Rori Harmon

This week, Texas point guard Rori Harmon joins the show fresh off her return from injury. Rori delves into the challenges and — silver linings — of watching from the sidelines, as well as her important leadership role with the Longhorns and what excites her most about stepping into the SEC for her senior season. Rori Harmon is a hooper to keep your eye on – don’t miss!

1. Target on Texas, Notre Dame matchup, Madison Booker flowers (5:10) 🎯💐 
2. Backcourt duo blind-rank, joining the SEC, South Carolina (13:00) ⛹🏾‍♀️🔥
3. Scouting Report: Georgia Amoore, Raven Johnson (18:50) 📋🤫
4. Basketball roots, talented HS class, Choosing Texas (24:10) 🌱🧡
5. Being a freshman point guard, ACL recovery journey, coaching from the bench (36:55) ❤️‍🩹🗣
6. NIL, evolution of Rori’s game, Vibe Check (52:25) 💸✅

About Our Host:

Atlanta Dream guard Haley Jones is an NCAA national champion, All-American, and No. 6 pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Listen as she welcomes top players to the mic to dissect basketball’s biggest storylines, celebrate top performances, and give flowers to the players growing the game. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We truly believe that we were going to get past
that eliteate home. And I think that's kind of what
hurt more is because like we went through so much
adversity to like adjust, like we had players in and
out constantly, and for Shay and Madison to like play
those minutes consecutively, like it's so impressive. Yeah, they start

(00:22):
like an example, and they showed the world like what
Texas women's basketball is about, and how now we have
this chip on our shoulder. It's like, okay, so we
have these pieces back, we have this person healthy, we
have these new additions, and it's like now we have
to put it together, figure it out, find some chemistry,
stay healthy, and just try to get back to that spot.

(00:45):
But even further.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
Welcome back to sometimes. I hope today we've got one
y'all been waiting for and asking for quick humble bragg
about our superstar McDonald's All American Big Twelve Freshman of
the Year, Big twelve defense, the Player of the Year,
and current leader of the Texas women's basketball team, none
other than one of the best two way guards in
college hoops. Roy Harmon, thanks for hopping on the pod today.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Well, thanks for all of that listening them down, but
thanks for having me.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
It's a long list. You deserve all the love. But
a quick icebreaker before we hop into some basketball talk
is what was the first concert you ever went to? Oh?

Speaker 1 (01:24):
I felt like I never really went to concert growing up,
Like me and my brother were not really into it.
So one of the most like recent ones, I think
a couple of years ago with my mother, I went
with my mom and we went to see Chris Brown.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Your mom to see Chris Brown. I feel like, that's
not a mom daughter that's hurt.

Speaker 1 (01:41):
No, it's definitely not. But it was, you know, He's
just like, let's just do it. But yeah, it may
have been a little.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
Awkward stage, yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
I know, But yeah that was my first one.

Speaker 2 (01:56):
So that's a good concert for her first Maybe not
mother daughter, but definitely a good Yeah. That's sounds fun.
But talking about the women's basketball landscape right now, something
really exciting. Coming back from an injury this year, getting
your degree from Texas in three years, you had a
big summer. What was that recovery process like for you?

Speaker 1 (02:16):
It was so long ago. It kind of feels like
I tried so hard to just you know, let go
of my god, that's just it's actually my wallpaper, my
screensaver from my phone. But I mean, truly, it was
really difficult at times. I think the hardest obviously was
finding out that news. But I think as soon as
I was able to get surgery and kind of just

(02:36):
like start like getting off the crutches and stuff, it
really was uphill from there obviously, But I'm still in
that process. I'm still like recovering. I feel really good though.
I figured myself out a little bit throughout that time,
and when you go through something so traumatic, like you
learn a lot about yourself.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
So yeah, it's definitely hard going through any surgery myself.
It's hard to kind of like keep that angle in
sight when it feels so far away and figure out
what you're pushing towards. And it's also hard sitting on
the sidelines for a whole season when you feel like
you could be giving more. And I feel like for me,
it was interesting finding a new role on the team,
maybe being more vocal or leadership. So do you feel

(03:15):
like there was something that you were able to take
away from the game, or something that you added to
maybe your leadership role or even just things you can
now bring into your playing game as you come back
onto the court learning from your injury.

Speaker 1 (03:29):
Yeah, it was definitely like playing on the court is
a completely different perspective than the sidelines, kind of like
where the coaches and where coach like coaches from and
I finally can see like some of the things he
talks about that I don't want to see sometime until
I am playing. But I mean, honestly, I think I
learned a lot of patients just from having to sit
out for so long and having to go to practice

(03:52):
every day, even though I'm not even doing anything to
really like on the court to contribute. But I think
one of the first after I was selfish for a
moment and kind of have a few days where I
was just really upset after the news, I could just
feel the energy in the room in the gym, and
it was just so bad. I mean, obviously no one
was super happy around that time, but I was just like,

(04:12):
you know what, we shall have a season. Like I'm
still on this team. I gotta find a way to contribute.
Just like anytime if you are playing and you're like
a primary scorer and you're not scoring, like what can
you do to help your team in other ways, and
so I just started to be more vocal, Like I'm
not really that vocal, especially like coming in, Like I know,
I'm like a point guard and like I'm the leader, Like,

(04:33):
but I'm more of like, you know, I'm gonna tell
you right right next to you. I'm not like the outspoken. Yeah.
I think I picked that up. Yeah, I picked it
up around that time when I was sitting out, and
so it's definitely carried over. I'm definitely a lot more
vocal now than I'm on the court with everyone.

Speaker 2 (04:47):
Yeah, it's kind of weird making that adjustment where like
you're not on the court with them, but you still
have to be a leader and figure out how to
create those connections and still kind of just show the
role that you have with the team, because I'm sure
the team still look to you. We had Madison Bookron
last year talking about how important that relationship was with
you stepping into a point guard role as a freshman

(05:07):
and all those things. And this year new team brought
in a lot of talent, both from transfer portal freshmen.
So what is the team looking like? Do you feel
like you kind of have a target on your back
this season? After the great year you guys had last season,
what are the vibes looking like moving into season.

Speaker 1 (05:23):
It's crazy that you say that. Well, first, I'm want
to mention my teammates, obviously, the incoming the new people.
The incoming freshmen are transfers. I just I love them
so much. They learned so fast, very coachable. And I
say that like I'm a coach or whatever. But as
the point guard of the team, there's expected a lot
of me to kind of lead the Brianna, who is

(05:45):
another point guard, and all these other freshmen, and there's
Leila and Kyla, like they need to be led, and
he can't do it by himself, so he needs his returners,
his seniors to kind of step up and do that.
But by you saying we have a target in our back,
we actually just got some shirts that have targets on
our back, and its like has everybody's names on the

(06:06):
team and the staff. But it's not necessarily like, oh,
we think everyone's coming for us, but it's like in
a way like we're coming for them, and hopefully, like
you know, it goes to be like both ways, and
you know, we have a higher expectations this year. We've
been deleted a few times, actually lost to you one
of the time. So yes, So I mean it's just

(06:28):
something like just an extra notch.

Speaker 2 (06:29):
But yeah, I like that mindset shift where you know
you have the talking on your back, obviously, but also
like coming after teams because you guys want to show
why you are ranked, how you're ranked, having the talent
that you have and everything you're gonna do with that
and with the town that you have. You guys have
a big non conference schedule coming up Notre Dame. I
feel like South Dakota State is always a sleeper team

(06:50):
that people don't sure about, but they're very talented. But
focusing on that Notre Dame game, what do you think
about the matchup with you and Madison and the great
other back court that you guys have going up against
Hannahdog going Olivia Mouse. I feel like that's gonna be
a really fun matchup to watch with all of you
guys going ahead to head because I feel like all
of your players on your team and theirs are such

(07:11):
great two way players on either side of the ball.
So what are you looking forward to with that?

Speaker 1 (07:16):
I mean, honestly, I'm just glad that Olivia is able
to play. Yeah, I understand obviously how she feels, and
I'm glad that she's able to play again. And then
of course Hannah Holdago came off a great freshman season,
so they do have a great badcore in But honestly,
this is what we kind of wanted to do. Like
to be the best, you gotta play with the best
and against the best. So we're just excited. I haven't

(07:38):
like thought like so far. I think I'm just right now,
especially coming back to play. I'm just so grateful and
I try to live where my feet are and be
where my feet are every time and every chance I get.
But I mean, I'm so excited that we get the
opportunity to play against such great teams on like Notre Dame.

Speaker 2 (07:55):
H Well talking about being focused on where your feet are,
and I feel like it's such an interesting balance when
you're coming back from an injury of not only focusing
on rehabbing but still continuing to grow your game at
the same time. So how do you feel like you've
been able to strike that balance to continue your growth
with your skills on the court. I know you're a
defensive menace, very frustrating. I've been on the other side

(08:16):
of that, So have you been able to focus on
your rehab but also continuing to take steps in your growth.

Speaker 1 (08:23):
I mean that's a really good question because it's like
when is it too much? Almost because I'm not at
the point where I need to like go crazy every
day do extra workouts every day, like I still have
to like watch out for my load and stuff like that.
You don't want to do too much too soon, But
for me, that's I don't always have to be on

(08:43):
my feet to improve my game or enhance my game.
But now that I'm able to, like I'm in the gym.
I don't have classes in person since I graduated, and
so I have two classes. I know. It is really
so nice. I have very much a lot of time
throughout the day. So I'm like, well, I have this
much time, like let me go get some treatment, let

(09:03):
me hit up coach, let me ask him most two
extra shots, stuff like that. So I've been there's so
much to do now, Like I feel like I had
so much time to really like focus on what I
really need to do to improve and just sit on
and think about it like yeah, and so yeah, I
think I'm just excited to be able to like show
that on the court for ad and play the game
in such a long time and so but yeah, I

(09:25):
think that time off I had other things in other
categories I could just work on when I couldn't even
like all I could do was like shoot for a
little bit, So I works with my shooting. So I
couldn't like really run around, but I could jump in
place or I could hop in place. So I worked
a lot on shooting. So I think that's one of
the parts of my game. I think that has super improved.

Speaker 2 (09:46):
Yeah, that's exciting, and it's it's hard when you have
that itch to keep going but remembering like, okay, let
me not go too crazy right now, even though I
may feel good cause the next day, oh my gosh,
you feel it, or the whole thing. So I think
it's it's hard to find that balance of wanting to
be back. But also what you talked about, like there's
so many different ways to improve your game even if

(10:06):
you're not on the court doing all things, whether it
be film. I know, for me, I hated conditioning, not
being able to run like seated battle ropes or I
don't know if you were like the seated versa climber
my arms like they were gonna fall off.

Speaker 1 (10:20):
It is horrible without having like usial likes, you're actually
just using your arms. Yeah yeah, no, I don't like
that at all.

Speaker 2 (10:28):
But no arms are shredding now for no reason.

Speaker 1 (10:32):
But yeah, awful, My traps are like up here now
literally literally.

Speaker 2 (10:38):
But I'm just talking about getting back to playing. And
I feel like you have such a special backcourt with
you and Madison, her being to play point guard last year,
you stepping back into that role, having her be off ball,
you guys be able to play off of each other.
I feel like that's such a special backcourt. So talk
to me about how excited you already get to be
able to play with her this season. I get to
be a part of that. I feel like you guys
just have so many pieces that work well, and the

(11:00):
depth of this year that you have to have on your
bench is gonna be scary for a lot of teams.

Speaker 1 (11:05):
Like when I look at Madison, like someone who's not
even her position, isn't even a point guard, like she
is a small forward, Like obviously she can do everything,
but for her to do that well in that position
and be a freshman, my personal opinion is like she
did better than all the other actual point guards out there,

(11:26):
and so I just watching her from the sidelines was crazy.
I got to play like twelve games with her and
just to see, like how we had such a connection already,
and like you said, just be able to play off
each other, Like I feel like we get a lot
of our energy from each other. She was so coachable
and she listened so well last year when she was learning.

(11:48):
It's very challenging to play point guard for coach Schaeffer.
It's not anything that's impossible, but it's very challenging. There's
a lot of expectations and I try. I think that's
where our connection and our chemic she was built. She
like had her hard moments, and I was like, look,
I've been through the same thing. I had my hard moments,
and I don't want you to have to go through like,

(12:09):
you know, doing it by yourself or feeling like you
like you're by yourself in a way. So yeah, I
felt like we got really close last year through that,
even though we weren't even playing together. But I'm just
so excited. I know she's happy to go back to
her original position.

Speaker 2 (12:23):
She's like, please take it back, you're fah.

Speaker 1 (12:27):
So yeah, I'm just excited and I'm just I can't
wait to see how she'll do this season and how
we'll do together.

Speaker 2 (12:34):
Yeah, I think it's really exciting. And to have you
guys be able to be that one two punch and playoff, yes,
it's gonna be really cool. But I feel like you
guys are one of the top back courts. But there's
a lot of other really good, dynamic back courts. And
so you've seen that TikTok where you got to like
blind rank things one through five next, So we're gonna
do that with We're gonna take you guys out of it.

Speaker 1 (12:55):
Okay, okay, five other ones, yeah, because I would have
definitely do this first.

Speaker 2 (12:59):
But yeah, yeah, yeah, totally I'm biased. So we're gonna
go through this. I'm gonna give you names or your
rank on one through five. First combo here is gonna
be n C State, Snai Rivers and Isaiah James. Where
are you ranking them? Oh?

Speaker 1 (13:17):
They just so good against us too, And this is
not a five, This is out a five. Okay, I'm
gonna I'm gonna put them up four.

Speaker 2 (13:25):
Okay, Okay, we have next one yukon page and then
couple that with KK or a Z.

Speaker 1 (13:37):
Let's go. Okay.

Speaker 2 (13:39):
I can see distress.

Speaker 1 (13:41):
Because I'm like, okay, let's do oh, I don't I'm
scared to do like two, okay, let's go to let's
just okay, okay, yeah, let's do too.

Speaker 2 (13:54):
Our next one, we have Jada Walker and Sarah Andrews Baylor.

Speaker 1 (13:58):
Okay, all due respect, one five, all due respect?

Speaker 2 (14:03):
All right. Next one we got Olivia Miles and Hannah
Dalgo what I haveft?

Speaker 1 (14:09):
I have one and three left?

Speaker 2 (14:10):
I have one and three.

Speaker 1 (14:12):
Oh oh, I'm.

Speaker 2 (14:16):
Wait.

Speaker 1 (14:16):
Okay, I'm gonna put them at one. They're one.

Speaker 2 (14:18):
Okay, that's solid.

Speaker 1 (14:20):
Yeah, they're one, all right?

Speaker 2 (14:21):
Then your last one at number three Raven Johnson and
Malaysia for Wiley.

Speaker 1 (14:27):
I guess they gotta be.

Speaker 2 (14:29):
I feel like that's pretty good in the order that
I gave it to you. I feel like that's that's
not a bad list.

Speaker 1 (14:34):
I'm not mad about it either. But it's so close,
like it's like one, one and a half one.

Speaker 2 (14:39):
Point five aread there, there's not a big drop off,
and then completely unbiased. If you were to pick, you'd
say you and Madison at number one. Oh, yes, for sure,
shift everybody else down the spot. Yes, okay, got you
all right. Well, getting into the season, it's crazy with
all the different conference realignments, shake ups. You guys going

(14:59):
to the SEC this year is really exciting. Do you
feel like there's going to have to be times of adapting,
teams having to change their playing style, those different types
of things with a lot of the shake up specifically
you guys moving to the SEC and playing against all
of those teams.

Speaker 1 (15:15):
Yeah, for sure. I mean, all these teams are so good,
Like I believe this is the top conference of the league,
and I have so much respect for every single team,
all the coaches, all the players there. But this is
something different for us, not for Coachefer necessarily, he's been
in this league before, and that's kind of why I
feel like it may go, you know, a little bit smoother.

(15:35):
But I feel like we always hid adversity some way somewhere,
and this is something this is something foreign to us.
Usually we know like exactly who it is, what they
can do left right, dominant stuff like that. Now it's like, okay,
so we've watched them in national TV every once in
a while, but we haven't ever really like had a
break down and do a scout. Yeah, you know, the
only team we really know, like have an idea about

(15:57):
was like, oh you and their style of play. But
I think I think we'll have some ups and downs,
of course, and that's just what I think a season
will normally, you know, found an Yeah, that's just it's
found to happen, like national championships go through the same thing,
like no matter if you're winning every game or not,
like it's something about the team that you could do better.
And so yeah, we'll definitely it'll definitely get there, but

(16:19):
we'll get it pretty fast.

Speaker 2 (16:21):
Yeah, I think so, especially like you talked about having
coach Schaefer b from the SEC, like he already knows
may not be the same players or coaches, but he
knows the style of the game and how teams historically play.
So I think that'll definitely help with the transition and
then moving into the SEC, are there is there like
a game circled on the calendar, or specific teams or
players that you're really excited to get to match up against,

(16:44):
because like you said, a lot of times it's watching
them on TV, and so now you have an opportunity
to buy into those matchups and really get to break
down their films. So what are you looking forward to
with those?

Speaker 1 (16:54):
Every single game I'm looking forward to because I didn't
really get to play a game.

Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah that is okay, understandable, but no.

Speaker 1 (17:01):
But truthfully, like I think, to be the best, you
got to play the best, and so I'm really excited
for South Carolina and just the atmosphere's fans and best
players playing its best players. So I think that's gonna
be super fun. Coach Big versus Coach Don, Like, yeah,
there's two, but yeah, I think that'll be really fun.

Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, I think that'll be a really good matchup to see,
and even like at least you Tennessee, Like the SEC
is so deep, and with the additions of you and Oklahoma,
I think it just makes it even deeper. So I
think that's really excited to see. And I think that
how do you feel like your game is going to translate?
Because I feel like it'll be pretty seamless because in
the SEC, you play people who are not only very

(17:41):
skilled offensively, but I feel like it's also a very
defensive driven league with schemes or the physicality of it.
And you're great on both sides of the ball. So
what are you excited to see for you personally moving
into a new league, playing against these matchups and how
well you're gonna.

Speaker 1 (17:57):
Do, right, I mean, you know, coach Schafs instilled offense
and defense all the time, primarily defense, and I know
that Sea is aggressive. They have walked down defenders, don't
even press things like that, and I feel like he
has prepared us for that moment. A lot of things
we do in practice and stuff is like literally like

(18:18):
how the SEC Conference, how they play, and so it
shouldn't be too much of a shock. It'll definitely be
like an adjustment we will have to make. But I'm excited.
Like games like that are so fun when there's like
this team pressing, someone's getting ball pressure, like we have
people who can go one on one, all down the roster,
stuff like that. I mean, this is something that every team,

(18:40):
every player wants to do like that. These are the
type of games that people want to watch too.

Speaker 2 (18:44):
So yeah, yeah, for sure, I know I'm gonna be
locked in. I'm really excited to see I think just
all those individual matchups like you talked about, and so
thinking of those matchups, I'm a list of few players,
and I want you to give me like a mini
scattering report, not giving away any of coach Shaefer's secrets,
so we don't get you in, but like, you know,
what are their tendencies? What are you looking forward to

(19:05):
working on locking down in the film. So the first
player we got, I don't think you've played against her
at Virginia Tech. But Georgia Amore now at Kentucky, she's
a bucket. Talk to me about Georgia.

Speaker 1 (19:17):
So I've played I've played against and with her, I
think at Kelsey Blum's camp, so that idea. Yeah, I
mean I always watched her play like we're pretty cool.
So we gotta guard her past the three point line
because she'll let it go from she has Yeah, she
has a bag and everything. So I mean I can
always say all good things about her and every probably
everybody that you say, but we're probably gonna put like

(19:40):
one of our best defenders on her though for sure
they probably guarded out there. Yeah, she's the fourth guard
of the team. You gotta you gotta, you gotta stop
the catalysts. So yeah, okay, yeah, all.

Speaker 2 (19:50):
Right, our next one is Raven Johnson.

Speaker 1 (19:53):
Okay, another another appointment dog Camp. Yes, another dog Camp.
I played against riven Au as well. So, and she's
got great hands. You probably don't want to dribble too
high around her. She creates their offense, gets everyone flowing
like she knows what she's doing. She's a veteran, like

(20:15):
so you really I feel like you got to take
her away too, Like this is someone like if you
let them go, the team is going yeah.

Speaker 2 (20:22):
So yeah, yeah, I think both those players are definitely
the catalysts of the team that you said. So you're
able to slow them down. That's going to help you
guys out a lot. Right. So before we get into
your early hoops and basketball journey, a couple of fun
facts that we've done our research about is I heard
your sneaker head, and I've seen the videos of the closet.
How many shoe boxes we have?

Speaker 1 (20:41):
So?

Speaker 2 (20:41):
How many pairs of sneakers do you think you have?
Or what's your favorite show?

Speaker 1 (20:46):
Okay, so I just gave away like five to ten
to my parents. We all were the same shoe size,
So oh that's you.

Speaker 2 (20:54):
Can just rotation for sure.

Speaker 1 (20:56):
Okay, so they are they probably are sneaker heads now
too for me, But I hope for you guys are
watching this when you'll see this. But but I think
I have around sixty in my apartment right now. That's
just my apartment. I know that sounds so bad every
time I say it, I just like feel like, wow,
I have that many shoes that I don't need. But yeah,

(21:18):
but it's crazy because I actually wear a lot of them,
Like I'm not just like leaving a few to the
sky like every year, Like I actually try to spread
out the love and stuff. But as far as my
favorite shoe, I've gotten into more comfort's just like too
much style. So I'm liking like the Vimeros, the A six,
I like the Adida Campus. Okay, double zeros, those are

(21:42):
pretty nice. So like some some comfortable style shoes.

Speaker 2 (21:45):
Yeah you got you got some variety sharing the love
for sure.

Speaker 1 (21:49):
Yes, as a six walk around style Nike, there's a lot.

Speaker 2 (21:54):
I mean, if you have sixty, I'm sure you got
a variety, all right. Also that you're into legos, So
how did you feel like you've built over your time
of building your collection or like what's been your hardest
lego to build? What did I just do? So I
just gotta.

Speaker 1 (22:16):
It's a Camaro like okay, I think in eighties or
seventies Camaro and it's black and red. That one was
kind of disc cool and it kind of took a while,
but I built it during the summer, so I had
a lot of time, okay, And it's a bit expensive,
so I don't like to buy expensive legos, but that
one I had to because I wanted it to be like,

(22:37):
yeah it was. I wanted to be like the theme
like a little bit in my living room and stuff.
But it's just so peaceful, like, yeah, I'm literally just
sitting there following an exstruction step by step. I know
what it's going to look like if I do it ray,
you know. But that's probably, honestly, that's probably my favorite
one right now. I also have like the what is

(22:58):
it the Gauntlet the game? Yes, yes, so I have
that one. I like that one too. That one was
kind of hard to make, like you know, some of
the pieces like they look the same, but yeah they're not.
Those are frustrating, Yes, those are frustrating because then I'm
sitting there like I just did like a whole like
finger and I messed it up.

Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, because then I feel like you have to restart
so quickly, ycause you start on trail and it's wrong.
It's very frustrating.

Speaker 1 (23:24):
I always like try to like make sure I look,
I go over it before I go to like the
next few, because then next thing, you know, you're like, Okay,
I don't have any more of these pieces, and I
kind of need it, so I got to do the
whole thing.

Speaker 2 (23:36):
You're like, so let me just bat track a whole
hour's work work. Yeah, that's frustrating. You're better than me.
I don't have the patience to do that, but I
love it. Like once I get into a groove, then I.

Speaker 1 (23:47):
It's like you don't. You don't want to do anything else.
You just want to like finish. You want to be finished.

Speaker 2 (23:52):
So yeah, wow, I really want to see the gunlin
because I saw that at the score and I feel
like I need to get one or get into it.
I think I do. I think I need to get
into it. We can do that, Okay, Okay, well, well
I guess we'll get back into basketball. That's what we're
here to talk about. Talk about legs. So taking it
back to the roots for a minute. Grew up in Houston, Texas,

(24:15):
who put the ball in your hands, and how did
you get into basketball?

Speaker 1 (24:20):
Both my parents did. I mean probably more of my
dad than my mom, but they both did plenty of sports,
all the things that you can think of. Mom teared, read, track,
played basketball, did the band. Even my dad played football, track, basketball,
So it was just in his whole family has four

(24:40):
brothers and three brothers and one sister, so they all
did something with the ball, and I think that and
then obviously might have an older brother. He got a
ball first. He's he's three years older than me, so
I followed anything he did. Yeah, so if I saw
him dribbling, I was going to start dribbling. So that
was Yeah, that was something that I think. You know,

(25:01):
they put us in all the other sports like soccer,
like I really like soccer, and put us in gymnastics
like swimming and stuff like that. But just to know
I can run around with the orange ball and do
whatever was probably what brought my attention.

Speaker 2 (25:14):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I got you. I feel like I
was the same way with my older brother, and it
may have started out of the place of like I
wanted to annoy him and just do what he was doing.
Oh wow, this is fun for me to cool Yeah. Well,
speaking of your older brother, is it true that you
ended up being scouted for an AAU thing when you
were in the second grade? Shooting at halftime of your

(25:36):
brother's basketball game, tell us the story you.

Speaker 1 (25:38):
Did your research for.

Speaker 2 (25:39):
Shout out to the team they did their stuff.

Speaker 1 (25:42):
Wow, that is really impressive. I haven't heard that in
like a long time. But yes, thank god for my
brother and his AAU team. Yes, I got picked up
by a team that they have built me into the
player in person i am today. I played with that
team Kjubbles for like nine years, so I played two
years of ever since I started. So I was in

(26:03):
second grade and they were all in fourth grade. To
this day, I know what every single one of them
were doing still, but that was the best time of
my life and just figuring out how to play basketball
the way they did it was so fun. But yeah,
that is super true.

Speaker 2 (26:17):
I would love that. Well, moving through the years, getting
to high school, you went to a state championship, scored
over twenty five hundred points, which is insane. Dude, like
he's doing that. But do you feel like there was
a specific moment throughout your high school career or maybe
your AU career that really cemented yourself to be on
the map of premier players in your class. I think

(26:41):
once I started playing for coach Chris at cideper Premier,
it was just a bigger you know, he had already
players that committed D one and I was just like, okay,
since this is really what I want to do, and
you just started like focusing and zoning in on playing
basketball seriously and trying to put myself on the map.
And so once once so you know, I got with

(27:03):
the good connection I got with some other D one
basketball players. It kind of took off from there. Like
you start playing the best of the best, like we
kind of were talking about earlier, you can't really be
talked about unless you're like playing the best players out there.
So we started getting in big tournaments, and I guess
I started doing pretty good, you know, and luckily, like
coach Schaeffer, coach Alato where found me and I made

(27:26):
myself home here. So yeah, I think I think having
that connection with coach Chris was a big deal. It
kind of changed things around really fast. Yeah, I feel
like it happened so quick, like once you find coach
getting on the EIBL circuit specifically, and then once you
play against the top talent, because it's one thing to

(27:47):
like be good in your area, be good in your
hurt league. Yeah, but I feel like once you start
competing against the best and growing and every now and then,
you may get humbled a little bit. I know I was,
But like you take that with a grain of salt
and just keep it push, and then that's when you
really start to make a name for yourself. And I
mean your thoughts was stack going ahead against We'd already
talked about seeing Raven Azy and Liam Morris and I

(28:07):
think the list goes on and on. What was it
like or do you remember any specific moments going head
to head and having those battles, having the full courts
and the coaches watching you guys, What was that like
to have such a high level basketball at a young age.

Speaker 1 (28:22):
Since you mentioned Amo, we played her, thank this is
so long ago. Wow, I'm not old. Okay, I'm gonna say, yeah,
we've played each other. She was on sipha E Lee
and I was on Cipher Premier, and I think at
that time we were both I can't remember if we
both decided or no, we were both for looking you know,

(28:45):
at the schools, and I think we both knew or
had an idea that Texas or coach Schafer was our interest,
and you know, he jumped from Mississippi to Texas pretty fast.
But I was like, there's so many people. There were
so many people, so many coaches at this game. It
was in Houston, so it was it was like my
hometown too. But it was just like a moment where
I realized I was like, okay, so I'm really like

(29:08):
they weren't just watching me, like they were watching like Amo,
there's so many, so many people, even on my team.
There's just like so many great basketball players. And I
think I even played I think I played o Livium
Wise in that tournament too. Really, I feel like I
feel like I'm not wrong. No, we definitely did. So
I'm saying like just being able to like play against

(29:29):
someone who probably at that moment, I didn't know the
rankings that I don't remember any of that, but at
that moment it was probably like ranks super high. Like
I mean, that's like doing something and doing something right,
I think so.

Speaker 2 (29:39):
So yeah, No, I think it's it's crazy, like how
intense those tournaments get. And I was just talking to
somebody about like Boo Williams or tournaments like that, which
just like everybody's in one place, and so like you
don't even want to leave the gym when you're waiting
for your next game. You want to go watch the
other top ranked people, see how you measure up gets

(30:01):
pay head to head coaches walking around the track, like
all those UYBL tournaments were insane with the amount of
talent and the coaches that were there.

Speaker 1 (30:09):
It's why, Yeah, that's that's funny because to this day,
coach Lovado, she's the one that recruited me heavily too.
She's still was Coach Schaefer here. She was saying like
that's when she knew that's who they wanted to be
their point guard, was when we were playing in Boot
Williams because we were playing the best of the best.
She said she saw me taking charges and playing defense

(30:30):
full court, just the way coach Schafer likes is. So
it's just funny that you mentioned that tournament because she
still brings it up today and it's like, yeah, you
were absolutely crazy, like you had so much energy. You
were just playing decents on everyone and it was great
and I think we had been undefeated there, and I
think that's what really like it. That's when it really
took off because we were playing the Boot Williams teams itself,

(30:52):
like we were playing the best teams like there was
so yeah.

Speaker 2 (30:57):
Yeah, I mean it's those tournaments are crazy, and I
think it's also just speaking to what college coaches look for,
like the little things like you taking charges, picking up
full court. A lot of times young girls when they're
going to these AU tournaments, they don't think about that.
They're just thinking about, Okay, how many points am I
getting too? Not thinking about efficiency or getting your teammates involved,
being a good teammate. Like they really look at all

(31:17):
of those little things and like you could be just
as good as somebody else, maybe even average more. But
like if you're not doing those little intangible things and
the coaches aren't going to look at you like that,
which I think is you don't really understand that at
that point in time, but actually.

Speaker 1 (31:31):
You really don't.

Speaker 2 (31:32):
Yeah, so I think kid's crazy. But talking about you
recruiting to Texas, what set Texas apart from you? Was
it Coach Schaeffer? Was it the girls? What made you
want to choose Texas?

Speaker 1 (31:45):
I mean, I knew I wanted to go play for him,
so he was recruiting me at Miss Cippi State first,
and I'm so close with my family and I want
them to be able to come to every home game,
and so I wasn't saying it wasn't an option but
to go and play MS Studio. I was like, I

(32:05):
don't know about it. But one day my mom was like,
wouldn't it be crazy because at this time, Coachchafer and
Levado were basically my favorite coaches that I talked to.
Mom was like, so wouldn't it be crazy if they
came to Texas? And I was like, yeah, that's crazy.
Like I'd probably go like, yeah, no, doubt about it. Nexting,
you know, like I promised you. Like a week later,

(32:25):
it happened, and I like I remember me and my
mom was like, oh my gosh, it's crazy, and I obviously,
like I was like, yep, this is what I want
to do. Yeah, got on a zoom call because it
was COVID at the time, and they were doing something
in the locker room. This is whenever it was at
Frank and I told them and they were like jumping
in a circle and whatnot. But I mean, coach Schaefer

(32:46):
made it known like he's here to win. And I
respect all the other coaches that recruited me, but there's
something about his passion to win and his the amount
of hate he had about losing, because I feel that
exact same way. Yeah, and to be a part of
the winning culture and an elite culture like here at
the University of Texas, like basketball side, like getting a

(33:09):
degree here, like getting a master's here here, being close
to home, you know, all the things like that. And
so it was a pretty easy decision to make. Once
you know he moved over to Texas, I was like, Okay, yeah,
this is it. So yeah, as we know this is
And he was so loyal, he was so everything he
said was so true. It's very transparent with everything he said.

(33:30):
And that was another thing I really did appreciate, Like
what he said in the recruiting process to this day,
he had stuck with it.

Speaker 2 (33:43):
Taking it back to your freshman year, talk to me
about getting to Texas those first few practices. Was it
what you expected or was it harder? What was kind
of those first few days?

Speaker 1 (33:53):
Like, Oh, I felt like I feel like you asked
this knowing like my story but so we come in
the summers. We always do our summer school and summer workouts,
and I remember I was so excited. I had just
got my wisdom teeth out and I just graduated like
a couple of weeks before, so it was a lot
going on. I was happy, I was in pain, you

(34:15):
know whatnot So we have I know, we had individuals,
so it's just like an hour. We have limited time
in the summer, as you know. But I remember we
split it up as positions, so I think there's two
others with me. I had two other players with me
at that time. And I remember calling my mom after
just the one hour workout and telling her how bad

(34:37):
I felt. Like I trained with my dad two hours
every day for so many years straight. For me to
work out for that one hour and feel that bad,
like I thought I was going to crumble. I was
gonna need like CPR. I was like, I felt so bad,
and I called her. I was like, Wow, this is crazy,

(34:59):
not like in a bad but I was like, wow,
this is crazy, Like this is completely like this is
what I expected. But like I'm thinking, like, okay, I
think I'll be able to get through it, you know,
like I've worked really hard, like my whole life to
you know, get to this point. But there wasn't like
a timer, all right, go ahead and get well. No,
it was like you get it when you can. You

(35:20):
get it when you can. You don't get it, there's
not a slot. You get it when you can. There's
no walking. There's much this thing as walking at all.
It was in just one hour. It was definitely like
a shock to me, a shock to like I had
to look in the mirror that day. I was like,
what the heck, let's okay, I know what I'm good like,
this is this is it? Though, this is what I
came here for. Yeah, I mean I've gotten so much

(35:42):
better than But yeah, that was my initial feelings at
that time, and I'll never forget it because it was
I've never felt like that every.

Speaker 2 (35:50):
Yeah, you no, like it is so humbling to go
into college because I feel like I didn't realize the
jump that it is.

Speaker 1 (35:58):
Yeah, you think you're like read in hot high school,
you're doing this, you get all the accolades, you're the
best of your team. But no, like, no, it goes
out out the window.

Speaker 2 (36:07):
Literally everybody's been there, done that. They're like I don't there,
Like you talked about those hour workouts for some reason
would take me out, Like and I think what you
said about the water. I remember, like I would be
begging Tara. I'm like, girl, it's been an hour, i
need a sin. I'm exhausted, like over, I'm sprinting to
water in between drills, I get there to take a

(36:29):
sip and I'm being yelled at to go step back in.

Speaker 1 (36:30):
Yes, it was just like that.

Speaker 2 (36:32):
You know, it was a comic experience. But you know,
you learn and you grow. It's okay, you keep it pushing, dude,
I'm talking about like that first practice. Do you feel
like your freshman year you have a horror story. Maybe
it's in the film room, maybe it's on the court.
What's your horror story?

Speaker 1 (36:51):
Yeah, I felt like I was like I thought I
was like you know, I had a great level head
and I was chill, but no, I was actually like not,
I was not chill. I was stressed out all the time.
I just wanted to do write everything I did. I
just wanted to be perfect in a way, like I
was really the only person in my position, Like he

(37:11):
threw me into the fire. Was like you're gonna learn
this right away. You got to learn every position. I
didn't even know my own position at the time, but
I had to know the two, three, four, five, And
it was just like I was stressed out all the
time the team ran through me an eighteen year old yeah,
and I was like I got to sit here and
try to tell twenty three year olds what to do,
Like it was just and I already wasn't vocal, Like

(37:33):
it was just so like out of character for me.
I had to really get uncomfortable. And so I guess
like throughout that whole season, I had a great season,
Like I'm so happy that I did, but man like
behind the scenes, like people really don't know how stressful
and mentally and physically hard that was to Like, Yeah,
first you're like in shock from your first workouts. You're like, well,

(37:55):
this is going to be like this every day and
I was only an hour yeah, And the second You're like, okay,
I don't even know what I'm doing, but he wants
me to tell other people what to do and I
just got here, so it's like, you know, it's just
it was just a whole bunch of stuff that it
was like I could really go on and on about
my freshman year. But I'm just happy that it went
the way it did. We you know, won some championships

(38:17):
and whatnot, and I'm still here, so obviously it was
It wasn't that bad.

Speaker 2 (38:22):
Yeah, we're still doing it.

Speaker 1 (38:23):
We're still pushing.

Speaker 2 (38:25):
Being a freshman point guard is really hard because, like
you said, I'm trying to figure out myself and learn
the plays and run the offense, and now here I
am yelling at you guys where to do your positions.
I don't even know the one yet. Like it's a
hard position to be in.

Speaker 1 (38:39):
Yeah, he would be like, okay, so if something bad happened,
that's your fault, but if something good happens, that's your fault.
So you also have to get into the press. But
you also have to make sure that there's no wide
open breakaway lamps. So there's like it was like almost
like I have to be like in two plays at
one time. Like I it was a moment stress, But

(39:00):
I figured it out now that I'm a senior. Yeah,
I figured it out.

Speaker 2 (39:03):
Yes, well, I hope. So you're doing great, you have,
but it's there's so many different pieces of the plant
guard where like you said, it's like, Okay, you have
to find a time to play, make for your team,
but also okay, go get yourself a bucket, keep everyone involved,
but you go get yours and it's like, yeah, how
do I.

Speaker 1 (39:20):
Get be too passive? But you got to make sure
the passes at the right times are the right person
in the right spot, and make sure you know your personnel.
And you know, I just got there, so I don't
know anybody's personnel. So yeah, it was just a bunch.

Speaker 2 (39:32):
Yeah, it's a lot. It's a lot. Well you're doing
right now, you're doing But so freshman year, you helped
your team. Great season, you make it to an a
lead eight. What was the first taste of the NCAA
tournament like for you, it was so fun.

Speaker 1 (39:46):
I just think like that atmosphere was just so fun.
I know it didn't like turn off the way we
wanted to, but to be able to go that far
and just be so young to be able to experience
something like that was so fun. I loved playing with
those teammates at the time, Like I still look up
to all all of them, and they helped me through
the way. I know I made it sound so stressful
and I didn't have any help, but no, they definitely

(40:06):
like helps me. And but it was so fun. I'm
glad that I was able to experience that early and
get a feel of like what the tournament is like.

Speaker 2 (40:14):
Yeah, and then you got Big twelve freshman the year,
which is a hard thing to do because the Big
twelve Big twelve is good. I think a lot of
people really don't think about how deep you guys are. Like, no,
there's also different teams Iowa State, Kansas State has really
come on the map, all those different teams. So getting
Big twelve fresh from the year, what did that mean
to you? Pushing you into that sophomore season that you had, You.

Speaker 1 (40:35):
Know, it was such a great accolade to have. But
like I said, I feel like if you're not winning
and having such great teammates besides you, like it's you're
not really going to be in the talk as much. So,
like I said, I think the way I was able
to come up, like I didn't just do it by myself,
Like I had such a great team aside me just
to really push me and have high expectations every day

(40:56):
in practice, Like, yes, I made a lot of mistakes,
but they were me, like you got this like we're
behind you, you were our point guard, and so hearing
those things like it just kept me going. They completely
motivated And so when I look at some of those
like videos or highlights, like they truly were so happy
that I was able to get that word so and
it was all because of them.

Speaker 2 (41:16):
It's trually, Yeah, it's the best feeling when you like
those off court connections with your teammates translate onto it
and like everybody's so genuinely happy for one another. I
feel like it just it changes the momentum of every game,
being able to stay so tight knit like that. And
then obviously you guys had a great sophomore season you did,
coming out ranked number three, and then moving from your

(41:38):
sophomore year to junior year, junior you came out hot
dude that yukon game crazy. So talking about your preparation
from the great sophomore season that you had, writing that
momentum into junior year, what were those things that you
really focus on in the off season to come out
in the manner that you did.

Speaker 1 (41:56):
That's when I really started walking on film, like watching
film like it's like no one really likes kind of
like watching theirself that much. It's it's kind of disturbing.
It's like almost like watching yourself do an interview. It's
kind of weird. Yeah, but yeah, but I had to
do and I was like, I feel like this is
truly how I'll get better. So I think that jump

(42:20):
from sophomore to junior something like clicked. And so, yeah,
like the Yukon game, I feel like preparations always, like
coach Shafer's thing, like we have to be prepared. We
prepare like every game is its last and every game
is the same and so and we knew like we
had to be Yukon in years. They have great players,
like one of the best players in the league. So

(42:42):
I think we were just you know, just reready in
our on our toes and we just wanted to prove
a point, you know, just go out there and have fun.
There was a lot of fans there, but yeah.

Speaker 2 (42:51):
And you did that. You had twenty seven, had twenty
all of you. I feel like you guys were firing
on all cylinders neck.

Speaker 1 (42:57):
Yeah, and we were pretty on point, Like yeah, I
know it looked like really great and great and we
had fun and we looked great. But I truly when
we went back after the game. We truly thought we
did great. I mean, obviously there's a few things you
find in film the next day you're like, Okay, you
could have done this, you didn't box out stuff like that.
But we were able to just completely execute, Like we

(43:20):
just executed. Everyone took the shots they needed to take,
and we were hitting shots, we got stops, played defense,
locked in together on defense. So yeah, it was it
really was like it was a great game.

Speaker 2 (43:32):
Yeah, And it was like, you guys put together a
full forty minutes and I feel like a lot of
times you played great for a quarter, great for yeah, whatever.
Sure to put together a full forty minute game. It's
hard to beat somebody when they do that. And you
have impact players coming off the bench, everybody really locking
into their role. And I think what you talked about
with film is so it's so key because like sometimes

(43:52):
when you watch yourself after a bad game, it's like
who is that out there? Like that?

Speaker 1 (43:56):
It's like why did I do that? You're like why,
Like I if I were to do that right now,
would use not to do that?

Speaker 2 (44:03):
Yes? And I love when the coaches ask you, like
what was going through your head? And I'm like, I
don't have any answer for you. I will do better,
that's my answer. Yeah, let's move forward. Coach's let's not
get past.

Speaker 1 (44:15):
Let's first forward. Yes, let's give five seconds.

Speaker 2 (44:20):
Exactly. But so you guys started off great and then
twelve games of the season you get injured, and so
we talked about it a little bit earlier. But I
think one thing that was so special about your recovery
is you chose to share that journey on social media
and going through your rehab documenting it. What made you
want to do that because I feel like a lot

(44:41):
of people want to do that kind of on their own, individually,
in silence, and you decided to share your journey. A
lot of people were able to connect with you about it,
and you had other teammates who had been through those
injuries too. So what was that like for you deciding
to share it on social media and get all that
love from different types of people? All right?

Speaker 1 (44:58):
I think at the beginning, or like I said, like
you're just really selfish, like you are just into yourself.
You're like, oh my god, this is like terrible. I'm
not gonna get any better. I'm not going to be
the same, Like it's just so many negative thoughts and
you're like, Okay, I'm not the only one going through this,
Like how can I in a way deflect my feelings
just talk about it, like talk about it help somebody else.

(45:21):
At that time when I was injured, one of the
things that helps me was helping Madison. Yeah, I get
to not think about myself. So now I'm trying to
help somebody else. So I think I enjoyed, like you know,
making videos and having fun with it in a way,
and like seeing my improvement throughout those videos. And to
find out like there were so many people dming me saying,

(45:42):
oh my god, I tore mine the same day or
I tore mine yet, like it was like crazy, like
how sadly, like how often it kind of happens, you know.
And I think to this day, I'm still like answering
questions because I truly, like I understand, like I truly
do understand how you feel. And you should always want
to talk to someone just talk it out. Don't want

(46:03):
to like be to yourself, because it really is tough.
When you know you do something your whole life. You
start off the season great, everything feels like so great,
and then boom, like something like that happens and you're like,
you don't even get to play anymore. You can't even
like walk and do anything on your own. So yeah,
I think like it was just a way to let
go and stop thinking about myself. Just help somebody else,

(46:25):
you know, help somebody else, make someone else's day, stuff
like that. But yeah, I think when I even look
back at that and I'm like, wow, I really couldn't
lift my leg up, I can do certain things, and
now where I am, like I'm able to be back
on the court.

Speaker 2 (46:39):
So yeah, I think that's amazing because not only like
being able to focus on somebody else and get out
of your own head, whether it be medicine talking making
these new connections, but I think like for you, you
basically have a video diary to document every single part
of your journey, so it's able to be able to
watch back and just see your growth, grateful for your
health now where you are. So I think that's such

(46:59):
a thing that you can look back and then see
all the connection that you made, the small little things.
I remembering my rehab, the biggest thing I hated was
like the straight leg raises and getting your quad to engage.
Oh my gosh, your other leg becomes so small compared
to self.

Speaker 1 (47:14):
On mine was like terribly small. I just was like
I remember my first day after being bad rested from
surgery and being on the medication. Obviously, the first thing
they do is like, all right, make a quad muscle,
and I'm like looking at my leg and I'm like,
it's not moving things going on, and I was just like,

(47:34):
I've like it's so like that's the moments that are
so hard that like it's devastating, like just the other
day you were able to do it, and you lose
that much muscle that fast but quick. It's interesting to see,
like when I even look back now, because it's easier
to look back during the time, like I could never
like look back at any pictures videos, like it's just

(47:54):
so sad, but now I can talk about it and
stuff like that. But my smile grew as it went on.
So I think that's like kind of the most important
part was just to like find my smile again and
understand that everything happens for a reason and I'm a
competitor and I wasn't gonna let anything like this and
opposite cool adversity get in my way.

Speaker 2 (48:16):
So yeah, yeah, And I feel like, like what you said,
finding that smile again, being away from the game gives
you a new appreciation for it in a different way,
Like you understand, Wow, I really do miss it, Like
you get a new love for the game, you get
to learn it from a different vantage point. And you
talked about putting that focus away from yourself Like obviously
you get a week or two to like have those

(48:37):
selfish moments and be all down about it, but once
you turn your mindset and then focus on the people
around you. I saw you with the pen and papers
on the sideline. You were locked in, real coach out there.
You were doing your thing. You were locked in for
your team. And so what do you feel like is
the greatest takeaway that you had from you know, being
a mentor for Madison, being a player coach for your teammates. Really,

(48:58):
what do you think that the big takeaway that you
had from that experience?

Speaker 1 (49:03):
Man, there's like so many, but I would say like
one of them is just like the patience of the game,
Like everything just really does slow down, Like it truly does.
And even now, like I sit and talk with like
coach Slato or coach Schafer and say, like, I truly
feel like the game is so slow to me now,

(49:23):
it's it's very slow. But even then, I think like
being a coach on the bench and being in the front,
I get to like hear what he's saying, not all
the time that he's like projecting out to the team
on the court, but I can hear what he's saying
that he's looking for. And I think that I appreciated that,

(49:43):
Like he would ask me, he would ask me like,
what do you think we should run? Like how do
you feel about this? It was like yeah, he kept
me involved as much as possible too, and took a
lot of my advice, and he knew like just because
I'm out on the court doesn't mean I don't have
any IQ. I don't know what I'm saying, like you know.
And so I think just him asking me those questions

(50:04):
and making you realize and it's kind of slowing the
game down for me, that is definitely the biggest takeaway
for sure.

Speaker 2 (50:10):
And I feel like that's huge for you being a
point guard, Like now you're just a second hymn out
there on the court this year, Like you don't always
need to turn and be like, Okay, what are we running,
Like you understand the flow of the game to be
like okay, okay, this girl's hot, let's get her a touch,
or okay, the defense is playing you this type of way.
So now you can implement that as you come back
this season, which is going to be scary for other
teams really, But.

Speaker 1 (50:32):
I was curious, yes, yes.

Speaker 2 (50:35):
Thinking about last year's tournament run, number one seed, first
time since two thousand and four, the elitate run was wild,
losing a close one to NC State. Talk to me
about the experience of March Madness last year compared to
previous years and the differences that you felt being on
the sideline and how you think that's going to motivate
you guys moving into this season.

Speaker 1 (50:57):
Yeah, I just felt like we were so close. We
truly believe that we were going to get past that
elite eate home, And I think that's kind of what
hurt more is because, like, I mean, we played good,
but obviously like we could have played better, Like there's
no excuses, and that was like one of the last
games of the season, But we went through so much

(51:20):
adversity to like adjust, like we had players in and
out constantly and for like Shay and Madison to like
play those minutes consecutively, like it's so impressive and it
kind of shows like they start like an example and
they showed the world like what Texas women's basketball is about.

(51:42):
And how now we have this like tip on our shoulder.
It's like, okay, so we have these pieces back, we
have this person healthy, we have these new additions, and
it's like, now we have to put it together. Yeah,
figure it out, find some chemistry, stay healthy, and just
try to get back to that spot.

Speaker 2 (51:59):
But further so, yeah, I mean I'm excited to see
it to put all those pieces together, especially how people, yeah,
like everyone's growth from last year and then bringing you
back into the mix. I feel like it's just all
going to flow together very well, which I'm excited to see.
Moving into our next session here before we talk about
your senior season, these next two questions are sponsored by

(52:21):
are Lovely sponsored so far and when I talk about NIL,
it's changed the game, it really has. So we need
to get serious about money and financial literacy all the things.
What do you feel like is the biggest piece of
financial advice you've gotten through the NIL process?

Speaker 1 (52:38):
Just truly like saving your money and investing. I think,
I mean Texas is so good at like doing so
much for our players here and getting so many deals
and building our brand. We just have to be able
to know what to do with the money now. Yeah,
And I think they have so many things here like
meetings and conversations. They have people from like Credit Union

(53:02):
come talk to us to like talk about like saving
your money and like investing where to invest, and like,
you know, not a lot of people like really know,
I didn't know everything, like my parents are very great investors,
but like there's so much that you can still learn.
And I think that was like one of the biggest
takeaways because I don't need to spend all my money

(53:24):
in a day, you know, I need to go do
something with it and do something right with it. And
so that was I think even recently. We just had
a meeting recently and I learned so much from that
just talking about finances, just like word to invest and
stuff like that. So yeah, definitely that I.

Speaker 2 (53:42):
Think that's really special that Texas takes the time to
educate you guys about what they sue, how to use it,
and so thinking about the future, what are some things
outside of basketball that you're passionate about that you would
want to invest in one day, Oh, I.

Speaker 1 (53:58):
Like clothes and fast, and so I was gonna say, yeah, yeah,
like there's I just want to support cheries. I feel
like we do a lot of volunteering here and community
service and I've truly found a love for that, like
a lot of hands on experiences too. So whatever I
can do to help like this community or community back

(54:22):
at home or community in need, I think I enjoy
doing that. And then but as far as like the
ones like I do want to invest in, like maybe
exploring like a clothing brand, like I do have a
merch line, but like kind of like my own clothing
brand like okay with you know, like a positive slogan
or something like stuff like that. I think just to

(54:42):
make a positive impact.

Speaker 2 (54:44):
That's amazing. I'm excited. I mean, public the merch everybody.

Speaker 1 (54:47):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (54:49):
Yeah. And then how do you feel like I think
NIL takes up a lot of time with different obligations,
and so how do you feel like you've been able
to balance those NIL obligations with basketball and your course
low Like you talked about graduating early, Like can you
get a master's how are you able to find that balance?

Speaker 1 (55:05):
I mean they try their best. Like I feel like
we're in the like majority of the day, But there's
so much communication here that I appreciate, Like we have
coaches involved. It's not just like a one person that's
like we do have one person that does extremely help
us get these deals, but like she's constantly communicating with
coach coached Evado, Like they never let us turn down

(55:29):
any deals, Like if we have to leave practice for
like you know, a big deal and there's there was
no other time to schedule that deal, Like there's always
like a way to figure it out. And yeah, they
make sure like you know, when it's when it's time
stuff in the court, it's time and steff in the court.
But also we do have business, like we're not just
basketball players, Like we have a brand like and stuff

(55:49):
like that. And that's also something I really do appreciate
with our staff and just all the resources here at Texas,
just like they understand like yes, we're elite athletes, were
elite elite students, but they're there's stuff outside of our
sport and stuff outside of the ball balancing that we
can do, Like we can prove our brand and our business.

Speaker 2 (56:08):
So yeah, yeah, I think it's really great that your
coaches are into that because a lot of places they
don't have that balance where they want to push and
do more. But changing gears into how do you see
the evolution from freshman year Rory to senior year Rory.
What's the biggest jump that we've seen? Do you think? Oh?

Speaker 1 (56:25):
My maturity? For sure? Oh my goodness, that's the answer
for completely nothing else. I don't know, Yeah, but I yes,
I've improved as a basketball player, but just my maturity,
like emotional intelligence, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, like all of all
of that, Like the maturity level has completely just made

(56:46):
a flip. And I'm just grateful that I've had people
around me just to help with that process. And it
could just be like basketball IQ or just like handling,
like a situation, like coaches telling me, like how am
I gonna respond? The team is down halftime? In the
locker room? What are we saying to each other? Just

(57:06):
like it could be little things like that, like 're
being accountable, like making a turnover and practice and like
am I gonna walk over there to run the steps?
Or am I gonna run? You know what? I'm saying
things like that, and now that I'm like a senior
and I have to set an example for our incoming
freshmen or even our transfers, like what it's supposed to

(57:27):
be like here. So yeah, that is completely the biggest jump.

Speaker 2 (57:32):
I love that. I think, like you said, obviously on
the corporate maturity leads to a lot of that other stuff.
Even though working on those skills, the maturity that you
need to be able to implement that into your game
is big. And so looking at the team, ESPN has
you guys ranked number six, how do you feel about that?
Does that feel right? We feel higher?

Speaker 1 (57:52):
I mean I'm cool where we're at, honestly, like obviously,
like I don't want to get too comfortable with that position,
but we have something to prove, Like I honestly I'm
good with working our way up, Like we have to
work our way up. There's so many great teams out there,
and that's just something like every day that we will
think about, Like right now, y'all, we are number six.

(58:12):
There's a good starter, Like, yeah, that's what I'm saying.
Like it could either be like okay, well, I mean
this is fine, like we can be six, five, maybe, like,
but no, like that's we're gonna see what people are
made of on this team eventually down the line when
these rankings like fluctuate. Who's going to be comfortable with
just being second? You know, you don't want to be
just second, you want to be first. Yeah, right now,

(58:32):
like this is a good spot being top ten out
of However many schools like that's still good. So, like
I said, we don't want to get too comfortable, but
it's still a good thing to say that we're six
for sure, for sure.

Speaker 2 (58:44):
And I think you talked about like how much talent
there is in the college landscape right now. There's a
lot of teams that reloaded just like you guys, from
incoming freshmen, older players staying with their extra eligibility. And
so what do you think is like the X factor
about your team other people may be surprised about, or
the thing that you guys are going to write on
to get you to a final four this year.

Speaker 1 (59:05):
Oh, that's a good question. That's something that I'm going
to have to think about.

Speaker 2 (59:09):
Give me a second all the time.

Speaker 1 (59:13):
Man, It's really I mean, honestly, it really just comes
down the toughness, like who is going to be tougher
because at the end of the day, like you're going
to be playing against someone that's either the same skill
set or better, but who is going to be tougher
mentally and physically, who's going to get the most rebounds
usually wins, and then whoever's mentally tough at the end

(59:35):
of the game usually wins. So that's something that we
really do talk about lot here, Like it's on the board.
We do like check minus for like games. So if
we come across toughness and we didn't feel like we
were all tough, it's either one or zero, it's a minus.
So that's like a big indicator of like our wins
and losses.

Speaker 2 (59:56):
So yeah, yeah, I feel like that's something that Texas teams,
not all before coach Schaeffer, but also with him and
all his teams. You guys have that identity of like, yeah,
you guys can be just as talented, more talented than
teams to come across, but you guys have that grit
that push neither he's gonna get y'all there or y'all
go and get it there, but y'all be diving on
the ground place. You guys always have those intangibles which

(01:00:19):
I feel like set you apart. And so I'm excited
to see how all that comes to fruition this year.
And let me not give too much love to Texas,
but I do a lot of respect.

Speaker 1 (01:00:29):
That means thank you.

Speaker 2 (01:00:32):
As we headed to our last section here, it's our
vibe check. It's gonna be rapid fire questions, so we'll see.
I think you're gonna be a great with rapid fire.
We have some guests where it's like, Okay, I feel
like quicken it up. You're gonna be great. So our
first question is what's the drill you never want to
see on the practice plan?

Speaker 1 (01:00:50):
Oh wait, what's the name of the drill? Sorry, I've
been on a practice for a long time. Three on
three no dribble? Is that full two? It is? So
you basically three on three, there's no dribbles. There's defense.
So the defense denies, so think about it. You don't
have dribbles, but yeah, in denial, so you're basically like, yeah,

(01:01:11):
you're basically running backs wide receivers trying to get open
and if you if the person catches the ball for
the defender, you get like a tally. So there's tallies
for like if you let someone catch the ball. We
also get plus tallies if you get a deflection and
stuff like that. And at the end of it, I
don't know, five six minutes. Oh my god, I'm like
thinking about it. It's not fun.

Speaker 2 (01:01:33):
Bringing up a lot of emotions.

Speaker 1 (01:01:35):
Yeah, we hadn't done it yet. That's like one of
our like toughness drills. Like no, like it is like toughness.
But yeah, one of our drills we don't do too
early on. I hope I'm not speaking that into the
next but but yeah, I'm not. I don't like really
seeing that one.

Speaker 2 (01:01:51):
We'll leave that. We'll leave that one where it is. Yeah, yeah,
so it comes out, Okay, game winning shot or game
winning steal.

Speaker 1 (01:02:00):
Game money is still into a shot, all right, I know,
I know, I mean, but game money. No, let's say
game shotange game shot.

Speaker 2 (01:02:10):
I like that, and one or three pointer and one
group TikTok or solo TikTok, solo TikTok. I'm sad to
see the solo TikTok up the page.

Speaker 1 (01:02:22):
I've been on solo.

Speaker 2 (01:02:23):
Yeah, all right, where's the toughest place to play on
the road?

Speaker 1 (01:02:28):
Where it was was Iowa State great, great, great family.
So many people, there's gonna be a lot of good crowds.

Speaker 2 (01:02:36):
Me sec.

Speaker 1 (01:02:37):
I can't wait to see. I really can't. I'm excited.

Speaker 2 (01:02:41):
Who is the biggest trash talker you've played against?

Speaker 1 (01:02:45):
It's funny you say that, because I don't think anybody
has ever talked trust to me?

Speaker 2 (01:02:48):
Really? No, Okay, so maybe like have you heard it,
like maybe to a teammate or something like that, or.

Speaker 1 (01:02:53):
Maybe I won that one little incident in our Louisville game.

Speaker 2 (01:03:01):
Yes, all right, Yeah, who's the hardest player you've had
to guard?

Speaker 1 (01:03:08):
I feel like this isn't rapid fire anymore. I don't
even know.

Speaker 2 (01:03:16):
Let's think we're doing so good, Roy.

Speaker 1 (01:03:19):
I know I'm thinking because like I didn't play that much,
so I got to think back somewhere.

Speaker 2 (01:03:23):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:03:24):
Yeah, so I'm trying to like, oh, oh I got
one Emily Ryana. I always saying, oh.

Speaker 2 (01:03:32):
That's a good thing.

Speaker 1 (01:03:32):
It's pretty tough. Yeah, Like it's it's like a so smart. Yeah,
she's so smart, and she's so like heady and very calm,
and it just can mess up the You're like thinking,
oh she's something you did like, but she does something
completely different. But now, she's pretty tough to guard, like actually.

Speaker 2 (01:03:49):
She where like her rhythm and the way she dribbles
is different from other people.

Speaker 1 (01:03:56):
She'll put you to sleep almost like, yes, you can't
really gave win or what she's doing. I cannot.

Speaker 2 (01:04:03):
That's a good band. Okay, who is the biggest flopper
you've played against?

Speaker 1 (01:04:07):
Can I say my teammates? I'm just kidding. You can
say some of your teammates practice sometimes, but dang wait,
let me think again.

Speaker 2 (01:04:15):
It can be a teammate.

Speaker 1 (01:04:16):
It can Okay, yeah, because a yeah putting herself around
do all right, what's your biggest basketball I think whenever
coaches like, all right, chew free throws for like running
baselines in the practice, so you get to like if

(01:04:38):
you miss hat, run like you make like I don't.
I don't care too much.

Speaker 2 (01:04:42):
I hate that drill. That's really like stepping up to
the free throw line psykes me out more than any
loud arena because I know it's my teammates made the consequences.
So I'm like, please give me the strength here. That's
a hard one.

Speaker 1 (01:04:55):
And then someone who like I say this and this me,
but someone who takes charges, I'm.

Speaker 2 (01:05:01):
Gonna say you're a big golfriend.

Speaker 1 (01:05:03):
I know it's crazy someone who takes charges. It doesn't
happen a lot on me. But like my team is
very put your shoulder down, head down drive. And I
remember there's one team they took charges laft after right.
You know, charges are turnovers and Caver doesn't appreciate that.
So it is a long game.

Speaker 2 (01:05:21):
All right, I got you. Who is your basketball goat?

Speaker 1 (01:05:25):
Alan Everson?

Speaker 2 (01:05:26):
Oh? Good pick. We haven't had that one yet. I
like that. All right? If you could pick a two
on two teammate, but it can't be one of your
current Texas teammates, it can be any any player.

Speaker 1 (01:05:36):
Who would you pick Asian Wilson?

Speaker 2 (01:05:38):
Yeah, that's a popular Yeah, your favorite pregame song?

Speaker 1 (01:05:47):
First, stay Out Trily good pick. Yeah, it's kind of aggressive,
so I.

Speaker 2 (01:05:53):
Think it's good for a pre game for sure.

Speaker 1 (01:05:56):
Yeah, okay.

Speaker 2 (01:05:56):
And then what's your best impression of coach Schaeffer.

Speaker 1 (01:06:01):
Well, he says, well that I ain't it or something,
you know his accent. He'll say, yeah, that ain't it.
And then so if we do anything, turn the ball
over or anything, we have to like go up the
steps or go on the versa climber, like just go,
just go, like it's like, just.

Speaker 2 (01:06:17):
Just it out. He's just like a sound of disappointment,
is what it's not, just.

Speaker 1 (01:06:21):
Yeah, you're done, and his famous stomps. Of course I'm
not getting up for that, but I'm pretty sure everyone
knows I've witnessed.

Speaker 2 (01:06:31):
Yeah, And I feel like I've even seen like like
a paper throat, like I've seen that.

Speaker 1 (01:06:35):
Or his jacket, yeah, or his jacket. He's yeah, that's his.

Speaker 2 (01:06:40):
He's very animated, which I love.

Speaker 1 (01:06:42):
It can get us rowled up and it can upset you.
But I think I remember him like yanking off his
jacket like one of the second plays in the Yukon game.
I was like, we just did something good, but what
do you mean jackets toss? It's usually like something bad,
but I think he was just really hot, so.

Speaker 2 (01:06:59):
He's just good. It was well, Roy, this has been
such a pleasure. Thank you so much for joining us today.

Speaker 1 (01:07:06):
Thank you it's been fun. Thank you so much.

Speaker 2 (01:07:08):
Thank you, and thank you to everybody for listening. Stay
tuned for more episodes of Sometimes I Hope

Speaker 1 (01:07:30):
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