1 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,399 Speaker 1: Hey, welcome in. I'm Doug Goliban. This is all ball, 2 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: all basketball, all the time, and we really appreciate you downloading. 3 00:00:15,080 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: The numbers have just exploded recently. Will continue to bring 4 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,280 Speaker 1: you guests that I think you'll really really like. Jason 5 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: Preston is an unbelievable story. Kid average two I said, 6 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 1: to two points per two points per game. His senior 7 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: year in high school, he started one game one. He's 8 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: in his third year at Ohio. You he's averaging twenty 9 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:42,680 Speaker 1: one game He got to start his entire, you know, 10 00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 1: sophomore seasons, some his freshman season as well. How do 11 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: you go from not starting in high school except for 12 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:56,120 Speaker 1: senior night to averaging twenty one game? Crazy? Here's my 13 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: talk with him. What's has been like for you? I mean, 14 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: you know, it's one thing to play really well and 15 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: to start earning respect in the basketball world, but when 16 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: your story kind of takes off and I want to 17 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,480 Speaker 1: get into it, but what's the last week been like? 18 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: For you? I'm has been crazy. Uh, definitely something that 19 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 1: I've never experienced before. And uh, it's it's definitely surreal. Um, 20 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 1: very blessed to be here and that everything everything that's 21 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,119 Speaker 1: going on going on right now? All right, So, so 22 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: you grew up in Jamaica, that's where you spent most 23 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: of your childhood. No, I grew up in uh, Florida, 24 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: my mom was born and I would so it's in 25 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: in Orlando, correct, Yeah, I go down to your your 26 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: your first memories of basketball are a where and with him? Um, 27 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 1: when I was four years old, I would have like 28 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: a little hoop in my house and my mom and 29 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: I we'd watch basketball games together. What was she like? Um, 30 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: great person, very care very selfless. She'd always put other 31 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:20,400 Speaker 1: people in front of herself and so just just an 32 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 1: amazing person. What was it like when she got sick? Um? 33 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: It definitely wasn't easy, and uh, I definitely didn't like 34 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: to see her struggle. But knowing she's in a is 35 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: in a better place now, doesn't have to suffer like 36 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: she did before, is uh definitely comforting. Yeah. I can't imagine. 37 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: Did you know I in terms of her letting you in, 38 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,800 Speaker 1: did she tell you right away? When did you know 39 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: that she was that she was really sick? Um? Actually 40 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: it was a couple of months in like that just 41 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: goes to her, you know, being selfless. You know she 42 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: didn't want me to feel bad for her or let 43 00:03:00,520 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: it affect me in any type of way, So she 44 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:04,959 Speaker 1: she kind of held it out for a couple of months. 45 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: Eventually she told you, did it affect you like in 46 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: terms of school and relationships and how you were around 47 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: other people? Um? Maybe personally, but I tried not to 48 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: let that affect other people. You know, I'd be pretty 49 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,680 Speaker 1: selfish in me, and you know, especially for her. I 50 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: didn't want to ever let her see me be down 51 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,200 Speaker 1: or anything like that. That would be pretty selfish. Um, 52 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:32,840 Speaker 1: who was who supported you most during that time? And 53 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 1: you have you and her, but but who else was 54 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: was helping you? Because that's that's that's gotta be a 55 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: really tough time in your life. Um, My my aunt, 56 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: her sister, she would sometimes come down. She uh really 57 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 1: help her her son, my cousin, and also very supportive. 58 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: And also her best friend would come with a lot, 59 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:05,640 Speaker 1: making me hopeful. Well, what's your best friend's name? Uh, 60 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:11,400 Speaker 1: Barbara Whisker And and and when she passed out, Barbara, 61 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:13,560 Speaker 1: then Barbara took you in right then? Or did you? 62 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 1: Were you with your aunt right after your your mom passed? 63 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:21,599 Speaker 1: Barbara's son pick me in and also my aunt's sons, 64 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: so my cousin. That's why I love you. So you're 65 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: fifteen at this time. Yes, your bounced from place to place. 66 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: What were you like as a basketball player? Um, I 67 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: was kind of really just a shooter. Um, at least 68 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:44,400 Speaker 1: from my high school team. Sometimes I'll go to Ellie Fitness. 69 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 1: I could do some some other things at the basketball, 70 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: but like really attayming from my high school team, I 71 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:54,120 Speaker 1: was really just a shooter. So, uh in high school, 72 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: you're a late bloomer right at this time? You're eleven 73 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:02,600 Speaker 1: six ft tall? Is that right? And and and when we 74 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 1: read oh we average to a game, like, were you 75 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:08,119 Speaker 1: in the rotation or were you the guy that people 76 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: at the end of the game you'd come in and 77 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 1: you just try and get buckets because the game was over. No, 78 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: I wasn't. I wasn't really in the rotation. I was 79 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 1: probably I never started, and I probably get about like 80 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:26,679 Speaker 1: nine minutes a game. Yeah, in some games, I wouldn't. 81 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,680 Speaker 1: You never started a high school game once. I started 82 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: one game for Senior Night. But senior, so you're you're 83 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: the senior night guy, right? How long did he leave 84 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: you in on senior that's the big thing. It's on 85 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: senior night, Like is it one possession? Is it? You 86 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: have to play the quarter? And you just balled out? 87 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: Like how long did you get to go on senior night? 88 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:48,480 Speaker 1: I think I played a good amount and senior night? Uh? 89 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 1: And senior night? Were you a good teammate? Like I 90 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: just I mean, I just full disclosure, right, Like I 91 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: went to a different high school because I want to 92 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: play varsities. A freshman played and I'd like to think 93 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: I was a good teammate, but I got to play 94 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: all the time. It's really easy to be a good 95 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 1: teammate when you're playing all the time when you're not 96 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: and you literally love basketball and it's a connection you 97 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:12,720 Speaker 1: have with your mom going back to when you're four 98 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: years old. Were you a good teammate when you're down 99 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 1: there in the bench and you're playing very much? Um, 100 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: you know, I definitely tried to be you know, you 101 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: know that that that selfless person. You know it's bigger 102 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 1: than me and our team was it was pretty successful 103 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: in my whole time in high school. We almost want 104 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 1: to state championship multiple years. Um. Yeah, I never I 105 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: never tried to be the down or anything like that. 106 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: Like all my teammates and I had a pretty good 107 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:45,840 Speaker 1: relationship too. It was good. So so your love for basketball, right, 108 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:48,040 Speaker 1: because the one thing basketball will do is it will 109 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: kick your butt, and it will you know if you 110 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: love it a lot more than it loves you. Was 111 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: there a moment? Was there ever time there were You're like, man, 112 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 1: this is a and for this a my deal, right, 113 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna do it through high school and that's 114 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 1: it was? There? Was there a moment you're you're waving 115 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,480 Speaker 1: the white flag on hoop um. I don't know if 116 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:10,160 Speaker 1: I ever officially gave up on it. I just figured 117 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: that I would need another option for it if things 118 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: didn't work out. And that's when I was going to 119 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: get entered the journalism at UCF. Yeah, so you're going 120 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: to You're gonna go to UCF as just a student, 121 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: right do in the murals? But then what happened? Yeah? 122 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: I actually I actually was taking summer classes at UCF 123 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: and it was this is like late July, so the 124 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,720 Speaker 1: summer semester is almost over, and my friend asked me 125 00:07:38,800 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 1: to complain an AU tournament and it would have and 126 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: I would have made like the fifth person, so like 127 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 1: there would have only been five players and everyone's playing 128 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:50,000 Speaker 1: forty minutes. So I said, why now I'll play. Okay, 129 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: So where's the tournament? Would you remember the location? It 130 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,160 Speaker 1: was two tournaments. What was in Georgia and the other 131 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 1: one was in Orlando at the Disney Wide World Sports 132 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: And you guys had five dudes. Yeah, who's the coach? 133 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: Uh at Wardo, Palma Palma palm mallez. Okay, So you 134 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: show up, but you guys get jersey. You gotta bring 135 00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: your own jersey. Just bring some black blinks, some white jersey. 136 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:22,280 Speaker 1: But I remember someone someone that someone was wearing a shirt. Wait, wait, wait, 137 00:08:22,320 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: somebody's what one of our teams were just wearing a 138 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 1: red shirt. We had red jerseys one of the So 139 00:08:30,400 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 1: you show up, red jersey's looking all jankie, right, don't 140 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: have any plays. Let's just go hoop, you know, eyeballs 141 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: one eyeball screen, Come get me? Was? Or was Orlando first? 142 00:08:42,440 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 1: Or was was was Georgia first? It was Georgia first? 143 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: All right, see you go? How did you do? Um? Georgia? 144 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,720 Speaker 1: Georgia was really well, really well. There were some there 145 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:56,319 Speaker 1: were a lot of really good teams in that one. 146 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:58,599 Speaker 1: I think it was like a hoop session. It was 147 00:08:58,640 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: a really good tournament and we played really well. Like um, 148 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: I think we were second in the like little tournament 149 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:10,599 Speaker 1: we were in. But like I said, there are a 150 00:09:10,679 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 1: lot of really good teams. So who's your buddy? Who 151 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:16,959 Speaker 1: who asked you to play the team? Gabe is the 152 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,560 Speaker 1: coach's son, so the coaches don asked you to play? 153 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:24,840 Speaker 1: Was he good? He actually was hurt so he couldn't play. 154 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: He was he was really just there. So he's the 155 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: star recruiter, right. And at this time, how tall arks 156 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: you're You're done playing high school? You're six ft you're 157 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: senior in high school. This is a couple of months 158 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:37,840 Speaker 1: after high school. This is in the summer, right, So 159 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,200 Speaker 1: this is you know, a couple months after high school 160 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:45,479 Speaker 1: is done. How big are you? What about six one? 161 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: So then you go back to Orlando. Now you're back home, okay, 162 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: and you're playing at the Wide Wide World. Did you 163 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: play well that tournament too? Yes? I did. We we 164 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: actually won that tournament. It was another good tournament too, 165 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: So so you win it and now now what take 166 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: me through how you got to the prep school. So 167 00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: after one of my games there u n C Nashville coach, 168 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:15,880 Speaker 1: Uh said, we were all full for this year, but 169 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: we recommend prep school to you, so we cannot potentially 170 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: offer you next year. Uh. That next game I play, 171 00:10:23,000 --> 00:10:25,440 Speaker 1: I talked to a prep school coach and then he 172 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: convinces me to go down to his prep school. What 173 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: prep school? He was gonna take me to a prep 174 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: school down in Florida, but then like a couple of 175 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: weeks later, he said he relocated to one in Tennessee 176 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 1: that was better. It was called Believe Academy. They're gonna 177 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: Believe Academy, right, and like this is you all set 178 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: to go to college, You're taking courses. Then some coach like, yo, 179 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:49,839 Speaker 1: you want to come play here, but you gotta go 180 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:52,960 Speaker 1: to prep school for next year. So and and you 181 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: don't what what what was your your mom's best friend 182 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: and what was your and what were they telling you 183 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: you should do? Um, they were supporting me, you know, 184 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: they kind of put it they kind of put it 185 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: in my hands too to make make the decision. I 186 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: want to say, they were kind of leaning towards towards school, 187 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,200 Speaker 1: but at the same time they they allowed me to 188 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:17,320 Speaker 1: pursue my dreams. Well, look, it's hard to believe though, right, 189 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: Like if they watched you play in high school and 190 00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: you're kind of descrubed right in high school and you're 191 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,400 Speaker 1: telling them like no, no no, no, no, no, listen, trust me, 192 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,720 Speaker 1: I can actually get a scholarship, like come on, scholarship. 193 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: And then you know, then you're going to prep school 194 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: in Florida, like no, no no, no, we're going to flip 195 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:37,360 Speaker 1: school in Tennessee. It does. It sounds like a It 196 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: sounds like somebody's trying to get money from it. Sounds 197 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: like one of those emails you get from a from 198 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: a guy who's locked up in in London and the 199 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: desperately needs to just send ten grands. That's what sounds like. 200 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,640 Speaker 1: That's it. Now, you're right, You're right, it does. It 201 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: does all right. So you show up Believe Academy. Right, 202 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: So it's one of these kind of made up prep 203 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: school deals and there's four there's four teams. Was there 204 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 1: any other school or is it just kind of four 205 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:04,640 Speaker 1: basketball teams? No, it was. It was. It was like 206 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: sixty to seventy kids that went there. And the other 207 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,040 Speaker 1: prep schools I knew or I came to realize, only 208 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: had like one other team, but this this one had 209 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 1: like seventy kids, so it was split up into like 210 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 1: four different teams plus a high school team. Um, two 211 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: weeks into there, the guy who brought me there actually 212 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: ended up leaving the prep school, and so none of 213 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,719 Speaker 1: the coaches that we never really knew anything about me. 214 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 1: So they put you on the they put you on 215 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,080 Speaker 1: the D team to start or the C team to start. 216 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 1: I was on the B team with him, but then 217 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 1: once he left, I got bumped up to the eight team. 218 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: But like I said, no one really knew knew about me, 219 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: so I didn't really play much on that team. Where 220 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: are you living at the time? We all lived in 221 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:57,240 Speaker 1: like this little norm all all sixty seventy of us 222 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:00,880 Speaker 1: lived in this like one big building. What was that like? 223 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: It was fun? I had uh, I had like my 224 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:09,719 Speaker 1: two my two roommates who uh convinced me to come 225 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: down to the seed team with them. But it was 226 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,040 Speaker 1: really fun. A lot of bus rides, a lot of 227 00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: a lot of fun memories. So you're just hanging out. 228 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: Who are you to two roommates? Their names are Isaac 229 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: Hill and j J. Romer. So so during this time, 230 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,320 Speaker 1: do these guys know where they I mean, you know 231 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 1: how guys are like, you're a prep school. They're all 232 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: going to the league. I'm going to I'm going to Kentucky. 233 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 1: I'm all right. Did they didn't even go like, hey, 234 00:13:34,679 --> 00:13:36,440 Speaker 1: how good were you in high school? Did anyone know 235 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:39,839 Speaker 1: that you didn't play much in high school? It's actually funny. Uh. 236 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: One of the roommates, Isaac, he lived fifteen minutes away 237 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: from me. He's from Orlando to the same guy that 238 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:51,720 Speaker 1: brought me there, brought brought him there, and we had 239 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 1: never seen each other before. And we lived fifteen minutes 240 00:13:54,480 --> 00:14:00,320 Speaker 1: away from each other. Now where roommates in Tennessee. It's okay. 241 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: So how did you how did you do? You put 242 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 1: a mix tape together? How did it come to be? 243 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,040 Speaker 1: Where you you put your highlight tape on on Twitter? So? Yeah, 244 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,240 Speaker 1: after I came down to the see team with them, 245 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: I was playing pretty well. And it's kind of late 246 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 1: in the year. It's like your January. I'm like, I 247 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: need to get some film for coaches. If I want 248 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: to pay basketball somewhere, I'm gonna need the coaches to 249 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: be able to see something in me. So I asked 250 00:14:26,120 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: the coach. On one bus ride was like an eight 251 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 1: hour bus ride from wherever we were going back to Tennessee, 252 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: and so I asked, asked, if I get out of 253 00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:35,760 Speaker 1: the film, I got it. So I'm just on this 254 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 1: bus ride screen recording all my clips. I get all 255 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: my clips put together, and then I sent it over 256 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: to my other friend back home. He put it together 257 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: like a mix. After he does that, he sends it 258 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:51,240 Speaker 1: back to me. The Believe Prep Academy Twitter page posted 259 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 1: and then I get a d M from both Ohio 260 00:14:54,320 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: and Long so so so you get how how how much? 261 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:02,560 Speaker 1: How long was it before it was posted and you 262 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:07,440 Speaker 1: got a d M? Um, it was probably like two 263 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:13,360 Speaker 1: days on the d M. The dm happened one day 264 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: after it was posted. The d M s at any 265 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: point in time, so you played for uh a guy 266 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: David Martinson right at boone and like you said, good 267 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: high school program. At any point in time did did 268 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: your did your coat? You make any contact with him 269 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: like about like, hey, I'm at a prep school, I 270 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: might go played Division one? Like this is the guy 271 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: who you weren't playing much for. Was there any relationship 272 00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: there which he was almost surprised at your success? Um? 273 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 1: Not I really talked much with him, to be honest. Um, 274 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: sometimes maybe like once or twice a year, I'll go 275 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:53,320 Speaker 1: down and play basketball in the in the school and 276 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: I'll say hi, and but we really haven't I'll talked much. 277 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: So now now you now you talked to Ohio you 278 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:04,400 Speaker 1: uh what what was it about going up to Appalachia? 279 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: Appalachia that that was like, Okay, I want to do this. Um. 280 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:11,560 Speaker 1: So I went on visits to both schools and it 281 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:13,400 Speaker 1: was it was it was a hard decision. I really 282 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: like the culture of like teammates and guys around me, 283 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: Like Ben vander Poster was still here. He was my host. 284 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: I really like, I really uh vibe with him once 285 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,120 Speaker 1: I got here, and I thought it was a great 286 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: fit for for me, and I thought I could play 287 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:36,040 Speaker 1: the way I'd want to play here as well. So 288 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: you show up on campus, Okay, what do you remember? 289 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: What was it like? This is after I've committed here. Yeah, um, 290 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: it was nice. The campus is really nice. Um facilities 291 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: are are are nice and nothing nothing I've ever really seen. 292 00:16:58,560 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: I mean, like again, are you, like, first, how big 293 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: were you last year when you when you first showed up, 294 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 1: I was six. So you're still you're you're still growing, 295 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: You're still adding weight and adding muscle. Like as as 296 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: this goes on, did you feel like you belonged right? 297 00:17:15,640 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 1: Because there's this you know C team, B team, A 298 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,880 Speaker 1: team prep school. You know, you go up, you got 299 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,679 Speaker 1: to offers. Like when you showed up on campus, We're like, 300 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,199 Speaker 1: oh I got this or was there was there a process? 301 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: Because a lot of guys. I mean, I remember I 302 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:33,240 Speaker 1: showed up and I I had a really good high 303 00:17:33,280 --> 00:17:36,320 Speaker 1: school career and I was really well regarded and I 304 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:37,879 Speaker 1: felt like I belong And then we started playing. I 305 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: was like, damn, these are men. This is a lot 306 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:41,919 Speaker 1: harder than I thought. What was it like for you 307 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: when you first showed up? Um, you know I was 308 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:50,880 Speaker 1: a little nervous about that at first, but um, things 309 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 1: things are pretty good for me to start. Uh. I 310 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: remember coming into my visit the coach telling me, you know, 311 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:01,960 Speaker 1: you'd get like backup point guard role about fifteen minutes, 312 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: possibly growing over the years. Um, but I ended up 313 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: starting my first year. You know, things went pretty good 314 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:15,560 Speaker 1: that summer and that fall before the season. Now, at 315 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: what point in time did your teammates know you didn't 316 00:18:18,160 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: you only started one game in high school your college teams. Um, 317 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: when I first got here. In my summer, I didn't 318 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:27,120 Speaker 1: really talk to anybody, to be honest, I was kind 319 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 1: of very focused, ah, kind of isolated. I guess towards 320 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,840 Speaker 1: the end of summer, you know, team bonding kind of 321 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: went went on, and that's when I started to tell 322 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:47,720 Speaker 1: all people and they were like what yah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 323 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:51,560 Speaker 1: that was that was the common reception. Yeah, what was 324 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: your first winter? Like winter? Oh? That was that was? 325 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 1: That was something else. I mean I got a little 326 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:02,439 Speaker 1: bit of a of a taste of it because I 327 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:08,320 Speaker 1: lived in Tennessee and it would snow there sometimes. Um, 328 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 1: the lowest suit get it was finbably like ten degrees, 329 00:19:11,560 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: which is which is similar to here, So I I 330 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 1: had kind of experienced it before. Um, but it wasn't 331 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: cold every cold and gray every day in the Midwest 332 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: is very very different than what you're what you're accustomed to. No, yeah, yeah, 333 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:29,960 Speaker 1: it definitely takes took some adjusting to. But no, now 334 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 1: now it's fine, it's fine. Your your game And I'm 335 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: I'm friends with Rashot Phillips. We were we played against 336 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:39,960 Speaker 1: each other, we played at the same time in college. 337 00:19:40,040 --> 00:19:42,240 Speaker 1: Obviously he's kind of a legend or Lando. He works 338 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:44,959 Speaker 1: with guys. And he was the one who first pointed 339 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:48,120 Speaker 1: you out to me going back a couple of months ago. Yeah, 340 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: but it's not just that you've grown and you've added muscle, 341 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,479 Speaker 1: Like your game has evolved. As you said, when your 342 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: high school, are just a shooter, Now you're a point guard. 343 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: Kind of does everything scoring point kind of? Does everything 344 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: take me through? Like in terms of work, are you 345 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:03,840 Speaker 1: always an individual workout guy? Do you get in the 346 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,000 Speaker 1: gym you just shoot, work on your game, or you 347 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: just I want to go play and I just play 348 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:12,160 Speaker 1: all day? Um? Kind of both of the last ones 349 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:16,159 Speaker 1: and my my, my best friend Kobe, we'd always go 350 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 1: down to the gym. This is in high school, you know, 351 00:20:19,160 --> 00:20:21,639 Speaker 1: just play a lot of one on one, watch a 352 00:20:21,680 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: lot of film, and a lot of guys like I 353 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:26,359 Speaker 1: watched a lot of watch a lot of Lebron James, 354 00:20:27,040 --> 00:20:31,160 Speaker 1: watch a lot of Chris Paul, those two guys. I've 355 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: really studied both of their games heavily. And and then 356 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: obviously they have two of the weirdest step backs, right 357 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:43,119 Speaker 1: Like Lebron's got that weird kind of step to the 358 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,199 Speaker 1: side step back. You gotta break that out. If you 359 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,400 Speaker 1: really study Lebron you gotta have the can you make 360 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 1: the Lebron side step weird step back thing? You know 361 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:55,240 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about? Right that that shotting shoots from three? Yeah, 362 00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 1: I probably did it once last year. You gotta you 363 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 1: gotta break that. You break that out and then get 364 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: the clip and then screenshot it on the bus the 365 00:21:03,000 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 1: same way you you you blew up and then send 366 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 1: it to Lebron be like, look, I have been studying 367 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 1: your game. And then Chris Paul like he he only 368 00:21:10,880 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: shoots going right, literally only, but you can't stop it. 369 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,320 Speaker 1: There's it's just crazy how you can't stop the fact 370 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: that you know he's going right. So one of the 371 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:24,439 Speaker 1: things that fascinates me about you is that you do 372 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: have good feel for game situations, end of games. So 373 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,080 Speaker 1: it's not that you didn't play growing up. Obviously played 374 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,760 Speaker 1: that Tennessee, he played that that elite team, He played tournaments, 375 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:37,320 Speaker 1: but not having played in big moments in high school, 376 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:40,080 Speaker 1: the prep school games don't always mean nearly as much. 377 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: How have you been able to kind of assimilate to 378 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:48,119 Speaker 1: real game situations time, score, possession, shot clock and things 379 00:21:48,160 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: like that while while playing in college. Um, I might 380 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:56,760 Speaker 1: not have played in a bunch of games like that. 381 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:01,120 Speaker 1: But like I said, I've watched for years and years 382 00:22:01,119 --> 00:22:03,680 Speaker 1: and years a lot of a lot of close games, 383 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:07,119 Speaker 1: time and clock management, a lot of high key players 384 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: from you know, Chris and Lebron, And it's just something 385 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:13,919 Speaker 1: that I that I look at and see that I 386 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: can then relate. You makes your friend Kobe, where is 387 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:22,640 Speaker 1: he now? Um? He's down in Florida right now. He's 388 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 1: looking to find a school for himself right now too, 389 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,359 Speaker 1: So what what what is your relationship and like with 390 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:31,359 Speaker 1: him since kind of you blown up and you become 391 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:33,960 Speaker 1: this kind of megastar, He's like, that's my boy. That's 392 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: to shoot the gym in high school. I do it 393 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:41,320 Speaker 1: all along. Oh, nothing's really changed, you know. I still 394 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: talked to him like every day. Um yeah, he he 395 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:52,120 Speaker 1: actually went viral one time in high school himself. So's 396 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:56,360 Speaker 1: uh not nothing has changed? Nothing nothing, Okay? So then 397 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: this is what's This is what's crazy though, right, Like 398 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:02,080 Speaker 1: you've gone viral, you've blown up. Everybody knows you are, 399 00:23:02,600 --> 00:23:05,239 Speaker 1: but there's there's nobody on campus. There's nobody to come 400 00:23:05,320 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 1: up and be like you know, I had I saw 401 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: that sell you on social media? All right? So the 402 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: the good is everybody knows you are the bad is 403 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 1: and it's not helping you as much with the ladies 404 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:18,879 Speaker 1: as it should be. Oh no, no, I actually I 405 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,000 Speaker 1: have a girlfriend. I have a girlfriend, So she's gonna 406 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 1: be happy for the social distancing of everybody else, right, 407 00:23:24,320 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 1: because everybody it would have been a bud. But but um, 408 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: this team is, this team is very talented. Um. What 409 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: you learned from the Illinois game, Um that uh, if 410 00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:40,920 Speaker 1: we stay consistent, you know, we could play with anyone 411 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: in the country. You know, I was very proud of 412 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 1: our guys. You know, we watched a lot of film 413 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 1: prior to the game. You know, it was it was 414 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 1: the third game in three days, but we have been 415 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,960 Speaker 1: watching before and especially after our first two games. We 416 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,120 Speaker 1: really made a game plan on attacking what they would 417 00:23:57,119 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 1: do on ball, screens and whatnot. And our guys executed great. 418 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:05,359 Speaker 1: DJ Wilson said, great screens, Van Van Foster screen on 419 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:10,480 Speaker 1: both ends, Lending mcday on defense, Myles Brown defense. You 420 00:24:10,480 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: know it was. It was a great effort and we 421 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: just got a stake consistent. Now I got a chance 422 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: to coach Kofy in one of these Peango steels, which 423 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 1: is like they just go up and down duck on 424 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 1: each other. And one, I really like him as a 425 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: as a kid. But two, that is a grown ass man, right, 426 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: That is a that is a big They don't have 427 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:30,960 Speaker 1: dudes like that in the MAC. They may have used 428 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 1: to have guys like that in the MAC, but they 429 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: don't kofe Kobe Kober And what what what was he 430 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:41,480 Speaker 1: like to play against? Yeah, yeah, you're right everything he said, 431 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: It's true. He's huge. He's huge. And it's crazy because 432 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 1: I would say DJ he held his own. You know, 433 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: there's the times he'd be backing him down in DJ 434 00:24:50,440 --> 00:24:53,119 Speaker 1: with was chesting him up, walling him up strong, and 435 00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 1: it was it was impressive. Yeah, I mean that's that's 436 00:24:56,160 --> 00:24:58,919 Speaker 1: that's a big that's a big human being. And I 437 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:01,200 Speaker 1: was like, man, I for saw him. He's like sixteen. 438 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: I was like, no, way, show me the driver's license, 439 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:07,600 Speaker 1: Like okay, okay, I'll buy it. I guess you are. 440 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: I guess you are sixteen. That is a that is 441 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: a big dude. For for you personally, what do you 442 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:15,080 Speaker 1: want to improve it? What do you want to get 443 00:25:15,080 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: better at UM? For this this year? I definitely wanna 444 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:25,680 Speaker 1: cut down on my turnovers um, and also shoot more 445 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: off the dribble, maybe get more threes up this year. 446 00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 1: Those two areas of something I really worked on. What 447 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 1: has the season been like with so much should the unknown? 448 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: You know, and it's it's weird because again this kind 449 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: of comes back to I'm guessing prep school probably prepared 450 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 1: you for it better than some other guys. More the 451 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:48,919 Speaker 1: traditional route in that three and three days, that's like 452 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: an AU tournament rate. That's you know, everybody makes it 453 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: out to be so hard. That's better. I'd prefer to 454 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 1: play as supposed to practice and have to play defense 455 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,199 Speaker 1: the whole time. Um. But with all the unknown, with 456 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:02,960 Speaker 1: having a social distance from other students, with having it 457 00:26:03,119 --> 00:26:05,880 Speaker 1: you know, kind of just be you know, be safe 458 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:09,920 Speaker 1: and be smart. What's it been like for you for you? Oh, 459 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 1: I mean it's been an adjustment, but I I don't 460 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:16,960 Speaker 1: mind it. Uh. Classes are going pretty well for me. 461 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:21,760 Speaker 1: You know, I got a nice little schedule going on. Um, 462 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:23,840 Speaker 1: you don't see too many people, but that's fine, you know, 463 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:26,399 Speaker 1: you learned to adjust. I have my roommates that are 464 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 1: on the team. Um. Like I said, I have my 465 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: girlfriend and it's fine. When when when people see your story. 466 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:41,600 Speaker 1: When they hear about uh, when they hear about your 467 00:26:41,640 --> 00:26:44,800 Speaker 1: mom and how you kept going, when you hear about 468 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,239 Speaker 1: high school and you kept going? What does that come from? 469 00:26:47,280 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: How do you how do you relate to somebody else's 470 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:52,639 Speaker 1: going through a tough time that there can be something 471 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 1: better on the horizon? Um? I would say really just 472 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: having faith, trusting in God's plan and on that everything 473 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: happens for a reason. If you can truly believe and 474 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 1: everything happens for a reason, you know you'll you'll get 475 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:11,879 Speaker 1: through a lot. But but but how like like the 476 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 1: world was kicking your ass for a while, right it was? 477 00:27:15,119 --> 00:27:18,800 Speaker 1: It was hand and you asked weapons. But I mean 478 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:22,000 Speaker 1: in those in those moments where you're like, my mom, 479 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:24,880 Speaker 1: is is everything I have? Like? How do you It's 480 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 1: great to say you have faith? But is it simply 481 00:27:26,800 --> 00:27:28,920 Speaker 1: praying to God? Is it finding it within your soul? 482 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:34,119 Speaker 1: How does how does that work? No? Yeah, it is, 483 00:27:34,359 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: you know, and it goes a long way. And my 484 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:40,880 Speaker 1: mom would always would always tell me that to just 485 00:27:40,920 --> 00:27:46,000 Speaker 1: stay strong, Um, keep praying to God and everything will 486 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 1: work itself out. And and I'm telling you, if you 487 00:27:49,000 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: if you you truly believe in and your faith is 488 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: is is strong. It can take you a long way. 489 00:27:56,160 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: Is it harder to make it what you've done or 490 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 1: to sustain it? Right? Because last year you got to 491 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: start as a freshman out of nowhere. Now everybody knows 492 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:08,440 Speaker 1: who you are. Is it more difficult now when you're 493 00:28:08,520 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: you're on top of people scattering reports? You know, I 494 00:28:12,520 --> 00:28:16,880 Speaker 1: would always say it's harder to sustain. You know, it's 495 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:19,919 Speaker 1: kind of easy to be the underdog, you know, when 496 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: when it's more expected you, I would say it's probably 497 00:28:22,359 --> 00:28:25,840 Speaker 1: harder in this scenario. I don't know. I don't really 498 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:30,720 Speaker 1: like look at it as pressure to to keep performing. 499 00:28:30,760 --> 00:28:33,760 Speaker 1: You know, I'm just trying to do whatever it takes 500 00:28:33,760 --> 00:28:38,720 Speaker 1: to win each night. Well, I'm I can tell you 501 00:28:38,920 --> 00:28:42,480 Speaker 1: from the people I know in Orlando and from kind 502 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 1: of everybody who has followed the story, people are just 503 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 1: amazed by your perseverance and by what you've done. And 504 00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 1: it does feel like it's only you kind of only 505 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:54,720 Speaker 1: cracking the surface, right, like you just it's one of 506 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 1: those the more you watch, the more you're gonna getting better. 507 00:28:57,120 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: And now you're getting that kind of scores confidence almost 508 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 1: little arrogance where you just know it's going in right, 509 00:29:02,920 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 1: does it is? It? It feel different before you believe it, 510 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 1: but now everybody in that bench believes it is. That's 511 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: that's gotta be a little different, different deal. Yeah, my 512 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: teammates they always tell me to keep shooting. They know 513 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: I like to pass, but you know they even stood 514 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:19,160 Speaker 1: a lot of confidence in me, and it's it's. Uh, 515 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: it's awesome. Definitely looking to keep growing at this season. 516 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:29,800 Speaker 1: How many shots today? Um, I don't know a specific number, 517 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 1: but before and after every every practice, for about twenty 518 00:29:34,120 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 1: minutes each I get up a lot of shots. Listen, 519 00:29:38,400 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: congrats on your success so far. I can't wait to 520 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: see what's next from you. And uh, I really appreciate 521 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,560 Speaker 1: you in this on the pot. Thank you. I appreciate it. 522 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:51,120 Speaker 1: It's pretty crazy stuff, right, And the demeanor he did 523 00:29:51,200 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 1: feel like he got a little emotional obviously talking about 524 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:55,840 Speaker 1: his mom, And who wouldn't. You're fifteen years old, you 525 00:29:55,840 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: lose your mom to breast cancer and you start, you know, 526 00:29:58,440 --> 00:30:01,880 Speaker 1: living in multiple places. But to have that sort of 527 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:06,000 Speaker 1: belief in self to never give up on your dream. 528 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 1: Even when I looked at you're going to college as 529 00:30:08,640 --> 00:30:11,600 Speaker 1: a regular student. That's usually time when you should give 530 00:30:11,680 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 1: up that idea, and then to go from that to 531 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:17,080 Speaker 1: being a recruited scholarship athlete, and from that to being 532 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 1: a starter in college basketball so early in his career. 533 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: The whole thing is nothing short of absolutely remarkable. And 534 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:27,480 Speaker 1: I hope you appreciated it. I hope you liked having 535 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:29,800 Speaker 1: play without players on. We have coaches on, we have 536 00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 1: NBA players on. Make sure you tell friends you tweeted out. 537 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:35,200 Speaker 1: You download it, you subscribe it, you rate it, and 538 00:30:35,240 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: you review it. Thank you so much for downloading this. 539 00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 1: I'm Doug Gottlieben. This is all ball