years of coaching, this man has some stories to tell. So take some time to sit back, relax and listen to some basketball history.

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Texas legend and Fab Five member Ray Jackson sits down with Will Gates and Arthur Agee. The guys talk about his childhood growing up in Texas, the origins of his nick name and his high school days. Ray gives them the inside scoop on his college days at Michigan, discusses his top 3 rappers (of which there is only one name...) and also touches on what he's been up to since his playing days. Don't sleep on this one. Ray drops some knowledge that young players shouldn't miss. 

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Jamal Crawford NBA legend and 8th overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft and 3 time NBA sixth man of the year award winner joins Will Gates and Arthur Agee on this weeks episode. The Seattle native played for 20 years in the league and is the all time leader in 4 point plays. The guys chop it up about his experience growing up in the Pacific Northwest, some of the notable players he competed against and the impact the documentary Hoop Dreams had on him as a high school ball player. You don't want to miss this episode with the legendary Crossover King. Part 2 coming soon.

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