1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: How do you think that your skill set is going 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: to add to that mix? Right, Angel, Hailey Katiri, Just 3 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: the list goes on and on and on. How do 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:11,639 Speaker 1: you think that all you guys are going to play together? 5 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 2: I feel like we're going to play great together. Honestly. 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 2: I know that a lot of people talk about like 7 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:19,760 Speaker 2: egos and whatever it might be, the personalities, but at 8 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 2: the end of the day, if you have one goal 9 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 2: that you want to accomplish, and it doesn't matter what 10 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 2: you go through, you're going to work together to win, 11 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 2: That's all that matters at the end of the day. 12 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:32,560 Speaker 2: And I feel like for me, like that is really 13 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 2: my end goal. Like I work hard every day and 14 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 2: I'll have that goal to win. I'm going to do 15 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:39,880 Speaker 2: anything that I possibly can to win. 16 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Sometimes I Hoop. I'm your host, Hailey 17 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:47,839 Speaker 1: Jones and this week I'm joined by a certified bucket. 18 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:51,080 Speaker 1: She averaged a double double last year, DePaul ranked fourth 19 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:54,960 Speaker 1: in points in the NCAA. Shytown's finest and hottest news 20 00:00:55,000 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: coming out of the transfer portal none other than LSU's 21 00:00:58,360 --> 00:00:59,880 Speaker 1: newest Tiger, Anissa More. 22 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 3: Thanks for hopping on the pod. 23 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 2: Of course, thank you for having me. 24 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:10,800 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, of course, love having you. Let's jump right 25 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: into it. LSU, Go Tigers. It has been a couple 26 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: of months since you announced, But what led you to 27 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: making that decision into wanting to transfer. 28 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:21,679 Speaker 2: I would say that I had a great season at 29 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,839 Speaker 2: DePaul from you listed my accolades and what I did, 30 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 2: but I didn't want to have empty season, and I 31 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 2: felt like I cut falling short from my biggest goals, 32 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 2: and that's to win the national championship. And for me, 33 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 2: I know how it feels to score forty five points 34 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,240 Speaker 2: we get twenty seven rebounds. So I want my hard 35 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 2: work to be backed up. And I knew that I 36 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 2: had to make a different decision, and that was to 37 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: go into the portal. 38 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 1: You're right, You've done the big accolades, You've done the 39 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: you know, national fresh from the Year, scoring all these 40 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 1: different things, which is crazy. But you know, not making 41 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: it to the tournament is hard, I bet, and you 42 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: know it's part of college basketball. Everybody wants to make 43 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: March madness, go deep and have that run. And you 44 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: know LSU, coming off of Natty, that seems like the 45 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: place to go if. 46 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 3: You want to do all that. 47 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: So you narrowed your choices to LSU, South Carolina, and USC. 48 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: So what about each of those schools was kind of 49 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:14,799 Speaker 1: attracting you? 50 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 3: Because each school has a different thing. 51 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: You know, USC is on the rise, they're rebuilding with 52 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: coach Lindsay, and then South Carolina they're kind of entering 53 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: a new era with Balia and everyone like that. And Elis, 54 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 1: you's coming off a hot streak. So what was it 55 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: about those three? I have thirty five options to pick from. 56 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 2: It was kind of. 57 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 4: Wow, Oh that's hefty, that's a lot. 58 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,240 Speaker 2: It was a very overwhelming. But I just knew like 59 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 2: I wanted to come to a school where I would 60 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 2: be able to, of course showcase my game, but at 61 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 2: the highest level, and I felt like those three schools 62 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: for me would be the best options for my style 63 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 2: of play. 64 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:51,760 Speaker 1: I mean, thirty five to three, you did that on 65 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:53,919 Speaker 1: a quick time, really narrowing down your options. 66 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 3: That's impressive. 67 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: But I mean you made the whole process of choosing 68 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 1: a little bit suspenseful, I'm sure for those schools, but 69 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:01,959 Speaker 1: also from the outside, like trying to you know, where 70 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:03,919 Speaker 1: is she gonna go? This is on the top in 71 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 1: the portal right now. But it was really fun to 72 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: watch that play out on social media. So is that 73 00:03:08,840 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 1: part of the plan to make people wait, have that 74 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: suspense or did that just kind of come about. 75 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 2: I feel like it was a process. Like with me, 76 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 2: I didn't have a big following, a lot of people 77 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 2: didn't know my name, and I wanted to enjoy my process. 78 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,080 Speaker 2: Like a lot of people were saying that I was 79 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: prolonging it, like just dragging it out, but I was like, 80 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: it's important for me to enjoy this because it's the 81 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 2: opportunity that you only get once in a lifetime. So 82 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 2: I wanted to enjoy it to the fullest. And I 83 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,120 Speaker 2: felt like dragging it or just taking my time when 84 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 2: it was the best way for me to enjoy it. 85 00:03:37,920 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 3: I mean, I got you. I was the same way 86 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 3: out of high school. 87 00:03:40,240 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: I think I was literally the last person in my 88 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: class to commit because I was like, I just don't know, 89 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: and it's such a big decision, right, Like it's everything. 90 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:51,440 Speaker 1: It's not just basketball at that point, it's school, it's 91 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: the people you're around, the experiences you're going to have. 92 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 1: So it's a big decision. So props to you for 93 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: dragging it out and not speeding yourself up and I 94 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: mean shows LSU and people are saying it's a bit 95 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: of a super team. 96 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 3: Would you agree, would you disagree? What are your thoughts there? 97 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 2: I would say, if you look on stats like they 98 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 2: just take work every day, Like it takes work every day, 99 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 2: there's no guarantee that someone is going to win. Of course, 100 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: every goal is to win the national championship, to win 101 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 2: the tournament, to be the best in your conference. But 102 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 2: it takes work on a day and day out basis. 103 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,200 Speaker 1: I mean, that's facts. I mean, you have a lot 104 00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: of heavy hitters when you look on paper. But at 105 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 1: the same time, I mean, I know Hayley very well. 106 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: She's a worker and getting his noflage and Angel like 107 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: y'all fine work. So I think even for them last year, 108 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: it wasn't like they were the super team from the 109 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,239 Speaker 1: jump right. People were talking about the non conference schedule 110 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: not being heavy headed into SEC and it's they literally 111 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 1: silenced everyone all year long. So I think that having 112 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,279 Speaker 1: that culture that I know is going to remain with 113 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 1: miss Kim. It's not going to change headed in the 114 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: next season, even after a Natty, which will be really 115 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: exciting I'm sure for you to join. 116 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course, I'm super excited to join. I just 117 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: know how hard I work, like every day. My stats 118 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 2: showed that I was very consistent every game. I averaged 119 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 2: a double double last year at DePaul and the year 120 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: before with being National Freshman of the Year. So I 121 00:05:09,600 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 2: try to stay as consistent as I possibly can. But 122 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 2: I also want to be challenged by my teammates and 123 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:16,720 Speaker 2: my coaching staff. I want them to have my back, 124 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 2: and I felt like LSU was the best fit for that. 125 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 3: I mean, you said it all right there. 126 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 1: Okay, last question about LSU for now would be have 127 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: you started to practice with the new team, is there 128 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 1: a group check going, are you already on campus, or 129 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:29,839 Speaker 1: how is it looking for you? 130 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 3: Right now? 131 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 2: And now, I'm spending as much quality time with my 132 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: family as I possibly can. I've just been working out 133 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 2: on my own, doing my own photo shoots, and just 134 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: enjoying myself just since summer school. Right now, I'll be 135 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 2: going down there and I'll officially touchdown on campus, but 136 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 2: right now, I've just been enjoying my quality time with 137 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 2: family because I'm used to being in the city with 138 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 2: my family. Like literally, i could call my mother and 139 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,479 Speaker 2: she'll come pick me up. But i'm'd be miles away, 140 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 2: hours away. 141 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,080 Speaker 3: So it'll definitely be different. 142 00:05:58,240 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: I mean, I went to Stanford, which was an hour 143 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: away from home, and now I'm across the country. Like 144 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,679 Speaker 1: it's a big difference having that support system right there. 145 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 1: But I know they're definitely they're gonna make trips down 146 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: to LSU because I've been hearing that it's tough to 147 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: play in y'all's home gym. I've been hearing from the 148 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: whole SEC, so I'm sure that'll be a fun environment. 149 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: Let's talk about the transfer portal this year. There's been 150 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 1: a lot of tea, a lot of stuff going on, 151 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: Hatley going to LSU. I mean, we had Lauren go 152 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 1: to UCLA, celest Ohio State just been big names, are 153 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: just endless of people moving around. But outside of what 154 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: y'all got cooking at LSU, because I know y'all y'all 155 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: coming in hot this year, who do you think made 156 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:39,200 Speaker 1: out the best from the transfer portal? 157 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 2: I would say that's a really good question. On me. 158 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 2: I can't really pick a school honestly, because I'm really 159 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 2: big on seeing the chemistry and seeing how players play 160 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,320 Speaker 2: together and seeing how they just connect. Also with the 161 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: coaching staff and the community from the university. So I 162 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,840 Speaker 2: would say it really like is determined throughout this year, 163 00:06:57,880 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: Like I guess we'll see it throughout the year. 164 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 1: Yeahmpletely right, that'd be my answer, because it's like you 165 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: have big names transferring to where other big names already are, 166 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 1: so you know, not all the time big fish don't 167 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: play well with one another. You know. It really just 168 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: depends on the personalities on the teams that are there, Right, 169 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: who's willing to you know. 170 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 3: Come in. 171 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: If you came in averaging however many points, it's like, 172 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: is that going to be your same role? Maybe everybody 173 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: else need to give up one thing focus on something else. 174 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,280 Speaker 2: So I think it's really about you what you want 175 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,320 Speaker 2: to sacrifice for your to exactly. Like I have the 176 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 2: conversation with my parents all the time, and they was like, 177 00:07:31,360 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: don't change your style of play, and I said, I 178 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 2: won't change my style of play, but there are things 179 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 2: that I want to get better in. So if it 180 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 2: comes down to me getting twenty rebounds a game and 181 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:40,880 Speaker 2: not scoring a point, that's what I'll do for my 182 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 2: team to win, because at the end of the day, 183 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: that's all I want to do is win. 184 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's about winning. Like, I don't care what my 185 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 3: numbers look like. I want to win. 186 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: And I think that's the healthiest outlook you can have 187 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: when like, just as a team top to bottom, you're 188 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: playing or not your top dog, you're not whatever it is. 189 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 1: If everybody has the same outlook right day and day, 190 00:08:00,280 --> 00:08:02,680 Speaker 1: isn't gonna be fun. I did the college ball four years. 191 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: Day in day out is not always fun. But like, 192 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 1: just keeping that in mind, working with your teammates, having 193 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: an understanding with the staff is just gonna make. 194 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:11,920 Speaker 2: All of the difference. 195 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,960 Speaker 1: But let's talk about last season quickly and what next 196 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:18,720 Speaker 1: season could look like with all this transfer portal madness 197 00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 1: we just touched on freshman class players come back from injury. 198 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: I feel like it's just going to be a different 199 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:25,960 Speaker 1: landscape or a game. So you're heading to the SEC 200 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: from the Big East, which I feel like is a 201 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: very big change in terms of stous play. So what 202 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: teams or players are you most looking forward to competing against. 203 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,960 Speaker 2: I would definitely say I'm looking forward to play South Carolina. 204 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 2: I've always watched South Carolina since I was my freshman 205 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 2: year to senior year, Like I will always watch them, 206 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 2: So I would say that's really only seeing that I'm 207 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,920 Speaker 2: really really looking forward to. I will say Mississippi State 208 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,319 Speaker 2: because one of my teammates transferred and went to the 209 00:08:53,320 --> 00:08:56,439 Speaker 2: mississ State. So just seeing a matchup and seeing how 210 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 2: we'll play against each other since we played like all 211 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 2: of our college career together, and I. 212 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: Feel like you fit the SEC with your style of play, 213 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: like you're gonna get the boards and play physical and 214 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: this and that. So I'm really excited to watch you 215 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,600 Speaker 1: match up against these people and really show them, like, Hey, 216 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: now just because I was at DePaul or the Big 217 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: East doesn't mean I can't still hoop on this big stage, 218 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: which I think which would be really fun. 219 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:19,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like I always played with like a 220 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 2: chip on my shoulder. Being from the South Side of 221 00:09:22,160 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 2: Chicago and being from Simeon, I've always had a chip 222 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 2: on my shoulder since I was younger, and I feel 223 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 2: like sometimes like I've always been slept on and you 224 00:09:30,920 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 2: can only sleep on somebody for so long. And I 225 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 2: know that I've been working, I know that I've been 226 00:09:35,600 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 2: putting it into work. So being at the biggest stage 227 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:40,719 Speaker 2: that I possibly can to display my talent is all 228 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 2: that I really want to do. 229 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,600 Speaker 3: I'm a big fan, big fan of these answers right here. 230 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: Okay, so coming off the year last year, there was 231 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:51,199 Speaker 1: so much buzz around last year's tournament, the season as 232 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: a whole, and then then ELISCUS Championship run right, storylines 233 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: that came from that, Angel and Flage taken off from that, right. 234 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: It was really amazing to see. But how do you 235 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: think that increased coverage of women's basketball will continue to 236 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:08,840 Speaker 1: grow into this season? Do you feel like there's a 237 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: new area of growth, whether that be coverage or ANIL 238 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,360 Speaker 1: or this and that when it comes to covering women's 239 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: basketball this upcoming year. 240 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 2: I feel like it's going to be crazy. Just seeing 241 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 2: everything that's been happening throughout the summer, from like the 242 00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,319 Speaker 2: National Championship to also INIL, I feel like it opens 243 00:10:27,400 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 2: up so many opportunities for young women to just express 244 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:33,959 Speaker 2: theirself and be able to do deals or have endorsements 245 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,559 Speaker 2: with things that they love and that they've always been 246 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,240 Speaker 2: doing since they were younger, but actually getting paid for 247 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:42,440 Speaker 2: actually being able to display it and put that media 248 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 2: coverage out there. Another thing that I would say is 249 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,520 Speaker 2: like even deals that Angel have done or fla J. 250 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 2: It's with rappers or different brands and everything, and it's 251 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,640 Speaker 2: just bringing attention to women's basketball. And that's exactly what 252 00:10:56,679 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 2: we need for the media coverage and for the fan 253 00:10:59,320 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 2: base to go. 254 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:02,480 Speaker 1: I completely agree with you, you know, Angel and Flage 255 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: really being on the forefront after that national championship. Everything 256 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,080 Speaker 1: that they've done, they've done it in a way that 257 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: all ties back to women's basketball. Right, Like they're plubbing 258 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,080 Speaker 1: themselves and growing their own brands, but they keep that 259 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:16,680 Speaker 1: same message of talking about women's basketball, but women's sports. 260 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: You know, we've been like this, keep watching this and that. 261 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 1: So I think that their people in the NIL space 262 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:24,520 Speaker 1: are really doing it the right way, which is really like, 263 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: now that I'm graduated and now I'm geting to do 264 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: an il anymore, it's really fun to see that, like 265 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: that torch is being carried. Yeah, in terms of you're 266 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:34,199 Speaker 1: leaving the Big East, You're now in the SEC right 267 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:37,559 Speaker 1: new conference. We always have this debate about the best 268 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:41,280 Speaker 1: conference across the country. Last year, I've always been buyased 269 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: towards the back twelve. Now that I'm out of it, 270 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: I still have that tie where I'm like, okay, Utah 271 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: is kind of gonna go crazy again. You cla reloaded 272 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 1: USC rot it. I don't know how many transfers. Like, 273 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: they're a whole new team this year, so I feel 274 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: like they're going to be tough. But then you think 275 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,680 Speaker 1: about y'all, LSU, South Carolina, Mississippi State, right, the list 276 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,679 Speaker 1: goes on in the sea see. But then shoot, like 277 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 1: I feel like I personally i'd be sleeping. 278 00:12:04,320 --> 00:12:04,880 Speaker 3: On the Big Ten. 279 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: I don't know if I would say that they're the 280 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 1: best conference, but I know i'd be sleeping on the 281 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,400 Speaker 1: Big Ten. But what would be your take as to 282 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 1: best conference? Ranking them? 283 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 2: I would say sec first answer answer, I feel like 284 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 2: I sleep on a Big ten A little bit as well, 285 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:23,120 Speaker 2: I would say they have great talent. I remember playing 286 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:27,840 Speaker 2: against Maryland, great talent there. That was a tough game. Honestly, 287 00:12:27,960 --> 00:12:30,640 Speaker 2: the Big East for me, I love the Big East. 288 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 2: I had fun playing in the Big East. 289 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 4: I'm sure you did. You were you were killing. 290 00:12:37,240 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 3: I bet you had a blast. 291 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love playing against Yukon. Those are like great games, 292 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 2: win loser draw like what we always lost. But but 293 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:48,800 Speaker 2: it was fun. 294 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:50,960 Speaker 4: That's fun, fun environment. 295 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, I liked how competitive like the games always were 296 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 2: and then like all the attention around the games, like 297 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,959 Speaker 2: those are our most packed games throughout the throughout the season, 298 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 2: and so I really enjoyed those games. I would say 299 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,560 Speaker 2: the PAC twelve is tough as well. I do feel 300 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:10,440 Speaker 2: like they're kind of slept on too, thank you, thank you. 301 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:13,480 Speaker 2: I do feel like they're kind of slept on. Watch 302 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 2: a lot of games and I was surprised by a 303 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,080 Speaker 2: lot of teams actually, But I would say the best 304 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:21,080 Speaker 2: conference is SEC. 305 00:13:21,360 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 3: All right, I respect it. 306 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:24,959 Speaker 1: I think this season especially, there's a lot of talent 307 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:27,840 Speaker 1: in the SEC. It's become one of those conferences where 308 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: there used to be a big gap. 309 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:30,960 Speaker 3: Between the top and the bottom. 310 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,679 Speaker 1: But those teams that used to be on the bottom 311 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,840 Speaker 1: right now they're coming up. There's a lot more just 312 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: like talent dispersed across the league and that can go 313 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: across the country, but I think especially in the SEC. 314 00:13:42,320 --> 00:13:43,960 Speaker 3: So y'all often have your. 315 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: Hands full at night in a night out right, Yes, 316 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: I'm excited to watch you guys. Let's take it back 317 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: a little bit the basketball upbringing this and that I 318 00:13:55,960 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: know your mom's basketball start in Nebraska and your dad 319 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,079 Speaker 1: played football. Was it always basketball? How did you get 320 00:14:01,120 --> 00:14:02,440 Speaker 1: into get into basketball. 321 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,240 Speaker 2: My mother worked at Morgan Park at the time. She 322 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:08,480 Speaker 2: coached my sister there while she was playing. But I 323 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:12,640 Speaker 2: was honestly always surround around basketball and a lot of sports. 324 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 2: Like my mother made me cross train, so I played 325 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 2: volleyball before. I've of course played football with my brothers before, 326 00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 2: like just in the yard, but we were always around basketball. 327 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 2: All of my siblings, I played basketball. My father claimed 328 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 2: he played a little basketball, but you know, but I 329 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 2: was just honestly always surrounded by it. And I had 330 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:35,800 Speaker 2: some of my best moments of basketball, like I had 331 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 2: some of my worst moments of basketball, like injuries and everything. 332 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 2: But basketball has grown me, like made me grow into 333 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:44,880 Speaker 2: the person that I am today mentally, physically, and it 334 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:50,120 Speaker 2: has taught me so much like real world situations and everything. 335 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:53,240 Speaker 2: So I would just say, like basketball is a lot 336 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 2: in my life, but I really enjoy it. 337 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 3: I mean, I get it. 338 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 1: Basketball is a lot to be where you are right now, 339 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: right There's a lot of pub around, There's all this 340 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: different media, all these different things, and I feel like 341 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:10,600 Speaker 1: I can relate to where Like my mom was my 342 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: first coach and I was the least favorite on the 343 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: team easily right, And so you grow up and it's 344 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 1: like you're connected to your parents, you connect to your family, 345 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:21,640 Speaker 1: and then it's like then once you start getting really 346 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 1: good getting these looks, and it becomes a different thing 347 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: where there's more pressure and there's ups and downs, but 348 00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, it's still something that 349 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: you love to do, no matter if you're playing like crap, 350 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 1: if you're hooping, if you're doing this and that, losing, winning, whatever, 351 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: it's it's just basketball and you love it. So freshman year, 352 00:15:41,320 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: you helped your team win their first city championship. 353 00:15:44,880 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 3: Right then you get a Nike. 354 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 1: Commercial which is crazy, which is awesome, And so how 355 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: did that come about? 356 00:15:51,280 --> 00:15:52,479 Speaker 3: How was that experience? 357 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:55,840 Speaker 1: I'm sure winning the first city championship was insane energy 358 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:57,240 Speaker 1: around that, So what was that like? 359 00:15:57,480 --> 00:16:01,600 Speaker 2: Honestly, for me, it was really fun. But I'll also 360 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 2: say like I felt like it was a lot put 361 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 2: on my plate as a freshman. So when I came 362 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 2: in and I was making a lot of noise as 363 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,560 Speaker 2: a freshman, I did have a lot of doubts because 364 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,240 Speaker 2: I'm like, oh, why do I have to do all 365 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 2: this stuff? And I'm just a freshman. So I guess 366 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 2: like I was the captain for the team as like as. 367 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: A freshman, yeah, you're like fourteen, Yeah, oh my god. 368 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:24,440 Speaker 2: And I just learned so much. But I kind of 369 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 2: felt like it was because of my work ethic, Like 370 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 2: it was really like I laid by example. But I 371 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:32,120 Speaker 2: was never really verbal, Like I never really talked too much. 372 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 2: But every day you knew you were going to get 373 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,920 Speaker 2: a double double or something out of me. So that 374 00:16:38,080 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 2: was just a go for me. My mother was my 375 00:16:39,800 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 2: coach in high school as well, so we kind of 376 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 2: jumped heads a little bit, and she would kind of 377 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 2: like back off and like I understand and stuff, but 378 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 2: she was always like she wanted me to be better. 379 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,280 Speaker 2: So every day, like do you want to get in 380 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 2: the gym or do you need to do extra workouts 381 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 2: and stuff like that of that sort. So I felt 382 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 2: like when I was younger, it was a lot put 383 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,200 Speaker 2: on my plate, but now when I came into college, 384 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 2: it was like I was prepared for everything. 385 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,880 Speaker 1: And you come from a high school of big names, 386 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: right Deep Rose, Jabidy, Parker, Kendrick. 387 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 3: Now the list goes on and on and on. 388 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:15,639 Speaker 1: So for you going to a school that's known for 389 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 1: producing hoopers, what was the atmosphere, like for games. Did 390 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: you know that there was an expectation of greatness when 391 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: you went to that school? What was your mindset kind 392 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: of entering that first season there. 393 00:17:27,119 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 2: Well, with me, I'm gonna go back to like seventh 394 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:31,680 Speaker 2: and eighth grade when my brother was still playing there. 395 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,359 Speaker 2: The atmosphere was crazy, like you could be standing outside 396 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 2: and you don't get in and you pay for your ticket, 397 00:17:37,920 --> 00:17:41,080 Speaker 2: like the games are always packed. Like the energy around 398 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,480 Speaker 2: Semeon was crazy. Yeah, so I knew going in there 399 00:17:44,520 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 2: it was going to be like that, but on the 400 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,959 Speaker 2: women's end of it, it wasn't. And for me, I 401 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 2: just wanted to make a change and show the school 402 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 2: in the city, like there's a lot of stars that 403 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,240 Speaker 2: came out of Semeon on the men's side of things, 404 00:17:58,280 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 2: but there could also be stars come out of Semeon 405 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 2: from the women's side of things as well. And my 406 00:18:04,000 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 2: goal was to come in here and do the best 407 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 2: that I possibly could, and it turned out to winning 408 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 2: two city championships in the first ever state championship as well. 409 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:15,919 Speaker 2: But it just shows you, like when you have goals 410 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:17,919 Speaker 2: and you set goals day in and day out and 411 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 2: you work towards them, that you can accomplish whatever you 412 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 2: have in mind. 413 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean that's facts. 414 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:25,240 Speaker 1: You literally trailblazed for the women program there now because 415 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:27,240 Speaker 1: I'm sure that even since you left, they're still getting 416 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 1: that same height because girls see what you've done and 417 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:31,919 Speaker 1: they're like, Okay, I want to carry that torch. I 418 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:33,639 Speaker 1: want to continue to do this and that, which is 419 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 1: really special. Yeah, okay, So freshman year, you're killing it. 420 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 1: When did that recruiting process start for you? Did that 421 00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:44,280 Speaker 1: start in high school? Did it start in middle school? 422 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: What was that like for you? 423 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 2: So? I want to say it kind of started my 424 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:52,199 Speaker 2: freshman year after I got the exposure and everything, but 425 00:18:52,400 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 2: I ended up getting hurt my freshman year. I toward 426 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 2: my ACL that summer, so things were kind of dry 427 00:18:59,119 --> 00:19:01,920 Speaker 2: from me at the time, and I was kind of 428 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 2: deciding if I wanted to play basketball anymore, Like what 429 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 2: did I want to do because that was my third 430 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:09,680 Speaker 2: surgery in a row, and I'm just like, I can't 431 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:13,440 Speaker 2: get a break. Yeah, But honestly, all of my recruitment 432 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 2: happened two years after my surgery, the summer of my 433 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,800 Speaker 2: junior year. I had twenty four offers at the time 434 00:19:20,880 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 2: before I made my decision, and I always kind of 435 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,840 Speaker 2: a joke because my number is twenty four, but I 436 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 2: ended up having twenty four offers and that's when everything 437 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 2: blew up. But like my senior year, like I didn't 438 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 2: have to, but I also didn't commit to the PALL 439 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 2: until later on, like right before school or so, because 440 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 2: like how you said, I tried to make my decision 441 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 2: and think about it and give myself time because I 442 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 2: knew that it would be a big decision for me. 443 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:51,199 Speaker 2: But my senior year of high school for AAU, I 444 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:54,359 Speaker 2: didn't the only reason why I played because coaches would 445 00:19:54,359 --> 00:19:56,639 Speaker 2: come to the gym because I wasn't. I didn't commit 446 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 2: to come watch me play. But I figured, even if 447 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 2: I knew it was school that I would go to 448 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 2: simply getting coaches to come to the gym and watch 449 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,800 Speaker 2: my court could get my teammates opportunities as well. So 450 00:20:06,920 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 2: I felt like it was just a selfless decision that 451 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,399 Speaker 2: I chose to make. A lot of people after they commit, 452 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:15,720 Speaker 2: you know, they don't play AAU and I didn't commit yet. 453 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:19,040 Speaker 2: So I made that decision to prolong my committing to 454 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 2: have opportunities for my teammates. And it was the idea 455 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 2: that my mother had given me, and she said, well, 456 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:26,919 Speaker 2: if you come out here and play, you know, like, 457 00:20:27,280 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 2: even if you don't decide to go to that school, 458 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:33,200 Speaker 2: there's a possibility that your teammate could get that scholarship 459 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 2: from a coach that was watching your team play. And 460 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 2: I never thought about it like that. And I felt 461 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 2: like my mother just opened my eyes to like the 462 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 2: maturity of a lot of situations. 463 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 3: She's completely right. 464 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,080 Speaker 1: You know, at a young age, we're not expected to 465 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,199 Speaker 1: think that way because we're just like, oh, you know, 466 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,400 Speaker 1: like let me commit whatever I've done. So I think 467 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:55,400 Speaker 1: that's really special. Okay, so prolonged and then you choose 468 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: de Paul? 469 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,040 Speaker 3: Why DePaul? What made you choose to Paul? 470 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 2: I would say the winning to there also being close 471 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,439 Speaker 2: to home, because honestly, coming out of high school, I 472 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 2: wasn't ready to go off to school, and I felt 473 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 2: like the Paul was the closest school to home, that 474 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,560 Speaker 2: the tradition that they had there of winning coach Bruno 475 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,399 Speaker 2: recruited me since I was in ninth grade. He also 476 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,080 Speaker 2: recruited my mother. So it was like that history that 477 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:23,679 Speaker 2: they had everything kind of just flowed. It kind of 478 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 2: felt like family and for me, I felt like it 479 00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 2: was the best choice that I've ever made because my 480 00:21:30,160 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 2: mother did give me this, like she helped me throughout it, 481 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 2: but she said, this is your decision to make, because 482 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:38,359 Speaker 2: when you go in here and practices get hard, and 483 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:42,399 Speaker 2: you just like, they don't get hard, they gonna get hard, 484 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 2: and you're like, I don't know if I want to, 485 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:47,640 Speaker 2: but you made that decision, so you can't blame anybody 486 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:50,479 Speaker 2: else for the decision that you made for yourself. So 487 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,159 Speaker 2: when things got hard, I said, well, I made this 488 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 2: decision and I wanted to be here, so I need 489 00:21:57,040 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 2: to roll up my sleeves and I need to go 490 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:02,880 Speaker 2: to work every day. And that's exactly what I did. 491 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 2: But overall, I really enjoyed my time at DePaul. I 492 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 2: feel like I wouldn't have got as much exposure as 493 00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:11,679 Speaker 2: a freshman or as a sophomore if I went to 494 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 2: any other school. I felt like I was put in 495 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:18,760 Speaker 2: positions to be a superstar and I always had the 496 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:22,159 Speaker 2: ball in my hands offense went through me. But also 497 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:24,760 Speaker 2: it wasn't really about that for me. It was more 498 00:22:24,800 --> 00:22:29,040 Speaker 2: of winning and getting better every day. Like I rolled 499 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 2: up my sleeves every day in practice to be better, 500 00:22:32,160 --> 00:22:35,359 Speaker 2: and I set goals for myself. Not only was I 501 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:38,919 Speaker 2: doing well on the basketball court, like academically I was. 502 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 2: I had a four point zero my freshman year and 503 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 2: just ending this year, I had a three point eight. 504 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 2: So just trying to keep my goals as high as 505 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 2: I possibly can. 506 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,000 Speaker 1: Ten out of ten right there. I mean, not every 507 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:53,400 Speaker 1: day it's fun in college. People are like, oh, you're 508 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: living a dream. 509 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:58,560 Speaker 4: Sometimes I'm living the dream. Sometimes I am on. 510 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 1: The struggle bus, I'm tired and just blah blah blah. 511 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:05,640 Speaker 1: But I mean, I think that's really special for you've 512 00:23:05,680 --> 00:23:08,240 Speaker 1: gone to DePaul. You got to stay home. You had 513 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:12,120 Speaker 1: an insanely strong start to your college career, to say 514 00:23:12,119 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 1: the least. I mean, setting the biggest rookie record for 515 00:23:14,760 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: a single game, thirteen times. 516 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:18,960 Speaker 3: Big East Freshman the Week. How many weeks are there 517 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 3: in the season. I mean, at you had to have 518 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 3: gone it every. 519 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 1: Week, and then five time National Freshman the Week, leading 520 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,560 Speaker 1: the nation in rebounds. The list goes on, as you know. 521 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: But going into DePaul, you talked about how it was 522 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,919 Speaker 1: a special freshman year, right. The offense ran through you 523 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,080 Speaker 1: even going to your sophomore year, right, like you're the person. 524 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 1: So did you know that going into De Paul? Did 525 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 1: you know that it was going to kind of run 526 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: through you? Did you mentally prep or as it kind 527 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: of came to you and you start tearing it up, 528 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: you're like, all right, let's keep it rolling. How had 529 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: that kind of run for you? For me, it's always 530 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: been the wheel, like the effort. Freshman year, offense did 531 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,119 Speaker 1: not run through me. Literally got every rebound that I 532 00:24:01,119 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: possibly could to score. Okay, And that was like how 533 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: I knew that I was gonna score avery game. I said, 534 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,840 Speaker 1: if I get ten rebounds, I'm guaranteed to almost get 535 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: twenty points to that. 536 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:13,920 Speaker 3: That's a twenty balls yep. 537 00:24:13,960 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 2: So I said, it's given if I get a double 538 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 2: double or if I get ten rebounds, that I'm going 539 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:20,919 Speaker 2: to score the ball. That's why I said, if I 540 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 2: go when I go to LSU, and if I don't 541 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 2: even get a touch, I'm going to get a rebound. 542 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 2: So it's a guarantee that I would score. I kind 543 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,879 Speaker 2: of learned like my freshman year, it's really about the 544 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,600 Speaker 2: effort that you put in because rebounding takes effort, rebound 545 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:40,159 Speaker 2: and takes skills, rebound, take iq. It takes a lot, 546 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 2: So from there, I kind of just let my game grow. 547 00:24:43,160 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 2: I knew that I could rebound, I knew that I 548 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 2: could post well. I knew that I finished around the basket, 549 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 2: and I would say around my second year, that's when 550 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 2: I really focused on my offense from shooting threes and 551 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:57,600 Speaker 2: making jump shots and turn around Jay's fade aways. I 552 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,399 Speaker 2: had that in my game always since, but when I 553 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:03,680 Speaker 2: was putting the position that I was my freshman year, 554 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 2: it kind of took me away from the game that 555 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:08,840 Speaker 2: I was used to playing, but it helped my team. 556 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 2: So either way, I was fine because I wanted to 557 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,160 Speaker 2: win and it was helping my team. My sophomore year, 558 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 2: I would say that offense went through me, and I 559 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 2: feel like I still set the goal as high as 560 00:25:19,680 --> 00:25:23,080 Speaker 2: I possibly could, because sometimes like offense going through then 561 00:25:23,160 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 2: having to go on defense and defend and do all 562 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 2: of it, like it kind of got a little overwhelmed 563 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,199 Speaker 2: and I'm like, oh my god. But I knew that 564 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 2: I had to push through it because I knew the 565 00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:35,440 Speaker 2: goal that I wanted to win at the end of 566 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 2: the day. 567 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 3: See, I'm loving your answer so far. 568 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:40,120 Speaker 1: Like even if I'm not touching the ball, I'm gonna 569 00:25:40,119 --> 00:25:42,440 Speaker 1: find a way to impact the game in any which 570 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,439 Speaker 1: way that I can. Right that mindset, I'm gonna outwork 571 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 1: my opponent, no matter who you are, no matter what 572 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 1: it is, I'm gonna do the best put my team 573 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 1: in a position to win. So to bring that to LSU, 574 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 1: with the workers that they already have and the talent 575 00:25:54,840 --> 00:25:55,560 Speaker 1: that they already have. 576 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:58,440 Speaker 3: Is gonna be something really special. 577 00:25:58,920 --> 00:26:01,679 Speaker 1: And we talked about you averaging a double double and 578 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:02,920 Speaker 1: fourth in the nation of points. 579 00:26:02,960 --> 00:26:06,000 Speaker 3: You scored eight hundred and forty eight points first of all, 580 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 3: wild right, But that's the question here. 581 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 1: You kind of you talked a little bit about the 582 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,720 Speaker 1: way that you were scoring freshman a sophoware year the difference. 583 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:17,840 Speaker 1: Did you have that understanding in the off season that 584 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:19,760 Speaker 1: you wanted to add more to your game that you 585 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: didn't just want to I'm only going to be scoring 586 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: off rebounds or like my minimum touches. Did you know, Okay, 587 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:26,199 Speaker 1: I need to add more to my bag. Okay, I 588 00:26:26,200 --> 00:26:27,639 Speaker 1: want to work more out of the high post. I 589 00:26:27,680 --> 00:26:30,800 Speaker 1: want to add my three point shot back xyz. Did 590 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:33,159 Speaker 1: you have certain things that you focused on in that 591 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 1: summer and then things that you're now focusing on this 592 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:37,879 Speaker 1: summer to bring to LSU. 593 00:26:38,400 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 2: After my freshman year, I knew that it was so 594 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:43,560 Speaker 2: hard just battling down there all the time, like getting 595 00:26:43,640 --> 00:26:44,160 Speaker 2: beat up. 596 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:44,880 Speaker 3: And it's taxing. 597 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:45,880 Speaker 4: It gets you tired. 598 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:49,200 Speaker 2: Like I'm only six feet and I'm playing against girls 599 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:52,040 Speaker 2: that are six five six eight, and I'm not really 600 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 2: a post. So I was playing like out of my 601 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 2: position the whole time, and honestly, I was tired of 602 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:01,320 Speaker 2: getting beat up, like every game. I was like yeah, 603 00:27:01,359 --> 00:27:03,040 Speaker 2: So I was like, I need to work on my shot. 604 00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,200 Speaker 2: I need to work off like taking my opponent off 605 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 2: the bounce. Throughout the summer, I was in the best 606 00:27:08,160 --> 00:27:11,240 Speaker 2: shape possible, like an amazing shape, and I ended up 607 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 2: getting hurt. This with a lot of people don't know. 608 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:16,080 Speaker 2: Throughout the summer before going into my sophomore year, I 609 00:27:16,160 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 2: ended up tearing my ladder on meniscus and I played 610 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:21,720 Speaker 2: the whole season on it because I never like got 611 00:27:21,720 --> 00:27:25,000 Speaker 2: surgery because I was tired of getting surgeries, like like 612 00:27:25,080 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 2: I'm getting surgery after surgery after surgery, and that would 613 00:27:27,960 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 2: have been my fourth one. So I just fought through 614 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:33,479 Speaker 2: it and I did a lot of recovery and a 615 00:27:33,480 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 2: lot of stretching a lot of strengthening, a lot of 616 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:37,960 Speaker 2: pt and I said, I just have to take my 617 00:27:38,040 --> 00:27:40,800 Speaker 2: time with this. But it was really a mental Like 618 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:44,199 Speaker 2: it was really mental. I pushed through it. Yeah, I 619 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 2: pushed through it and I was able to overcome it. 620 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:49,760 Speaker 2: But I just felt like that on top of doing 621 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 2: everything that I did my sophomore year, like I played 622 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:57,479 Speaker 2: injured the whole year, what you did? Yeah, and like 623 00:27:57,600 --> 00:27:59,679 Speaker 2: for me sometimes, like I look back on it, like 624 00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:01,959 Speaker 2: why because you know, like I feel like a lot 625 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 2: of people only get to see what you do on 626 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 2: the court and if you don't share, like people don't 627 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 2: know because they only know what you share. But it 628 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:12,840 Speaker 2: taught me a lot, Like if I could get through that, 629 00:28:12,920 --> 00:28:15,120 Speaker 2: then I could get through anything. And that's what made 630 00:28:15,200 --> 00:28:18,840 Speaker 2: my work ethic go up ten times more than what 631 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,359 Speaker 2: it was my freshman year to my sophomore year. Like 632 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:24,040 Speaker 2: I knew that I had goals and coming in my 633 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 2: sophomore year, I knew that I needed to develop different 634 00:28:27,080 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 2: ways to score. Like I said, I was tired of 635 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 2: getting beat up around the basket all the time. But 636 00:28:31,720 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 2: I'm like I am a mismatch for anybody that plays 637 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 2: me because I'm a taller guard. If I play in 638 00:28:36,720 --> 00:28:39,960 Speaker 2: the guard position and I'm undersized if I play as 639 00:28:39,960 --> 00:28:42,680 Speaker 2: a sinner, so and the way that I play, it's 640 00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 2: hard to block my shots. So I just wanted to 641 00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 2: develop my game as much as I can. And now 642 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 2: on the off season, I've been working on my guard 643 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 2: skills with dribbling, coming off the bounds, snatch bags, everything 644 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:59,680 Speaker 2: of that sort. Just trying to grow my game every day. 645 00:28:59,800 --> 00:29:02,440 Speaker 1: It's crazy that when you put it in that perspective 646 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,640 Speaker 1: where it's like, Okay, I'm having such a hard time 647 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:07,880 Speaker 1: figuring out how to score this that third guarding these 648 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 1: big people, right, But then you flip the script and 649 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 1: you're like, you have to guard me, right, I'm a guard. 650 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:15,320 Speaker 1: So then boom, I'm out of these guards because I'm 651 00:29:15,320 --> 00:29:18,040 Speaker 1: doing this, and that I got somebody little shoot send 652 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: me back to me and give me the post like 653 00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:22,240 Speaker 1: I'm diving in there. You get somebody big, now you 654 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 1: can pull them out, take them off the backs, do this, 655 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,640 Speaker 1: and that they can't guard you. I mean, I love 656 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: creating mismatches. I think it's so much fun. There's so 657 00:29:28,840 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 1: many different ways to play off the defense, not just 658 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:33,800 Speaker 1: for yourself, but it's like then you get your teammates 659 00:29:33,840 --> 00:29:36,320 Speaker 1: open because now if I have a small defender, now 660 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:38,800 Speaker 1: you gotta help Boom kick out somebody's there. 661 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:39,280 Speaker 2: Whatever. 662 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: There's just so many options to have and I mean, 663 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,160 Speaker 1: you're bringing all that to LSU. We'll move into the 664 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:48,239 Speaker 1: NIL space. Was that something that you expected go into 665 00:29:48,240 --> 00:29:49,200 Speaker 1: your college experience? 666 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 3: What has it been like? 667 00:29:51,760 --> 00:29:54,240 Speaker 2: I didn't expect. I don't think anybody. 668 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 3: Nobody really I didn't. 669 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 4: I was like, what is this? This is nice? 670 00:29:57,440 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 2: Is my first year? Like, I'm really big on be 671 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 2: educated about something like before I jump into it. And 672 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 2: for me, like the first year, it was kind of 673 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:09,080 Speaker 2: like I didn't really do anything with NIL going until 674 00:30:09,280 --> 00:30:11,680 Speaker 2: the summer of my freshman year. That's when I started 675 00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 2: to do things with NIL and it was fun, Like 676 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:17,959 Speaker 2: it was really fun. I'm like, dang. And then like 677 00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:21,000 Speaker 2: my sophomore year, honestly at the fall, I didn't do 678 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:24,000 Speaker 2: too much INIO stuff. But this summer I've been doing 679 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:26,880 Speaker 2: a lot of NIL stuff and I really enjoy it. 680 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,280 Speaker 2: Because the deals that you can get are really about 681 00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 2: expressing who you are. You could turn down deals that 682 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,360 Speaker 2: you don't feel like, oh that doesn't fit me or 683 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 2: oh I don't I can't, you know. But it allows 684 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 2: you to express yourself but also not just as an athlete, 685 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:48,280 Speaker 2: just simply as a person. And I really like that 686 00:30:48,440 --> 00:30:50,480 Speaker 2: because I feel like a lot of people just pay 687 00:30:50,520 --> 00:30:53,280 Speaker 2: attention to like, oh, these are basketball players, but we 688 00:30:53,320 --> 00:30:56,240 Speaker 2: are more than just basketball players as women and as men, 689 00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:01,200 Speaker 2: like we are humans first and we have qualities, individual 690 00:31:01,320 --> 00:31:04,160 Speaker 2: qualities that are all unique, and we should be able 691 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:07,680 Speaker 2: to express ourselves. But also getting paid for it while 692 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 2: you're doing it, like that's. 693 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 1: Plus, it's a great bonus. And I mean you said 694 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 1: it perfectly, Niyl. Is really what each individual person wants. 695 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:16,040 Speaker 3: To make it. 696 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:18,760 Speaker 1: What would you say is some of the best advice 697 00:31:18,760 --> 00:31:20,640 Speaker 1: that you've been given within the NIL space. 698 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 2: I would say that I'm my own brand and I'm 699 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,680 Speaker 2: the boss, Like I like that, but you are the boss, 700 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:31,000 Speaker 2: like you're the boss of your brand, and I would 701 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:33,880 Speaker 2: say that's the best advice that I've got so far. 702 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:37,000 Speaker 2: So if you want things to go a certain way, 703 00:31:37,040 --> 00:31:39,400 Speaker 2: then you have to be vocal and you have to 704 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 2: let your agents or whoever your attorneys or whoever you're 705 00:31:42,160 --> 00:31:45,640 Speaker 2: working with know what brand you want to put out 706 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:49,040 Speaker 2: there for yourself, because every individual person is a brand. 707 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:51,280 Speaker 2: It's just about how they put it out there. 708 00:31:51,880 --> 00:31:54,280 Speaker 1: No, yeah, you're right, it's about how you market yourself whatever. 709 00:31:54,360 --> 00:31:56,640 Speaker 1: And it's interesting having to make that switch as a 710 00:31:56,680 --> 00:31:59,360 Speaker 1: college student where it's like you look at yourself as 711 00:31:59,400 --> 00:32:02,200 Speaker 1: a brand now, right, I stand for these things, these 712 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:04,800 Speaker 1: are my standards, this is what I look for this 713 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: xyz right, and everything you do people are looking at 714 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,720 Speaker 1: you nowadays. So it's like having that understanding that it's 715 00:32:11,800 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 1: more than. 716 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 3: You at this point. It's your brand. 717 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:16,280 Speaker 1: It's you setting yourself up for your next stage, for 718 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:18,960 Speaker 1: your life. How you want people to view you. And 719 00:32:19,080 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 1: I mean getting paid for doing a little extra photo 720 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:24,400 Speaker 1: shoot talk about this and that it's nice, it's a 721 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 1: nice little bonus, Like why would you want to just 722 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 1: get into it? And so my next question is kind 723 00:32:30,840 --> 00:32:32,240 Speaker 1: of along the lines of what you were talking about. 724 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:35,479 Speaker 1: But you know, people make it different in this space. 725 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:37,280 Speaker 1: How you want to make it right and a lot 726 00:32:37,320 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: of it depends on who you are. So, as a 727 00:32:40,120 --> 00:32:43,160 Speaker 1: black woman in the space, how has the process been 728 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:43,440 Speaker 1: for you? 729 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:47,239 Speaker 2: Honestly, it's been okay. I wouldn't say that it's been 730 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:51,040 Speaker 2: the best. It's just about who you want to represent 731 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 2: you and who do you want to have around you, 732 00:32:53,360 --> 00:32:55,840 Speaker 2: because that is something that I also learned as well. 733 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:59,360 Speaker 2: I want someone that's not only going to just be 734 00:32:59,440 --> 00:33:01,280 Speaker 2: out there like, oh, just go for this deal, or 735 00:33:01,280 --> 00:33:02,640 Speaker 2: go for this deal, and go for this deal. If 736 00:33:02,640 --> 00:33:04,520 Speaker 2: you think that I'm better than that deal, then I 737 00:33:04,560 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 2: want people to you could turn down deals and negotiate them. 738 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:09,880 Speaker 2: And that's something that I've also. 739 00:33:09,680 --> 00:33:12,360 Speaker 3: Learned as a black woman in the space. There's certain 740 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 3: deals or certain brands. You know, that's just kind of 741 00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:17,880 Speaker 3: like certain brands want to work with you, certain brands 742 00:33:17,920 --> 00:33:20,920 Speaker 3: don't write. You get some opportunities that and you may 743 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 3: not get others. And so I think it's just navigating 744 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:26,880 Speaker 3: and finding, like you want to work with a brand 745 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:29,960 Speaker 3: that values you as much as you value them, right, 746 00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:32,000 Speaker 3: You want to be a partner, you want to find 747 00:33:32,560 --> 00:33:34,760 Speaker 3: It's kind of also like recruitment when you're picking an agent. 748 00:33:34,800 --> 00:33:36,680 Speaker 1: It's like a little mini thing, right, getting to know 749 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:39,240 Speaker 1: then what are your values? And so I know with 750 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:41,800 Speaker 1: my people, I've been with them the whole time, and 751 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:45,120 Speaker 1: it was really creating that relationship of like, Haley, who 752 00:33:45,160 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: are you? What brands do you want to work? What 753 00:33:47,160 --> 00:33:49,120 Speaker 1: type of brands, what type of deals? 754 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 4: Right? 755 00:33:49,760 --> 00:33:51,760 Speaker 3: And so I think you had it perfectly. 756 00:33:51,760 --> 00:33:55,080 Speaker 1: It's who you surround yourself with is really important for 757 00:33:55,280 --> 00:33:57,600 Speaker 1: how your NIL experience is going to go and then 758 00:33:57,640 --> 00:34:00,200 Speaker 1: beyond ANIL once you go pro, how that's going to go. 759 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:04,560 Speaker 1: Right still marketing yourself doing xyz Angel has talked about 760 00:34:04,640 --> 00:34:06,880 Speaker 1: NIL being so big right now it doesn't have a 761 00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:08,520 Speaker 1: rushing to the WNBA. 762 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:11,000 Speaker 3: Do you feel like NIL is. 763 00:34:11,280 --> 00:34:14,480 Speaker 1: Impacting how people think about turning pro or do you 764 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:16,880 Speaker 1: think it's still kind of moving slowly for a lot 765 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,720 Speaker 1: of athletes and they're not really having that impact their decision. 766 00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:24,280 Speaker 2: Well, it kind of depends on who the athlete is. Honestly, 767 00:34:24,400 --> 00:34:26,560 Speaker 2: I feel like for a majority of the athletes, it 768 00:34:26,440 --> 00:34:29,560 Speaker 2: is pretty it's moving pretty slow and seeing how things are, 769 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:32,680 Speaker 2: but also like it could be a bit discouraging when 770 00:34:32,719 --> 00:34:37,040 Speaker 2: you watch the WNBA Draft and then you watch preseason 771 00:34:37,160 --> 00:34:40,040 Speaker 2: and see all these people getting cut as well, and 772 00:34:40,080 --> 00:34:42,919 Speaker 2: they're not being as many open spots. So I would 773 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:46,120 Speaker 2: honestly just say, like, it's the individual at the end 774 00:34:46,120 --> 00:34:48,880 Speaker 2: of the day, cause some like some people like me, 775 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:52,200 Speaker 2: is like basketball, let's go. I've been knowing that my 776 00:34:52,239 --> 00:34:54,680 Speaker 2: whole life. Yeah, your goal is to play at the 777 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:56,440 Speaker 2: biggest stage that you possibly can. 778 00:34:57,120 --> 00:34:57,719 Speaker 3: Now, I'm with you. 779 00:34:57,800 --> 00:34:59,279 Speaker 1: I mean, for me, it was like, and I was 780 00:34:59,320 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 1: great in college, but I always saw myself on the 781 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 1: timeline do four graduate, move on to the next right, 782 00:35:06,760 --> 00:35:08,640 Speaker 1: So even when I did my senior year and it's 783 00:35:08,680 --> 00:35:10,640 Speaker 1: like do I want to go back? And I yelled 784 00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:12,759 Speaker 1: this and that. At my point in time, I was like, 785 00:35:12,800 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to just school anymore. 786 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:18,000 Speaker 4: My degree, I'm done. I'm ready for the next thing. 787 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:20,600 Speaker 3: But some people may want to stay, and it's just 788 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:21,840 Speaker 3: everybody's on journey. 789 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:24,600 Speaker 1: But I mean, she was going through trading camp and 790 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:28,160 Speaker 1: then you look online boom cut, boom Wait. It's like, 791 00:35:28,360 --> 00:35:33,480 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, it's crazy how much talent just doesn't 792 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:35,319 Speaker 1: make it because at the end of the day, it's 793 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:38,160 Speaker 1: one hundred and forty four spots, right, what percentage of 794 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:42,479 Speaker 1: college athletes get to go pro? It's insane. But yeah, 795 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:46,160 Speaker 1: I mean, heading into our last little segment here, vibe check, 796 00:35:46,520 --> 00:35:48,320 Speaker 1: it's rapid fire answers. 797 00:35:48,640 --> 00:35:49,879 Speaker 3: Rapid fire is a loose term. 798 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:52,399 Speaker 1: It's as quickly as you can answer them, as much 799 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:55,360 Speaker 1: pace as you can. Started with the draft. Who was 800 00:35:55,400 --> 00:36:02,319 Speaker 1: best dressed at the draft? Okay, what's the drill? You 801 00:36:02,360 --> 00:36:05,880 Speaker 1: never want to see on the practice plan facts. Okay, 802 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:10,319 Speaker 1: game winning shot or game winning block. I think that's 803 00:36:10,320 --> 00:36:12,399 Speaker 1: our first I think that's our first one. But that's 804 00:36:12,440 --> 00:36:15,080 Speaker 1: that's that's left on. Okay, Off the court, go to 805 00:36:15,160 --> 00:36:18,760 Speaker 1: sneaker air force ones nice and one or three pointer 806 00:36:19,400 --> 00:36:22,720 Speaker 1: and one easy. But that is an easy answer for me, Okay, 807 00:36:23,000 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 1: toughest place to play for me so far? 808 00:36:25,800 --> 00:36:26,240 Speaker 2: You can't. 809 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:29,320 Speaker 3: Okay, do you have a go to trash talk line? 810 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:32,960 Speaker 2: Oh no, no, I'm. 811 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:35,520 Speaker 3: Not much of a talker talk. 812 00:36:35,640 --> 00:36:39,600 Speaker 2: I feel like more time you spend talking like wasting energy. 813 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:41,080 Speaker 3: I'm just trying to catch my breath. 814 00:36:41,080 --> 00:36:43,680 Speaker 2: I ain't got the time. The time you talking, I'm 815 00:36:43,760 --> 00:36:45,799 Speaker 2: just gonna give you a bucket. On the other end, 816 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:46,560 Speaker 2: I love it. 817 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:49,720 Speaker 3: Okay, who's your who's your goat? 818 00:36:50,200 --> 00:36:51,200 Speaker 2: I would say my mother? 819 00:36:51,280 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 3: Actually, oh yeah, great answer, great answer. Okay, school with 820 00:36:57,200 --> 00:36:58,239 Speaker 3: the best facilities? 821 00:36:59,080 --> 00:37:00,360 Speaker 2: I s you? Okay? 822 00:37:00,480 --> 00:37:02,000 Speaker 3: And what's your biggest basketball? 823 00:37:02,680 --> 00:37:04,680 Speaker 2: Oh that's will be long? 824 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:09,640 Speaker 5: Oh okay, give us a few. What are your ex takes? 825 00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:14,799 Speaker 5: I would say, when socks is too long? Like I 826 00:37:14,800 --> 00:37:16,239 Speaker 5: don't like when the socks are too long. 827 00:37:16,320 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 2: Man, be a little up there, but not like all 828 00:37:18,680 --> 00:37:19,319 Speaker 2: the way up there. 829 00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:20,440 Speaker 3: You can't have them stretched. 830 00:37:20,760 --> 00:37:21,719 Speaker 4: That don't look good. 831 00:37:22,280 --> 00:37:25,080 Speaker 2: No, I don't. I don't like long shorts like you 832 00:37:25,160 --> 00:37:30,000 Speaker 2: gotta chuck them, like tuck them and then that might 833 00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:30,879 Speaker 2: actually be it. 834 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:33,960 Speaker 1: Those are probably my two. Okay, those are definitely up 835 00:37:33,960 --> 00:37:35,880 Speaker 1: there for me. The one I would add is I 836 00:37:35,920 --> 00:37:38,839 Speaker 1: hate flopping. I can't do it that. I'm just like, 837 00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:40,200 Speaker 1: I can do it. 838 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:43,360 Speaker 2: I could, yeah, flopping me, but I'll be trying to 839 00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:46,200 Speaker 2: take charges and I don't be flopping, but I never 840 00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:46,560 Speaker 2: get it. 841 00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:53,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, like you can embellish, but just just control. 842 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:56,400 Speaker 2: Don't flopping out of control flopping. No, Yeah, it's like 843 00:37:56,440 --> 00:37:57,320 Speaker 2: we are grown women. 844 00:37:57,960 --> 00:37:58,920 Speaker 4: What you look like? 845 00:37:59,280 --> 00:37:59,959 Speaker 3: What are we doing? 846 00:38:02,040 --> 00:38:05,799 Speaker 1: But this has been wonderful. I've appreciated every mode of 847 00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:09,239 Speaker 1: your time, and thank you everyone for listening. Sometimes I 848 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:12,120 Speaker 1: Hoop will continue bringing you the latest in women's hoops 849 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:16,120 Speaker 1: from college WBA Anissa, thank you again, You've been wonderful. 850 00:38:15,920 --> 00:38:16,320 Speaker 2: Of course. 851 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:22,560 Speaker 1: Thank you, hey everyone, thanks so much for listening to 852 00:38:22,600 --> 00:38:25,560 Speaker 1: Sometimes I Hoop. Please don't forget to subscribe, rate, and 853 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:28,319 Speaker 1: review wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to follow 854 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:31,319 Speaker 1: me on Instagram at Haley dot Jones. That's no I 855 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:34,120 Speaker 1: and Hailey in three s's and Jones. To get all 856 00:38:34,160 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 1: the sometimes I Hoop content. You can also watch the 857 00:38:36,640 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 1: episodes on the players Tribune YouTube pitche thanks again for 858 00:38:39,719 --> 00:38:52,800 Speaker 1: all your support the players Tribute dot com