Louisiana Tech Commit AJ bates talks final year at Seven lakes, being the all time leading scorer in school history, AAU, and much more

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Yo, it's the real deal with a kill podcast, the
easy corner collab.
Be back with another one.
Subscribe rate review, spotify,apple, whatever you list to
your podcast, wherever, howeverEasy, talk to me.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Another day, another dollar.
It's another episode of theeasy corner plus the real deal
with a kill Our guests.
One of the best point guards,not only in the city of Houston,
but one of the best pointguards, I would say, in the
state of Texas, one of the bestplayers in Houston.

(00:37):
Houston Hoops own Seven Lakes2024, louisiana Tech Commit is
in the building.
Mr AJ Bates.
Man, how you doing today, bro,man, first of all, man, I kind
of just want to get started off.
How was your Christmas?
Obviously, it's your new year,so it's a two-part question.

(01:01):
Number one is how's yourChristmas, but number two, what
are your goals in 2024?

Speaker 3 (01:08):
My Christmas was really easy, you know spent time
with the fam, worked out a lot,just kind of got to spend time
with not only my family but myteammates, just with practices,
and then some goals I have for2024 is just honestly for me,
just becoming a better man andalso like help around the house
a lot more and just kind ofbuild closer, closer on the

(01:29):
relationship to God, which Ithink is something that I've
been trying to work on for thepast couple of weeks.
But as far as basketball, it'sjust about getting better every
day and, I would say, justimprove in all aspects of life.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
I see you got the Louisiana Tech on your chest.
Yeah.
What made you come to thatdecision?

Speaker 3 (01:50):
What really got it for me was just how they were on
me from the day they offered me.
Coach Smith did a real good jobfrom the day he offered me to
the day I signed.
Like I really like he builtthat relationship instantly.
Like he texted me as soon as Iposted you know that I was
supposed to receive the offerand ever since that day he's
just been texting me asking meabout school, about life.

(02:13):
But the one thing that reallygot me to go to the Louisiana
Tech was just the relationshipthat you know, like they built
my family, like Coach Smith hasa daughter and you know she
wrote a card to my sister andlike that really made me feel
like okay, like I'm going to aspot where they care about the
players but the families and youknow, and Coach Hesse reminds

(02:35):
me of my dad a lot like as faras like his coaching to where
he's hard on you but he lovesyou.
So I think that that was areally big, big like part to
maybe go to the Louisiana Tech.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
He says Law Tech.
Obviously that's the futurejourney for you, but obviously
we're the easy corner in thereal deal with a kill.
Obviously you love this game ofbasketball.
Talk about the journey and howyou started, when you picked up
your fondest memories of pickingup a basketball.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
It started off.
It started off in Michigan.
You know, I'm born from Detroit, michigan.
My pops played college ball andhe was at a Concordia in Auburn
and I just remember just goingto his practice, just playing a
ball, just you know, being alittle kid, just you know, you
know, just hanging around himand his teammates.
And then I moved to Californiain like 2009.

(03:28):
And I think like that's when itreally started to pick up.
You know, I started to actuallytrain and I remember when I was
little, like my pops, like hewas my coach, like I think like
until I moved here, like he hadbeen my coach all my life and
and like the crazy thing is likehe was like like he wanted me
to be a like a pass first guyfirst because, like you know,
once you're a son taking all theshots you know, my parents

(03:49):
complain.
So he was always hard on mebecause he wanted me to be the
best, so it was always just dothe little thing.
So I think that, like, like,that really helped me be the
player I am today.
And like, in, like, I thinkthat in, like, in my game I got
a little bit of everything.
I got that Midwest grit.
I got that finesse from theWest Coast and I think now I'm

(04:09):
starting to get that.

Speaker 2 (04:10):
you know, like that soft, yeah, like Texas,
toughness, yeah, Texas toughnessathleticism which is crazy
because I had no athleticismLike like.

Speaker 3 (04:17):
I couldn't jump over a like a phone book or nothing.
Like I was unathletic, Like,like, like it was bad.

Speaker 2 (04:22):
But you talk about your athleticism and how it's
gradually improved.
But I've said it and I'vewatched you for a very, very
long time you have been able toget the job done.
What about your game that hasthat?
You've seen mature, but youalways had that confidence, no
matter what age, to get the jobdone.

(04:43):
Because I just feel like you'vebeen a Katie staple for the
past four years.
You've been the staple for aKatie district basketball.
So just talk about that.

Speaker 3 (04:53):
I just think that, like, like, what really sets me
apart was just my playmaking andlike, just being a coach on the
floor.
I think that, like that reallyhelped me out, kind of just
solidify myself as a top guy,like you know, like within the
city, and I think that, as likeas time went on, you know, like,
always like a score, but justhaving that confidence to go out
there and be like okay, I canset my team itself, but if, like

(05:16):
, if I need to go, I need to go,and I think that, with like
help from trainers, my pops andno coach has any like like you
know, like me and him talk aboutbasketball every day, like I
would his office in the morning,like we talk and like he's just
like hey, like no, like this isa game.
We're like I'm gonna need youto go to go out and score or,
hey, I need you to facilitatethis game, you know, because,
like they'll be focused on you,try to find your teammates.
So I think that just playmakingand probably just my shooting,

(05:39):
because, like that's somethingthat people had said before,
that I was that, that you know,the main thing people said that
I couldn't do is I'm finished.
You, I was athletic enough and Iwasn't fast enough.
My shooting got better.
Okay, he's done an athletic.
Well, now I'm dunking the ball.
So, like what do you want?
What do you want?
Like what's him do?
Okay, I know my angles, I knowhow to use my body right, so

(06:01):
it's like I don't need to be thefastest, like I know how to
control and be.
You know and play control, so Idon't need to be.
You know, like deep box, youknow sprinting up another court.

Speaker 2 (06:11):
You're a student of the game and obviously you know
the lineage and the history.
In this short time periodyou've been in this city.
I want you to actually talkabout the thing that you
actually really brought up.
Talk about these critics ofHouston basketball and like,
like, just talk about like youjust said, like they don't give
you your, just do, obviously,like you said.

(06:33):
They said you couldn't shootthe ball, they said that you're
not athletic.
But so talk about the criticsof Houston basketball, because I
said don't get me wrong, I'm,I'm, I'm one of them.
But at the end of the day, Isaid I'm willing to come and
tell you like this is what Ithink, but just talk about you.
When you and your peers seethose criticism, what do you
think of that?

Speaker 3 (06:52):
I mean everybody's, I mean like everybody's in touch
with their own opinions.
I mean, you know, like I can'tchange with someone's things,
but like you know, like I don'tmind if you, you know, take over
.
But I mean I just think that itlike it feels to me to be
better.
You know, like I rememberfreshman year.
They told me I wasn't athleticenough.
I spent every day in the gymworking on just squats.

(07:13):
And was it that jump guard,jump guard.
Shout out to the jump guard,Shout out to the jump guard.

Speaker 2 (07:16):
I got you, I got you.
I got you.
Yeah, yeah, jump guard.

Speaker 3 (07:22):
But, like, jump guard really got me right.
And you know, like and that wasreally the main focus was just
okay, let's get the bodystronger.
And then like, and then theyshared it was okay, well, he
can't shoot.
Well, I spent all my time inthe lab shooting.
So it's like okay, well, he'snot quick enough.
We on the track with jump guard, so you know jump guard getting
me right, so you know hey,listen, y'all ever need any

(07:45):
boost.
No, the jump, or to get faster.
No, no, no, hit up jump guard.

Speaker 1 (07:50):
I know you were talking about Chris, so it's
like you know how we was in highschool.
I know I know it's probably thesame Chris than we was in high
school.
But they was, you know, we wasplaying ball.
They was like, oh, you couldn'treally relate to, but you guys
might like easy that, watch ourplay and you know, not in the
same age but same group, yeah,that's relatable.
You think that's much moreeasier for you and some other

(08:11):
guys to like talk to somebodylike him or you know the
interview, as opposed to likeyou know, the older guys, as you
know, soon tired.
They really just not yeah Inthe culture in a sense.

Speaker 3 (08:21):
Yeah, I think it's easier just because, like, like,
they understand the type ofbasketball we play, because,
like, the older guys are moreused to you know traditional
yeah, traditional, to where youknow it's gotta feed the big man
.
You know your big is notsupposed to be shooting threes.
But, like with guys that areyounger, like they understand
the type of basketball that weplay, so like they can see, like
, okay, like this guy he's not atypical point guard but he can

(08:43):
do what a point guard needs todo.
So I think like, just likehaving people like that really
helps us kind of just not getoverwhelmed by these older guys.
Yeah, kind of criticizing usbecause they don't know what the
game is like.
Yeah, like nowadays.

Speaker 1 (08:57):
Do you look at rankings yourself and be like
man?
Why is this dude over me?
Honestly, no, I really don'tlook at rankings.

Speaker 3 (09:02):
I rather just.
I rather play against thatperson and just show him why I
should be ranked higher, butlike, honestly, like I don't
really care about the rankings.

Speaker 1 (09:10):
So what you got right now?
What's your number right?

Speaker 2 (09:11):
now, currently, I know, I know, I know, I know
he's within the top 10 this year.
I already know like probablylike top 20, top 30 in the state
.
So, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm forshow, I'm for show.

Speaker 1 (09:22):
So what's the other offers besides?
Like Louisiana Tech orLouisiana Tech just like stood
out, like look, I'm coming here.

Speaker 3 (09:26):
I would say Sam Houston had a really good chance
to get me.
The one thing that kind of hurtwas just when the head coach
had left.
I didn't hear from them for aminute.
Yeah, I was like I'm going tocoach Bob, and no, coach Bob is
a great guy yeah.
I just felt like it was justtoo late to kind of give me and

(09:48):
like, and like from that time,like a lot of time is just on
every day, so it's just like Ikind of have to like show.
But like, honestly, like thatcoaching side was great and like
.
Nothing against them, is justjust the timing.

Speaker 1 (09:58):
Yeah, it's on me.
Of course that makes sense.
That makes sense Because it'snever proven process could be
tough, right, you know?
Then sometimes too, we see itwhere a team will guarantee you
like, hey, you're going to bestarting here, and sometimes it
don't go that way.
We hope it, let you start.
Obviously right, you want to gothere and start, you want to go

(10:19):
to the league and everything.
But let's say you go to La Techand then the promise that you
was getting ain't happening,like, what is your mental?
Like, like, how are youmentally just overall, with
stuff like that?

Speaker 3 (10:32):
Honestly, I'd rather earn it.
You know like a coach can tellme oh no, like you can start it,
you can do this.
I'd rather earn it, I'd rathergo in there, you know, be the
freshman on campus that'sfighting for me Chip on the
shoulder.

Speaker 1 (10:45):
Yeah, like chip on the shoulder.

Speaker 3 (10:47):
Going, you know, like going in there showing them.
Okay, I can start, like I canplay with them, like you know,
like you'll see all this stuffabout me, but like let me show
you what I'm like.
I wasn't the type that'sabusing, so I'd rather just go
in there and know improve myself.

Speaker 1 (11:01):
Yeah, because it's one of the things where it's
like sometimes they'll tell youlike all right, we're going to
have you stop us.
And it's like you got to haveit go one after the other, like
I hear you coach, you know yourserve, whatever, but then it's
like I still want to have thatchip, still want to go, and
because I haven't you haven'tproved anything yet.
So yeah, I definitely get that.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
Speaking of chip chips on your shoulder.
Talk about the move to Texas in2019, because obviously a year
later it was COVID.
So just talk about kind of justbeing that new kid on the block
and you know you still tryingto that chip.
You know everybody in Texas isall eyes if they see one, one

(11:40):
type of trend.
They try to shut it down.
But like I said, you've been akind of amazing.
So talk about that transitionin 2019 and also the COVID year
in 2020.
And you, because I was in someof those gyms and I was just
like oh God, like we didn't knowwhat was going to really happen
.

Speaker 3 (11:57):
Honestly, like, honestly, like that, that moving
process towards here was kindof tough because I lost my coach
and I was really close with him.
So like I was really justtrying to finish what I started
in California, like with myfriends, of knowing that it was
my last time playing with themfor that for that summer,
because I didn't know when thelast time I was going to see him
.
And then so, getting here, Iwas kind of homesick and I was

(12:19):
just like I want to go back homeand I was like just give it a
chance.
So then we started eighth gradeand I played football.
So like I was like I didn'tknow I did that just to kind of
like waste time about the season.
I was like I don't know if Iwas in camp.
I kind of like that's.
When I realized, okay, I canreally like do something special
because, like my middle school,like they were okay the

(12:41):
previous year, but like once Igot that chemistry because, like
a lot of those guys playedfootball with me, so I, once we
built that chemistry, I was like, oh, yeah, we're going to be
something special.
And then so a I went to makewho's back with my California
team and when I came back,that's when everything I shut
down.
So I was like, okay, how am Igoing to get to the gym?
Like, luckily I got a like aministry school like right by my

(13:01):
house, like I could walk to it,and so me and my pops would
just go every day, just justjust working out, just getting
the shots up.
And I think that really helpedme out, because it really made
me stay focused and be like,okay, you need to put everything
aside and just really focus onthis and like if you put focus,
like you're going to get better.
And I really helped out toobecause we were doing the track,
we was doing the football, likewe was doing everything

(13:22):
possible to keep me in shape andto make sure that I'm still
developing as a player.

Speaker 2 (13:27):
Can you talk about your middle school team in
eighth grade?
Like talk about that team ohthat's he.

Speaker 3 (13:32):
Oh my gosh, that team like we would like, like we was
some characters like a lot like, like a lot of my teammates now
, like Brett you knew, hey, wewas all of that team, like it
was a real, like I think that'sit.
Like that group would havestayed together, like like till
now, like we would have made alot of noise.

Speaker 2 (13:48):
What was the record on that team?
I think, y'all one district,yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 (13:54):
Like we lost like three games Max.

Speaker 2 (13:57):
Max, which I will put just still one district.
So the only question I haveabout that, because you know
that eighth grade year that youguys were in that was the first
year of the city championships.
So I coached that like Olympiamiddle school team with Jacoby,
chris, and then you know weplayed in that game against
Silsby with Draylon and Jerry,so like I got to see kind of a

(14:17):
lot of the best eighth gradeteams around, like that was the
first.
That's when I knew that the2024 class was special because I
walked into that gym and saw alot of those top players in
eighth grade at Booker T thatday and I was just like, oh my.

Speaker 3 (14:31):
God, like, yeah, because, like, because our
district was filled with time,like, like in my school you had
me Brett, you had Johan, at timeyou had Luke.

Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (14:40):
You had White.

Speaker 2 (14:42):
Luke was on your team too In Michigan.
No, no, no oh in the district.

Speaker 3 (14:44):
Yeah, yeah yeah, but like we had a lot of good times
where, like it was and like andlike it was tough, because
Morgan Ranch was probably thebest, that was probably the best
team I'm not gonna lie becauselike they had, like that, a lot
of athletes in the inside.
That's when Christian was liketaught everyone.
So I'll rebound it, yeah, so,but like I think like that, like
that eight grade year wasprobably one of the best years.

Speaker 2 (15:06):
Talk about your transition to the Houston Hoops,
the EYBL circuit, the, the, theKrim or the Della Krim.
We know the statistics on ifyou play on the EYBL, who makes
pros and all these divisionthings.
Talk about your first timetouching an EYBL team, the
legendary Houston Hoops, and Iwant to say, give me the

(15:28):
conversation on how you, how yougot on that team.

Speaker 3 (15:32):
So it started off.
We was in Dallas.
Yeah, we had.
I was with Drag Nation Houstonat the time.

Speaker 2 (15:36):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (15:38):
And and we had played Doya at the time because like
that's when, like everything wasthe Covis, like they really
used the, the, like the Hoopsname, yeah, and then they played
it and like they had Bang, theyhad Aaron, they had all these
guys, drey Long.

Speaker 2 (15:50):
Drey Long yeah.

Speaker 3 (15:52):
So, like I don't know , I think I had like 20
something that game and like Imean like we lost about like 20.
But like I mean like, of course, like you lose to a team, like
that Exactly.
But like I held my own coachback, I talked to my dad
afterwards and like this thatstayed in contact, and then like
yeah, came to couple of mygames, yeah, and like I didn't
know who he was.

Speaker 2 (16:12):
So you know I'm big roll up in there just with the
hat down, Just looking like yeah, and like we're talking about
the game.

Speaker 3 (16:19):
And then I was like okay.
And then so after, so, after myfreshman year, my pops like
like he came up to me and he waslike listen, like this is a big
opportunity.
Because, like I was, trying tostay like I was, like I got that
relationship with.

Speaker 2 (16:30):
God, and that's the other question I just really
have.
I keep going with that story.
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (16:34):
But like he was like listen, like you just take this
opportunity and like you justjust just trust me.
I was like okay.
No, no, like I was going tosteer me, yeah, so I was like
all right, let's get it, butthat 15 year team like it was,
like it was some characters likeme, jared Drey, justin.

Speaker 2 (16:50):
Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 (16:52):
Lou, like, like, I think like that group bonded
really well like on and off thecourt.

Speaker 2 (16:57):
I just want to know, like, when it comes, because
what's your advice when it comesto a decision like that?
Because there's a lot of guysthat can get the numbers on
independent teams but then go toa circuit team to play the role
.
So, like, what is your process?
Because, mind you, dre LawMiller is a guard, justin Begg
is a guard, jared Harris stillneeds the ball, luke wants to

(17:19):
shoot.
So, like when you, when you,when you go through, like I know
you're probably thinking thatyou want to build camaraderie,
but, like at Drive Nation,you're the man.
But on a Houston hoops EYBL team.
You're almost about to play ina role.
What was the final decision inthat process?
I know that's hard.

Speaker 3 (17:35):
Yeah, I see, I think like I was thinking long term
because, like in clubs, likelike you don't have four or five
stars on your team and like youcan't just be the guy who's
going, you know, take every shot.
So I'd rather get prepared now.
You know, like be used to, okay, your role is to play
defensively with the ball.
I'd rather work on that nowthan have to wait, than I get to

(17:56):
college and I'm like okay, whatI got to do.
But I think that just foranybody who's gonna make the
decisions, just find the bestfit but at the same time just
know what's best for you.
Because if you wanna reallyreally take this to another
level, I would say, just do whatyou're good and join a team.

(18:16):
But if you still kinda like eh,I would say just work on
yourself and like say it thesame.

Speaker 2 (18:21):
Just talk about, like , your mindset going there,
because that's what I believethat kinda separates you with a
lot of guys in this city.
I think you're one of theplayers that stays, even kill,
like you don't.
We never see you really get toohigh or react to things Like I
just feel like you always playedwith a pace that you've been
here before, like you've seen itLike.

(18:42):
So just talk about your mindsetto train yourself to play with
high caliber P5 guys like that.

Speaker 3 (18:49):
I mean, it's just like my drive to win.
So like I'm willing tosacrifice my scoring if it means
I gotta go the best of player.
Like if we need to win, itdon't matter if I got a score 30
or if I gotta get tennisassists.
Like I'm willing to do whateverit is to make sure that we win.
So like to play with those guys.
I knew that I had a field ballhandler, I had a hit open shot

(19:12):
and I had a defend.
So I and I think that we allknew what we had to do for us to
succeed and I think we did thatpretty well.
So like for me to sacrificescoring, to be a playmaker and
to be a defender.
I think that that's what reallyhelped us out.
I mean like, and, of course,like we had guys like Justin who
can shoot the ball.
And so, like he know, like hewill hit his, shots, you know,
and judges like let us isn't themind, let us isn't.

(19:34):
And like all those guys, wekind of sacrificed what like we
took a word, all really good atit, and just made it into a good
team.
Like coach King said it best,we're the justice league, like
he, like we, like we're all mainguys, but when we come together
, no, no, it was the Avengers,it was the.

Speaker 1 (19:52):
Avengers.
It was the Avengers.

Speaker 3 (19:54):
He said that like when we all come together, like
separate, we're all great heroes, but when we combine together,
we can do something special.
So that's what really got us inthat mindset.

Speaker 1 (20:02):
I know you are bills like can be intimidating for
some people, so I want to goback.
How long, how many years youplayed EYBL Three?
Had you ever had like ahumbling moment?
Like a team hummage you or aplayer hummage you?
It was like oh shit.

Speaker 3 (20:18):
Yeah, the crazy thing is that first year like that
was the week long or that was atwo week one Cause like it was
like during COVID.

Speaker 1 (20:26):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (20:27):
So, like you know, like it was there for two weeks,
the EYBL is why I'm not playingfootball today.

Speaker 1 (20:32):
Oh really.

Speaker 3 (20:33):
Yeah, cause that, like Texas, is known for
football.

Speaker 1 (20:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (20:38):
But, I went into Augusta and I just I seen the
time and like I got home I toldmy parents all that, listen,
that football stuff got to stopCause you know, like everybody,
like I'm spending all this timegetting hit when guys are in the
gym getting better.

Speaker 1 (20:55):
What was the issues?

Speaker 3 (20:55):
playing at football Quarterback, quarterback, okay,
yeah.
So like I like that had reallyimpacted my the city, like the
like the level of competitionwas just like insane.
So like that, really like thatfirst year was like okay, like
this is a whole different level,so like so, like you.
So like, if you really want tobe one of those top guys, you
got to lock in from the jump.

(21:16):
So quit all, the quiteverything else.

Speaker 1 (21:18):
You got to just lock in on basketball.
That's a nine to five.

Speaker 3 (21:23):
Oh, not even nine to five, that's nine, it's 12 to 12
.
Yeah, yeah, wake up, work out.
You got like and it's like andit's different cause, like we,
like, no, like we kids and Ilike we still got high school, I
don't know like you still gotclasses and stuff.
Yeah, like you got to treat itlike it's like you'll like the
pen on it.
Like you got to like work out.
You got to maintain your body.
You got to get through a highschool season then get to

(21:43):
another season to where, likeyou got to travel.
You got to know like it'sreally like awesome process,
like, like you really got to getready mentally and physically
for that.

Speaker 1 (21:53):
You bet in football, basketball, basketball,
basketball.
Yeah, playing quarterback was,would you give yourself one
through 10?
10 being the highest, seven,seven.
Yeah, you got to be extra inyour cerebral.
Like what kind of?
If you have to compare yourselfto a quarterback, who you?
Who you compare yourself?
College pro.

Speaker 3 (22:12):
I would say probably like a like a less athletic
Jalen Hurts, less athletic JalenHurts yeah.

Speaker 1 (22:19):
Yeah, like.

Speaker 3 (22:19):
I could throw the ball, I could run a little bit,
I was slow, like that's, when Iwas still fat.
No, no, no, no yeah.
I said a little weight on me soI was blazing fast, but like I
knew how to use my body, so likeI know, like I can no, like I
can stiff I'm like a truck, butlike my main thing was just
using my arm strength to get myknees up.

Speaker 1 (22:35):
I know we talking about you.
I'm gonna touch on football alittle bit.
So do you watch a lot of NFL?
Yeah, who you a team?
The Lions.
The Lions Hold on a minute, areyou a lot?

Speaker 2 (22:44):
12.
Okay, so you had hard times.

Speaker 1 (22:47):
So now you're seeing y'all.
You got them going to Zubo.

Speaker 3 (22:51):
No, I'm not.

Speaker 2 (22:52):
You're a realist.

Speaker 3 (22:53):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, Like, see, like I don't
like, I don't like this is no,not to anybody else, but I just
can't stand countless Like theythink every like they think they
like well, like y'all are notall that like there's better
teams.

Speaker 2 (23:06):
Like y'all just got the national spotlight.

Speaker 1 (23:08):
Yeah, it's a trip.
How now the generations go onthat.
Now your generation see likedamn these Cowboys fans is
horrible.
They're gonna keep going onforever and ever.
Your kids, your kids, kids,your kids, kids, kids, kids.
It's gonna say the same thing.
So that's what's.
That's what's gonna happen.
You got NBA team Business,Business, okay, so you just
think.

Speaker 3 (23:28):
Hold on hold on hold on hold on Talk about that.
Hey, listen, I you know it iswhat it is.
I mean like.
I mean like you got to makechanges at some point.
So it's just like if it'strading, somebody, cutting
somebody, finding the coach,like, like.

Speaker 2 (23:44):
If it's, but he just got the 70 mil contract though.

Speaker 3 (23:46):
But like like 20, 27, 28 games is like that's, that's
wild.

Speaker 1 (23:51):
But I always thought he wasn't meant to coach a team
like that because he's so young.
Yeah, I think what they?
One of the youngest teams inthe league.
Yeah, you know, he needs like aveteran team.
You know, and I've seensomebody say they should trade
Kate.
I don't know if there's.
I don't think they should dothat.

Speaker 3 (24:04):
No no, no, they need to get Kate some help.

Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (24:07):
I like I was talking to one of my like my teammates
like if he gets another, likeanother guy that can get his
like they would like, likethey're not bad.

Speaker 1 (24:16):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (24:17):
Like the Randall.
The Randall solid guy,j-n-ivy's solid.
They just need another guy thatcan get theirs.

Speaker 1 (24:22):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (24:24):
Seven lakes, seven lakes, obviously, like I just
like, like, like I said, we weknow what you've meant to seven
lakes basketball.
Talk about the moment youstepped in the door, knowing
when they rolled the ball out.
Two four make two.

(24:44):
Four is making that impact.
Just talk about talk about that.
Talk about coaches andeverything.

Speaker 3 (24:49):
So my freshman year, honestly, I don't know where I
would be, just because I,because, freshman, you know, I'm
, I'm, I'm going for football.
You know, one of my teammateshad hurt his knee and he was
going to be out for the season,so they had put me with this,
like this group of guys thatwere trying to, you know, either
make a varsity or get cut, and,like I, I killed it, Like I was

(25:10):
, like I like.
I stood out and like and like.
I looked at my coach after andhe's like, yeah, my first couple
of games I I'm I'm not gonnalie, I struggled, like it was.
It was bad, like I think.
My first, like the first, thefirst five games, I think, like
I, I averaged three points andthen I think I think, once we
got to my first disher game waswhen I really took off and it

(25:32):
was against Moran.

Speaker 2 (25:33):
Was LJ still on the team at the time?
No, no, no, no, no, he justleft, okay yeah.
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (25:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (25:43):
I was there when LJ was playing against 7-L-A's.
But I was, I was there, yeah,yeah, yeah.
But but like that was like likethat was my breakout game
because like I came off thebench and I was just a spark
plug for us.
And then the next game it wasagainst Tompkins and me and Luke
always had that rivalry andthat was my first game started
and I had the game winner.
So I so like, from that, fromthat, from that moment on, I
just knew, okay, if I could justcontinue what I'm doing, I can

(26:05):
leave a big impact on this move.

Speaker 2 (26:09):
Did you?
You, you won Newcomer to year,you won Newcomer.
So just kind of just talk aboutthese Katie rivalries over the
year.
Obviously you got Katie, yougot Tompkins, now you got the
new rivals and Katie Jordan,madey Creek.
So just talk about over theyears, you leaving an imprint on
Katie basketball because, likeI said, I watched the LJ Cryer

(26:31):
years.
We can even go back to your boy, trey Picney.
Yeah, trey.
Picney, yeah, so so, so, so, so,trey, a T-Frustle in those boys
and obviously, congratulationson being the all time leading
scorer at 7-L-A's, becausethat's a big deal, because you
guys, guys like Trey Picney aT-Frustle, cameron McGusty, so
like, just talk about.
You know the lineage andhistory behind those 7-L-A's

(26:52):
greats.
Talk about that, you know.
All time leading scorer at7-L-A's.

Speaker 3 (26:57):
I mean like it's just something that always like,
always thought like my like myfreshman year, I remember I like
our record board is in front ofthe gym.
I took a picture of it and Isaid I'm breaking some of these
records.
The record I want to break wasall time points, all time
assists and all time wins.
So I knew that from thebeginning.
Is is that I keep like if I justgo in and I just produce and

(27:18):
just play the way I know I canplay, I like, no, I can get like
and I didn't even like like therecord didn't cross my mind.
So last year, like, when I gota thousand and like I was, it
was like midway through theseason and like I started
talking to my pops.
He was like if you justcontinue to do what you're doing
, like you can really break itLike and like and like, not just
break it by a little, likereally extended.

(27:39):
So like that's been my like, ofcourse, like I'm not really
chasing, chasing it, but likeit's something that like if you
play, you know yeah, yeah, yeah.
And like I think that, likehonestly, like I don't do it by
myself, like my teammates havehelped me out along the way,
like I've had like a plethora ofgreat teammates that have
helped me achieve this.
Like you know, my shout out,josh, you know, uh, to how, like

(28:02):
, like all those guys, like,they really got me going.
You see, you know, like, so I'mfrom my fishing, you know like,
you know like, like, that'slike, like that group our
chemistry wasn't the best butthey still were showing me the
ropes.
Like, okay, like, if you reallywant to do this, like you got
it.
Like, like the two seniors Ihad that year, they really show
me the ropes.
Okay, like, if you really thinkthat you can do it, like, just

(28:25):
like, do this and this and thisso that you can develop as a
player and really elevate yourgame.
And I also play, play, play inEYBO.
That helped me in my confidenceof like, okay, I need to.
I need to bring this energyover to seven legs and I think
that my sophomore that's when wereally, because that's when I
got to hard back.
And like that's when we I boughtthe energy and like he was

(28:46):
bringing that energy, and Ithink that, just like that
California connection, like that, that vibe, like we kind of
brought it to the team and I andI, that's really elevated us.

Speaker 2 (28:56):
Talk about your relationship, though, with um,
because I said I know that he Idon't know if he's still around
but with Trey Picney, like it'slike yeah, because at that point
, like when we're in school, hewas the guy like that was the
forefront, even though he had atalented team with Prince.
Oh, oh, no, was I teeth?
All those guys playing likewhen they were like in the
heydays, like, oh, these guyscan make a straight one.

(29:18):
What is the advice that TreyPicney gave you to as a seven
legs point guard, from pointguard to point guard?

Speaker 3 (29:27):
Uh, he just told me just no, just continue being
myself, Just no, just be a greatteammate, Just be a playmaker,
but just be that dude, Like justgo out there and show why you
can be the best.
So like that's what really like.
He really gave me that advicejust to really like motivate me.

Speaker 2 (29:46):
So tell me about your first ever playoff experience
in seven legs, because, becauseit was your sophomore year,
right, freshman year, freshmanyear, so, so, so, so, so, tell
me who you went out to.
I will get to last year, butlike, but, like, tell me those
first two years in the playoffs,in the, in the, in the buzz you
started creating, because we'regoing to get to your junior
year, but talk about those firsttwo years.

Speaker 3 (30:06):
Freshman year we played a talented, a talented
Travis team and Travis, that was2021.
Yeah, that was like Mackay,that was Kandall.

Speaker 2 (30:16):
Oh, mackay.
Oh yeah, mackay was this yearyeah.

Speaker 3 (30:20):
And like and like.
I started training with Mackayand like like around that time
and like that scene was just wegot smacked.
But I knew like okay, but butgetting smacked also taught me
that it's not sweet.
Like you got to really get yourguys together because like we
was, like we were over the place, so like that really that

(30:41):
really like was like okay, likeyou got that one Got out the way
, let's get better.
Off season.
Sophomore year, we ended on aheartbreaker.

Speaker 2 (30:51):
Were you, were you the offensive MVP your sophomore
year, or?
I know you want to.
Okay, you're just a game VP,okay.

Speaker 3 (30:57):
Yeah, so sophomore year we play against Bel Air.
We great, great battle, andNoah just Cash one from the no,
yeah, no man, no, no, no man, no, he ain't cast on, bro, and
like that's the one, because Iwe said, and like we had win,
that time, we see, do not lethim, don't, don't help, don't

(31:18):
help, cuz that's all he's goodfor.

Speaker 2 (31:20):
He's not gonna put the ball to ground.
He didn't.
You know if he's open you soon.

Speaker 3 (31:23):
Yeah, and like we told our guy cuz, like we knew
he's a top guy yeah and our guyjust helped and Just released it
and I'm gonna do the best likelooking like oh.

Speaker 2 (31:40):
Was that the second round of third?

Speaker 3 (31:41):
second second and I see the wind on.
It is just Like that one stillhurts, cuz I was the senior
group that I had, like like theywere juniors, my freshman year
and like I kind of built thatconnection like like okay,
you're too like you regime, likeit's all or nothing, like we
need to beat.
Yeah and then obviously, justknow, it just got a cash and it

(32:10):
just hurts talking about it.

Speaker 2 (32:11):
And then last year we're getting before the
playoffs.
What the run that you guys kindof made during the season.
Just kind of just talk about,about that run.
Obviously, like guys like Josh,here comes the freshman
sensation, the Niles price,brett Norton, all those guys

(32:33):
talk about your we're gonna getto the playoffs.
But just talk about the namesthat you guys were taking
Throughout that year, becausethat year I was, just like it,
almost propelled like unfinishedbusiness to this year.
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (32:46):
I mean like it started off, like we started off
playing as AZ Compass and likeand like one thing, the.
Hessin always tells us thatwe're not like, like, we're
never gonna duck smoke.
Yeah, like like we're gonna bethe ones who not so like.
That was a big challenge for usjust to see, like, okay, where
do we stand, and like we lost.
Yeah but it was a respectableloss to it.

Speaker 2 (33:04):
It's a national ranked team Like five-star guys,
p5 guys, yeah, and like we like.

Speaker 3 (33:09):
No, we know the other one like I think that game I
could have done a lot more, butcan't change that.
And then they seem to last withus.
To see this.
I don't know cuz Jerell.

Speaker 2 (33:17):
Jerell, baron Jerell, the brown commit.

Speaker 3 (33:20):
Yeah, yeah, I threw it at three and then.
So we after that we kind ofjust kind of had like a though,
like a moment.

Speaker 2 (33:29):
Was it like a 20?
Was it 22 at the top gamewinnish?
Y'all went on like a 22 gamewinnish.

Speaker 3 (33:35):
I think we went on like we went on like a Like, a
two game win streak.
We lost to Dawson Okay thenshout out Jaden Miller.
Jamelli yeah, no wait, we hadone.
A tournament came back.
We played Dawson.
We lost by three that.
That Thursday we played JLo,shout out, jlo, marshall,
marshall, okay, and he and hegave us the word and like we

(33:57):
just like listen.
But I'm like we've beentogether.
We was like listen, if we wantto make a big run, we we got to
stop all the little stuff, likebickering, all this stuff,
because like we go bickered,like we see each other every day
, like we don't get annoyed,like you someone breeze wrong,
like yeah but like we just kindof like okay, we got to hold
each other accountable, we gotto make sure that if we're gonna

(34:18):
do this week like we like, wehave to do it right, and that
next day we just came out likeLike a new, like a whole another
yeah and I, and I and I thinkthat's a really started the
spree because, because I wassitting here on the news every
day, every week.

Speaker 2 (34:33):
It's like, bro, because I think last year Did I?
I picked y'all to get to theregional finals because I said I
love, I love seven legs.
I said nobody's being united.
I'm sorry, no, I said, no,nobody's be, nobody's being
united.
But, like I said, they gonnaget.
They gonna get to the regionalfinals.
But like, just talk about what.

(34:55):
Did you learn about yourself inthat streak Did?

Speaker 3 (34:59):
you and did you win district MVP again.
Yeah, okay, all right, yeah.
So, like, like, the one thingthat I learned is that, like, no
matter what, just Just just bewithin yourself, like we have a
lot of guys who felt like theirrole should be bigger, and I and
I think that some of those guyswere nowhere in the right.
Yeah but it's just knowing aboutwhat.

(35:21):
What can you do to help a teambe successful?
And I think that the guys whodid their job, they did a great
job.
Like like EJ Last year, numberthree, like he came in thinking
that he wasn't a player lot andhe started and like, and I told
me, like, said, listen, we needyou to hit open threes and we
need to defend, and he did thattoo.

(35:43):
He did that great.
Like he would hit cornered,like like his, like his three
Was the corner three and I justalways and I knew because he put
in the hours and he Know herepped it and I said, ej, if I
hit you in the corner to shoot,and he shot it and he really
stepped up for us and like andlike and like all rocks, like we
had guys step up and reallyjust Come out their comfort zone

(36:05):
just to help us and besuccessful.
But one thing that I said thatreally helped me was just having
having the support from notonly my coaching staff and my
teammates to be a Leader and, no, be the guy.

Speaker 2 (36:20):
That's a great question that you say that
because, obviously, likedistrict MVP, district newcomer
of the year, at a young age,knowing that they're a senior to
all your team, how do they, howdo you convince them to buy it
when you're the young guy?

Speaker 3 (36:37):
It was tough at first , just cuz I was the freshman
yes, no, okay, fresh, maybe,like you said, but like I think
that the more the guys werearound me they realized, okay,
he's, he's serious about this.
But and I think they reallyclicked my sophomore year,
because that's when we werereally senior heavy.
Yeah, but like they really trustme, like okay, like we're

(36:59):
giving you the keys you like,just drive us to finish line.
And I think that with likethose the guys I have now being
like on JV and so I would likethey seen that so that went.
So they now, when it's theirtime to come up, they know that
I'm not trying to steer them on,I'm trying to guide them so
that we can all do it together.
And I think just building thatbond, not only on the court but

(37:22):
off the court, really helped meout.
Just Spending time my teammateslike me and Nas work out
together and like I'm alwaystrying to like ask him okay,
like you seen this on the film,like what do you think?
Or like I'll see like Brett inclass and be like, hey, like you
watch the film, like it's justabout, but then that building
that connection, I only on thecourt, off the court, and just
enjoying that time together soI'm here, I'm here a lot of

(37:47):
things.

Speaker 1 (37:47):
I'm having a lot of accolades, dish, a new color
dish, mvp, all-time breakingrecords.
You can see yourself to.
You know the best to come outseven lakes, I'm at least still
there, but you think you thenumber one.

Speaker 3 (38:00):
I think I'm up there with some of the guys.
I mean, I think I got to provemyself.

Speaker 1 (38:04):
Yeah like.

Speaker 3 (38:05):
I think that Like, like, the records don't mean
anything and you don't producelike right.
I think that if I solidify thisyear with a ring, I think I can
easily be the best place, but Ithink that I'm still like I saw
the prove nothing right, like ICan win as many games as I want
, but if we're not Like, itdon't mean nothing.

Speaker 1 (38:27):
Yeah, then you.
You know social media is bigright now, so when you you walk
around on campus they saying,they calling you probably young
goat, young legend, you knowwhat does that do for you, like
mentally?

Speaker 3 (38:39):
I go one after other is just I keep in the back
pocket, just like, yeah, I meanof course it's great to have
that love and support community,you know, like the people like
in my area but the same time islike no, I'm gonna prove right,
so I still got it.
Just keep that killer mentalityand I have that hunger to win,
yeah.
So I think that like thatreally motivates me.

(39:01):
I want to step up a little bit.

Speaker 1 (39:02):
I want to.
I want to understand a youngergeneration.
All right, me easy, 30, right.
So we Saturday weekends will goto, like tomorrow, the movies,
before we go any further.
Do you got a girlfriend, yes orno?
All right, we can move on.
So you know, you put inbasketball to the side what's

(39:24):
what's a weekend, like you said18 or 17 just turn eight, like
he just birthday, just happy,happy birthday.

Speaker 2 (39:32):
Yeah, he's literally just 21.

Speaker 1 (39:37):
You can possibly go to the gas and get your back
renown but, On a weekend likewhat's what's so we can like to
get away from from basketball?

Speaker 3 (39:45):
It's kind of tough because I'm always just, but
honestly it's really just aboutspending time.
My family, I spend time with myfriends because it's hard to
Spend time with them during theseason, just because I'm always
locked in.

Speaker 2 (39:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (40:00):
I'm locked in, whether it's training or it's
practice or just working now,but it's really just just to
spend that time with them, justto catch up on like like and
like you know, my pops can justtalk about basketball, just
sitting down, just watching thegame, just talking about okay, I
see this in a game, like innight.
It's just a little stuff likethat.
Oh, my sister's like they go,they don't bother me, so like
it's just like how can I givethem attention?

(40:22):
Because, like it's hard to givethem attention and you see it,
because I'm always in the house,right, right and it's just
doing little stuff, just helpout, just to show them my
parents, like my parents, Iappreciate if they do and then
like with friends, you know,it's just about Just just
enjoying the time I have withthem, just no going out like go
and get food, just hanging now,just chilling.

Speaker 1 (40:40):
So I think, like I probably that goes like I do
outside of basketball so manylike no, no girl, no
distractions from like girls andnothing like that.

Speaker 3 (40:48):
I mean like Right but I'm really just more focused on
yeah, I get into the seasonjust focusing.

Speaker 1 (40:57):
Yeah, kind of Molly movies, big.
You know you walk around themall and you see, you know, see
something like okay, whatever,whatever.
But I know that could sometimesget away from the court, since
court is key.
Can I notice we're watching thevideo earlier.
Just think you was talkingabout who you was talking to,
but your personality stood out.
Some people Might mistake it,for, like I look at his

(41:20):
confidence and a lot of timeswe're younger people, like in
high school, they're more a bitshy, not really expressive.
Where does that come?
Does it come from like yourpops, some of your family, to
get like that confidence?

Speaker 3 (41:32):
Uh, it just came from .
You know, like me being youngand just just going on and just
saying hi, which is crazy, isbecause I grew up with a stutter
, so like it's just like it'swild for me to just be so
talkative.
Yeah and like just not, letthat hold me back, right?
So like I, uh, it really justcame from just being around
teammates and friends and familyand just Talking just about

(41:52):
literally anything.

Speaker 1 (41:53):
Yeah, I know that sometimes.
Yeah, I mean when it comes tothat, because the podcast
platform wasn't there when wewas in high school.
So now this it gets y'all likea little practice training for
like.
Yeah, you know these questionsgonna be more laid back, you
know I'm saying.
But when it comes to thoseother people, they're gonna ask
some hard-hitting questions,analytical, about the stats, the
game you had.

(42:14):
You know what I mean.
So that that's, that's very key.
Before I get back to easy,though, I do want to ask this
question.
I asked a boy, justin, I wonderyour top five?
Already I do them, don'tdisappoint me now.
Okay, you already tell me yougot.
You already tell me you got OT7 quantity in there.

Speaker 3 (42:26):
Yeah, yeah.
So oT 7 quantity.

Speaker 1 (42:28):
Okay.

Speaker 3 (42:29):
I listen to trying to .
I listen to Ken Carson.
Who was that?
Ken Carson?
Ken Carson, ken Carson.

Speaker 1 (42:40):
Ken Carson, who's that?

Speaker 3 (42:44):
Just the artist I listened to.

Speaker 1 (42:45):
Where's he from?

Speaker 2 (42:46):
I don't know, does he rap?
Yeah, he rap, he rap.

Speaker 1 (42:49):
Okay, Ken Carson.

Speaker 3 (42:52):
I listened to a lot of Tidler created.
Okay, I can rock with that,some Brent Files and I listened
to.
I'm gonna say Drake, justbecause I listened to Drake,
your fives not bad, I can rockwith it.
I can rock, I'm gonna check onKen Carson.

Speaker 1 (43:08):
He's more like a lyrical rapper.

Speaker 3 (43:10):
Nah, he's more like that new school type of rapper
Like Uzi.

Speaker 1 (43:13):
But Uzi not bad, though I like that.

Speaker 3 (43:16):
Yeah, I'm like Uzi be my top five too.

Speaker 1 (43:18):
Okay, okay, I can rock with that.

Speaker 2 (43:22):
The brand of Katie basketball.
Obviously I think you're at theforefront.
Elijah Black and Jaden Holder,jordan Gibson and Jamal at Mady
Creek argument for ScottyGullery and Tom Kitts.
Just talk about this brand ofKatie basketball because, like

(43:44):
we're at school, we know thatKatie, we know they're gonna
dominate that rock in thatPigskin, that football that's
what they known for, but for thelast, probably last four, years
, not even four because we cantake it back.
Like Jamal, the enemy made statein 2018.
Lj Crier averaged 35, hissenior year in 2020 for more
than rats.
So just talk about like almostprobably I would go, since, like

(44:07):
2018 that this Katie movementfor basketball has elevated Talk
about it.

Speaker 3 (44:15):
Yeah, I mean, like even before I got there we knew
about LJ, I knew that he coulddo it.
But I would say, like eversince my freshman year, like
it's been real competitive, Likemy freshman year, like we went
seven and oh, and then we wentfour and five in the second
round addition.
So it's not like like no, Ican't even put it on.

(44:35):
There's talent, Like there'sguys that they're not the most
athletic, they're not the most,just like me, they're not
athletic, they're not fat, butthey know their stuff.
So I would say, has a playerthat they can get there?
Yeah, just, luckily.
No, we got like we got aboutfour, five, six, so they can
know they don't like know likethey can go.

(44:57):
But I think that our, ourdistrict's been real competitive
ever since, like like from myfreshman year to now, like it's
been real, real competitive.
And I just think that peopledon't only put a lot of respect
on Katie just because they thinkhe's football or no.
They think of an aspect likelike the basketball is just like
like bland, but like we got,like like there's who present,

(45:19):
there's who present.

Speaker 2 (45:20):
Katie, real, yeah, real, like, like, like.
I would go as to far as to sayif each region, like each
district, had like to get adistrict five, I wouldn't be
surprised if Katie come out ontime.

Speaker 3 (45:36):
If Katie was like a Dunkinville, where it's just one
school and a like you know,like in a city, I think that we
can go really far with theamount of talent that we have,
like and like and like there'sso much time that it would be
hard to cut people just becauselike there's so much, like
there's so many good players andlike it's just hard.
But I think that like, like,like, like we were, like
Dunkinville was just one highschool and a big city, I think

(45:57):
that we can go to state Everyyear, because you guys are damn
near one of the best teams rightnow with a spread district like
that.

Speaker 2 (46:04):
The other question I want to ask you, I want to
actually ask you about twospecific players.
Number one I'm going to ask youabout Nas price, obviously
that's your guy.

Speaker 3 (46:13):
Yeah, that's my guy.

Speaker 2 (46:14):
One of the best players in the country in 2026.
Talk about his development fromlast year as a freshman to now.

Speaker 3 (46:24):
I'll take it back to when I was in and he was in
seventh grade.
I knew Nas could be somethinggood.
Just just the way he played inseventh grade and like he was
smaller, skin, like still skinny, strong.
But I knew that, like likearound this time, that he'd be
good.
And I knew, like just watchingthe his development in the gym,
just the way that he's like mynurse as a player, like he's

(46:46):
like he's gonna be somethingreally good and like with him in
practice we just like is likewe go at it like we go, like we
don't fight, we don't scrab,like, but it's out of love and
it's because I know that he'sgonna be the best out of me and
I'm gonna be the best out of him.
And just his development fromlast year to this year, I think
it's more of just maturing.
Just last year he was afreshman, yeah, trying to make

(47:07):
it.

Speaker 1 (47:08):
Which, which, which?

Speaker 3 (47:09):
y'all like yeah like fresh playing versus like I've
been doing it, and I kind oftold him like, hey, listen, he's
gonna get, it's gonna be high,is gonna be low, but you just
can never just let your mindjust slip by.
And I and I and I that's onething I told him last year was
just as long as you stay focused, you'll be fine.

Speaker 2 (47:23):
For seven legs to be successful.
What do you need from him?

Speaker 3 (47:28):
Just be him, be be that guy, play like a force.
Simple as that.
Just show people why, why youhad this option, why you're
straight so high.
Just just be you like.
And I and I told him every timelike you can like, like if he's
flushing.
Not be you because not as it,not as probably the best players

(47:51):
in like in the state coach youeasily without yeah he just gets
in his own head because he'snumber one in Houston in 2026.

Speaker 2 (47:58):
Yeah, yeah, it's not even doubt.

Speaker 3 (48:00):
Yeah, and I think he just over thinks a little bit.
But when I was just playingfreely, like, like, like there's
a practice where he just behitting stuff and I'm just like,
hey, you got it today I guess,but not like, like, not as the
moment is just more like.
It's been incredible.
Just his work ethic is the waythat he's matured, the way that

(48:23):
he's grown as a basketballplayer.
He's like.
It's really impressive and I'mreally proud of him.

Speaker 2 (48:29):
And the other person.
He's my guy, mr Brett.

Speaker 1 (48:33):
Nord like we have a good relationship.

Speaker 2 (48:36):
I'm going to tell you a quick story.
I was actually going to leavewhen y'all play San Antonio
Brett no, I know I wasn't goingto film it.
Brett comes up to me before thegame because my camera is in my
car.
Brett said, easy, pull out thecamera is going to be a show.
Yeah, I said Brett, I don'thave time to be playing with you
.
You know I don't like wasting,wasting SDCOP space and I don't

(48:57):
like wasting battery space.
He said, easy, I'm going totell you again pull out the,
pull out the camera.
This boy, brett, probably wentfor 27 and that game and then
gave it a shot.
I was like.
He was like he's.
This is what he tells to me.
He looks at my camera and Idon't think you even got it, he.
I zoom in.
He looked at me easy hooper'shoops, I was like yeah, but just

(49:22):
.
But I was with him during thesummer because he played for my
boy for FFE, so like, like,coach Blair is a good friend of
mine, so like, I saw thedevelopment and the work that he
put in, specifically this year.
Talk about him knowing that'syour guy since middle school and
this is your last ride together.
What's the conversations likewith that guy?
Like it's almost like a Kobeand Derek Fisher like thing with

(49:44):
y'all to talk about thatrelationship.

Speaker 3 (49:47):
I mean it started in football.
I mean, like it's just like weboth play football.
No, like he.
Like you know, he's one of thefirst guys to really like bring
me in, like, make me feelwelcome, and then a grade
basketball.
We kind of just clicked and Ijust like I knew that I can
count him.
No, I tried to go back door.
I tried to be hoping for thatthree and then so my freshman

(50:11):
year, I kind of split upbusiness.
Honestly, she should have goneto JB, but like he's on the top
place, but we still like, westill worked like like a
practice, like, like he like,because I think like they're
practice before us, he wouldstay after.
No, like get up shots and likeI like, and like I see his
development.

(50:31):
Yeah, and he's come a long way.

Speaker 1 (50:33):
Yes.

Speaker 3 (50:34):
Yeah, because, like Brad before was just a just a
guy who just wanted to shoot himout, but now he can mix it up,
he can like, he can really mixit and I think that's one thing
that I've done.
I noticed for him that he'sreally been going like.
Going for is to be a threelevel guy and I think that he
can like, like, he can continuethat into college specifically
in that Brennan game.

Speaker 2 (50:56):
When you got like y'all were the prom time game
seven o'clock, the headliner,san Antonio Brennan versus seven
lakes to potential statecontenders teams.
What did you see with hisperformance in that game?
Did he just introduce himselfto the to the state that I'm one

(51:18):
of the best players?
Yeah, yeah.
And I think that?

Speaker 3 (51:22):
what did you tell him after that game?
I just, I well it started thatbefore because he was kind of
frustrated because, like becauseI can't hurt his knee and like
he ain't really played wellagainst, and I just told him
next game like I'll talk thatthat Friday night was next game
and we knew that next game wasgoing to be a dogfight and I got
it going early and then theystarted to tell me and I told
her I said, listen, just go go.

(51:44):
And Brett went, and then wethat final moment, I mean like
Brett really helped us out.
And no, I'm not, I'm gonna givesome credit to some guys.
Isaiah San.

Speaker 2 (51:55):
Oh yeah, I was gonna talk about him next.
That's probably the bestfreshman in 2027.

Speaker 3 (52:01):
Isaiah San was the big Sean with the game, like he
had a loud nine points, but itwas like it was not points that
we need that, like he was justin the right spot the right time
, just knowing that he puts inthe word.
And then guys like Tillman who,defensively, like they took
that challenge to guard Kingstonwhen I was, when I was, when it

(52:21):
or I was out, and we got guyslike he's a junior, who guys
think that he's asleep, likethey look at him, like OK, this
guy out here, but he, he canlock up.
And we have guys like Hagan whocan come in his shots and we
got to our JV kids who we hadcalled up and they and they came
in like they knew that time wasreally limited but they came in

(52:43):
with the energy that we're likewe're like we're a family, so
that like they came in supportand I think that, like with
Brett doing good and all of uscombined kind of elevated, all
of us.

Speaker 2 (52:54):
I do have to ask you about that game.
To one more question about thatgame People don't realize coach
H didn't coach that game.
So so for you guys to play oneof the best teams in the state
the team that made the state thefinal four year before it's a
win, that game without yourcoaches?

(53:14):
I remember asking one of theassistants he said, to force
leadership.
He made sure that we stayed thecourse and we made sure that we
were going to get it done.
So just talk about what did youfind out about your team that
night, knowing coach H wasn'tthere?

Speaker 3 (53:30):
I found out that we have guys who are not going to
quit on, like, like, like.
We have guys that are going tofight to the very end, like they
don't care what type ofdogfight we're in.
We're up, 20 down, 20 tied game.
Like.
We have guys who are going tofight like and like.
We have guys who are going tostay together and we're going to
guys that like, no matter who'scoaching, like they go, like

(53:53):
like they go stay together.
And I think that Coach Cole dida great job because he got us
prepared because, like withcoach H has been out, he really
stepped up with practices and,like within our basketball
period, like he really beenannoying, he was like listen,
like I know coach, like coach His a guy but like what was like,
like while he's gone, like welike keep going.
And I think he did a great jobwith that.

(54:14):
But I just think that like itwasn't like, like it was like it
was only only my leadership.
I think it was a combination ofthings like a team, like we all,
we all spoke and we all knewwhat we needed to do to win, and
I think that that really thatreally gave us the confidence
and the energy to win that game,because even when I was being

(54:36):
out, he was talking the whole824, 824.

Speaker 2 (54:39):
Oh yeah, no, I didn't play yeah.

Speaker 3 (54:41):
Because I'm not going to miss finger.
But even with him being out hisenergy, talking to me on the
bench 824, I need you to go 824,824 screen coming here, like
just him doing that helped usand I think with all of that
combined that that's reallyhelped us pull it out.

Speaker 2 (54:57):
We're going to fast forward a little bit.
Playoffs last year Obviouslyyou go down in the fourth round
to Orlando Horton and his boys.
I think Orlando Horton had oneof the greatest playoff runs.
Like I told everybody last year, he was a minute in 23 seconds
away from pulling off the housemoney upset against against my
United, like I like the word.

(55:18):
But talk about from that gameto now.
What is the team's mindset?
From that game last February,four rounds to this day, january
1st 2024, finish finish.

Speaker 3 (55:38):
That's.
That's the one thing that wegot.
The we say is finished, like wefinish the game finished, like
like no matter what you're doing, just make sure they finish all
the way through.
And I think that that mindsethas really carried over from
last year and I think that,honestly, this is probably one

(55:58):
of the best chemistry teams thatwe've had.

Speaker 2 (56:00):
And that's what I was going to ask you that obviously
last year we had the big fellow, josh.
This year is the freshman,isaiah Santos.
I'm not going to tell you totell me who is the better team,
but I felt like this team is alittle different from last
year's team, because I thinkthis team is more like winning a
game like that.

(56:21):
I don't know if you guys winthat game last year.

Speaker 3 (56:23):
I think last year team was more talented, but this
year's team is more well bondedand my chemistry was okay.
We're a lot better just becausewe know, like what we have and
we know that like, if we alljust stay together and we just
just continue to do what we do,like no matter who we play as we
can play against anybody and Iwe feel confident that we can

(56:44):
come out with a win.

Speaker 2 (56:46):
So I do have a question, though two losses,
obviously to Duckerville andobviously to a task of Cedar
those are three losses toWestlake.
Oh, westlake, and Westlake too.
I do have a question, becauseyou guys do be brining.
Do you concern yourself?
Can you guys beat those upperechelon teams?

(57:08):
Because to me those are thegames you're going to have to
win in the playoffs.
Obviously, like last year youguys were actually fighting
against Clear Falls A lot ofpeople expect you guys Bo-Mount
United, seven Lakes regionalfinals Do you have concerns
about?
Because there are some teamsthat you know like, oh, they're
going to play good during theregular season, but what happens
when you play the top dogs?

(57:30):
Like, can you beat them?
Because even though you guys bebrining, I think you all lost
to Duckerville only by five.
Seven Lakes wasn't really thatmuch right, you got to lose to
them, but all I mean if that'sbecause you didn't lose to them
but 12.
Okay, so like, is there anyconcerns?
Like, can y'all get over thathump?

Speaker 3 (57:48):
Yeah, I mean honestly like there's no concern.
I mean I mean no excuses.
Yeah, I mean like we didn'thave nozzles.
We didn't have I mean the firsttwo, we didn't have nozzles.
We didn't have foot chest andWestlake and I was first game
back.
But I mean like we can't makeexcuses.
But and I think that with ushaving games on our belt now and
with us having all this likethis whole season just to get

(58:13):
everything together, I thinkthat by the time that we need to
play those games again, likewe'll be prepared, just because
like we took their best punchand we felt like we didn't give
them our best punch.
So we think that no matter whatcircumstances happens that we

(58:35):
can come through and playagainst those teams and win
again.
That's good.

Speaker 2 (58:40):
We're going to actually transition out of the
school basketball, but now it'stime to have a little fun.
Obviously, on the last show,your boy thinks you guys are
ducking smoke.

Speaker 3 (58:50):
We're not ducking, mr , mr, mr, mr, mr, mr Big.

Speaker 2 (58:55):
Is there anything that you kind of just want to
say to in response to that?

Speaker 3 (59:02):
We ain't ducking no smoke.
I mean, our motto is we notfirst so we can set it up, like
you know, like it can be afterthe season, like we can set it
up and we ain't ducking smoke,like we like we go to it.

Speaker 2 (59:17):
So I mean, there's some questions I do want to ask
2024, obviously large class, weknow what it is.
And the other thing that I dowant to actually talk about you
to is I think I mentioned on thelast show as well in an era
that we see in the transferportal and I call this the

(59:38):
transfer portal high school yourpeers are actually staying four
years at school.
What does the loyalty mean toyou?
Because obviously you're atseveral lakes.
You choose to lead instead ofjust kind of just going
somewhere and saying, oh, I knowI'm the missing piece to this
state championship, but youchoose to build and lead and try
to create your own legacy.

(59:58):
Talk about yourself being thatway and some of your 2024
compadres like staying put atplaces that when we thought like
, oh snap, I think they about tolead, but they're like no,
we're going to finish it.

Speaker 3 (01:00:10):
Yeah, I mean I think it's just more about keeping
your word.
Like I mean, I'm a Rato coach.
I mean, like my freshman year Iwas literally rocking with it.
But I told him I was like,listen, like I'm going to give
you, like, like, while I'm here,I'm going to give you my best,
and I think that that reallyhelped me like like make him
feel sure that, okay, this kid'sgoing to stay.

(01:00:34):
But I think that it's just moreabout not really more about the
school, but more about thecommunity.
Because, because, like, whenyou stay, you're like like you
just don't have your schoolsupport, you have the whole
community support.
Like, like last year, likeeverybody was supporting us and
us and Jordan no, just becausewe're all from the same little

(01:00:55):
city to where they're pushingfor it, they're pushing for us
to win Like rivals, like we'regoing to be rivals in the season
, but at the season, like we hadgot some single time.
Hey blood y'all.
No, I mean we want you to makeit all the way.
So I think just staying allfour years is really more about
a pride and more about like itshows like who you really are.
Like, of course, like if it's abetter opportunity, of course

(01:01:16):
take it.
But just staying four yearsshows that you really care about
not only yourself, but justlike representing the like, the
school and the community.

Speaker 1 (01:01:29):
I'm listening and I like that and I like the mindset
and I'm curious to know likelife at the best, because your
goal is to make it an NBA,obviously, but let's just say
I'm not going to want somethinghappening, not injury, but just
something like that.
If I can make it, do you havethat, that plan being like, okay
, did this don't work?

Speaker 3 (01:01:48):
and I'm going to do what?
So I actually got certified byMicrosoft for Word, excel and
all that.
So I'm trying to like eitherbecome like a sports agent or
like an accountant, just becauseI know my dad's an accountant
and like I can kind of learn theropes from him.
But a sports agent or just likea statistician, just because I
want to stay close to the game.
Who are you so?

(01:02:09):
And I think that, like thoseare really two.

Speaker 2 (01:02:10):
That's very unique.
Like you don't hear kids, likeespecially at the young age,
talking about statistician oryou know, like stuff like that.

Speaker 3 (01:02:18):
See, I think it's like my favorite subject.

Speaker 1 (01:02:20):
I'm really good with numbers.

Speaker 3 (01:02:22):
So like, but just like staying close to the game
is always going to be somethingthat I want to do, so just it'd
be like a sports agent or like astatistician, or just finding a
way just to stay connected tothe game.
So like it don't matter, likewhat it is, but like those two
will probably be the main two Iwould pursue.

Speaker 1 (01:02:37):
And when's your love for that coming bud?

Speaker 3 (01:02:40):
Um it really just just growing up, like with my
dad, just like seeing the stuffthat he does, like with the
numbers and like it kind of,just like you know, like it made
me curious.
So it just like I started askinghim questions about it.
And then when I got to highschool, I, you know, like they
got the classes today.
So I'm like, well, if I want todo this and stay close to the

(01:03:01):
basketball, I got to do thisother stuff.
So just taking those classesreally kind of helped me.
And then just no, just my lovefor math, I mean, like it kind
of just helped me, you know,stay.

Speaker 1 (01:03:14):
So it's like you know how they say, like in sports,
like first one here, last oneout.
So it's kind of like that foryou, like in the classroom, more
so like staying back a littlebit for like poly tutorials, or
maybe like knowing what theteacher's trying to figure.
Hey, this lesson we did.
I need some more insight onthis.

Speaker 3 (01:03:33):
Yeah, I mean I'm not gonna come up here and say I'm
an A-plus.
I mean like I did struggle inthe beginning, just because I
was having that fresh mentalitylike, oh, I got all this time,
like I don't got a, but with thesupport from, finally, my
family, but my coaches becausethey teach the subjects like
math and all that so they reallyhelped me become a student I am

(01:03:53):
today.
So I'm just learning littletips from them, like just like
study techniques and like goingto tutorials, like they really
helped me out and that's whatreally got me going for like as
far as like academics, like theyreally got me the support and
the motivation that I needed.

Speaker 2 (01:04:10):
What are you talking about?
The academic piece?
How much do you stress that onyour teammates?

Speaker 3 (01:04:15):
Um.
I mean I don't have to becausemy teammates are like oh yeah,
they're smart, I got you, I gotyou.
I mean like, I think, like ourhighest GPA is like a 4-6.
Oh jeez, it's not me, but likemy team and like and like and
like.
That's one thing about us.
Like our team is like we haveguys who have ties with each
other and like we always, hey,like need help with this, like

(01:04:37):
and I just want to talk about usbeing together, like we're
always looking out for eachother.
So, like that's one big thingabout us is like having those
classics together and justasking for help, like that
really helps us out too.

Speaker 1 (01:04:47):
Hmm, and I get it because I know when I play.
But I feel three to four yearsLike my academics was bad.
You know, get on a team, butonce when midterm come, I'm not
even playing district.
I got district.
I went play district senioryear and I was a senior.
I know how.

(01:05:07):
I know the emphasis of tryingto stress that academic part
because a lot of these teachersdon't really.
They want to just make surethey students make.
You know because you got someschools out there that you know
when they come to top athletesthey like we want to look out
for you.
But some schools don't, youknow, don't work like that and I
appreciate I like that you havethe mentality of having

(01:05:31):
something outside of basketballmaking sure, because a lot of
times players they just focusall in and they don't think of a
plan B.
So I really do appreciate thatmindset though.

Speaker 3 (01:05:42):
Yeah, and my school does a really good job too,
because like we're one of likethe top schools for, like you
know, like for academics, yeah,so like there's always resources
to get help, and I think likethat's really not only helped me
out, but helped everybody out,because like our school is like
they push you to be your bestbut they also give you the help
that you need.

Speaker 1 (01:05:59):
Yeah, so what's the?
I'm gonna do what I want to askfor.
Let's say a freshman iswatching this or an eighth
grader watching this and theywant to get to where you want to
be at.
They want to go D1.
What's that one advice you givethem, top management?

Speaker 3 (01:06:12):
That's the biggest one.
That's what I struggle with Topmanagement.
There's always going to be timeto hang out with your friends.
There's always going to be timeto be on your phone.
But put what's necessary first,like get a workout in, do your
homework, go to class, like.
All that extra stuff can happenin another time.
But just make sure you manageyour time well, because I
learned the hard way and I don'twant people to have to go

(01:06:32):
through what I had to go through, so just time management would
be the biggest thing you know.

Speaker 2 (01:06:39):
Top five players in the league.
Right now, right now.
Ooh, okay, I want to kill AxieBajada before that.
I want to.
Really I'm gonna get the killquestion before that.
Jordan O'Lebron.

Speaker 3 (01:06:52):
Jordan.
Okay, that's a true.
But I will say LeBron has moreto his game, but Jordan's just,
he's Jordan.
But going up watching LeBron, Ican see why people would say
LeBron.
But I will say, if LeBron camefirst it wouldn't be all right.
I'm not gonna get to that.

Speaker 2 (01:07:11):
Yeah, yeah, I got it.
You know what's?

Speaker 1 (01:07:12):
funny.
It's crazy how the Jordan thing.
It goes on, it goes ongenerations on.
You can put on a Jordanhighlight and you can be like
he's doing things that playerscan't even do now, like you
don't even see they doing on thecourt.
So it's crazy how the Jordanthat's wild.

Speaker 3 (01:07:30):
Top five players in the league Top five right now,
and Edwards.

Speaker 2 (01:07:37):
You know what?
I'm gonna give you respectbecause Minnesota's one of the
best teams in the league rightnow.

Speaker 3 (01:07:40):
So, like Shay, oh yeah, yeah, gotta go.
Joe Kitch, okay, so I'll sayKatie, just because he's my
favorite player.

Speaker 1 (01:07:50):
Okay, and then, Well, let's do this.
Let's say, post LeBron Katie.

Speaker 3 (01:07:56):
You're like the new guys, the newer guys, yeah, like
Shay and Okay, it's like theyounger guys, I would say so,
shay and Edwards, yo Kitch, yoKitch.
Luca, yes, yo, yo yo.
I like Tyrese.

Speaker 2 (01:08:10):
Maxi Since South Garland.
Baby, I'll take Halliburton,halliburton, halliburton.
Oh, I'll take HalliburtonHalliburton.
Yeah, halliburton I thought Maxbut, I don't know.

Speaker 3 (01:08:19):
Halliburton, yeah, I'm gonna get you.
Yeah, I think that he's steppedup from the post-hardenship.
I think he's stepped uptremendously.
I think that him sitting behindHarden, he kind of learned a
little bit and then, like now,with him having to step up, I
think he's doing a good job.

Speaker 1 (01:08:37):
Yeah because Halliburton didn't.
He have like a 2020 game reasonyeah yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:08:42):
He's good.

Speaker 1 (01:08:43):
Yeah, he's good.
So who you got like the best?
Well, no, I'm gonna go with you.
You said Yoke, so I got Yoke asthe top 10 big all the time
already.

Speaker 2 (01:08:53):
No, no, he is a top 10 big though.

Speaker 1 (01:08:54):
Yeah, I got him top 10.
I always liked him over in Bbecause he always was durable.
I got him top 15.
Top 15?
Yeah, so you taking him.
Or Patrick Ewing Him, him, orDavid Robinson, david Robinson,
really, yeah, you agree withthat?

Speaker 2 (01:09:12):
No, I said Yoke passed him up this year.
I like Yoke just passed him upfor me.
So I got Yoke at 6, right nowthe 6 big man.

Speaker 1 (01:09:21):
You know what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna tell you somethingeasy to have told you.
You probably don't tell a lotof people this Chris Paul, I
like Chris Paul, I know I'm withyou.
Everybody in this room do.

Speaker 3 (01:09:33):
Three out of four people do See, see, see, I can
like Chris Paul is a he's, no,he's doing it again, right, but
there's like there's a littlestuff that Chris Paul does that
no other point of our does islike it's the little things and
I and I that's what separates me.
He'd all right.

Speaker 1 (01:09:50):
He think Chris Paul is not a top five point of all
time.

Speaker 3 (01:09:54):
As far as accolades, no, but just being a player of
the game, yes.

Speaker 1 (01:10:02):
Can't go against it.
You know what?

Speaker 2 (01:10:04):
I'm not even going to go against that I'm not going
to go against that Because hisimpact on teams is what's really
great, but the problem is thatI understand what everybody says
, but I think for a long time, alot of people consider Chris
Paul as this championship player.
But you had one of thechampionships.
Yeah, he has one of thechampionships.
So it's just more like now isyour impact on teams?

(01:10:25):
But we're not saying that aboutlike guys like Steph or LeBron,
we're judging them on thechampionship mantle.
Yeah, so it's just more likeyou've had a lot of good teams.
Yeah, you've been the guy.
You've been not the guy.
You've been the first option,the second option, third option.
It's just more like amen.

Speaker 3 (01:10:41):
Yeah, but I would say he's a top 10 player for sure.

Speaker 1 (01:10:43):
But you know what's funny?
Now go back with that rough.

Speaker 2 (01:10:46):
He had beef with Bro shut up, we're not doing this?

Speaker 1 (01:10:49):
We're not.
Doing this, we're not havingthis conversation.

Speaker 2 (01:10:54):
I think there's some rest to go out for sure.

Speaker 1 (01:10:55):
Yeah, Like you know what I'm saying.

Speaker 2 (01:10:57):
Like come on, like bro, he's busy in year 19.

Speaker 3 (01:11:00):
Me being a business guy like I know.
There's like I read somethinglike that.
Some rest would go out there.
Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:11:06):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:11:10):
And I believe that that could ruin.
That could ruin somebody'sseries.
You know what I'm saying.
Like game he, I found out herough game seven when he was on
the Hornets against the Spurs.
You know he had it out becausethe you know that's messed up
how he did his son Once.
I heard that that's kind ofmessed up and I think you know I
always say I'm a Chris, I'm aChris Paul person because he
another thing but he don't likeHouston teams.
He don't like the Rockets, theTexans, the Astros.

(01:11:32):
He don't like none of them,chris Paul.

Speaker 2 (01:11:37):
No, I'd be happy when they lose Top five.
No, my five it's not in topfive for 2024 guys that you
would run with.
And I want you to keep in mindbeg is your boy.
I did not pick you.
I know he did Big did not pickyou.

(01:12:01):
He said I love AJ, I'm notpicking.

Speaker 3 (01:12:05):
Okay, Just from the city right.

Speaker 1 (01:12:07):
Yeah 2024.

Speaker 3 (01:12:09):
2024.
I'm a go from my center.
Give me Trent.

Speaker 2 (01:12:15):
You know, it doesn't even have to be in like this
position.

Speaker 3 (01:12:18):
But if you want to still do strength, you can.
Okay, hmm, this is toughBecause no, like no, I get.
No, I get me, me, chris.

Speaker 2 (01:12:30):
Chris.
Okay, give me, give me.
Give me Jared Harris.
Okay, I think you give me RobMiller.

Speaker 3 (01:12:38):
Yes, and give me no, give my teammate, Give me pie.

Speaker 2 (01:12:43):
Oh, claire's, by the losing out of technique.
Yeah, I think he said the samething about pie to.
I think he chose.
I think he chose where I knowhe chose Rob and Jared, for,
yeah, rob, jared's and pie.
For a fact, I forgot who's theother one.
Let me see who.
What else?
Give me a 2024 that you wishthat you have run with that.

Speaker 3 (01:13:04):
That was how I'd run with.
I think this is tough.
I think give me any one of thebigs from the 2024 class and we
would make some just because ofmy no, but you ran with Trent,
so that'll count yeah.
I'm saying like a Chris or arock, like Justin, justin said
the same.
Thing just because, like my,like my play style is a downhill

(01:13:25):
facilitated type of God's whereI can facilitate for my, for me
and myself, and you give me abig that can roll I can.
I did it with Josh, but youeven got like Chris or Rob.

Speaker 2 (01:13:38):
So it's funny though, because I told Justin the same
my guy was on, I would.
It would have been interestingto see you guys run with Zion
Pippkin.
I said I would.
I have, I would pay to see thatthat guard dynamic.
You, zion and Justin in a in aback court.
So that was my God.

(01:13:58):
Another question who is theplayer that brings the best out
of you in this city, in the city, when you, when you went, when
it's a match of a you highschool, when it's a match of
like, when you see him likebetter to get your hard hat
ready?
There's three.

Speaker 3 (01:14:16):
There's three, but I'm a count Luke, because he was
here, oh right.

Speaker 2 (01:14:22):
Yeah.
Because like me, him like thewar since middle school yeah.

Speaker 3 (01:14:26):
I'm like and like off the court me, look like we're,
like we're cool, but on thecourt it was just something like
the energy, like it was justlike I don't like this, I just
want to beat him.
Like I, just like it was justthat energy that we had.
But off the court, like me,look real, real cool.
Yeah, zion, same same thing.
I mean, I'm just have battleslike we like a you that I you

(01:14:47):
know, and like in like preseason, like we play against, like
just having those battlesagainst him, like they really
like like preparing me, likewith this, graphing this, and it
physically plays with the lastone.
I'm trying to think of someguards that I played against.
I would say this is toughbecause I played against a lot

(01:15:09):
of good.

Speaker 2 (01:15:10):
You know it doesn't have to be just 2024, because I
know Justin chose Montana.

Speaker 3 (01:15:15):
Oh yeah, yeah, I think it's Montana once and he
brought like.
I can't really base off of thatone interaction.
This is tough.
Just because I guess there's somany great guys, I would say
one person that always like it,like in practice, to always
brought out me, was divine.
I like that just becausecompetitive and he wants to win

(01:15:40):
Like and I think that thatreally drove me to because I
know something.
Yeah, I got to see him, so it'slike it really prepared me.

Speaker 2 (01:15:50):
Give me a sleeper that you don't think.
Nobody really gives a lot, alot of credit to but guys that
your peers know, but the butreally the city doesn't know
that he's better than what everybut people are sleeping on
that's.

Speaker 3 (01:16:08):
I'm trying to collect , I'm trying to think right now.
I'll give him from my school,sean is.
Sean can be Like he'd be a P5guy.

(01:16:29):
I Think that once, like what'she, once he continues to like
develop as a player, like he canbe Like one of those top guys.
And I think someone like notfrom my school, I think, oh, jay
like, like I don't like.
I don't think people give himthe Modest right that he

(01:16:49):
deserves because he's a yeah,he's really good.
He's a smaller guard the waythat he controls the game and
Just does what he does like.

Speaker 2 (01:16:57):
I I said in 2025.

Speaker 3 (01:16:59):
I thought that Him in Montana would be the guys,
that's, the torch guys for pointguards like yeah and think is
people don't realize hold is awinner, like he wins he wins
games he's, he's competitivelike he's, like he's on a real
good job at Jordan, just gettingthose guys together and I like,
every time I see him I don'tlike bro, like, like that's the

(01:17:23):
guy you're passing mental tomental to next year.

Speaker 2 (01:17:25):
Basically Top five Houston hoops teammates and I'm
just I'm gonna give you a reallyrated.
I don't think big picked you onthis one.
I think you did, he may have,he did, oh, top five, okay, okay
, yeah, yeah, top.

Speaker 3 (01:17:42):
But one of them, I got a pair of okay, I got a pair
of together because they wasalways together Jared and
Drailin, because they, I, I, wedrove up to Dallas and I picked
them up and that was thefunniest car I.
I gotta put those two togetherbecause that's like a pack of
you, yeah.
Yeah, because me and beg alwayshad that.
Yeah oh, trying to try to tryto see, trying to see Brice

(01:18:05):
Jacks.

Speaker 2 (01:18:07):
Saddle Creek 2025.

Speaker 3 (01:18:09):
Yeah, my six in you.
Yeah, we play together.
And the way, though, like theway he thinks the game like we,
like we kind of think similarly,it's to where, like, we would
just bounce ideas off each otherif he gets back healthy, how
deadly is he oh?
People gotta watch out.
That's it.
That's a dog.
His pops got a right.

(01:18:29):
Like his pops real hard likejust like.
Like just on my pops.
He real hard on him.

Speaker 2 (01:18:34):
But guys like, once you get ready, like top top guy
and your favorite Houston hoopsteam that you played on.

Speaker 3 (01:18:46):
I Can't pick one that's.
That's a I would say.
I would say that 17 you teamgroup from my seat, like with
jail and I'm like just beingaround them and.
See that chemistry that theybuilt Like.

(01:19:08):
I really enjoyed my time beingwith them, so I'm gonna say that
group just because me, justinand divine like we all Don't
move to that team.
Yeah, although we weren't therelong, I enjoyed my time, just
because it's like they made itfun.

Speaker 2 (01:19:19):
What's so funny YBL performances that you remember
like in your three years like Iwas vividly there like you know,
big told me like when, when,when Fox had 40 in the YBL
circuit, your stuff, like that.
He said Trey Johnson walked offthe plane from Hungary and then
30.
He said so just talk about likeno, and Jalen Lowe's run, yeah,

(01:19:41):
I would say just experience.
Well, I got to.
Yeah, experience I got to.

Speaker 3 (01:19:47):
I would say just experience.
Well, I got to yeahexperiencing that run with the
17s they had making it to thefinal four, like that was
something, that it was just like, like it was just different.
Yeah, just just whether theywere playing the chemistry, just
all that.
I.

Speaker 2 (01:20:05):
Do not to cut you off the performance.
When Lowe went head to headwith DJ Wagner, I know you were
there.
Yeah, what did that say aboutJalen Lowe that day?

Speaker 3 (01:20:17):
They that he's a top guy.
I mean, and I'm always saidthat Jalen was a top point guard
.
No matter like and like, nomatter who you compare him to,
like, I think he's one of thosetop guys and he's showing you
now at fit.
Yeah, he's a top guy.
Mm-hmm and I and like I've seenit from practices to games like
he's always been that leader,that type of guy, and I think
that that's like being that likespend that time with him.
That's what kind of rubbed offon me was the way that he leads,

(01:20:39):
the way that he like, like he'slike Like he'll be a jerk but
it's out of love and I think Itry to.
I use that same, that same typeof like mentality to leave my
teams and then and then one ofmy performances I had was it was
16, the first session, the 70s.

(01:21:00):
They're called up cheating thevine and just and like we have
played rent and I had like Ithink I had like a really good
game and I just only lose aboutlike five With like a group of
guys that just barely togetherwithin two days.
Like that's like, like that'ssomething that really, because
like we had played Like thatwhole week, like we really had

(01:21:22):
guys who have been together forlike like it was like me, game
brown, yeah, nolan, like justguys that like we just kind of
group together and like we wentout I think we we went to and to
and like to and to, where thegroup of guys that just got
together is like I would like.
I would say the real.

Speaker 1 (01:21:40):
Yeah, my last question is we we just answered
January.
Who's that one team that yougot more than they can this lock
away to play?

Speaker 3 (01:21:48):
so See, I'm see me, see me being who I am, like I'm
Okay okay, okay, okay, let's,let's talk about it, and I want
my rematch with a task either.
Hmm, just what?

Speaker 2 (01:22:09):
what round would you see?
That was that, would that,would that be a region I'm
trying to?
I got it.
I don't remember that okay likejust just depending.

Speaker 3 (01:22:16):
But I want to.
But I want to show everyonethat that first game was Like I
was just us, like we shotourselves, like that wasn't them
beating us, we beat ourselves.
And I think that that's thegame that I, that that I want to
play, because how many rounds?
Until state six.

Speaker 2 (01:22:32):
No, they get it five to get out the city.
Yeah, bob, to get out the city.

Speaker 1 (01:22:35):
Oh yeah yeah, yeah, the far as you were was for.

Speaker 3 (01:22:37):
Yeah so this year y'all win, state if yeah, I
think that we just continue whatwe're doing back.
I like to get anybody.

Speaker 1 (01:22:48):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (01:22:49):
Okay, and my last question is who is AJ Bates, a
Winner?

Speaker 3 (01:22:57):
a dog, a leader.
I.

Speaker 2 (01:23:01):
Love it.

Speaker 3 (01:23:01):
I love it.
It brings out man.

Speaker 1 (01:23:03):
Hey, real deal with a kill easy corner collab Young
bull AJ Bates.
We appreciate you.

Speaker 2 (01:23:13):
Easy corner here with the point guard killer, the
Louisiana take commit sevenlakes, own mr AJ Bates.
Oh man, go ahead, aj.
Thoughts your social mediathought, everything may follow
me on Instagram, twitter snap.

Speaker 3 (01:23:27):
I did base underscore 24.
I appreciate y'all.

Speaker 2 (01:23:30):
Thank y'all now appreciate it oh we out yeah.

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Louisiana Tech Commit AJ bates talks final year at Seven lakes, being the all time leading scorer in school history, AAU, and much more

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Louisiana Tech Commit AJ bates talks final year at Seven lakes, being the all time leading scorer in school history, AAU, and much more

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