Category: Interview

Xavier Tillman: ‘My daughter helped me become a more disciplined man’

The 2020 NBA draft has a lot of uncertainty. But after learning more about Xavier Tillman, you can bet that he will make a team very happy.

The 2020 NBA draft has a lot of uncertainty. But after learning more about Xavier Tillman, you can bet that he will make a team very happy.

Tillman, who played three years for the Michigan State Spartans, opened up about having his second child right before quarantine began. He also touched on his plans to start an AAU youth basketball team in Michigan, why he would love to go into broadcasting after his playing career is over and plenty more.

He also provided a fascinating insight into how a false tweet about him helped him learn about serious interest from an NBA team. He added that he has heard that front offices are interested in selecting him between the late first and early second round.

Please note this interview was very minorly edited for brevity and clarity.

Obviously, this has been such a strange year. I’d love to hear your impressions of what the last few months have been like for you. 

Xavier Tillman: I’ve been able to get strength and conditioning in and I’ve had a lot of on-court work. I’ve been able to get both of those in every day, usually in the mornings. It has all been crazy, though, from the season being cut off as soon as we got a share of the Big 10 title. My son was born five games before that. Then I thought the draft would happen in June and it was pushed back all the way to November. So yeah, this has been very different. We have had some days if I didn’t have access to the gym, where I had to work out outside just because everywhere was on lockdown. So I mean, this has definitely been a lot different year for me.

How have you been able to reckon with and come to terms with the fact that the season was cut short, knowing that Michigan State had a Top 10 offense on a Top 15 defense? Those are all the makings of a team that probably could have won the national title.

XT: I was devastated. But I was proud at the same time. I was devastated at first because I knew our potential and I know if we had just gotten the opportunity, we would have made the most out of it. Especially after getting the opportunity to go to the Final Four my sophomore year, I was like: ‘Okay, now I know about the atmosphere’ and everything to be mentally prepared and I’m ready to go.’ But then I was proud at the same time, especially for the young guys who worked their butt off. Mentally, the game was still going by fast. By the time the season happened, everybody felt like we were playing in slow motion. The freshmen were all playing well and they were confident as well. I’m proud of those guys for being able to pull through a tough, grueling season. They showed they were ready to compete for a Final Four. Like I said earlier, it’s devastating that they didn’t get those opportunities I did.

You ended your collegiate career coming off four really big wins against top 25 teams, including a top 10 team in Ohio State. How much did it help to go out that way? 

XT: It meant everything to me to win against the highest competition. I never like to back down, ever, no matter who I’m playing against. For example, if I am going against a top-ranked player, those are the games I want to see what I can do against them. I’m going to give it my all, play as hard as I can, play as smart as I can. I want to see if you’re worthy of the hype or not. So that is something that I took pride in, going against those top guys and getting the opportunity to play against the top guys to finish the season. I was able to guard guys like Lamar Stevens, who had First Team All-Big 10, All-American numbers. I went against guys like Kaleb Wesson, who is probably the best back to basket scorer in the Big 10. I could guard guys like Jalen Smith, who would stretch the floor and is very versatile. So be able to finish out the season guarding the best guys and come out with wins was definitely amazing for me.

I’d love to hear about your defensive identity and your defensive role, and how you feel that’ll translate into the NBA.

XT: The first thing that I would say is that I am vocal and I am an anchor on defense. I am the guy who is calling out all the screens on the back end, calling out all the coverages. I’m the guy who watches a lot of film and I call the plays out as soon as they come out. I help my teammates navigate through all of them. Getting everybody on board, that’s what I’m good at.

Then, individually, I guard well coming off screens. Michigan State did a great job of teaching me every single piece of defensive coverage: From a soft hedge to a hard hedge, to a feather, to icing ball screens, to dropping back. We looked at every single ball screen. I’ll be able to translate that to the NBA. I know the unathletic bigs will drop while the really athletic bigs can press up and trap. I can get the ball out of the guard’s hands or even switch onto them. That is something I feel like I have the capabilities of doing and that’s what will help me a lot in the NBA because a lot of teams will move and switch. That’s what Michigan State did to prepare me for my career.

The last thing I would say about my defense is my on-ball ability. I am able to guard both bigs in the post. I can guard fours and threes on the wing, who can put the ball on the floor. That was kind of the last piece that showed up my junior year. I was able to do that, hold people down to way below their numbers. I was able to come up with the right job.

Tell me a little bit about how you got that defensive mentality.

XT: I was taught different ways to play defense when I started playing AAU basketball. My coaches taught me how to play on the appropriate help side and how to time it when you go to track the ball screens and how to time it when you’re traveling across the plane. He taught me all that stuff throughout my years of playing AAU. So by the time I left, my anticipation had been tapped with technique, and I ran with it so in high school, I was getting steals for dunks like I did against Illinois.

My anticipation helped me a lot. So when I got to college, they taught me a little more technique, how to not get fouls but still impact the ball. I was taught “the rule of verticality” and I ran with that as well. I put that in my back pocket and now I know if guys are driving against me, sure, I might not get the block. But I’m able to jump straight up in the air and now you have to finish over a 7-foot-1 wingspan. That’s a lot tougher to do. If you could do it, kudos to you.

Can you walk me through what your film-watching process looks like?

Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

XT: The film-watching process for me is a couple of different things. The first thing is reading tendencies and what teams are really good at, whether they’re driving right or driving left, finishing right, finishing left. What shoulders do they like to shoot their turnarounds over? Are they a shooter? Can they shoot free throws? All that gets factored in when I’m watching film. So now I see what you’re good at.

A good example is how I prepared for Luka Garza from Iowa. When he catches the ball, he only wanted to shoot it with his right hand, Guarding him, you have to make him shoot it with his left hand. If you are able to do that, you get a block every time. Because I know that’s what you want to do and I’m going to make it as difficult as possible for you to do that. Garza is a guy who can stretch the floor so when he was just sitting at the 3-point line, I’m sitting at the 3-point line with him. I’m not going to go help because I know if for some reason I go down to help and they’re able to kick the ball back, it’s three points every time. I’m going to stay with you. You’re just going to have a long night. We’re going to make your teammates beat us, not you. Knowing that going into a game by watching the film and stuff like that, knowing tendencies, that is how I learn how to be the most efficient defensively.

If you were watching footage of yourself, what are some of the things that you would notice?

XT: I would say that guy is everywhere. [Laughs] Sometimes, I see little Twitter clips of me playing. It would be like 10 or 15 seconds and it will be me like hedging a stagger screen and going back, helping on the ball and going back to my man, get the block, get the rebound, an outlet to Cassius Winston, run down the floor, set the screen for Cash, get Cash open, Cash gets a floater down the middle of the lane. I’m like: ‘Man; you do a lot. You don’t just guard your man and run down the court. You impact on the ball, you kick guys open and when it’s your turn to score, you score.’ I think I’m a guy who just does a lot on the defensive end, and that’s what I pride myself on so it’s kind of cool.

Tell me a little bit about your playmaking and your court vision. How much pride do you take in making plays for others?

XT: Yeah, I take a lot of pride in that because I know you can’t win a game by yourself. With that mindset, I know that I had to get my teammates going in order for me to have any chance to win. I can’t put up 100 points in a game. But what I can do is put up my 20 or my 15 and get the wings going. I set screens for them to get going. Maybe set a cross-screen for my big to get an easy layup or Cash to set him some screens and make a point to get him open. With all that being said, I know what it takes to win a game. If I’m able to just set a screen and get a guy open and that’s what it’s going to take to win a game, that’s what I’m going to do.

What was it like playing with Cash for three years, considering he is an NBA point guard?

XT: I felt like I was cheating the game. [Laughs] I had a guy where I didn’t have to look at him and he didn’t have to look at me and he would still throw me the ball. He would still make the pass to me. His IQ was unreal. He had this swagger about him where he wasn’t just a pass-first point guard, don’t get it twisted, he could get a bucket by himself. At the same time, he knows what it takes to win. He’s able to get guys going. For me, if I’m rim running, he’s able to just throw that lob and get easy buckets. Coming off a screen, he will just throw the pocket pass and say: ‘Hey, now you have to create. I can come down and get it all day. But if we’re going to win this game, I got to have some air. I got to let you make some plays.’ That’s how he developed me.

What was the evolution of your scoring ability near the basket? By your junior year, you were nearly 75.0 percent within five feet of the rim and I think you were an incredible rim runner.

XT: That took a lot of time. During my freshman year, I just tried to dunk everything because I was so nervous. So over the years, I learned how to be quick but not rush. That was the big thing. I learned how to catch the ball. You don’t have to dunk it. You can just catch the ball and get it up without the defense getting the opportunity to get the block. I learned how to finish using the rim as your protector for reverses and stuff like that. That was also huge for me in my junior year. Then that floater was that last piece that really made it hard for people to guard me. It gave me a lot of confidence, too, where I didn’t have to go all the way to the basket to get a bucket. I could stop seven to ten feet short to shoot this little floater. I felt like it made me much more of a threat when I was able to get that in my game.

Are there any other guys who you watch and feel you may be similar to at the next level?

XT: I would say Draymond Green, Montrezl Harrell and Bam Adebayo all come to mind. Those are the guys who kind of really play in that situation and they start to make things happen. Grant Williams is getting more playing time with the Celtics. Those four guys are really guys I can base my game around and do similar things that they can do.

You shared a coach with Draymond Green. What are some of the similarities that you have heard about you two from folks who have met you both and have seen you play day in and day out? 

XT: First with the similarities, it just goes with the playmaking and the defensive ability. I was able to show up this year that I could really put the ball on the floor and make stuff happen for other people. That was definitely the first appearance where people thought that I was kind of like a Draymond because he is so good at getting guys going back to the basket, hitting the big or hitting the wing. So that was kind of Draymond-like. Then on defense, as I mentioned, I am always that vocal guy. Draymond was a vocal guy, too. I’m always just communicating. He also knows to defend a guard or wing when he gets switched out not to get blown by with their speed. He knows to sit down and force the jumper with his high hand. All those things Draymond did are what I tried to do, too.

Where is your overall confidence with your jump shot right now?

XT: I’ve seen a lot of really good progress with it. It is elevated more. I have good touch now. I am able to shoot from a lot deeper. It doesn’t feel like I’m throwing the ball at the rim. It actually feels smooth. It’s almost like there is an arc where it’s nice and smooth. It’s not forced. I’m falling in love with my jump shooting during these workouts. I’ve learned how easy it is. It is a lot easier than fighting for a rebound. [Laughs] If this takes a lot less effort, I’m going to be able to do this right away as soon as I master it.

It is definitely worth noting that you increased your three-point attempts each season you played in college. What do you credit the progression?

XT: I didn’t shoot any three-pointers during my freshman year. That spring, Coach Izzo told me to start working on my threes so I can play with Nick Ward on the court. I did that the whole spring of freshman year and the summer going into sophomore year. Then in games, I was able to stretch it out and get over my fear of missing and just focus on the work that I put in to where I was confident when I shot it by the end of my sophomore year. Then by my junior year, I literally thought every three that I shot was going in just based on the work that I put in and based off the confidence level when I shot it how it felt coming off. [Laughs] I felt like a maximum of five threes weren’t going to go in all season just because of my confidence level and how they felt. I was able to learn how to incorporate my legs in my jump shot. It’s progressing.

There was a lot of drama surrounding whether or not you would return to college. What happened there?

XT: That was a crazy situation because Dick Vitale tweeted that I was going back to Michigan State. He put at the end: ‘per sources.’ I asked on my Instagram story: ‘who’s your source?’ I wanted to know who told him I was going back. This was in the middle of a lot of momentum from NBA teams. I knew I probably was not going back to school. But now he was getting all these Michigan State fans hyped.

What did you make of that misinformation being spread about you?

XT: I’ve never met Dickie V in my entire life. But he still felt the need to talk about me and put words in my mouth. That was crazy because he is a guy I respect, for sure. I always wanted to be a “Diaper Dandy” for his most outstanding freshmen or a ‘PTP-er’ as a prime-time player. But the stuff that he was tweeting, I didn’t like it. It didn’t feel sincere. It felt like was trying to do it for college basketball. But an NBA team called Coach Izzo and was like: ‘Is this guy going back to school? We really wanted him to stay in the draft.’ That was crazy because it showed me a team was really willing to stick their neck out for me. So that was positive.

Oh, that’s fascinating. What kind of other feedback have you been getting from NBA teams?

XT: It has definitely been a crazy process for me. As soon as I told Coach Izzo that I was going to put my name in, I had confidence that I was going to be able to leave without worries. I got my underclassmen advisory (UAC) back and the results from teams had 17 percent projecting I would go undrafted and 40 percent for me being drafted in the late second. Then there was 27 percent for me getting drafted in the early second round. No first-round at all.

After I did my first 20 interviews, that percentage went down from 17 percent undrafted to just seven percent. Most of my stuff was heavy in the early half of the second round. A lot of these teams think I’ll get drafted in between picks No. 30 and No. 45 right now. For me, going to the NBA is all about stability. I didn’t want to go on a two-way deal because I have a family that I have to provide for and I just wanted to make sure that I was making the smart decision, which is a decision I’ve always wanted to make. I wanted to make sure that if I was leaving, I knew I was going to get drafted and that I had a great possibility of making some really good money for my family. So after I got the second results back from the UAC, I gained more confidence.

I think that in such an uncertain draft class, guys who interview well are going to rise. I think you definitely fit that bill. 

XT: After each of my interviews, I gained more confidence when talking to teams. After each one, they’re telling me: ‘Hey man, you’re not like a lot of these other guys in the draft. We have to get a lot of them to pay attention during the interview. You’re wearing a collared shirt. A lot of these guys are underdressed. nd you’re looking like a professional that wants to be here.’ And I’m saying, ‘Well, I do!’ [Laughs] I’m one of those guys who is not a lottery pick. I need you to know that I want to be a part of the organization and bring a winning attitude towards it. That is something a lot of these teams told me. I did a great job. That also gave me a lot of confidence. Plus, teams spoke to Coach Izzo. Several NBA teams stuck their neck out for me and told me they wanted me to stay in the draft.

How would you describe yourself? What are your biggest values?

XT: I’m married with two children, a three-year-old daughter and a nine-month-old son. I’ve been married for over a year, going on two years. Off the court, I’m really low key. I don’t do a lot. I play NBA 2K now that I finished school. I just chill if I’m not working out. I’m a guy who on the court is a winner. I’m very easy to talk to and I love getting to know people and not just telling my story but I love to hear other people’s stories and other people’s backgrounds and how they got to the point that they’re at in their life. I’ll praise them for the stuff they do well and understand what they do bad so I can avoid making the same mistakes they made. I love to talk to people and learn from people. I’m a sponge.

I’ve read the Tom Izzo credited your daughter for helping your improvement as a basketball player. Why would you say that’s correct? How would you add to that?

Michigan State's Xavier Tillman celebrates with his daughter after defeating Michigan 65-60 in an NCAA college basketball championship game in the Big Ten Conference tournament, Sunday, March 17, 2019, in Chicago.
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

XT: My daughter helped me become a more disciplined man. I had her when I was a senior in high school. She was born in December, right before the season started. I had her and she just helped me lock in more to where I wasn’t tempted in high school. I was more focused on my schoolwork. I want to tell her there are not a lot of obstacles that can stop her if she puts her mind to things. She’s definitely made me more disciplined. When she is older, she will be like ‘why are you so hard on me?’ Because I want the best for her.

Your mom also played basketball in college. I know she was really good too. How did she help you become the player and person you are today?

XT: Everybody always mentions how great she was as a basketball player. I probably have seen three clips of her playing in college. It motivates me to want to be better than her. Everybody says she is great, but I want to show everyone I can be great as well. She is definitely a great motivator for me. She just always put me around the game, whether it was camps or anything else. She was the person who brought me to all my tournaments and all of my practices. She was at practice with me all of the time. She was screaming at me in the game to be more aggressive with the ball and crash the boards more often, stuff like that. She just always had me around the game. She never forced it on me at all but she let me fall in love with it. Once I did, I ran with it.

What are some of the goals that you have for yourself off the court?

XT: Hopefully, later on in my career when I have the funds and the resources, I can do a lot of community work for Grand Rapids and help kids who want to play sports give them their opportunities to play sports. I’m one of those guys that just wants to help people. I guess that’s the best way I could put it. I want to start my own AAU team in Grand Rapids. I want to start that, but right now, I don’t know how to start it. I know my values and core values of the program that I want to have. That is something that I’m looking forward to doing within these next five or so years. Then other work in the community, like backpack drives and stuff like that in the summer going into the school year. My dad did that a lot of stuff like that when I was growing up. He did a lot of backpack drives for kids. If people want me to go to their schools and give kids a real-life look at who I am, I would love to do that. I can talk about what I went through with my hardships and my trials and tribulations. I can show them that even though you’re going to have trouble, you’re going to be able to chase your dreams and still fulfill your dreams as long as you keep working.

I know you ended up getting a degree in communication. What would you like to do with that? Would you be interested in doing broadcasting after your playing career is over?

XT: Absolutely. I want to be like Stephen A. Smith. I love his antics and how dramatic he is. I bet I could learn how to bring entertainment to it as well. But I love speaking, especially about stuff that I know about. I want to be on shows like ESPN’s First Take. I could see myself being like Chris Webber. I love how he talks during the game. I can really analyze the game and let the fans know about more than what is just going on the court but also the mindsets of players. Many people don’t understand the mindset that you have to have to have to be an NBA player, playing on national television in front of millions of people. You have to be so mentally confident in your abilities in order to shine. Those two guys are people that I look up to in terms of my broadcasting career.

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Payton Pritchard: ‘Everybody likes to win. I separate myself because I hate to lose’

Oregon Ducks star guard Payton Pritchard won the Lute Olson Award for the nation’s most outstanding non-freshman. His next stop is the NBA.

Oregon Ducks star guard Payton Pritchard won the Lute Olson Award for the nation’s most outstanding non-freshman. His next stop is the NBA.

Pritchard is a four-year starter who averaged 20.5 points and 5.5 assists per game as a senior, connecting on 41.5 percent of his attempts from three-point range. He became the first player in Pac-12 history to have 1,900 career points, 500 career rebounds and 600 career assists.

The guard caught up with HoopsHype to speak about winning four straight high school titles, his favorite memories playing at Oregon and his NBA future. He also talked about learning from his parents, who were both collegiate athletes at the University of Oklahoma.

Please note this interview was very minorly edited for brevity and clarity.

This is a special interview for me because I went to the University of Oregon! How important was it for you to be a part of that Oregon program being from the area?

Payton Pritchard: To be honest, at first, I was open to going anywhere. But ultimately, when it came down to the decision, in the end, I felt like Oregon was the best place for me to come in and play right away and grow as a person and also as a player, which happened. I knew I was going to win there. So those were the main factors going into coming to Oregon.

You won four state championships during your four years at West Linn High School. I would love to hear about your experience there and how you were able to become such a winner at that level.

West Linn's Payton Pritchard drives on Jesuit's Malcolm Porter as Jesuit plays West Linn for the 6A Basketball State Championship at the Chiles Center in Portland, Ore. on Saturday, March 14, 2015.
(AP Photo/The Oregonian, Thomas Boyd)

PP: Coming in, I was with an older group. There were definitely talented people in high school ahead of me. I had to earn my stripes and my starting spot my freshman year. But I think it was the same thing with high school and college. I came in and worked my tail off and everyone knew I was such a big competitor. I was going to do whatever it took to win. I was going to earn every minute of playing time. I think that after people saw that, they believed in me. Everybody followed that competitiveness and they played as hard as I did.

The season ended unexpectedly but what do you think the ceiling was for your team last year?

PP: I definitely thought we had a shot at making it really far and we had a real chance at the national championship. It’s tough. You have to win six games. I really thought we had the talent and the personnel to do it. We were getting everybody back healthy. We could have gone on a run. But the season got cut short. It is what it is. I still think the Ducks are at the center of the top-tier. We will always be in the race to win the Pac-12. We will be in the tournament every year, competing to win the national championship and making it to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and the Final Four. I just think Oregon will always be in that conversation now.

I’d love to hear a little bit about what winning means to you and how you think that will help you as an NBA player.

PP: I’ve heard Coach Altman use this line before. Everybody likes to win. I separate myself because I hate to lose. I can’t stand losing. So when it comes to the time at the end of the game and there is going to be a deciding play, I want to be the one to make it. I can take the blame. Of course, you have to know your role going into the NBA playing with all-stars and unbelievable players. That’s when you listen to your coach and you know your role. But for me, I’m always going to stay ready. If the ball does come to me, I will be ready to take that shot.

During your freshman year at Oregon, your team went to the Final Four. How did that experience shape who you became as a leader during your later years?

Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

PP: Those guys were talented. I played with Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey, Jordan Bell and Chris Boucher and they all ended up going to the pros. I learned what it took to make it to the Final Four, the work ethic that we needed, the practicing, just how hard everyone was competing. I definitely learned a lot. I got better that year because I was going against those guys.

What were some of your favorite experiences playing at Oregon?

PP: The wins. Some of the big wins, obviously, are great moments. We went to Final Four during my first year. My sophomore year, I loved all of the big wins at home. Junior year, when we went on that run at the end of the season when we looked like we weren’t going to make the tournament and we ended up making it to the Sweet 16. Then last year, we had huge wins against Seton Hall and Michigan and Arizona and Arizona State and Washington. We had some really big games so there a lot of great memories. But I also loved the daily stuff, coming into the gym being with my teammates, grinding our emotions.

What are some of the main things that you learned from coach Dana Altman?

PORTLAND, OR - DECEMBER 17: Head coach Dana Altman of the Oregon Ducks speaks with Payton Pritchard #3 during the second half of the game against the UNLV Rebels at Moda Center on December 17, 2016 in Portland, Oregon.The Ducks won the game 83-63.
(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

PP: He helped reinforce my willingness to come in and work hard every day. He stressed defense a lot. I kept working on my defense to become really good at that. Another thing that was really big for me was working on straight-line drives with my ball-handling skills. He wanted me to just make one cut and get into the lane and get fouled. I think I really got better at that.

Tell me about your instincts as a distributor. Where did that first come from?

PP: I think part of that just came from training and being able to get anywhere on the court with my ball handling. I practice passing with different angles in different ways. So when I’m on the court, I take everything from instinct. If a teammate is open, I’m going to throw it with my left, right, behind the back. I think that’s just from training and being confident.

What is your comfort level right now in the pick and roll? How do you think that’ll translate to the next level when you’re playing with NBA bigs more often?

PP: It will translate really well. I can get in those gaps, get into the lane and hit a pull-up floater or throwing a lob for a big to dunk. The pick and roll is such a big thing in the NBA. I think I will be able to use it really well.

How do you think you can help space the floor for an NBA team?

Payton Pritchard’s Shot Chart, 2019-20 (via Synergy)

PP: I can really space the floor. Obviously, you have to earn everything. I  know that coming in, my role will be to space the floor. I think I will be able to do that. I’m going to be ready to shoot. Just like my freshman year of college, I knew I wasn’t going to be the guy that had the ball in his hands all the time. But I had to take care of the ball and make plays when they were there. I had to be ready to do that. It took a lot of practice, coming off screens and being able to shoot. The elite shooters can do that. I’m still working on that every day and building from that. When it comes to shooting, I just really want there to be no weakness, no area where I won’t be able to shoot that shot. I want to have a lot of different shots in my arsenal.

Do you think you could be a combo guard like CJ McCollum at the next level?

PP: Getting moved around from point guard to play with other point guards, that’s not a big deal to me. I’ve done that in college too. I can play off the ball because I can shoot it. My mentality is a point guard mentality. But I know I can easily play the two-guard as well.

What about creating out of isolation? What are some ways that you think that you’ll be able to create your own offense as a professional athlete?

PP: I think it has a lot to do with the quickness, change of direction, ball-handling and being able to break down a defender. I’ve always been able to do that from a young age. Going to the NBA, I’m going to be able to do that, too.

How did you first fall in love with basketball? What are some of the things that really got you interested in the game?

PP: I was in love with three or four sports growing up, the three main ones being basketball and baseball and football. I liked to golf a little bit, too. I thought I was going to be the first athlete to play all three sports in the pros. [Laughs] When it came time to make a decision, I loved the competitiveness of basketball. I loved how fast-paced it was and how you can always work on it and just play ball. I fell in love with it way more than football and baseball because it was faster.

Well, I’m happy you chose basketball. What positions did you play in other sports?

PP: I played quarterback and shortstop. I tell people this all the time because in football you’re dealing with so many different types of people, different personalities. Wide receivers are different from linemen. Running backs are different from kickers. You have to learn how to talk to each teammate and how to motivate them and bring them together to be one team. I think playing quarterback taught me how to approach each teammate differently. When I played baseball, I was a little younger. But at shortstop, you have to be vocal with the infield. They look at you as a leader. In baseball, you have to be able to encourage guys and lift them up.

You also had a chance to play for your father on the AAU circuit. What are some of the things that you learned as a part of that experience?

PP: It was a good experience. Obviously, playing with my dad was fun. There were some tough times but I’m sure a lot of father-sons go through that. Our team was really talented. Those days will always be great memories. We won so many big games.

He was a college basketball athlete himself. What are some of the things that he did to help you become such a star in the NCAA?

PP: He and my mom were both athletes at the University of Oklahoma, actually. They helped me with the work ethic and how to be prepared for everything. I just learned from their mistakes and they showed me how not to make those same mistakes. I feel like I did the best I could during my four years at Oregon.

Have you had a chance to talk to 2020 WNBA No. 1 overall pick Sabrina Ionescu about your four years together, both excelling for the Ducks?

PP: We haven’t necessarily talked about the four years or how special it’s been, especially for her. But what she has been able to accomplish so far is unbelievable. We came in together so when it ended the way it did was rough. Thankfully, she won National Player of the Year. She deserved that. But it was just special. I’m just really happy for her and the university that they got to see something like that.

What are some of the advice that you would give incoming freshmen who are about to embark on a similar journey to the four years that you just had?

PP: If you want to make it as far as you can one day, and hopefully make it to the league, it has to be about your work ethic. You have to be consistent. College is a bumpy road. You go through a lot of emotional ups and downs. You have to come in and work every day and it will pay off. You’ll get the most out of it that way.

What are some of the other things you like to do when you’re not playing basketball?

PP: When I’m not playing, if I really have time, I’m kicking back with friends. When it’s really nice out, I like to go golfing with my dad. But sometimes it rains in Oregon so golfing is not always available,

What are some goals you have for yourself moving forward?

PP: Right now, my goal is to continue to work on myself and my craft and to be in the best shape. I want to play basketball to the best of my ability. When it is time to go play in the NBA, I’ll be ready.

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Behind-the-scenes look at how the NBA will handle its virtual draft

The NBA faced a challenge: How could they make the draft experience as special as possible without hosting the event in-person like usual?

The NBA faced a challenge: How could they make the draft experience as special as possible without hosting the event in-person like usual?

Carlton Myers, Associate Vice President of Event Management and Production Development for the NBA, leads a group in charge of answering that question. His team handles entertainment and technology for the tentpole events related to the league.

Those duties typically range from booking NBA’s annual All-Star Weekend all the way to the details of piping in crowd noise and displaying virtual fans during the games played in the NBA Bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Traditionally, on the night of the draft, his team would oversee elements including everything from the lighting in the arena to the graphics seen on the jumbotron at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, New York. This year, due to the ongoing pandemic, the NBA obviously had to take a new approach.

“A lot of other leagues have had virtual drafts this year,” Myers told HoopsHype. “We feel like what we’re doing is similar to those but different in that what we concentrated most on us was the experience for the players at home. We wanted to give them as similar an experience as to what they would have otherwise had.”

This required them to deploy several unique strategies to bring the draft experience directly to the prospects, wherever they are. For example, one of the most iconic moments of the NBA draft is when the draftee gets to put on the hat of the team that selects them.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Continuing that tradition but with a 2020 twist, prospects will receive an NBA draft gift locker that will include a full set of New Era x NBA 2020 Draft 9Fifty gray-colored hats.

The league has instructed players to tell them the name of the person who will be handing them the hat, whether it is one of their parents or one of their children.

“It was nice to get all 30 hats,” NBA prospect Grant Riller told HoopsHype. “But at the end of the night, I’m going to be happy to wear just one.”

(Image via NBA)

For the league to best encapsulate that special memory, 19 of the prospects will have satellite trucks outside of their homes as well as a camera placed inside of their living room.

Fifteen of those 19 satellite trucks were assigned to domestic prospects across the United States. Four others will be stationed internationally in Spain, France, Greece and Israel.

Meanwhile, 39 other prospects have received broadcast technology kits that include an iPhone with a tripod, a Microsoft Surface tablet, a ring light, another LED light and cables for connections. This allows prospects to view the broadcast through the makeshift, at-home studio so that they can watch live.

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

One of the victories is that the league had the ability to officially invite far more players than ever. Last year, only 23 prospects received “green room” invitations to sit in front of the podium as they wait to hear their names called.

This year, however, that number has more than doubled as a total of 58 players were asked to participate in the television broadcast in Bristol, Connecticut.

“The biggest challenge of being virtual became one of our best solutions, which was inviting this number of players,” said Myers. “It’s the most we’ve ever dealt with. We are able to achieve this by utilizing all of this great technology.”

Of course, in case of an unexpected tech support emergency, the NBA’s player marketing department has assigned a group of people tasked solely with ensuring that everything runs smoothly over the course of the night. Each prospect will be asked to do multiple rehearsals to ensure everything will be working properly.

When it is all said and done, the setup will capture their immediate reactions without a 30-second delay while also giving the ESPN studio hosts access to conduct interviews with the players, giving them the opportunity to share their stories.

“This is something that is really special to me,” added Riller. “Because in a normal year I might not have been in New York and I may not have been on television. But this year, my family and I will be able to experience that together and they can see my face on TV.”

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

For further exposure, there will be a huge LED screen behind the draft podium where NBA commissioner Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum will be making the picks. When each player is selected, team imagery, logos and colors will be displayed as usual. But the live reaction of the player will also be screened, which will provide them with the virtual representation of them side-by-side with the commissioner for their archives.

Some other elements for fans to know when watching the broadcast: more than 17 teams have granted live access and a behind-the-scenes look at the “war rooms” for their decision-makers. Several general managers and coaches have made themselves available for interviews after their picks.

Overall, the mission for the league was to provide players with everything they would have normally gotten in Brooklyn even though they are at home.

(Image via NBA)

That means the locker filled with hats will also include gifts like a Beats Pill+ Portable Speaker, Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Beats Flex Wireless Earphones, an Oculus 2 virtual reality headset and a personalized Spalding basketball that would have otherwise been sitting on the table at Barclay’s Center.

Myers said that moving forward the league will continue to invite prospects to the green room in Brooklyn. But they will be far more inclined to include additional players due to the tech advances that they will utilize this year.

“These players have been waiting so long for this moment,” said Myers. “It has been a long time coming and they want to experience this special night.”

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Tyler Bey: ‘I just want to put a smile on my mom’s face. I want to take away that struggle’

Colorado Buffaloes’ Tyler Bey caught up with HoopsHype to discuss his path to the NBA and what his future will look like once he gets there.

Colorado Buffaloes’ Tyler Bey caught up with HoopsHype to discuss his path to the NBA and what his future will look like once he gets there.

Bey is a defensive-minded prospect who averaged 13.8 points and 9.0 rebounds with 1.5 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. After winning Pac-12’s Most Improved Player in 2019, he won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.

He discussed how he needed to change his mindset to become more focused when he was in high school so that he could be eligible to play D-I NCAA Men’s Basketball, why he is inspired by his mother and plenty more.

Please note this interview was very minorly edited for brevity and clarity.

What have you been doing under these particularly strange circumstances to get ready and stay prepared for everything?

Tyler Bey: I’ve been working out every day, twice a day. I wake up in the morning, practice basketball and I lift. I come home, take a nap and just get right back to it. That’s pretty much it, though. I’ve also had a lot of meetings with NBA teams.

What are some things you want NBA teams to come away knowing about you so they can have a better understanding of who you are?

TB: I like to improve, so if an NBA team were to invest in me, they would invest in someone who is going to get better, whose work ethic is crazy good. I love to improve. I love to see myself develop and become a better player and a better person on and off the court.

What are some things that you think they should know about you?

TB: I’m a chill guy. When you first meet me, I’m quiet. I don’t really talk that much. But I like to joke around when I’m comfortable. I’m not really into going out and stuff like that. I love to hang out with friends and family. I’m a family guy for sure. My cousin Jamal Bey, who plays at Washington, I saw him play basketball. I went to his games when we were younger. He is the reason I got into basketball.

What was life like for you when you were growing up in Las Vegas?

TB: I was a troubled kid. If it wasn’t for basketball, I would be working at McDonald’s or in some trouble with some of my friends. I was always going out, not going to school, doing badly in school. That was hard. It got to the point where my mom had to have me go live with my aunt. She lived in a different part of Vegas and my uncle is a cop, so they’re pretty strict over there. That really turned my life around.

Was there a moment that got you back on track?

TB: There was a point where I almost thought I wasn’t going to go to college and play D-I basketball right away. I would have to go to junior college. From that point, my mindset was: ‘If I’m going to be here, I have to set my mind to it if this is something I really wanted to do. Because there’s no going back.’ I left my mom and my sister when I went to Los Angeles for high school. That was really hard for me, knowing she was struggling and that she needed me. From that point on, though, I was dialed into basketball, it’s something that really took over my life and all that I want to do for the rest of my life – or as long as I can.

What are some of the things that have inspired you to stick to it?

TB: I’ll never forget my past, where I came from, what I’ve seen and what I’ve been through. Growing up, it was just me, my mom and my sister. I watched my mom struggle from day one. So for me to not go out there and compete, it would not be good enough for her and my family. So what motivates me is all the struggles we have been through, all the struggles I’ve seen my mom go through. I want to see my mom happy.

What are some of the ways your mom has helped you get to where you are today?

TB: She’s always been there for me. When I was at prep school, it was terrible for me. I really didn’t enjoy the experience. There were times I wanted to go home and she would be there for me, telling me I gotta push through it. She was just being a mom, being my mentor, being there for me. She’s just a great woman, and I appreciate her more than she knows.

What are some of the things you want to do for her if and when you get an NBA contract?

TB: I just want to put a smile on her face. I want to take away that struggle, really. That’s something she’s been through her whole life. So, to take away that struggle and to see her not work again, or something like that, would be great. That would be perfect.

How did you end up going to play college basketball for Colorado?

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

TB: Originally, I had privately committed to San Diego State. I think it was the next week where I went on my visit to Colorado and I think my next visit after Colorado was Arizona State. But on my visit to Colorado, I just felt comfortable. They had the only coach that ever told me I could be a pro and that’s what I needed: someone to believe in me.

What were some of the ways that you feel Colorado has best prepared you for the NBA so far?

TB: For me, it was just seeing what my role is and what I have to do to be a great basketball player. They always made sure I was locked in on defense. They were always hard on me, always screaming at me, always on my head about stuff. But no coach ever gave up on me, no matter what, no matter how many times he saw me fail. He always picked me up and made sure that I was always feeling better.

You won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year last season. What kind of role do you think you can play defensively in the NBA?

TB: I think I can guard two through four. For me, it’s just keeping my head on a swivel, making sure my teammates are in the right place, making sure I’m in the right place. I’m a great team defender, I just really care about getting stops. If my teammate messes up, I want to be there for him. I also want to get better at guarding the perimeter, being able to guard point guards.

When it comes to guarding the perimeter, what are some things you think you can do to get better at that?

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

TB: During the season, I always learned what I needed to do to get better. So if we were playing Arizona and I was guarding Nico Mannion and he shot over me, next time, I will keep my hand up every time so I can contest the shot even earlier. I always knew the scouting reports, like if my opponent was right-handed or left-handed. If he’s a shooter, get him off the line. If he’s a driver, hang off him a little bit but make sure you can contest the shot high. I like knowing the personnel.

How have been able to become so effective at forcing turnovers and blocking shots, averaging over a steal and per game?

TB: It was just confidence. I am really confident in my defense. I was really confident in what I could do. I like to help my teammates out. So if I get beat, I’m there for them. I’m there to block the shot. If they make a lazy pass, I’m in a stance all the time and keep my head on a swivel, so I’m there on a pass as much as I can be. Everything’s in slow motion for me

You’ve become such an effective rebounder. How did you develop your rebounding instincts?

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

TB: My sophomore year, my rebounding went through the roof. It went from 11 rebounds in a game to 15 rebounds in a game to finally pulling down 17 rebounds in our game against Arizona State. It just kept going up and I got confident in rebounding. If we got a defensive stop, I wanted to make sure we get the rebound. In order to get the defensive stop, you have to finish with the rebound. So that was my main thing: making sure I was boxing out and going for the rebound, having a nose for it.

You’re not always one of the taller guys on the court a 6-foot-7. How are you able to work around that to pull down as many boards as you have?

TB: It’s just about being quick. If I’m playing defense on a bigger man, I’m using my feet and my brain because I know I’m faster than him. I’m making sure that he can’t post me up. I’m going to try my best to not let him catch the ball. In high school, I played center. So it was something I was used to.

Offensively, you were very effective shooting off the catch. Your jump shot has been really effective. How have you gotten your jumper to be where it is now?

(via Synergy Sports)

TB: Like I said, I like to improve. So you saw it when I was at Colorado. But now I’m feeling way more confident than I ever have been in my shot. I feel great. I tweaked it a little bit and it looks a lot better. It’s going in more. I’m confident seeing it go in. It’s just about getting reps.

How would you describe your ideal offensive role? How would a team get the best out of you on offense?

TB: I am a spot-up shooter and basket cutter. I can take someone off one dribble to the basket. When my teammate shoots, I have make sure I’m putting pressure on the defense, going to the glass. I’m ready in the corner and running the floor. I remain aggressive towards the basket.

What do you like to do when you’re not playing basketball?

TB: I like to spend time with my friends and family. I’m a friendly guy. I’m a momma’s boy for sure, so I love to see my mom as much as I can. I love to play video games. That’s pretty much it though, I don’t really do much. I play NBA 2K a lot. I play in the neighborhood and I have an elite shooter, all he does is shoot. His rating is 98. I wear a Bulls jersey with short shorts and some J’s and a headband. I have a lot of tattoos in the game, covering me all the way up. I play Call of Duty the most, though. This new Warzone is crazy.

How excited are you to potentially play as yourself in the game?

TB: I’m really excited. My friends and I talk about it all the time. That’s something I’ve always looked forward to. That would be an amazing feeling.

What are some goals you have for yourself as a basketball player, both on and off the court?

TB: Just to see myself get better, and love the game and not fall in love with the money. I want to always remain humble. I want to keep working hard. I don’t want to see myself let go of everything just because I made it to the NBA or something. If I got a big contract, I don’t want to see myself fall in that category. I just want to remain humble and keep doing me.

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NBA prospect Devon Dotson: ‘I’m a guy where you don’t have to coach effort’

Kansas Jayhawks guard Devon Dotson was an ace floor general and defensive anchor for one of the best teams in college basketball last year.

Kansas Jayhawks guard Devon Dotson was an ace floor general and defensive anchor for one of the best teams in college basketball last year.

Dotson, who recorded the fastest three-quarter length court sprint at the 2020 NBA draft, is perhaps the quickest end-to-end prospect in this class. He was able to catch up with HoopsHype about what he can provide to a professional team, what he learned while playing at Kansas and some insights on a recent workout with Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell.

Please note that this transcription was very minorly edited for clarity.

This has probably been the longest offseason of your life. How have you most improved your game in the last few months? 

Devon Dotson: I think it’s my body. That has been a huge focus of mine. I’m eating well, not eating any fried food. I’m getting my daily vegetables in and eating right. That is going to help out a lot with the 82-game season at the next level. It’s all about finding that edge. I’m also just getting stronger.

Your speed is obviously such an important part of your game. How do you think it most impacts the way that you play on the court?

DD: I can do many different things. I can change the pace of the game if I get the rebound and push the ball, I can be a one-man fast break to the rim. Then in a half-court set, I can break down my man and create an open shot for my teammate and great opportunities come from that. I can use my quickness on the defensive end, which helps my teammates because I can provide extra rotations and extra closeouts.

What is your athletic background? Did you play other sports or just basketball?

DD: I played a lot of sports growing up, which helps out a lot. I played soccer, baseball, football. I tried to do it all. I wasn’t one-dimensional growing up. I was also always just racing around my neighborhood. I wanted to be the fastest kid in the neighborhood so we would have a group and we would just all race. I think that’s kind of where it came from. I never ran track, which is kind of surprising.

Kansas had the second-best defensive rating in the country last year, per KenPom. What was your role in the defensive mentality of that squad?

DD: I led the Big 12 in steals, which really sticks out. I think I did a good job in anticipation and reading passing lanes with my quickness. We bought into everything that coach Bill Self wanted us to do. We really took it seriously. My job was to pressure that guard up top and make the offense feel disrupted when they wanted to get in their groove. I made sure to always knew the coverages, always knew the rotations. Defense is a team thing and that was our strength. But it’s like a snake. If the head guy messes up, that can mess everything else up. I tried to stay on my coverages. I think I did a great job at that last season.

Your team was one of the favorites to win the national championship. How have you been able to reconcile with the fact the season ended suddenly and early? 

DD: The team we had was special. The pieces fit right. We had all the right pieces to make a deep run and win it all. But it’s bigger than basketball. It was hard at first. I had to come to my senses and realize it was over. I learned from that and I grew from that. It was just a learning experience: things can be taken away from you in a split second. 

What were some of the things you learned from Bill Self that will most prepare you for the NBA?

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

DD: I think it is the mental toughness and the competitiveness that he taught me. He is a coach that doesn’t shortchange anything. He is going to try to get the best out of you every single day in practice. For me to play like a program like that made me feel like I was in a machine because you have to bring it every single day and you have to be mentally tough. If you don’t, you won’t play. I feel like you see that in guards like Devonte’ Graham that come from Kansas. He is ready to play. Coach is also big on the point guards running the team, taking that ownership and that leadership and having it be your team. I think that’s one of the biggest things I learned is how to run a team.

I love that you started every single game that you played. What are some of the memories you will look back on for your experience at KU?   

DD: It started off with the Champions Classic. My first college game was in Indiana. We played against Michigan State and we won that game. That was a super memorable, exciting, fun time. My sophomore year, Maui, that trip was unbelievable. We had back-to-back-to-back games and it was so beautiful. I had never been to Hawaii and that was super fun. Also, winning the Big 12 Conference championship was amazing. I got to see Udoka Azubuike and Isaiah Moss do their thing on senior night. Those are some memories that I cherish.  

You were very productive and effective in the pick-and-roll and you played with some NBA-caliber big men like Azubuike. How will that help your transition to the pros? 

DD: I think it will turn out well. I showed this year that I can throw that over-the-top lob. That is not necessarily an easy pass to make but getting to work with Udoka made that better. Also, my freshman year, I played with a pick-and-pop big in Dedric Lawson. I got to learn how to make a variety of different reads and passes during my time at Kansas.    

Your efficiency was above average when shooting both off the catch and the dribble. How important was it for you to be able to create your own shot as well?

Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

DD: That makes it tough for my defender. That keeps the defense honest. If you’re making moves and dribble hard, you can rise up and knock the shot down. If the ease up and give you too much space, you can rise up and shoot it as well. That opens things up because if the defense has to pressure me a little bit, because of my speed, I can go right around them. It makes it a lot easier for my teammates.

What were some of the biggest ways that you improved from your freshman year to your sophomore year? 

DD: I think that going through the NBA pre-draft process after my freshman year was very beneficial. I just approached everything differently last offseason. I was very serious. I was in the gym three or four times a day. I was watching a lot of film about how to run a team and how to pick my spots better. I also wanted to make leadership more of a point. I saw that happen because I had that mindset. I just wanted it. I approached everything in a very cerebral way.

I know you tested the waters last season but what has the pre-draft process been like for you in 2020?

 DD: It has been different, comparing it year-over-year. But at the same time, I’m just controlling what I can control. It’s a pandemic. I’m attacking each day, showing up and ready to work. I’ve been in Las Vegas working out. I’ve been taking the time to grow and I’m ready for that next challenge.  

When you have spoken with NBA teams, what is the main thing you want them to know about you as a person and as a player?

DD: I’m a guy where you don’t have to coach effort. I’m a great locker room guy. I’m a player that loves to work. I want to get better. I’m hungry to learn more. Every time I step on the court, I’m going to give it one hundred percent. I’m just a competitive dude that wants it a lot.

Looking forward, when you were watching the 2020 NBA playoffs, how could you envision how you would have fit into one of the rotations?

 DD: I think I would have fit in naturally because of my playmaking ability. The game is getting smaller. You saw big men were not always in the game. They played a lot of small ball, which opens things up and would give me more room to operate and pick a lane when the defenses collapse against shooters. That is where the lane is going: shooting. I would also do whatever is necessary on the defensive end. I am a guy who can pick up 94 feet and make it hard on that guard. I can be versatile, do whatever is asked of me.

Are there any players that you can think of who you may have a similar role to in the NBA?

 DD: I try to take bits and pieces from guards in the league and apply it to my game. You can say Eric Bledsoe. He has the ability to play defense and he is fast and he is athletic and he is strong. I really love the way Tony Parker finished around the lane because he is so crafty.

What are some of the goals that you have for yourself as you become a pro?

DD: Honestly, I want to make an impact and help a team win as soon as possible. I think winning is my main priority when I’m out there on the court. Whatever team I go to, I want their winning to go up.

What are some of the things that you like to do when you’re not playing basketball?

DD: I like to play games or watch shows with my family and friends. I just picked up golfing recently. That’s going well. I was up the whole game yesterday and somehow, at the last hole, Donovan Mitchell went up four strokes on me. I don’t know how that happened. But I feel like I’m pretty good.

I know you also recently worked out with Donovan Mitchell. Can you share some of the advice he has given you about taking the leap to the pros?

DD: I tried to ask a lot of questions. His biggest thing was confidence and making the most of your opportunity. He was a guy that was lucky enough to have that opportunity right away and step in. He was saying that you might not play your first year or you might be the man. But you have to stay level-headed and make the most out of the opportunities even though everyone does not have the same path. You have to come in and work.

What are some of your biggest motivations for having success?  

DD: I come from a two-parent household and they tried to do everything they could to make life better for me and my siblings. I’m just trying to do what I can to help them out. They showed how hard they were working so I’m going to do the same, work every day.

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Meet Kira Lewis, the guard who led the fastest offense in the NCAA

Alabama Crimson Tide sophomore point guard and NBA prospect Kira Lewis caught up with HoopsHype to discuss what his role can be as a pro.

Alabama Crimson Tide sophomore point guard and NBA prospect Kira Lewis caught up with HoopsHype to discuss what his role can be as a pro.

The 19-year-old, who was recognized as 1st Team All-SEC last season, will be one of the fastest young players in the NBA once he is drafted into the league. Lewis told us about why he chose basketball over football, his time playing with Team USA and plenty more.

Please note this interview was minorly edited in its transcript for brevity and clarity.

Obviously, it’s been the longest offseason in basketball history. I’m curious about what you’ve been doing to stay busy? 

Kira Lewis: To stay busy, I’ve just been pretty much staying in the gym. I’m working on weights. Then, of course, I hang with my family. I’m really just taking it day-by-day. I watch sports. It’s petty much just the same old, same old.

You’ve had a lot of time to improve your game. What are some of the things you’ve gotten better at so far this offseason?

KL: I’d have to say ball handling, finishing, reading different things out of pick and roll. I’m using different kinds of moves going into the lane, trying to hold my defender off. I am trying to tune up a little bit of everything in my game.

One thing that comes to mind when it comes to your game that really makes me excited about you as a prospect is how fast you play. I’d love to hear a little bit about your background with playing fast and how you think that’s going to help you prepare for the next level?

KL: It helps me a lot, just being able to play fast. I like to use different pace and different speed – sometimes going from fast to slow then from slow to fast. Just having that burst, it helps a lot. It really got carried down from my family. My mom ran track, and my dad was fast just from his body type and his family members. It’s really just always been in me.

Tell me a little bit about the way Alabama’s offense helped you in that sense? 

KL: The pace we played at was to play as fast as we can. The spacing that we had allowed me to use my speed to the fullest and get in the lane and create for myself and my teammates. I was able to show different ways to come off pick-and-rolls to use my speed and go at a steady pace and use my burst. With all the spacing, it really helped a lot. We had some shooters that the defense really couldn’t help off of so I was able to get in the lane a little bit easier.

Are there any point guards in the NBA you like to watch to mold your game after? De’Aaron Fox obviously comes to mind because of the pace he plays at as well.

KL: I would say De’Aaron Fox, too, but I pretty much watch every guard and take a little bit from each of them. Dennis Schroder is another. I pretty much watch a bit of every guard to see what I can take from their game and add to mine.

You were one of the youngest players coming into college, which means you’re now still younger than some of the freshmen in this class even though you’ve had two years of experience. Can you walk me through the advantages that you had considering your age?

KL: I had that experience of playing against older guys my first year and then coming back next year and being better. I know that will be a big thing going into the NBA – being ready from day one. So being one of the younger guys next year will just show me following up by getting better. It will allow me to get stronger when I’m coming to the next stage of my career. It also gives me time and experience with the game of basketball and learning new things each season.

What have been some of your proudest accomplishments so far from a basketball perspective? 

KL: Team USA, for sure. That’s not something a lot of people get to do in their lives. Also, I’d have to say, I’m proud to get to this next level. Not everybody gets a chance to do that. Honestly, getting to this next level will be one of my proudest accomplishments, too.

I can hear in your voice that you’re definitely really excited about this transition to become an NBA player. I imagine it’s just been on your radar for a long time. And now that it’s finally coming here, I’d love to hear it here in your own words.

KL: It’s surreal. Sometimes I think about it and it feels like just a little bit ago that I was still in high school. Time went by fast and now I’m going to a different level, playing against people that I’ve watched my whole life. I don’t know how to describe it. I guess I would have to say it’s surreal that in just a couple of months, I will be playing against people I’ve always watched and idolized in the game of basketball.

What are some things that you think that you’d be able to do for a playoff team next season? When you watch the playoffs, how do you think you would fit in?

KL: I am able to play on the ball and play off the ball. Off the ball, I use my shooting to have spacing on the court. Guys really won’t be able to help off me. But I’m able to move well without the ball. When I’m on the ball, I use my speed to get to the rim and create a lot of opportunities for the offense. Then on the defensive end, I use my speed and my anticipation skills to cut people off. I really just want to come in competing, wanting to win.

I was surprised to learn you shot better when there was a guy defending you than when you were left open. Why do you think that might be?

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

KL: When I was younger, I always had the ball in my hands because I was one of the better players. I’ve always had to work on shots where I had a defender in my face. I had to shoot the ball and be more locked in than when I was off the ball, catching open shots. That comes from when I was just a younger age, working on it all the time. But as time goes on, I know I’ll just get more comfortable with it every year.

Considering that you are originally from Alabama, how did you choose basketball over football?

KL: I did play football, too. When I played I was a wide receiver. When I decided I wanted to hang it up, they asked me if I was sure and I was pretty sure about it. I chose basketball because I was naturally good at it. I had a family member that made it in football. I wanted to be the first one to make it in basketball. So that was the main thing that drove me to basketball.

What are some of the things you like to do when you’re not playing basketball?

KL: I like to watch other sports. Sometimes I play a game every now and then. I really like to hang out with family and friends. But I really just sit back and have a good time. I listen to music. Some of my favorite musicians are Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

When you’re talking to these NBA teams, what are some things that you tell them about yourself either as a basketball player or as a person?

KL: Off the court, I just tell them how I am as a person. I’m a really laid back guy. On the court, I have to say, I’m just a competitor. I want to win and be the best man I can be for whatever organization chooses me. Like I said, I just really want to be an overall good person on the court and off the court.

During these NBA interviews that you’re having, what are some of the questions that you’ve had asked that you felt have been like the most interesting or the most surprising?

KL: They asked me if I was at a stoplight, and the light had just turned yellow, would I go past the light or would I stop? I was thinking in my head, what does that have to do with basketball or life in general? That was probably the question I didn’t think they would ask me about. But I said if the light just turned yellow, I probably would have passed through it. If I’m a ways back, I probably would stop at the red light.

What have been some of the biggest surprises about the pre-draft process so far for you?

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

KL: Even though it’s virtual, you can still communicate with the team and how they’re doing the draft process, watching game film with them. I’ve gotten to know some of the people on the teams. There are some people who actually played in the league who are in the front offices now. You build a relationship with them. I would have to say that was probably the unique thing about this. The coolest thing is getting to really just sit back and learn from them. They might show you a thing or two that might help you with your game.

How would your friends and family describe you if I asked them about you?

KL: I’m a really laid back guy. I really don’t do much. I’m a cool and goofy person once you get to know me. I like to laugh and smile and have a good time. I’m really laid back and like to laugh and giggle a lot when I’m not on the court. When I’m on the court, there would say I’m competitive.

Are there any goals for yourself off the court or on the court that you have for yourself?

KL: Off the court, I want to just respect everybody and treat everybody how you want to be treated and be the best person you can be. On the court, I just want to be the best person I can be. I don’t want to be looking to be as good as somebody else. I want to be the best person I can be.

[lawrence-related id=1404471]

Derek Fisher: ‘The Lakers are the best in basketball and that’ll never change’

Five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher sat down with HoopsHype to discuss Lakers, coaching, and Veterans Day.

Five-time NBA champion Derek Fisher , who now works for the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA, sat down with HoopsHype to discuss the Lakers, his coaching experience and Veterans Day.

Your father John served in the military and he’s a US Air Force veteran. What does Veterans Day mean to you?

Derek Fisher: It’s hard to put into words. As a father myself, now I’m beginning to teach my kids the importance of it. It was just an amazing opportunity to connect with USAA, and encourage just everybody, not just myself and our family or your family or whatever, but everybody to just step up and show support. We have nearly 18 million living US military veterans and we’re participating in partner with USAA in the third #HonorThroughAction challenge. My dad was just an example of sacrifice and doing things for the greater good. And that was one of the first examples I saw of somebody playing their role as a member of a team. He was always willing to do things for the greater good. And even if he didn’t get attention or shine for it, he served. And that was an important lesson for me.

Can you explain what the challenge is to our readers so they can participate in social media?

DF: So to participate in the challenge, to have to draw the letter ‘V’, ‘V’ for veterans, in the palm of your hand. You can put the initials of the veteran in your life or more if you have more. I have other family members that are also veterans but I’m focusing on my dad John this year. So you draw the letter ‘V’ with the initials of the veteran in your life to celebrate it on the palm of your hand, snap the photo, and then you share it through social media. Real simple, using the hashtag #HonorThroughAction with a challenge to other people, right to show their support and appreciation on this Veterans Day. So real simple, real cool. We got some cool stuff lined up for social media and really excited about it and being a part of USAA.

Derel Fisher, Los Angeles Sparks

Now you’re into your third WNBA season with the Los Angeles Sparks, but would you like to return to the NBA as a head coach one day?

DF: I think the first big thing for me to acknowledge is, in particular with Veterans Day, how much of a blessing and an opportunity it is to just be able to coach and teach and to try and partner with others to build success. My responsibility today and going forward is to the Sparks, and really trying to help us continue to push women’s basketball and the WNBA forward in a major way to continue to give young girls and young women an example of what it can look like when you continue to pursue your dreams despite people not necessarily always supporting you in the best way. So I’m excited going into my third season and what those opportunities are. Whatever it is for me personally down the line professionally, we’ll see. The more success we can build within the Sparks organization and what we’re doing, if there are opportunities for me to continue to improve as a coach, I’ll worry about that at that time. But right now, it’s about these ladies and these women. Out of that 18 million living US military veterans, there’s a lot of women in that number.

Kobe Bryant was supporting women’s basketball so strongly before his death… Maybe you’ll carry on with that legacy.

DF: Yeah, for sure. Kobe and his daughter Gianna were able to help women’s basketball grow and increase its platform exponentially in a very short time. Just in the last year, the way people gravitated to Kobe’s support for women’s basketball at the collegiate level, women’s basketball professionally in the WNBA… And just, you know, wanting to create a better and more equitable world for his daughters to live in. That’s what we’re all trying to do as parents and as people and is definitely an example to follow and to learn from, and again, all of these messages are right in line with Veterans Day, and why USAA is a leader in that category.

You highly contributed to five of the Lakers’ 17 titles. Now that the team has caught up with the Celtics, do you believe the Lakers are the best NBA franchise ever?

DF: Well, I’ve believed that for a long time. I grew up as a Lakers fan and watching Magic [Johnson] and ‘Big Game’ James Worthy and Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar] and Byron Scott and AC Green and Michael Cooper… I could never have imagined being one of those guys 20 years later. So I’ve always thought that the Lakers were by far the best basketball franchise, and arguably one of the greatest franchises in all of sports. The number of titles is obviously an easy thing to look to. But that’s what the rest of the world will try to tell you, right? It’s like, based on these external results, it’s whether or not you size up to the competition. And one thing we know about being great is that it’s not about what other people think, or what numbers you have compared to somebody else, but what you actually are. So the 17 titles I think is a great accomplishment. I think there are more to come. But I’ve always believed that the Lakers are the best in basketball and that’ll never change.

Years ago TMZ published that your five rings were stolen. Is that true? Were you able to recover them?

DF: Rather than telling you if I have or haven’t recovered them, I think the main thing for me through different experiences has been this: nobody can steal you. Folks might try to take objects or material things but I was there in those moments as they were being created. The memories are there forever and obviously losing Kobe is very impactful this year in 2020 and makes those moments even more important to cherish.

Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant

Who’s in your Lakers’ Mount Rushmore?

DF: Oh my gosh. I mean… That’s tough! Obviously, Kobe goes up there, Magic goes up there, Kareem goes up there… The difficulty for me is like I want to put Shaq [O’Neal] up there but you can’t leave out Jerry West, you can’t leave out Elgin Baylor… The Lakers need two Mount Rushmore, we need at least eight places, not just four [laughs].

What is your favorite individual moment as an NBA player: The 0.4 shot at San Antonio in 2004? The winning layup at Boston in the 2010 Finals?

DF: That’s a great question, man. Those opportunities you mentioned to help your team win championships is one of the greatest feelings in the world, but I honestly think none of it is possible without the night that you get drafted, right? So I pick the night that I got drafted in 1996, arguably one of the best and deepest drafts in the history of the game. I couldn’t have imagined being in those positions later in 2004, 2010, some of the great moments in the Finals in 2001 versus the Sixers… So I just think it all started with just having the opportunity. So many people in life just want the opportunity to create these moments… So I think it all kind of just goes back to draft night in June 1996.

Can the Lakers repeat next year?

DF: Having a season that was disruptive in terms of COVID-19 and kind of in the single-site bubble scenario, that does have some impact on the way teams were able to perform. I do think the Lakers were still the best team overall. But you know, now that they’ve kind of agreed on what looks like a 72-game schedule, you’re going to start to introduce travel again, injuries are going to have a different impact when you start to stretch out the season more along the regular line, so we’ll see. I think that if the Lakers can stay healthy, as long as they have LeBron [James] and Anthony Davis, that’s not a bad place to start in terms of having the best chance to win the championship again.

Aaron Nesmith: ‘I am 100 percent, I’m back and I couldn’t be happier’

Vanderbilt’s Aaron Nesmith was 52.2 percent from 3-point range last season. He is one of the best shooting prospects in the 2020 NBA draft.

Vanderbilt Commodores sophomore wing Aaron Nesmith is widely considered to be one of the best shooting prospects in the 2020 NBA draft class.

HoopsHype spoke to Nesmith about how he is preparing for his future in the NBA. We touched on his injury recovery, how his remarkable sharpshooting will translate the pros, his mentorship from NBA All-Star Khris Middleton, his interest in eventually owning a Starbucks franchise location and plenty more.

Please note that this transcription was very minorly edited for clarity.

What have you been doing over the last few months to keep your mind and body right?

Aaron Nesmith: I’m just kind of taking it day by day, doing what I need to do, doing what I’m supposed to do, in order to continue to get better and continue to prepare for the jump I’m about to make by going to the next level. I’m working out every single day, taking care of my body every single day, stretching, doing my correctives, lifting weights. I’m just making sure I keep myself accountable and keep that responsibility and working hard every single day. It’s been fun.

Obviously, you missed a lot of games during your sophomore year due to injury. Where are you feeling right now in terms of health?

AN: I am 100 percent. I’m back and I couldn’t be happier. No more scans, no more doctors. I’m back, full-go. It’s been a lot of fun. I just can’t wait to play in a game again because it’s already been so long since January. My level of competitiveness is at an all-time high. I can’t wait to go out there and play guys and fight for that win.

What are some things you learned about yourself during the process after your injury?

AN: I was able to look back at the game, look back at myself as an individual, and really watch the film of myself and really hone in on what I needed to work on, what I needed to spend this time that I had in order to improve my game from a mindset standpoint and an actual basketball standpoint.

You truly were having one of the best shooting seasons we’ve seen in a very long time before your injury. Can you walk me through what was going on in terms of how you became such an elite shooter this year?

Aaron Nesmith, Shot Chart (via Synergy Sports Tech)

AN: The game slowed down for me from my freshman year to sophomore year. I was really paying attention to the details and watching a whole bunch of film. I was just able to reflect on the season that I had my freshman year, shooting 33% from beyond the arc, and then did what I needed to do to make those changes, to make the correct changes, going into my sophomore year.

Can you tell me more about the evolution of your jump shot?

AN: Shooting, in general, has always been my strong suit – whether it’s been creating my own shot or catching it. But, as the game goes on, you have to learn to fill in your role a little bit more and become more of a specialist. During college, being able to catch and shoot was one of the things I wanted to be able to hone in on and try to do the best of my ability. I accomplished that in my sophomore year by paying attention to detail, continuing to work on my footwork and my mechanics every single day, twice a day.

Shooting off screens and handoffs, especially in the NBA, is a very versatile skill. You see that with guys like Joe Harris and JJ Redick. How’ve you been able to develop your movement off the ball?

AN: You named two great players who are really good at what they do. I’m always watching guys like them and Ray Allen. I’m continually studying film on them and their off-ball footwork, how they come off the off-ball screens and how they create space before running off the screen, how they trick the defender to run into the screen and just all the little nuance within the game that I picked up from watching guys like that over and over and over. I’m studying what they’re good at because they’re so good at it. Then I can take something and put it into my game. I think that contributed to the big jump from my freshman to sophomore year, absolutely honing in on guys like that who do this for a living, do it every single day, and are really good at it.

Is there anybody that you may have modeled your jump shot after or feel that it might look similar towards whether it was intentional or not?

AN: All those players that I mentioned are all really good at what they do and it’s pretty much kind of all the same thing. I try to take anything I can from an NBA-level player that can be transformed into my game. I don’t just look at catch-and-shoot guys. I also look at guys who like to come off the dribble, like Dwyane Wade and Khris Middleton. Those are guys who are able to create for themselves, too. I’m just trying to take any little thing from other people’s games and try and put it into my game to be the best player I can be.

You went to the same high school as Khris Middleton. That’s another great shooter who has a similar type of role in the NBA that you could have. Have you had a chance to talk with him or meet up with him at any point?

AN: He’s been a big-time mentor for me. Back when I was in high school, whenever he’d come back in the summers, I’d have the opportunity to work out with him. He’d give me tips and tricks, anything he had to help me with my game. Now he’s always just a phone call away.

Speaking of mentors, what were some of the big things you picked up while playing under Vanderbilt head coach and former NBA All-Star Jerry Stackhouse?

AN: I would say probably the biggest thing I picked up from him was his mindset: the way he approached the game of basketball on and off the floor, the professionalism that he practiced that he kind of instilled into me from the first day that I met him. It was a dream come true to have him coach me. I learned so much just from being around him and just watching his approach, even as a coach. That was so influential in my development.

What has he told you about what he’s seen with your development?

AN: I would say leadership for sure. He has seen that development from the first moment we started practicing, just seeing how much I improved in the aspect of my game as the season went along. He saw my willingness to play defense and how much I’m willing to learn and be like a sponge and get better on that end of the floor. He saw me dedicated to trying to do that to the best of my ability while also doing what I need to do on the offensive end.

Moving forward, we have seen how shooting has evolved in the NBA. How much do you think it will help to come into the league now, with value on shooting at a premium?

AN: Shooting is at an all-time high right now. Twenty years ago, that wasn’t necessarily the case. But guys like Stephen Curry completely changed the game in a way that the NBA is heading toward a lot more teams being fast-paced and a lot more teams are putting up a lot more threes. That definitely benefits me because that’s what I do and that’s my best attribute: spreading the floor and creating room for others. It is definitely a big help to me.

On the topic of pace, you were a fairly good ballhandler in transition You were very efficient finishing on both the left and the right wings. How will playing fast help adjust to the NBA level?

AN: I always get it and go. Back in high school, that’s something we used to do all the time. Being the wing, off the rebound, you try to sprint as fast as you can down the sidelines to get the ball and make a play. If it’s not there, pull it back out and run with the offense. I always have that mindset of just attacking and doing everything I can for every single possession.

Coaches often talk about being a star in your role. What would you call your role in college? What do you see your role being in the NBA?

AN: In college, it was really being the leader for the guys on my team, holding everybody accountable while holding myself accountable. I was leading by example and making sure every single time I came in, I worked as hard as I could and tried to instill that to the rest of my team. Going into the NBA, my role could be a plethora of things. Whatever the coach needs me to do, it’s going to translate into winning games. I’ll do that without hesitation. I have no idea what my role will be or could be but I know I’m going to do it to the best of my ability to help win games.

What’s your best skill you’ll be able to provide NBA teams beyond your shooting?

AN: It is definitely on the defensive end. I’m strong. My size, my length, my athleticism. I can guard the four on most teams, and maybe even one through five on teams that like to play small ball. I’m willing to play defense and not let somebody get the best of me. I dive for loose balls and I’m a pest and a guy who’ll do the dirty work, which will be a good attribute for whatever team I play for.

What did you differently as a sophomore to double your steals per game from your freshman year?

AN: I was just playing in the flow of the defense and the scheme that Coach Stackhouse had in place. We had a hard scheme that we drilled every single day and every single game. We watched a whole lot of film on it. I knew how my teammates were going to defend and where they were going force the player to be so I knew where I could pick my spots and pick the passes off.

How would you rank your competitiveness compared to people you know and people you play against?

AN: I think that’s also a thing that separates good players from great players. It doesn’t just stop at basketball, it’s really in every aspect of life. You look at a guy like Kobe Bryant and a guy like Michael Jordan. They are both so competitive with everything they do. Those are the two guys whose mindset I like to study and who I like to watch. I watched a lot of Kobe Bryant’s Detail. I think competitiveness is a huge attribute for a player.

What are some of the things you’ve picked up from teams that they like about your game? Anything in particular that you’ve been proud to hear when they talk to you about what they’ve seen from your film?

AN: It’s no secret, my ability to shoot the ball, my ability to create space for the creators of the offense. That makes life easier for them.

What are some of the other things that you like to when you’re not playing basketball?

AN: I like to fish and I like to play pool. I’ve played since I was a freshman in high school. I’m pretty good. I’m not a master by any means. I’d say I’m pretty good. I love cards, I’m a big card game guy. I like dominoes, poker.

I’ve been told that you want to own a Starbucks one day. Why Starbucks? Why is franchising in general interesting to you?

AN: I don’t really drink Starbucks at all. But coming from a business standpoint, I’ve never seen a Starbucks do badly. Anywhere I’ve been, if I see a Starbucks, it’s always popping. It doesn’t seem like it would be a bad business investment to maybe one day own a Starbucks.

I’ve also learned that Bill Gates is an icon of yours. What is it about Bill Gates that stands out for you?

AN: He’s been so successful in life from a business standpoint. He’s one of the most successful business people ever. I would love to pick his brain and see how he got there, what he did to get there. I want to learn more and learn the details because paying attention to the details is something that people take for granted.

We talked about the potential business opportunities and some of the things on the court. But is there anything in particular that stands out that you’re hoping to accomplish over the next however many years in the NBA?

AN: Winning a championship, obviously, is the number one goal. I played on a pretty good high school team, so we won three state championships. Then I went to Vandy and didn’t have successful team records throughout my two years. But just trying to fight for that championship and get that feeling of being No. 1 again is something I want again. I want to reach that goal.

Is there anything else that you think is important for teams and fans to know to show you’re the real deal and ready to take it to the next level?

AN: I want to be a really good defender and a good teammate going forward. I want to try and do whatever I can to help my team win. That’s my main focus: winning. Whatever team I play for just hopefully bringing that trophy back to the city, back to the town and hoisting it up on the party bus after the game.

[listicle id=1405976]

HoopsHype exclusive interviews: Get to know the 2020 NBA draft class

HoopsHype aims to provide you the best coverage of the NBA draft. We went beyond the scouting reports, mock drafts and player rankings to give you an inside look at the human side of these players.

HoopsHype aims to provide you the best coverage of the NBA draft. We went beyond the scouting reports, mock drafts and player rankings to give you an inside look at the human side of these players.

Many fans did not get a chance to learn about the top college basketball players and a class of future NBA prospects after the annual March Madness tournament was canceled due o the ongoing pandemic.

So we produced a series of exclusive, 1-on-1 conversations with dozens of the players projected to hear their names called on November 19. We have stories with prospects ranging from likely lottery picks to potential undrafted free agent sleepers.

With the big night on the horizon, familiarize yourself with in-depth looks at several players in the 2020 NBA draft class:

ONYEKA OKONGWU, USC

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Big, 19 years old, 16.2 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.2 spg, 2.7 bpg, 61.6 FG%

Okongwu was high school teammates with Lonzo Ball and LaMelo Ball, winning a “national championship” for Chino Hills. He is a two-time recipient of California’s Mr. Basketball, awarded to the top high school player in the state.

“First, you’re going to get a defender. I take a lot of pride in playing defense. I love defense. I’ve been playing elite defense since I was a little kid. I take a lot of pride in defense coming naturally for me. You’re also getting an athlete. I’m a player who can run up and down the court with a high motor. I am trying to improve my jump shot but I know I have good touch and polish. I can be a great face-up, low-post scorer. I had a lot of rip throughs and jabs. I know teams will have to respect that.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Onyeka Okongwu on HoopsHype

SADDIQ BEY, VILLANOVA

Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

Wing, 21 years old, 16.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 45.1 3P%

Bey is one of the most polished, pre-ready sharpshooters in the 2020 NBA draft. But one thing we did not expect: he broke down ancient Greek philosophy with us during this interview.

“I wanted to make it clear that I don’t have a low ceiling. I kept proving I still have a lot more potential. Also, I was able to show that I can play and guard multiple positions. Coming in, I was focusing on defensive rebounding and being able to defend guards and wings and big men. On the other end, I wanted to be a threat on every end. Our head coach Jay Wright gave me the opportunity to play on the ball a lot. I played some point guard. I played in the low post. I played in the mid-post. I played at all three levels. That helped my team win. It was also a credit to the guys around me who helped me a part of that amazing culture at Villanova. That paid dividends too.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Saddiq Bey on HoopsHype

TYRELL TERRY, STANFORD

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Guard, 20 years old, 14.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.4 spg, 40.8 3P%

Terry has been the prospect who has most improved his draft stock in recent months, shattering a record for a basketball-IQ measurement that is conducted by several NBA teams.

“I’m savvy about getting around defenders. I’m unpredictable. So I think being smaller, I have to have those qualities in driving to the lane. I think when going to the next level, I’m going to have to even keep improving on those abilities and keep being unpredictable, keep being savvy and maneuver my way around defenders.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Tyrell Terry on HoopsHype

DESMOND BANE, TCU

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Forward, 22 years old, 16.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.9 apg, 44.2 3P%

Bane, thanks to his athleticism and sharpshooting abilities, is one of the two seniors most likely to hear his name called in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft.

“I’m a consistent player. If you look at my numbers throughout the year, I shot above 40 percent from the three-point range almost every year. My coach used to always say that you can always control your energy and effort. I do that well. Consistent is the word to describe me. I only missed one practice. I never missed a game. I’m somebody you can count on day in and day out. Whether my role is to play five minutes or 10 minutes or if I ended up getting an assignment in the G League. I can step into any role for any organization that needs someone they can rely on. They don’t have to worry about anything going on off the court. I’ll be there early. I’m always just going to be the best teammate possible and be a big part of the organization.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Desmond Bane on HoopsHype

ISAIAH STEWART, WASHINGTON

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Big, 19 years old, 17.0 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 0.8 apg, 2.1 bpg, 57.0 FG%

Stewart was recognized as Mr. Basketball USA and Naismith Prep Player of the Year, both given to the best high school player in the country. He spoke candidly to HoopsHype about why he feels that analysts are wrong to have turned their backs on him after his sole collegiate campaign.

“People forgot who I am. I’m not sure if it’s because we had a losing season or not. But these guys that they have in the draft over me are guys I’ve been beating my whole life. I won every matchup. You talk about guys that are sleepers in this draft and I’m the biggest sleeper. I’m the guy that’s slept on the most. I’m a guy who has always been showing up, taking care of business from day one. Every level I’ve played, there was always doubt. But people smart enough know not to bet against Isaiah Stewart. People didn’t want me to be a ranked guy. But they knew they had no choice because every matchup that I’ve played against, I dominated. My game isn’t sexy. It’s not attractive. But at the end of the day, it gets the job done. People like flashy and people like potential but potential means you haven’t done anything. At the end of the day, I know I’m a winner. This past season was a losing season but people who know Isaiah Stewart know I’m going to be successful at the NBA level. They know the guys that are ahead of me, I’m better than them.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Isaiah Stewart on HoopsHype

GRANT RILLER, CHARLESTON

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Guard, 23 years old, 21.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 3.9 apg, 1.6 spg, 49.9 FG%

Riller is one of the more NBA-ready guards in this class and he spoke about why can be a plug-and-play option for any team as soon as next season.

“They’ll see more of my playmaking ability. The rep for me is how much of a scorer I am. But I think there are a lot of other things in my game people may not have realized yet. So once they really dive down and deep into their film, they’ll see more possessions of me being the leader of a team and really controlling the pace of the game. I think you know what you’re going to get with a fifth-year player. You know he’s trying to be more like a pro up to that point. I’m about my business and I’ve matured already. I’ll do whatever is asked of me.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Grant Riller on HoopsHype

PAUL REED, DEPAUL

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Forward, 21 years old, 15.1 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 1.9 spg, 2.6 bpg, 51.6 FG%

Reed, who won the Big East’s Most Improved Player in 2019, announced a goal for himself during this interview: he would like to lead all rookies in rebounding next season.

“I expect to be an energy guy on offense. I can be a cutter and slasher. If you pass it to me and I’m open, I’m going to shoot it. I’m going to be an all-around type player, getting offensive rebounds. Defensively, I think that I’m going to be the person who is guarding the best player most of the time. I can use my length as well as my athleticism to block shots and get steals and turn defense into offense. I am going to be a glue guy for any team I play for.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Paul Reed on HoopsHype

CASSIUS WINSTON, MICHIGAN STATE

(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Guard, 22 years old, 18.6 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.9 apg, 44.8 FG%, 43.2 3P%

Winston told HoopsHype that you can “write a book” about his amazing relationship with legendary head coach Tom Izzo. He also shared that his favorite movie character of all-time is Donkey from Shrek.

“I’m very confident in my jumper. It’s what I do. I have the ability to knock down shots. I feel like I need that to make plays to be successful productive on the floor. I’m constantly working on my shot. I’ve been working on my 3-pointer from the NBA range for about a year and a half now. I’m comfortable from that level. The more variety and ways I can get my shot off can help me expand my game. You can’t box me in as just one type of shooter. I’m more than just good off the catch. I can take whatever the defense gives me.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Cassius Winston on HoopsHype

ROBERT WOODARD, MISSISSIPPI STATE

Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Wing, 21 years old, 11.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.1 spg, 1.0 bpg, 49.5 FG%, 42.9 3P%

Woodard is a fantastic basketball player but told us that he also loves to play guitar and go hunting and fishing and horseback riding. He said that he has at least seven guitars and likes to cover Daniel Caeser and John Mayer.

“I really want them to know that I’m a hard-working guy on and off the floor. I’m very competitive when it comes to just about anything. I’m an all-around guy on the floor on both the offensive end and the defensive end. I’m able to create for my teammates without having the ball in my hands. A lot of the times, I’ve been able to back-door cut. I also take things personally on the defensive end. I’m able to switch one through five, especially when teams are playing small ball. I’m versatile on both ends of the floor.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Robert Woodard on HoopsHype

KILLIAN TILLIE, GONZAGA

James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Big, 22 years old, 13.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 53.5 FG%, 40.0 3P%

Tillie is likely the best shooting big man in this draft class but he also told us that he likely could have been a professional beach volleyball player if he had stuck with that sport.

“My shooting has helped me a lot. I worked on it during my first year because it wasn’t very good before then. It was average but now it’s pretty good. I’m confident. I take more shots. I am still trying to work on getting quicker on the release. But it’s definitely helped me because people have to guard me on the outside and that spaces the floor. That helps me drive more, too. We also ran a lot of pick-and-pop at Gonzaga. Our point guards were so great at finding me there and it has become one of my favorite shots.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Killian Tillie on HoopsHype

SKYLAR MAYS, LSU

Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports

Guard, 23 years old, 16.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.8 spg, 39.4 3P%

Mays comes from a family of doctors and has a degree in kinesiology and studied pre-medicine in college. He is interested in P3 Applied Sports Science and how they’re able to apply their studies to high-level athletes.

“I feel super comfortable in the pick-and-roll. That’s what I did when I was on the ball as a true point guard. I had plenty of practice with it. I think it showed a lot this past year as I had more opportunities. I wanted to get into the paint, whether that meant getting opportunities for my teammates or getting into the paint and scoring and hurting teams at the free-throw line. I play off my ability to get in the paint.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Skylar Mays on HoopsHype

CASSIUS STANLEY, DUKE

Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Wing, 21 years old, 12.6 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 1.0 apg, 0.7 spg, 47.4 FG%

Stanley, who played high school basketball in front of Kanye West and the Kardashians under the spotlight at Sierra Canyon, told HoopsHype that he wants to become the commissioner of the NBA after his playing career is over.

“[Becoming the commissioner of the NBA] has been a thing of mine since probably a couple years ago. Maybe even junior high school. That’s about the only dream job probably for me if anyone had to ask. I feel like the sport of basketball is the field I want to take on. So right now, I’m obviously working on the playing field in that sport. But I feel like you are only going to play the game for 10 or 12 years max, if you are lucky. After that, you have a whole life story. I feel like I want to stay in the field of basketball and I feel like I don’t really want to be a broadcaster or a coach, so I feel like being the commissioner would be the best thing. I’m really interested in it. I’ll see what I can while I’m playing, what internships and things I can do to get involved.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Cassius Stanley on HoopsHype

MASON JONES, ARKANSAS

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

Guard, 22 years old, 22.0 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.6 spg, 45.3 FG%

Jones shared an inspirational story about discovering basketball at a late age. After transforming his body by drastically cutting his weight down from 270 pounds, he transferred from junior college and eventually won SEC Co-Player of the Year in 2020.

“I want to be an All-Star. I have a lot to prove and I feel like the way I work hard and the way I carry myself and the way I care about the game, I definitely feel like I can achieve being an All-Star or being an MVP in the league. Those are things that I dream about. I want to put them in real-life situations. I have a chance to be that, I have a chance to be an MVP. I have a chance to put the work in and know that nothing is going to be handed to me, it’s going to be all hard work. I know exactly what to do when my back is against the wall or people have doubts: work hard and keep proving wrong. That’s definitely what I’m going to continue to do.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Mason Jones on HoopsHype

LAMAR STEVENS, PENN STATE

Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Forward, 23 years old, 17.6 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 2.2 apg, 1.1 spg, 1.1 bpg

Stevens was not only an incredibly productive four-year player during his time at Penn State but he also published a children’s book, illustrated by six children who met while working with the Special Olympics.

“I will be a guy who can play and guard multiple positions. I’ll be a player with a lot of energy that is a huge communicator on defense and can score. I scored at a high percentage in the Big-10 conference, which I believe is the best league in the country. My main focus will be becoming the best defender that I can possibly be, and hopefully have the chance to guard the best players.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Lamar Stevens on HoopsHype

TREVELIN QUEEN, NEW MEXICO STATE

Nathan J Fish/Sun-News-Imagn Content Services, LLC

Wing, 23 years old, 13.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.7 spg, 47.1 FG%, 38.7 3P%

Queen has one of the most insane journeys to professional basketball you will ever hear, overcoming homelessness to eventually winning MVP of his conference tournament in 2019.

“I would say I’m an all-around player. I’m a two-way. I want to be the best on the offensive end and the defensive end. I like to get my teammates involved in any way possible. If I’m on the bench, then I’m giving motivation and words of encouragement or helping them with the scouting report and to just keep their heads in the game. I know whatever role they have me playing, I’m going to play 100 percent. Whether it’s coming in and getting the steal or getting the charge or getting a bucket, my role is going to be on both ends of the court. I’m going to be on both ends of the court. I want to be able to score and then defend the best player if I have to. I want to be a great two-way player. I’m also an emotional player. You can always see it on the court. I’m willing to put any amount of effort into everything. I’d fully be willing to run a thousand miles for a team to play at the highest level. This is my dream.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Trevelin Queen on HoopsHype

NATHAN KNIGHT, WILLIAM & MARY

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Big, 23 years old, 20.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.5 bpg, 52.4 FG%, 30.5 3P%

Nathan Knight won the Lou Henson Award for the most outstanding mid-major college basketball player. He spoke to HoopsHype about building his own statistical model, his passion for reading as well as his eventual interest in coaching.

“One of the goals I have for myself is to be the best I can be, whatever that means. I want to give 210 percent of myself every time I step in the gym because every time you get out there, it can be your last. I don’t want to take anything for granted. I want to play professional basketball. I want to play in the NBA. That is one of my dreams. It’s been a dream of mine since I could walk. But no team is going to give you anything. You have to go out and earn it. Then off the court, I want to help the people who helped me growing up. My mother, obviously, I want to give her the world. That’s going to be something that I’m going to try to do as much as possible. The city of Syracuse, as much as it has taken away from my family, they’ve taught me a lot of valuable lessons. My sister passed away, my late grandmother passed away. The city has not been kind to my family but it has taught me a lot of valuable life lessons that I wouldn’t have learned anywhere else. I want to make that city better. I want to give kids like me an opportunity to achieve everything. I also want to be a father. That’s one of the greatest gifts that God gives a man – a little “them” that they can teach to be a person. I want to be a provider. I want to be a family man. My biological father wasn’t around so I want to be the best father that I can be as well.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Nathan Knight on HoopsHype

YOELI CHILDS, BYU

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Forward, 22 years old, 22.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 0.9 bpg, 48.9 3P%

Childs, who has already been married for two years, was one of the most efficient pick-and-pop players in the country last season. He will bring a sense of polish and professionalism to any locker room in the NBA.

“I can be someone that comes in as a high-energy, high-character and high-IQ guy. I’m going to carve out a role for myself as someone who crashes the offensive glass, plays hard, communicates on every possession and shows up to practice every day and competes like it’s the NBA Finals. Every team needs guys like that. I know that with some of the natural gifts I have, I’m able to finish with touch in different ways around the rim. I’m someone who’s able to stretch the floor and create space for a lot of high-level drivers in the NBA. I would love to come in and create a role that way, and continue to expand my game every year.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Yoeli Childs on HoopsHype

ANTHONY LAMB, VERMONT

© BRIAN JENKINS/for the Free Press, Burlington Free Press via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Forward, 22 years old, 16.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.0 spg, 1.2 bpg

Lamb, who ranked among the Top 5 in Vermont Catamounts’ history in points and blocks, also touched on his love for anime films and television shows.

“I can have an immediate effect, guarding and being someone that could do whatever you need me to do on the court with my toughness and my grit. I know I can space the floor. I know everybody needs somebody that can guard, everybody needs somebody that can space the floor. So that’s the immediate impact I can give to any team that picks me or gives me the chance. Then as I develop, I think it’s going to depend on who I’m playing with and playing off of the people I’m with. I know it’s important to be moldable and malleable. So whatever is needed on me, I can continue to develop and get better as I go. That is something I’m leaning on and trusting in. But it is mostly about winning. So whatever I need to do and develop and get better at in order to stay in and win games, that is what I’m going to do. I need to do is whatever comes. I’ll be ready for it.”

FULL INTERVIEW: Anthony Lamb on HoopsHype

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[listicle id=1402442]

Meet Nathan Knight, the NBA prospect building his own basketball analytical model

NBA big man prospect Nathan Knight spoke to us about growing up in Syracuse, his love for reading and his computer sciences skills.

William & Mary Tribe big man Nathan Knight spoke to us about growing up in Syracuse, his love for reading and his computer sciences skills.

Knight, 23, won Colonial Athletic Conference Player of the Year and CAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2020. He also won the Lou Henson Award for the most outstanding mid-major college basketball player. The 6-foot-10 prospect also mentioned an interest in coaching when his playing career is over.

Please note that this transcription was very minorly edited for clarity.

How have you been doing since the season ended?

Nathan Knight: I finished my undergraduate degree. If I’m not training, I’m reading, I’m playing video games, I’m on the phone with my parents. I just finished reading a book about computer programming. I’m actually reading a book right now that I’ve read in the past but really enjoyed and it’s called Chop Wood, Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf. It’s a really good book. It’s my third time going through it. It’s a short read but it’s dense. During the stay-at-home orders and with the immense amount of free time that I’ve had, I’ve been reading so much. I’ll read the Bible for a couple minutes before I go to bed. I loved reading John Steinbeck. I read a lot of sports novels. I have read some science fiction, but I like to read things that are applicable.

Can you tell more about what your degree was in?

NK: My degree was in Business Analytics, which is why I was reading so much about coding language. It was more of a textbook. I read it so I could have success in my classes. My degree had an emphasis in data science. I’ve been coding for about two years now. I know a bit about RStudio, VBA, SQL, Python, Java. I’ve worked with those in some capacity over the past couple years. I’ve done some independent research and applied it to the game of basketball. Analytics in the sport are very big now. I’ve tried to learn and understand the basketball analytics side: what numbers go into it? What inputs go into it? What equations are being used? I’ve tried to build my own model where I could get different information from different statistical locations and pretty much have my program give me the analytics.

You’re already qualified for some positions in sports media, too. What did your model tell you?

NK: It was basic stuff. It wasn’t anything I was looking to go somewhere with, it was just something I wanted to do to keep myself sharp. For this, I used VBA. You can import a file and so I looked at rudimentary stats from past seasons. I did William & Mary and other programs as well. I got very specific. I looked at numbers for Daniel Dixon, who was one of my teammates from freshman year. I did stuff for Omar Prewitt. I looked at Marcus Thornton because he was probably one of the greatest players to ever play at William & Mary.

This is amazing. What, then, did the model tell you about yourself? Do you look at other advanced statistics for yourself?

NK: [Laughs] It said I was pretty efficient. I have efficiency in conjunction with versatility. I try to be as amorphous on the court as possible. I try to do a bunch of different things. But I try not to look too much into myself for statistics.

What is the biggest thing you have learned about yourself while going through the pre-draft process during a pandemic?

NK: The biggest thing is how to be adaptable, really. We’re all going through it. Pandemics build character, for a lack of better words. It’s just a lot of stuff that no one is really used to. We have to be thankful for the things we do have. Nowadays, people like to focus on the things we cannot do. But I’m trying to focus on the things that I’m able to do, which is: get on the phone with my parents, spend time expanding myself as a person with reading, I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to train.

During a draft process as uncertain as this one, I think seniors will have an advantage because there is more of a body of work to pull from and so teams will feel like they know what they are getting. But I also feel like those who do well in the interview process will rise as well. What have you told teams about yourself?  

NK: The biggest thing I try to do is to be transparent. If somebody wanted to, this is not what I do, but you can put on any face you want to and make anybody see you any way you want. But the biggest thing I try to do is be transparent. Because they’re going to know who you are. They know who you are. NBA teams do immense amounts of research and they’re interviewing these people because they’re investing a lot of resources into you. The biggest thing I try to emulate in this interview process is just transparency. I’m just honest and I’m just being me. I’m letting everything else take care of itself. If I’m not picked because my personality is not something somebody was hoping for, I can’t completely control that. What I don’t want to do is lie about who I am, they do pick me up, things don’t work because they expected me to do one thing and I do the other.

What do you think NBA teams are going to get out of their investment in you? 

NK: They’re going to get a hard worker. They’re going to get someone who, I know this sounds cliché, loves the games of basketball. They’ll get someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to help the organization, and that means a lot of things – not just on the court but off the court as well. They’re going to get a contributor. That’s the biggest thing that hinders people when it comes to getting to the next level. Everyone wants to be the guy. I’m not to worried about that kind of stuff. I’m worried about coming in and helping, being a giver and not a taker.

You were one of the best defensive rebounders in the country. How are you able to grab a board and then push the break in transition?

 NK: That is something that I’ve naturally progressed at because I’ve always liked to push the pace in transition. Those are some of the easiest ways to get baskets. But defensive rebounding comes with size. I’m fortunate enough to be 6-foot-9, 6-foot-10. I can’t really describe it. But I just get myself in the correct positions and then with the help of my teammates, I’m comfortable knowing that they’ll run with me. 

You are incredibly lengthy, bragging a plus-7-foot wingspan. How are you able to use that to your advantage as a defender?

 NK: The biggest way my length has helped me has not only been on rebounding but also to pester on the defensive end. As much as any player would like to be in the perfect defensive position at all times, it usually does not happen like that. But with my wingspan, I’m able to bother some shots that I wouldn’t have been able to bother if I had a wingspan equivalent to my height.

You ranked Top 10 among all college basketball players in fouls drawn per 40 minutes. What are some ways that you’re able to get to the line so often and increase your free-throw rate?

 NK: I find ways to get to the basket and from there it’s just shot fakes, creating angles. At the very basis of basketball, the easiest way to draw a foul is to just get yourself in an advantageous position and make the defense make a choice. Are they going to let you score or are they going to try and get you out of that position? But they are at a disadvantage at that point and they are going to have to foul you.

Playing for William & Mary, you had an incredibly high usage rate for three years in a row. How are you going to be able to play off the ball and be effective with a lower usage rate?

 NK: It definitely will change. As much as I would like to have the same usage in the NBA, that is earned. The biggest scope I like to have on the game of basketball is what can I do to help win games? That is a very broad way to look at it but it’s something that always sticks with me and helps me keep my scope in a positive mindset. I’m preparing myself for the lower usage that will naturally come with playing at that next level. I’ll work in spot-ups, drifts, stuff like that. I’ll incorporate my versatility with whatever usage is foreseeable from here.

If you were eventually allotted a higher usage rate, how would that look at the next level?

NK: One thing that I’ve prided myself on through my four years of college is the idea of learning and improving. What comes with that is expansion. Whether it is during the season or during the offseason, I’m always finding a few things I can add to my game that will make me that much better. If I continue to do that, if I continue to learn and continue to grow as a player and as a person in the right system and the right situation, I know I can be successful as a high usage guy.

You have definitely expanded your game beyond the arc. Both your attempts and your connections from three-point range increased by 300 percent year-over-year from junior year to senior year. Meanwhile, your 3-point percentage still got better. How do you see your jump shot continuing to evolve over time?

 NK: That is something I’ve always been able to do, something I’ve always been comfortable doing. Basketball is a very imperfect game. The ball usually bounces not in your favor more often than it does. The biggest thing I can do is rep it out and continue to try to be as efficient as possible. Hopefully, with some luck on my side, I’ll grow as a shooter.

If you do become more of a shooter, how will that help your teammates and spread the floor? I love how most of your shots are either at the rim or beyond the arc. That shows you have been studying the shift in the modern NBA. 

(via Synergy)

NK: The simplest way I can answer that is that it will space out the defense and create more advantageous positions for not only me but for my teammates as well. If defenses can just sit where they want to, it is hard to score. But if you take them out of their position, it makes it a lot easier to play offense.

Whether it was through your studies or otherwise, what are some of the biggest lessons you learned in college?

NK: As far as my mental health and my awareness, the biggest thing that I’ve learned through my time in college that I’ve been able to apply onto the court has been the “next play” mentality. Life goes on. I don’t want to get too high and I don’t want to get too low. Going out and having an amazing game feels great but you still have to go into work tomorrow, put your hard hat on and get to work. I don’t want to get too low on myself, either. That’s on the court and in life as well.

When it comes to your accomplishments so far, what has made you most proud so far?

NK: I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve been able to build through the sport. All four years in college, every person I’ve played with has become a good friend of mine. Basketball is one of the few sports where you can do that because you spend so much time with one another. College athletics is one of the few places where you can go out and build those relationships that quickly. The individual accolades speak for themselves but those are just products of the relations I’ve been able to build. My teammates had faith in me and if they hadn’t, we wouldn’t have won those games and I wouldn’t have gotten the ball in certain situations.

Speaking of those accomplishments include winning Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Conference Player of the Year as well as CAA Defensive Player of the Year and Mid-Major Player of the Year. If you had to say, what do those accolades mean to you?

NK: It was really humbling. I give immense thanks to my teammates. The coaching staff put a lot of faith and trust in me and I put a lot of faith and trust in them. We were able to have success as a team, which led to my individual success. The biggest thing I can take away from that is just that hard work is the simplest variable to success. If you work hard, success inevitable.

What advice would you give to someone who is about to embark in their career as a mid-major NBA prospect?   

NK: I think the few pieces of advice I would give is one, don’t let anyone set a ceiling for you. You’re only as successful as you let yourself be. The biggest stigma around mid-major basketball is that it is really hard to get to the NBA if you’re from a mid-major program. It’s really hard to make any transition to play pro basketball. Don’t let that take you away from that goal at hand, which is to be the best basketball player that you can be. Be the best teammate you can be. If you take care of those things, it always works out.

How did you originally decide to attend and play basketball for William & Mary? 

NK: I could go on for hours and hours about this school. When I was in boarding school and they originally offered me a scholarship, I was very fortunate to have a long list of offers. But the one thing that made me consider them in the immediate is my high school had an open gym and William & Mary brought their entire coaching staff. I’d never seen that before. That showed me they were very interested. After doing research with my mom and my inner circle, not only the basketball part but the degree that I would be able to get from there is only comparable to the Ivy League schools. That was another personal goal of mine. On top of being the best basketball player that I could be, I wanted to be the best person I could be. I wanted the enriching experience that comes with going to a great college like William & Mary. The visit really tied it all together for me. Coming down here, one, it was a change of pace from my hometown of Syracuse. It felt like home and everyone was so hospitable. The campus is absolutely beautiful. The people are awesome. I committed the next day. I was there on a Saturday and I committed on Sunday afternoon. I knew. It was a very enriching experience to go there because William & Mary is not only immense in the educational part but also in the history that they have been able to be a part of that was amazing. That’s not something that everyone has done. A weird brag that I get to have is that I went to the same college as some of our earliest presidents, which is so insane. It’s amazing to think about.

Congratulations on getting a degree from such an amazing institution. How important was it for you to finish up what you started?

NK: It meant everything to me to go back for my fourth year and get my degree. That was not only one of the goals I had for myself but that also one of the biggest that my mom wanted, too. She wanted me to get my college because that’s one of the things where no matter what happens to you, no one can take that from you. No matter what happens to you, no one can say that you didn’t do it. It meant so much to my mom and my mom means so much to me. It was not only personal for me, but it made my mother proud. I had to do it.

What are some of your favorite reflections when you look back at your experience in college? 

NK: Some of the memories I was able to build with my teammates and my friends on campus, the friendships that I was able to build. Everything was a learning experience. If I were to see myself four years ago, I don’t think I’d be able to recognize that person. I feel like I’ve changed that much. When I first got to college, I hated reading. It was one of my least favorite things to do. Now, I find myself doing it all of the time. I was an extrovert for the majority of my college career and now I tend to be more introverted. It was like a 180-degree spin for some of the things that I do now. It’s all thanks to the experiences in the time I spent here at the college. This school has done so much for me not only from a career standpoint from a personal learning aspect. I’ve just learned a lot about myself as a person, I’ve learned a lot about what it takes to be successful and good in nature. Those are some of the most invaluable things that you can learn. It makes me look back to my time as a child. When you’re a child, you want everything. You want the most out of growing up. I feel like, from a tangible standpoint, I was never fed from a silver spoon. But it made me appreciate my childhood because some of the lessons I was able to learn as a child and some of the things I endured were a product of my environment. Without them, I would not have been able to get through college. I wouldn’t have been able to be as successful as I was. My team here helped me not be ashamed of where I am from.

Would you mind telling me a little bit more about your childhood?

NK: I was never fed from a silver spoon. I grew up in a single-parent household and my mom was at work all of the time. My older sister was our mom when my mom was at work until my older sister passed away in 2008. Syracuse is riddled with violence and it is not a good school system. If you want to talk about systemic oppression, all of the restrictions that come with being from a crime-riddled, very culturally mundane environment, Syracuse would be the epitome. There was a lot of violence. I was able to overcome that with the help of my mom and my support group, everyone that I consider my family. I wish I had more but I’m happy that I didn’t. I appreciate everything now. You learn to appreciate more when you grew up with less.

Definitely, man. It’s an inspirational journey you’ve had. Also, I know you played baseball and football as well. What drew you to basketball?

NK: It felt like a switch. Growing up, I remember it so perfectly. My freshman year of high school, I had played basketball but during winters I was in the house all of the time. I walked through the gym and I see the guy who ended up being my skills trainer and he was working someone out and I thought that it looked amazing. It looked like so much fun. Ever since then, I’ve always to do nothing but just play basketball. I couldn’t tell you what happened to me that day. But that and maybe getting the wind knocked out of me a few times at football practice. [Laughs] I was like: I’m done with football.

That is a common story. Football is such a violent game. You were a southpaw pitcher, yeah? If you’re 6-foot-10, were like MLB Hall of Famer Randy Johnson out there? 

NK: I was a pitcher. I wasn’t elite of the elite, crème de la crème. I could get the ball in the strike zone. But I was on the shorter side of pitchers during my high school. I didn’t hit 6-foot until my sophomore year. I went into my freshman year about 5-foot-9. I grew to about 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4 during my sophomore year. The growth just kept coming.

Does that mean you were a guard growing up? Is that how you developed your on-ball skills? Last season, you were 6-for-7 (85.6 percent) finishing as the ball-handler in transition.        

NK: Yeah, I played guard until I was about a junior or senior in high school. Guys like Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic, who were also guards growing up, are some of the many players that I watch when I look at film. I try to look at them when I want to find things that I can add to my game. Those are guys that you can grow to appreciate who you want to see yourself playing like.

Are there any other players that come to mind for you that may fit into that category?

NK: My list is rich. We obviously have to put LeBron James in there. We love LeBron. The things that he can do at his size are absolutely incredible. Pascal Siakam, Paul George, Myles Turner, Julius Randle, Karl-Anthony Towns, DeMarcus Cousins. The list goes on and on. I have a lot of guards that I love to watch, too. I love James Harden. We appreciate a lefty. I also love Thaddeus Young, same reason. I played against Luke Kennard my freshman year. I liked the way he played.

What are some goals you have for yourself? First, we can start on the court. Then, you can answer off the court.

NK: One of the goals I have for myself is to be the best I can be, whatever that means. I want to give 210 percent of myself every time I step in the gym because every time you get out there, it can be your last. I don’t want to take anything for granted. I want to play professional basketball. I want to play in the NBA. That is one of my dreams. It’s been a dream of mine since I could walk. But no team is going to give you anything. You have to go out and earn it. Then off the court, I want to help the people who helped me growing up. My mother, obviously, I want to give her the world. That’s going to be something that I’m going to try to do as much as possible. The city of Syracuse, as much as it has taken away from my family, they’ve taught me a lot of valuable lessons. My sister passed away, my late grandmother passed away. The city has not been kind to my family but it has taught me a lot of valuable life lessons that I wouldn’t have learned anywhere else. I want to make that city better. I want to give kids like me an opportunity to achieve everything. I also want to be a father. That’s one of the greatest gifts that God gives a man – a little “them” that they can teach to be a person. I want to be a provider. I want to be a family man. My biological father wasn’t around so I want to be the best father that I can be as well.

Could you see yourself coaching or being in a front office? 

NK: Yes, definitely. I want to coach. If I got to pick my profession after basketball, if it wasn’t something in analytics, it would probably be to coach somewhere. If I had my choice, I’d want to be a college coach. At what college, I couldn’t tell you. I love William & Mary. I’d love to come back and coach there. I enjoy everything about the game of basketball so being able to teach that would be amazing. But being a coach is a lot more than just teaching the game. My coaches past and present have taught my life lessons that I’ll never forget. I just want to do that for the next generation, as well.

Is there anything else you think that would be good to add for a story like this one that we have not yet had a chance to discuss?

NK: I’m a nicer guy than I appear in photos of me on the internet. I look like a very intimidating person. I’m a very likable person, I promise.  

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