1 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 1: Hey what, I'm welcome in. I'm golly, this is all Ball. 2 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,200 Speaker 1: We're getting ready for college basketball season. And I caught 3 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: up with a senior guard, fifth year senior guard at 4 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: Oakham State, John Michael Wright. And John Michael Wright grew 5 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 1: up in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and in this All Ball 6 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 1: we talk about not just his journey to Oklham State, 7 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: what it was like to play at a different school 8 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: during the COVID year, and the tragic passing of a 9 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: stepfather when they were on the road just months ago 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 1: in Spain. It's all right here in All Ball with 11 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: John Michael Wright. 12 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 2: Your first memory of basketballs where I was in a 13 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,800 Speaker 2: living room and UNC was playing against Pitt and I 14 00:00:50,800 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: watched Tyler Haniver I'll go for like thirty points. 15 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: And that's when I. 16 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 2: Really was in living room where though like Faeel, North Carolina. 17 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,320 Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, my house is. Where's Fayeville, North Carolina? In 18 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: like okay, I know where the triangle is. You know 19 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: where Charlotte is Worsfield it's in between that, okay, in 20 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:08,120 Speaker 1: between the two yeah, and between Charlotte and Raleigh. Okay, 21 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: So most people in Fairfield are Carolina basketball fans, yeah, 22 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: U n C. Yeah, not a lot of Duke fans. 23 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: There's no Duke fans in Carolina, right, Not Duke fans 24 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,520 Speaker 1: are really more Northeastern. Yeah what about NC State? 25 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 2: People like n C State, but they're not really like 26 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 2: the top dogs. It's either UNC or Duke. 27 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: Okay, so you were Carolina basketball fan? Who is your guy? 28 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: Tyler Handron was him and Tyl Lawson Louston was a bad. 29 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: Boy so fast. Yeah. So you went to high school 30 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,000 Speaker 1: in Faville, Yeah, high school and then what was it 31 00:01:41,080 --> 00:01:42,320 Speaker 1: like in terms of recruitment? 32 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: So in my senior year recruitment, I had probably five scholarships. 33 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: My recruitment was pretty slow in high school. I got 34 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 2: my first offer my freshman. 35 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 1: Year high school. Who was that? It was to Marshall University. 36 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:54,200 Speaker 2: Yeah, but I didn't get my next one or two 37 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 2: my senior year, uh in January, which was from Hogh 38 00:01:57,240 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 2: Point University, where I ended up committing to. But yeah, 39 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: it was pretty I had a lot of interest from 40 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 2: a lot of schools, but nobody was really pulling the 41 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 2: trigger on me. So that process was kind of slovy. 42 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: I've heard a high point like incredible campus. What's it 43 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: like it's amazing. It's like it's like a country club 44 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 1: really for college. 45 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: Like the buildings are just top notch, like a neat 46 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,279 Speaker 2: Okbain the president of the school, he just proms. 47 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: Himself with just the best stuff. 48 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,799 Speaker 2: So like he was always making renovations to buildings, building 49 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 2: new stuff. 50 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: Uh. 51 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 2: They built a new arena there my sophomore year and 52 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: it's just immaculate. 53 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 3: Man. 54 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: It's just so you went there, you played for teby 55 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 2: TEB Smith. 56 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: What was he like? 57 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 2: He was a great coach. You know, he was a 58 00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 2: fiery coach, had a lot of knowledge. You know, he's 59 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 2: part of the history of the game, and you know 60 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 2: he was just a great guy to be around. And 61 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 2: me and Coachmit really close and he's just just just 62 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:43,639 Speaker 2: a smart basketball guy. 63 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:45,880 Speaker 1: What was he like in terms of influencing you in 64 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 1: your life? 65 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 2: He was kind of like it was kind of like 66 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:50,839 Speaker 2: my grandpa felt like he'd be calling me grand sign 67 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: and stuff because he just every day I would go 68 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 2: in his office and we would just talk and it 69 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 2: wouldn't just be about basketball. It'd be about a lot 70 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 2: of like life lessons. Things he went through, stuff he 71 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: wish he would have did. He was just trying to 72 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 2: coast me up to be a better man. How good 73 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 2: were you were your freshman year? I was pretty good 74 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,400 Speaker 2: iveraged about fifteen points. I came off Coach Smith put 75 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 2: the ball on my hand immediately, so I had a 76 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:11,799 Speaker 2: big responsibility in my freshman. 77 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: Year, right, so you get to play right away and 78 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 1: play a ton of minutes. What was the decision like 79 00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: to leave there? It was hard. 80 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 2: It was real tough because I had built a lot 81 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 2: of rapport with all those coaches in high Point and 82 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 2: the school. I was in love with the school and 83 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:27,399 Speaker 2: I didn't want to leave, but Cole Smith had retired, 84 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 2: and because he was going somewhere, I was going to 85 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: get a new coach anyway. I just thought to myself, 86 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 2: I might as well try and go and play a 87 00:03:32,800 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: bigger school. 88 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 1: So what's it really like to put your name in 89 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: the portal? 90 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: So you go to compliance and you tell them I 91 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 2: want to transfer, and they'll ask you a couple questions 92 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: about why was it something wrong with the program, and 93 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 2: you can answer based on how you feel. I said no, 94 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 2: I just wanted to go to look for another school, 95 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 2: and they put my name in the system, and twenty 96 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: minutes later I was in the portal and the coach 97 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 2: was just calling me left and right. 98 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: Okay, so what's that like? Right from a guy who 99 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: you had one scholarship ball for your freshman year and 100 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 1: then just a handful of scholarship offers too, all of 101 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: a sudden, now lots of people are calling you. It 102 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: was it was something that I couldn't imagine. Really. 103 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 2: I told myself, if I was in high school and 104 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 2: I was getting these claws, I would be like going 105 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 2: ahead over heels. But at that time, my junior year, 106 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 2: I was a little more mature and I was really 107 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 2: looking for a place to settle in really quick. But 108 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 2: I enjoyed the process. But my phone was buzzing constantly. 109 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 2: A lot of coaches, a lot of great programs was reaching. 110 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 1: Out to me. 111 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 2: But awesomely, Oklahoma State was my best. 112 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 1: Okay, so, so did you do zooms with everybody? Like 113 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: what was the what's the contact with me? 114 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 2: I did about probably about ten zones, But I did 115 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 2: a lot more sol phone calls over the phone with 116 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: a lot of head coaches. 117 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: What was the weirdest, like, give me, give me a 118 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: weird zoom? I say, I had his own. 119 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 2: I won't say the school, but I had his own 120 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:43,840 Speaker 2: with a coach, and it was like it was like 121 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: he was occupied doing something else. He was still trying 122 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 2: to talk to me, like it was kind of weird, 123 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,599 Speaker 2: Like it wasn't it wasn't really professional. It was like 124 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: if he was on the phone with your homeboy and 125 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: he was playing the game and then like looking at you. 126 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 1: You know, that's the perfect that's the perfect metaphor did 127 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 1: anybody I had this? I remember? So I went to 128 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: Notre Dame and I transferred and I sat out and 129 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 1: then committed late to Oklhoma State. But I remember there 130 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 1: were a couple of coaches late who called me and 131 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,919 Speaker 1: they were like One was Norman Stewart, it's the famous 132 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: old coach at Missouri. And he's like you're about what 133 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: six two? And I was like, nah, which meant to me. 134 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 1: You literally never see me playing that. Somebody said you're 135 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:27,720 Speaker 1: pretty good and you're available. Whatever. Did you have anybody 136 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 1: who're like this guy has no idea who I am? No, 137 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: I don't think so. 138 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: I think, especially Nowaday, because it's somebody energy, yeah, synergy. 139 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 2: So I think coaches knew what I they was getting into. 140 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 2: I know here when I got here, A lot of 141 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 2: the players thought I was taller, because I guess they 142 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,440 Speaker 2: was tall. I was six two, was will and I'm like, nah, man, 143 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,599 Speaker 2: I'm barely six foot. But now I think all the 144 00:05:47,600 --> 00:05:50,039 Speaker 2: coaches pretty much knew my game because they when we 145 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 2: got on the phone, they were pretty much tell me 146 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 2: what they sing. 147 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 1: So obviously they had to watch some fanm The COVID 148 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,800 Speaker 1: year was, which which year? My sophomore year? What was that? Like? 149 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: It was weird because everybody in my program called COVID 150 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,679 Speaker 2: but me, all the coaches and all my teammates called COVID. 151 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 2: So we were down for two weeks and I was 152 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 2: the only player in the gym that could do anything. 153 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 2: And then they had went and traveled. 154 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,800 Speaker 1: So wait, so just that year in general, okay, you 155 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:16,120 Speaker 1: guys run campus the whole year. 156 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, whole year or the rest of the students 157 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,120 Speaker 2: on campus, they were but you couldn't. You couldn't go 158 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 2: to nobody else's room. You had to wear a mask everywhere, 159 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 2: you couldn't come in groups. Nobody could go to the 160 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: student center and like work out or play basketball. 161 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,279 Speaker 1: It was it was. It was terrible. So uh and 162 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: then what point in time in the year did did 163 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: everybody get COVID. 164 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 2: It was November and around November, so you. 165 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: Would go and practice by yourself? 166 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, I would just go to the gym, you hang out. 167 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:43,800 Speaker 2: One time, I took like two weeks off of school. 168 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 2: I just went to Pennsylvania with my homeboy. 169 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: Would you guys go? 170 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 2: We went to Ligand near Pennsylvania, which is where his 171 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 2: family is from. But it was like a lot of 172 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 2: mountain resources there, so I just want to hung out. 173 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 1: And what did you do when you're there? 174 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 2: Just went hiking, you know, just chill, went fishing, hunting 175 00:06:57,960 --> 00:06:58,440 Speaker 2: a little bit. 176 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 1: I ain't shooting nothing, though. Have you Are you a hunter? No? 177 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: I'm not. Are you fit? Can you fish? I like 178 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:08,039 Speaker 1: to fish it? What's bast fast lakes? Yeah? Okay, like 179 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: really good with it? You've been fly fish? 180 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 2: No? 181 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: I can't. I can't get this dynamics of it. I 182 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: can't either, But I think you can be taught. I 183 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 1: mean I would guess probably, Yeah, I guess. Plus, I 184 00:07:17,320 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: mean you're a pretty precise guy, like I think you 185 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: could get all of that. That's and then what were 186 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:22,800 Speaker 1: the games? 187 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 3: Like? 188 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 1: Did you have fans of the game? No fans at all? 189 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 2: They cut out like cardboard faces of random students and 190 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 2: it was terrible. 191 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: And that was you had brand new gym that year too, right, 192 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: we did. 193 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 2: But we didn't plan that, so we played in the 194 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 2: old gym because they were still building on it. Because 195 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: of COVID they had to slow down a little bit. 196 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 2: So it was supposed to be done my sophomore year, 197 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 2: but we didn't get in there until my junior year. 198 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: That's crazy, Okay. So so you're meeting with all these 199 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: keyth coaches, You're taking all these zooms. How do you 200 00:07:47,960 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: decide like who's full of it and who's real? 201 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 2: How? 202 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: What? What was that process like? 203 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 2: So my stepdad he was in that process with me 204 00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:56,960 Speaker 2: a lot, and he knew a lot of people that 205 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: were connected to certain coaches, and you know, they would 206 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 2: like kind of give you the real or with the 207 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: real expectations of it, because you know, every coach will 208 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 2: recruiting you, they're gonna tell you what you want to hear, 209 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 2: you know. But I tried to do my research as 210 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 2: best as I could, and I had a lot of 211 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,440 Speaker 2: my old AU coaches in high school coaches helping me 212 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 2: in that process as well, so they were able to 213 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 2: kind of help me sniff out who's real and who's 214 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: just talking. And when I met coach Mike, I could 215 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 2: just tell from how he talked, just he was real 216 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 2: about what he was saying because he didn't promise me anything. 217 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 2: So once he didn't, I knew he didn't promise me anything, 218 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 2: and then I knew, that's okay, that's the type of 219 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 2: guy I want to play. 220 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: But what is it like to change levels? 221 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 2: It's scary, but it's also fulfilling at the same time, 222 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 2: especially when you were in high school and you always 223 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,720 Speaker 2: thought you could play hot major like I did. Just 224 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 2: being able to get the opportunity to play and actually 225 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 2: actually getting the game, it was something that felt good 226 00:08:45,040 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 2: to me at the time, and it was just something 227 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 2: that I said, Okay, I'm glad I was able to 228 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:50,280 Speaker 2: accomplish this in my life. 229 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 1: Fall down Field House was I think your first big time, 230 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: big time moment, big time game, and he played. Well 231 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:01,280 Speaker 1: what's that like to go from playing a high point 232 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: thinking you play high major now you're taking on cancers 233 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 1: at the fall Man, It's a great feeling. 234 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 2: I mean that that stadium was rocking, but the performance 235 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 2: I had I always thought I could do that, so 236 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 2: that wasn't surprised, and it was just the fact that 237 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 2: I did it. You know, I had the confidence to 238 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 2: take the shots and make the shots that I made, 239 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 2: and the fact that you know, we it was a 240 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 2: game we should have won, and I saw, Okay, we're 241 00:09:23,240 --> 00:09:25,199 Speaker 2: actually a team that could really do something with this. 242 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:29,560 Speaker 1: But it was a great feeling. So you get done 243 00:09:29,600 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 1: last year? Now how many can you get another year? No? 244 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: This is my last? Is it? Okay? What is the 245 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: process like of because you could have did you graduate 246 00:09:38,559 --> 00:09:40,679 Speaker 1: last year? I graduated, so you could have gone where 247 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: you could done the portal again? Why come back? 248 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:45,800 Speaker 2: I just felt like it was too much left on 249 00:09:45,840 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 2: the table with this program and I was a big 250 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 2: part of that. And I just couldn't leave like that 251 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:52,559 Speaker 2: because I've never wanted to be that type of person 252 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 2: to leave something and I finished what I promised I 253 00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:55,760 Speaker 2: would help get to. 254 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:56,760 Speaker 1: Where's that come from? 255 00:09:57,240 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 2: Just really just really my stepdad, you know, just rooting 256 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 2: that into me when being younger, because I always see 257 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:03,599 Speaker 2: him start something like he had a whole bunch of 258 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 2: businesses and he would never give up on them until 259 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 2: they got to a certain point. So and really my brother, 260 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 2: my older brother, he's the same type of guy. Just 261 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 2: seeing his story coming out of high school. He didn't 262 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:16,040 Speaker 2: have any college scholarships either, but he worked his way 263 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:17,599 Speaker 2: to get on the team and he was about to 264 00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 2: play for Arkansas football. So, you know, just seeing that 265 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:23,400 Speaker 2: you can do anything, you just can't quit. And I 266 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:25,920 Speaker 2: wouldn't be able to leave and feel good about myself 267 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:27,720 Speaker 2: knowing that it was so much left on the table. 268 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 3: Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in 269 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 3: the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio 270 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:39,959 Speaker 3: dot com and within the iHeartRadio app. Search FSR to 271 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 3: listen live. 272 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,240 Speaker 1: So you decided to come back, You're getting ready to 273 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:49,080 Speaker 1: go to Spain and you find out your stepdad passed 274 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: away rights that what's that like? 275 00:10:51,679 --> 00:10:54,560 Speaker 2: And it was tough and it's just a it still is. 276 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 2: I mean, it still doesn't feel real because it came 277 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 2: out of nowhere. You know, my stepdad, he was my guy. 278 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:02,200 Speaker 2: He was a man that raised me, and he was 279 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,400 Speaker 2: the one that believed in me first when it came 280 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:07,440 Speaker 2: to basketball when nobody else did. And he was my coach. 281 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 2: And so it was tough. And it's even tougher because 282 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 2: I have a little sister that's nine years old and 283 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 2: they were very close, and I just know it's hitting 284 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 2: her hard, and you know, it's just different. But you know, 285 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,120 Speaker 2: it just motivates me now to make sure. 286 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,840 Speaker 1: That I play hard. Have you got enough chance to grieve? 287 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:23,320 Speaker 1: Not really. 288 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 2: I didn't really have a chance too because once he passed, 289 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 2: he had so much stuff going on that I had 290 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:29,320 Speaker 2: to go back home and kind of figure out how 291 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 2: to help put it in place because my mom couldn't 292 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,400 Speaker 2: do it at the time. And you know, sometimes I 293 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,160 Speaker 2: sit here and there and think about it, but I 294 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:37,760 Speaker 2: try not to grieve too much because you know, I 295 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 2: don't really want to. 296 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: Be in that headspace. 297 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 2: And but I mean, we went to the funeral, I 298 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,640 Speaker 2: tried coach Mike and them came and see me, so 299 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 2: I wasn't. I haven't been by myself, which is I 300 00:11:48,559 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 2: think is good because I had a lot of support 301 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 2: from my family. But yeah, I haven't really a grieved. 302 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:55,679 Speaker 1: I obviously getting a chance to spend some time with 303 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,320 Speaker 1: coach Mike Boyden and with you, like you see how 304 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: close you got are And it's one of the things 305 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: that I've kind of tried to tell people. And every 306 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 1: coach is different, right, like not every coach can be 307 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: like a father figure, but it feels like maybe not 308 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 1: father figure because that was your stepdad, but almost kind 309 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,600 Speaker 1: of big brother. Is how what's your relationship like with him? 310 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, me and Coach might have a great relationship. I 311 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:20,560 Speaker 2: love him because he keep it real with me. You know, 312 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 2: he doesn't just tell me what I want to hear, 313 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 2: you know, and I just see his aspirations for the program. 314 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:27,640 Speaker 2: You know, he's the type of guy that doesn't think 315 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 2: about himself. You know, he does things for others and 316 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 2: I always pride myself on doing the same thing. So 317 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 2: just seeing how he's at this level and how he 318 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 2: puts other people's perspectives before his and other people's needs 319 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 2: before his, it's just something great to me. And like 320 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:43,040 Speaker 2: I said, when he came to the funeral, that just 321 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 2: really showed me what type of man he is. And 322 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:47,080 Speaker 2: I'll run through a brick wall of Coach Mike. 323 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:50,920 Speaker 1: You took twenty five thousand shots this summer. How'd you 324 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: come up with that number? 325 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 2: So I told Coach Mike to give me a challenge 326 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 2: for the summer back in May, and he said, I 327 00:12:57,960 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 2: challenge you to make twenty five thousand and three and 328 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 2: five thy one hundred free throws, So you got to 329 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 2: do it from June fourth all the way to August fourth, 330 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 2: and so I was like, bet, like, let's do it 331 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 2: because I wanted to put in so much work this 332 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 2: summer because this is my last year and I wanted 333 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,640 Speaker 2: to get this program all. So he gave me that 334 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 2: number and I finished on August first. I got off 335 00:13:16,280 --> 00:13:17,560 Speaker 2: to a good head start, and I kind of got 336 00:13:17,640 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 2: lazy towards the middle, so it kind of caught up 337 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:20,120 Speaker 2: to me. 338 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 1: But I sill, So, okay, when you take good head start, 339 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 1: how many would you shooting today? 340 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 2: I was making a thousand a day on average. It 341 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 2: was like eight hundred to. 342 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: One thousand, and you were doing the machine. 343 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 2: So I had I have rebounders with me so they knew, like, 344 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 2: I wouldn't line on my number. So Brady Price was 345 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:38,840 Speaker 2: one of our gas helping me. Him and Zach and 346 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 2: a lot of the managers was helping me because I 347 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,839 Speaker 2: wanted them to see that I wasn't just lying by 348 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:43,319 Speaker 2: my number. 349 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: How many does it take to make? How many shots 350 00:13:45,280 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: does it take to make eight hundred? 351 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:52,920 Speaker 2: Probably probably about twelve hundred. Yeah, that's probably probably about 352 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 2: twel hundred shots. So it was a time where it 353 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,839 Speaker 2: was I was saying July it was a week where 354 00:13:57,840 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 2: I made like six thousand. 355 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: This was another week May four. 356 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 2: But then I took maybe a week off because I 357 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 2: was just so drained. It was it was tough than 358 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:07,760 Speaker 2: I thought it was gonna be. But then I picked 359 00:14:07,760 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 2: back up and I would probably make probably five hundred. 360 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,120 Speaker 1: So when you when you shoot one thousand a day, 361 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: what hurts the next day? My shoulder blaze and my back. 362 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:18,680 Speaker 2: It's not really my legs, it's just it's really my 363 00:14:18,800 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 2: Torso like everything up top was really was really bothering 364 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:23,120 Speaker 2: me because I was getting in the ice bath, but 365 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 2: I wouldn't put my whole body in there. I was 366 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 2: just putting my little body. So my upper half was 367 00:14:27,160 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 2: kind of tired. And that's what really made me take 368 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 2: a little break because I was like, man, this is tough. 369 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: Okay, So you're now, now, what what's your pregame routine? 370 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: Terms of like you get up in the morning, Like 371 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:38,440 Speaker 1: do you want to get up early and get a 372 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: bunch up? Like what is say you're playing seven tonight? Yeah, 373 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 1: what's your routine? Mean? 374 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:45,480 Speaker 2: So I plan on making three hundred before every home game? 375 00:14:45,520 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: You like to get up early, like to sleep in. 376 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: I like to sleep in. Okay, sleeping means what ten nine? 377 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:52,720 Speaker 2: It depends on what time my pregame is. So we 378 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,320 Speaker 2: got pregame meal around ten. Like I'll probably get up early, 379 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:56,040 Speaker 2: probably around seven. 380 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: But if it's seven o'clock games, so you don't have 381 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 1: pregame meal three you might have around or whatever. 382 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 2: I'll probably sleep in till by nine. I go go 383 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 2: to the gym a by ten, put up three hundred, 384 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 2: and then just go throughout the day and get ready 385 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 2: for the game. 386 00:15:09,400 --> 00:15:10,240 Speaker 1: Rest up a little bit. 387 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 2: But I kind of want to I kind of want 388 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 2: to fit it in where I can get the three 389 00:15:13,560 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 2: hundred up, like right before the game starts, you know. 390 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: So I'm just does it matter to you? Like in 391 00:15:19,640 --> 00:15:22,200 Speaker 1: Gallagher you have the practice, Jim, Does it matter to 392 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: you if you're on the main court or is just 393 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 1: an any court? 394 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 2: As long as you any court, as long as it's 395 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 2: a basket, It's cool, all right? 396 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: What about shoes? Do you are? You you locking on 397 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: one pair and you wear them the whole year? You 398 00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 1: like to rotate them? What's what's what's the what's the 399 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 1: shoe decision? 400 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 2: So I lock in on one pair, but I'll be 401 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 2: wearing them out so much I gotta like, I gotta 402 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 2: start switching that. 403 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:44,640 Speaker 1: Okay, So what's the pair gonna be this year? 404 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 2: So they gave me these Team Lebron's, I'll probably wear 405 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 2: the o's and then they gave us some Team GT 406 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,040 Speaker 2: Nike zos. Yep, those would be there. So I'm trying 407 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 2: to lift for a thorough and I may buy one, 408 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 2: but I don't know. But those two and only two 409 00:15:55,800 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 2: right now? 410 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: You know, those jaws might be nice. Job like this. 411 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:02,760 Speaker 1: I haven't tried the sun like stuff. I'm trying them either. Yeah, 412 00:16:03,080 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: those are so okay. And then how do you know 413 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 1: when like, are you superstitious if you play well in 414 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,480 Speaker 1: the shoes, you're gonna keep wear those shoes or is 415 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: it only based upon field? Kind of? 416 00:16:11,040 --> 00:16:13,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm kind of superstitious, but sometimes I feel like 417 00:16:13,640 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 2: it's not good. 418 00:16:14,360 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: I used to I would wouldn't wear the pair of 419 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: shoes again in a game if we lost. And so 420 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: my my junior year, we were supposed to be were 421 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:24,600 Speaker 1: top ten in the country and we went through a 422 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 1: bad stretch and we lost eleven games that year. So 423 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: if you go through the pictures like there's a lot 424 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 1: of different shoes there. I was for the right fair. 425 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: You have nine new teammates. It's like the opposite of 426 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: when you showed up at Oklahoma State, where you're the 427 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: new guy. Now everybody else is, Yeah, what's that like for? 428 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:47,440 Speaker 2: It's weird because you know, like you said, I was 429 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,320 Speaker 2: in the same position, but I came into a team 430 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 2: and I was already established. Now we pretty much broke 431 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,680 Speaker 2: down the whole time. I'll create a new nucleus. So 432 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 2: when everybody first got here, has a lot of different 433 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 2: personalities that you got to get used to. And not 434 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 2: only is it trains first, but it's freshman that you 435 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:04,240 Speaker 2: got to teach about college basketball in general. They haven't 436 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,040 Speaker 2: played a game yet. But the coaches did a great 437 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 2: job recruiting. I think what they look for is personality 438 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,960 Speaker 2: base guys that fit the program or fit coach Mike, 439 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 2: and I think they did a great job with that 440 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 2: because everybody is locked in and wants to really work hard. 441 00:17:17,359 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's interest. Do you do they know how good 442 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: they have it? 443 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:21,399 Speaker 3: Right? 444 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:23,200 Speaker 1: Because you've been at high Point and look, high Point 445 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:25,880 Speaker 1: had great facilities. Yeah, but it's still a lower level 446 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: of basketball in terms of support. Yeah, Like at any 447 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: point is they're like fellas, you get good playing, but 448 00:17:31,320 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 1: you don't realize how good you have it. 449 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:34,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I say all the time, like I don't 450 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 2: think they don't understand, Like, but I tell them, like, 451 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,360 Speaker 2: y'all don't know how good you gotta Like at high 452 00:17:39,359 --> 00:17:40,879 Speaker 2: point in my first three years, like we had to 453 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:41,680 Speaker 2: share showers. 454 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying. 455 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 2: Now it's different because they got the new facility, but 456 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 2: like elms that you got your own shower, you get 457 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:49,680 Speaker 2: a whole bunch of gear, all that, the whole nine. 458 00:17:49,720 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 2: You get limited, a whole bunch of access to the gym, 459 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:56,080 Speaker 2: and you know, just the camaraderie from the students, like 460 00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 2: you looked at as a celebrity here the high point, 461 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:01,040 Speaker 2: I was a student that played basketball, So like, yeah, 462 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,040 Speaker 2: they don't really understand, especially coming straight out of high 463 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,360 Speaker 2: school being all Americans on five stars, Like they don't 464 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,840 Speaker 2: really get that low that low level life. But I 465 00:18:07,960 --> 00:18:09,960 Speaker 2: mean to each his own, like I don't think that's 466 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 2: a problem, but. 467 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:13,159 Speaker 1: No, but if it does, that prepares you for like 468 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: when you play in Europe, Like that's kind of how 469 00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:16,880 Speaker 1: it is. We're playing the playing in the g league, 470 00:18:16,920 --> 00:18:19,159 Speaker 1: Like that's how it is. Yeah, you know, there's you 471 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: get some some of that shine of NBA stuff, but 472 00:18:21,480 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: really not not that much a great season for you 473 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:28,160 Speaker 1: as what for me personally? 474 00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 2: Just being able to leave my team I want to 475 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 2: lead us in three point percentence? Uh and three is 476 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,919 Speaker 2: made because that's what I've been working on all summer. 477 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 2: And just being able to be a big part of 478 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 2: a winning program. Just winning the Big twelve obviously, but 479 00:18:45,080 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 2: being a big impact guy for the team, you know, 480 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:51,200 Speaker 2: on and off the court. Just that that'll be that'll 481 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 2: be a successful season for me. 482 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: I don't see what. I don't see why that's not 483 00:18:54,840 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: not altogether possible in ten years. Where are you? What 484 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: are you doing? Man? 485 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 2: That's a that's a great question that I've been thinking 486 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:08,240 Speaker 2: about if I'm not playing somewhere. I low key onet 487 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:10,679 Speaker 2: to going to coaching. At first, before I came here, 488 00:19:10,720 --> 00:19:13,280 Speaker 2: I didn't really think about going into coaching, but just 489 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 2: being around coach Mike and this coaching staff, I see 490 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,480 Speaker 2: how impactful the coach can be on a player. And 491 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 2: I love younger kids, and I see, like especially back 492 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,520 Speaker 2: around Promise, a lot of kids that have a lot 493 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:26,399 Speaker 2: of misguidance, and I think sports allows them to be 494 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:28,879 Speaker 2: put in a situation where they could be guided in 495 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 2: a different perspective for the long run and not just 496 00:19:31,080 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 2: for the sport itself. So if I'm not playing basketball, 497 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 2: I'll definitely be coaching somewhere. 498 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:37,080 Speaker 1: I mean, like, look, what you're saying is totally accurate, 499 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,200 Speaker 1: and I appreciate and respect it. It is interesting, though, 500 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: and so many people think that sports is just about 501 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: the money, right, How gonna make the money? I gonna 502 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,360 Speaker 1: find a way to make the most money. There's so much, 503 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,720 Speaker 1: so many other aspects to it. Yeah, which if you 504 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: make money on is great, right, definitely, especially if you 505 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: make make a profession out of it. But it's not 506 00:19:57,280 --> 00:20:00,320 Speaker 1: really even the most important part, right, Some of you 507 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:05,359 Speaker 1: only find, uh, some you find over over time. Last thing, 508 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 1: your favorite place you have played so far in college basketball? 509 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 2: I say Canada Kansas game. We went to Allen Field House. 510 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,119 Speaker 2: It was crazy because I couldn't hear nothing. They were 511 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,080 Speaker 2: so loud, I couldn't hear anything. But it really like 512 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:19,159 Speaker 2: motivated me. I like those type of crowds. 513 00:20:19,480 --> 00:20:21,800 Speaker 1: Who doesn't, Yeah, who doesn't when it's when it's fulling 514 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:22,360 Speaker 1: warm ups? 515 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 3: Yeah? 516 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 2: It's just a buzz going, man, that's why you hoo exactly, 517 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 2: Like those are the moments you live. 518 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: And I know you were throwing down in warm ups, right, 519 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: Like you jump at least three or four inches higher 520 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: in warm up. Yeah, because of the crowd completed. It 521 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: is like just like high school. Actually, I'm not the 522 00:20:36,720 --> 00:20:38,639 Speaker 1: only one I think that. Okay, I'm glad, I'm not 523 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:40,639 Speaker 1: ok And this is I hate to do the back 524 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,399 Speaker 1: when I played, so Gallagher was half the size. So 525 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: we had games like that, and you know, you get 526 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:47,960 Speaker 1: a big Kansas game and you're going up and like yeah, 527 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,880 Speaker 1: yeah when the crowd kind of helps. Yeah, exactly, yeah 528 00:20:52,040 --> 00:20:53,679 Speaker 1: kind of John, Mike's great to catch up you man. 529 00:20:53,720 --> 00:20:58,480 Speaker 1: I thank you, appreciate it. My thanks to John Michael Wright. 530 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:02,159 Speaker 1: Just an amazing young man, an amazing personal story. Reminded. 531 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: The Doug Gottlieb Show is daily three to five Eastern Time, 532 00:21:04,960 --> 00:21:07,159 Speaker 1: twelve to two Pacific, and of course we have the 533 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: end the Bonus podcast with the daily Pod covering all 534 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:11,840 Speaker 1: college sports in the meantime. Thanks so much for listening. 535 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: I'm Doug Gotlib. This is all ball