October 15, 2024 • 20 mins
A Supplemental edition of The Coaches Show comes your way as Mark, Ryan and Ari travel down to the Hornets Nest to catch up with the Men's Basketball Team!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi. I'm Arun Nakshone here on the coaches show on
Hornet Radio, and it's media dayfor men's basketball as they get
ready to start the season.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Welcome to the Coaches Show. I'm here with
Perry Webster, one of the moreprolific community college head
coaches. Conferencechampionships, state
championships. That's what youlook at when you look at Florida
College Basketball. And, Perry,one of the things I wanna know,
because you know that I'minvolved in a lot of community
(01:09):
college sports, The trend ofcommunity college sports has
changed a little, and I'm askingyou this because you're an
educator and a mentor out here.
We see more professional hirecoaches coming on to the scene
here at community colleges. Isthat a good thing for community
college sports, or should westay traditional with the tenure
(01:31):
as coaches being out here?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
That's a good question. I I, you know, I think
that people are having to makechanges to to keep their sports
viable. It's hard sometimeswith, with the amount of full
time jobs, faculty jobs that areavailable or not. So, in one
sense, I'm happy that they'recreating these professional
expert jobs, so so we can keepthe sports valuable and and show
(01:55):
how, valuable our athleticprograms are. In another sense,
I'm I'm concerned that, youknow, we're losing the full time
faculty positions that havebuilt California Community
College Athletics.
So trying to solve that and andwork through that, I think we
really won't know for the next10, 15 years if if we're on the
right track or if we're not onthe right track. It's still yet
to be seen.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
So, Perry, to follow-up on your last
statement, I mean, we look atwhat's going on right now, and I
know you were in all themeetings. So let's take a hard
look at community colleges andphysical education because you
know where I stand on thisissue. You know, where does
physical education fit on thecommunity college level?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah. It's concerning. You know, it's it's
concerning that the Cal Statesmade that decision, to eliminate
the area e, which, you know,where where the one unit of PE
has been required, for transfer.I'm concerned about what it
looks like moving forward aswell. You know, community
college, is about serving thewhole person.
We have to have a holisticapproach to education. That's
(02:57):
always been the case since theancient Greeks. And to see them
kinda squeezing out, PE is veryconcerning. I I think that, the
PE requirement the one unit ofPE requirement to help serve
students, Students getting anopportunity to go to a walking
class, a boxing class, abasketball class, taking a
(03:17):
stress management class. So muchof the concern is about the
physical and and mental,well-being of people in in a
country that's, obese, in acountry that has a a health
health epidemic.
Us eliminating the eliminatingthe PE, department is is not
something that I think iscoincides with the healthy,
(03:40):
population. So on our campus,the fight's still not done.
We're trying to keep it andwe'll see what happens here in
the next few weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
You know, we look at these student athletes that
you've helped and that you'vemoved on. I know it really
hasn't trickled down yet intocommunity colleges, but one
other aspect of this, thingslike NIL and transferring from
right to left, does that work orare you somebody who's a
traditionalist that says, hey,let's just keep sports alone?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
I think there's a lot of me that's a traditionalist,
but a lot of me sees that, theseplayers have value. And if
everybody else in society, isable to use their value to make
money, so should the athleteswho sometimes, not all the time,
come from socioeconomicbackgrounds that they need the
money. It has affected ourlevel. There's there's players
(04:27):
getting paid at our level, andthat's okay with me. I would
like to see some kind ofguardrails in terms of what the
transfer portals look like and,some kind of rule set up, but
there's just no no realgoverning body right now at the
at the top.
So it it is kind of the wildwild west and, but I do like the
(04:48):
players having some empowerment.I think that, it requires us
coaches to reach our players ina different way than maybe we've
reached them in the past. Istill believe you can be hard on
players. I still believe you cancoach players and you can mentor
players. But I do think that,you know, loving them and making
sure that they're welcome andand enjoying their experience is
(05:09):
another important thing.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I'm here with the head coach of Fuller College
Basketball, Perry Webster, andPerry went saying that we look
at the basketball season now.Last year, you guys only lost 2
for the entire season and youwere 15 and 1 in conference. So
when you do as well as you do asa head coach and you have these
talented young people that comeand play basketball for you, how
(05:33):
do you look at last year withdisappointment or did you and
how do you take it to the nextstep this year?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Yeah, it's hard to look at it disappointingly. You
know, when we were we were thedefending state champions to the
year before, we took everybody'sbest shot. We played the best
schedule in the state. We stillend up winning a conference
championship and and gettingbeat in the final 4 and kind of
a fluky deal. If I if I didn'ttake that and look at it, look
back at it successfully, I Ithink I drive myself crazy more
(06:00):
than I already do.
So, I'm gonna I'm gonna be proudof that. You know, we moved
every single student athlete onEvery player got a full
scholarship. Every sophomore gota full scholarship. So for us,
that's, you know, it was reallya pleasing year. And I and I
think we're ready to bounceback.
I I think we took a good hardlook at our roster last year at
(06:21):
the end of the season and madesome adjustments that we needed
to make. We brought in moresize. We felt like in that final
four game, we just didn't haveenough size to compete and go
win that game the way we neededto. So we brought in more size
and and we're excited about thethe year ahead of us.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yeah. I'm a little surprised you're not short and
feisty like me in there, butthat's okay. That's an
exception. You talk about movingyour guys on. How important is
that?
And I know I ask you that everyyear about that, Perry, but
you're one of the few coachesthat move them on as an
educator, as a mentor. Do yousort of sit there at the season
(06:57):
and say to yourself, I need toget these guys at least to the
next educational level?
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yeah, I mean, that's the nature of the beast of what
we're trying to do is to getthem the opportunity at the next
level. They're here because wehave a proven track record of
moving them on. They're alsohere to win and be a part of our
culture and be a part ofFullerton College and the
community and all those otherthings. But at the end of the
day, they wanna know where haveyou sent players? Where are they
at now?
I think we've got 5 or 6 guysdivision 1, another 8 and 9 that
(07:24):
are in a d 2 NAIA just thisyear. And and to go back to what
you're talking about with NIL,we got guys getting paid. We got
guys that played here that aremaking good money now to play
college basketball, and we haveguys in our current roster that
are gonna get paid to move on.So, when you think about where a
non scholarship CaliforniaCommunity College and guys are
(07:44):
getting out of here and they'remaking real money, it's
important and and it's somethingwe we really strive to do.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Before I let you go, one question that I know Corey
Nalen would wanna know. How dowe get more fans to come back
out? Because Corey talks aboutthe old years of community
college basketball, the greatplayers that came through
community college basketball.You know, being a coach and a
player yourself, how do we getthe fans back to fill up the
(08:11):
nest here so that people willwatch community college
basketball?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah. You know, I think on our campus, we've done
a pretty good job the last fewyears. I mean, we we sell out
this thing especially late inthe season. You know, early in
the season would be nice to geta little bit more support and 6,
it's kinda hard with with ourseason though. The way it is is
because there's a big chunk ofthe season where we're off of
school for 8 weeks.
So being able to go connect andget the students out here has
(08:37):
been difficult at times in theseason. But we brought, you
know, Marsha Foster did a greatjob last year helping us get
students out. Vicki Calhoun nowis here and she's coaching our
cheerleading team, and I knowshe's gonna she's gonna really
push to try to get studentshere. We feel like we've been
pretty well supported. We, youknow, we get a lot of the old
(08:59):
timers that come to all ourgames that are very supportive.
So it's you always want more,but I know that coming to the
nest, especially late in theseason, is is a is a difficult
place to play. So we'll keeppushing to try to get them there
earlier in the year.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
We're looking at another 15 in one season. I'm a
put you on the spot. Are wegonna be better than that?
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Well, you know, I never I never gonna tell you
what our wins and losses aregonna look like. We'll play
hard. I know that, and we'llplay together. I know that.
There's a lot of talent on thisroster.
Like I said, it's a littledifferent than we've been the
last few years. We're a lotbigger. We're really athletic. I
think it's a team that'll bereally fun to watch. I mean,
there's gonna be a lot ofdunking, a lot of shot blocking
(09:45):
and and they play hard And,they're they're they're pretty
well together.
There's a good group ofsophomores that have been here a
few years. There's some talentedfreshmen that have come in. And
so, I'm really excited to getthe the season going. I know
that we're sick of practicingagainst each other at this point
in time. We have 2 division 2scrimmages next week that we're
really looking forward to, andthen season's just around the
(10:06):
corner.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Well, we'll get ready to look forward to that season
as I've got one of the morebrilliant young men standing
next to me. I'll tell you what,if you ever have a chance to
come out and share a basketballgame, get out there a little
early so you can meet PerryWebster. He's the most
incredible young man you wouldmeet. He's a great father. He's
a great partner in life to hiswife, and he's an educator and
(10:28):
mentor.
And he cares about the studentsthat he deals with on a daily
basis. Perry Thank you. Thanksfor coming out, and I wish you
the best for this upcomingseason.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Thanks, Mark.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Perry Webster, head coach of your Fullerton College
Hornets.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Welcome back to the Coaches Show. I'm Ari Nakhshone
here with JD, and we're at mediaday.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
So this year, you got high expectations. You guys, you
win. You're winners. You have avery, like, defensive oriented
game. How do you expect that tostart this year?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
I felt I felt like it's gonna start, pretty well. I
say we've been working allspring, all summer, all fall,
really. So I think it's gonnahave a big impact for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
You guys have won 4 conference championships, 2
state championships. Is thatyour expectation for this
season?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Yeah, for sure. I mean me and my team, my coaches,
we all prepared to win so we allwanna win at the highest level,
which is, you know, conferencechampionship, state
championship. So that's for surewhat we're going for.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Defensively, what do you think you bring to this
team?
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I feel like I just bring, like, ultimate effort,
energy all the time. Myteammates as well, they always
bring ultimate energy, effort aswell. So we all just gonna be
some dogs on defense prettymuch.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So Fullerton College, what made you choose it?
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Really, coach Perry. I came here. I toured the school
and everything. He gave me thebreakdown, told me, you know,
how much better I'm a get as aperson, as a player. So, yeah, I
just basically took his word forit.
It was probably the best choiceI could have made.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Was there anything specific that he said that
really solidified your choicehere?
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Well, he just knew, like, I was young coming in, you
know, inexperienced. So hebasically, I'm just gonna have
to learn coming in. He just,taught me, like, basically, I'm
early. I'm learning. So that'sjust the most most important
thing.
I just gotta continue to learn.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Alright. And the fun question now, who do you think
on the team has the best style?
Speaker 4 (12:24):
The best style, I would say I'll say I'll say I
could say myself, but I'm a passit to see what see what I got.
He got nice style. So I'm a sayI'm a say Christian.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
So away from the style back to the defense, how
do you think that coach or whatis his expectation from you
specifically?
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Specifically to to guard all the time 247.
Basically, be all over thecourt, do whatever I can do,
help out whoever I need to helpout and just be a anchor on
defense pretty much.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Alright. And that's JD. I'm Ari Nakhshone here on
the coaches show. Thank you somuch. Thank
Speaker 4 (13:00):
you. Appreciate it. Hi.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
I'm Ari Nakhshone shown back on the coaches show,
and I am here with ChristianWatson. So defensively, what do
you think you bring to thisteam?
Speaker 5 (13:11):
I think on the defensive end, I bring a lot of,
length, obviously, just the wayI'm built. A lot of quickness. I
get my hands on balls. I couldalso guard, I think, 1 through
3, 1 through 4 on this level. Sojust being able to, rotate,
switch out on different people,being a versatile defender, I
think that's what I could bring.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Last year, you guys had a great season. You were
league MVP. What do you thinkthe expectations are coming into
this season?
Speaker 5 (13:35):
I think, honestly, the only expectation for us,
inside our circle is honestlyjust going and winning the whole
thing. I felt like last year, Igot really, really close just
being a shot away from thechampionship game. So I think,
honestly, my only expectation isto just go and win it all. I
think personally, I, of course,wanna get better and take leaps
from last year, but I think thebiggest goal is just getting the
(13:57):
win at the end of the day andjust having another successful
season and hopefully gettingsome hardware at the end.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
So what made you wanna come here to Fullerton
College?
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Honestly, it was the coaching staff. Last year before
coming in, coach Perry had, beenrecruiting me really hard. He
always kinda stayed since thebeginning when I was kinda
figuring out what I wanted todo, and he always just gave me
the real, kinda told me, like,he had a spot for me and that he
wanted me to come in and kindahelp run the show and play point
(14:26):
guards. And, obviously, I had tobuy in and, prove that when I
got here. But, honestly, justthe coaching staff, what I
heard, the players that can'tplay the year before who got
out.
So I think a little bit of both.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
What specifically did he say to you that made you
really choose Fullerton and youdecided you wanted to play here
no matter what?
Speaker 5 (14:45):
He just kinda explained to me, what their
program is because I didn't knowas much before. I know they won
the championship before, butjust kinda, how the recruitment
is, players like me that he'scoached before. It's just kinda
how he wants to use me and whathe his end goals are and helping
me get to my end goals too aswell. So just those
(15:06):
conversations, I think, help meconnect with him and obviously
make me end up making thischoice.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
So the fun question today k. Who do you think has
the best style on the team?
Speaker 5 (15:20):
We got a lot of, players with different style. So
I would say other than myself, Iwould definitely say I like, I
like Jakari. I've seen Jakariwear some cool little pieces.
I've seen Jakari and I like JD.JD a little bit too.
(15:40):
Those are 2 of my guys, so theyalways kinda like myself. We
kinda, like, try to put ondifferent stuff, things like
that. So yeah. For sure.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
JD was also giving you some shout outs. He said
himself, maybe you as well. SoThat
Speaker 5 (15:51):
sounds good. Great.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
You able to make
Speaker 5 (15:52):
a light.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Yeah. There you go. So you guys got the chemistry
building. You've been here ayear. How do you think that
that'll help you guys even getfurther than you did last year?
Speaker 5 (16:01):
I I I think just the experience of playing with each
other, of course, is gonna help.Last year, a lot of us didn't
play with each other as much. Soit was kinda, it wasn't
difficult, but it was more of achallenge just gelling together,
especially in the beginning. Butnow just me being here for a
long time, just knowing theplayers as well as the coaches
now, it just it just makes it somuch more easier along with me
(16:22):
and some of the returning guyslike JD, Adi, even the red
shirts, Kyrie and stuff likethat. They've been around the
program and they know thesystem.
So we all kinda know what toexpect from each other and then
the coaches as well. So it makesit a ton easier.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
So outside of your expectations for this year and
what you wanna accomplish, isthere any big goals that you
have for the future of yourbasketball career?
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Yeah. Outside of, here, definitely after the state
championship, I wanna hopefullysign to a university after this.
And then after that, of course,just get my degree and then have
a shot to play pro. Ever since Iwas a kid, that's kinda been
something I really dreamed ofand wanted to do. So, of course,
I have goals before that, butthat definitely is one of those
(17:05):
end goals I wanna reach.
It's something I thought aboutsince I was a kid. So definitely
that. Right.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I'm Ari Nakshone here with Christian Watson. Thank you
so much for the interview.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Hope you have a great rest of your season.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Tell you so much.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Now we're talking with JQ Strong, and you've been
here before. This is a programyou're familiar with. I was
talking with some of yourteammates. How do you think that
this year your chemistry isgonna build?
Speaker 6 (17:29):
You know, we're real together. So, on and off the
court, I think is a real realbig thing, you know, spending
time with you off the court. Andwe're really gelling together
these last, you know, few weeks,a few months of practice. So I
think, you know, we're rollingtogether for
Speaker 1 (17:44):
So, coach, is do you think he's the reason you came
here, or was it a different partof the program that is that drew
you to Fullerton?
Speaker 6 (17:51):
No. Most definitely, you know, dealing with all the
coaches on my visit. I just feltmore most comfortable, making my
decision to come here, and theyjust made me feel so welcome. So
yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Was there anything specifically that he had said
that really helped you decideyou wanted to come here?
Speaker 6 (18:07):
I'll say just being the better version of me on and
off the court. And I just, youknow, put my trust in him, put
my faith in him, and it's gonnawork out.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
So you guys are winners. You guys have won a
conference. You've been winningthe championships. Is that the
standard for you, this year?
Speaker 6 (18:22):
Of course. Nothing nothing less. We want you know,
we came short last year,semifinals, but, you know, this
coming up here, we want thatring.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
But division that you want you wanna get all the way,
you're trying to win as much asyou can, no losses this year.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
No. Yeah. We're trying to go 26, 27, and no. How
many games would that it takes?We we don't want no losses.
So coach loves defense.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
What do you think you bring to the team defensively?
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Length. I can guard multiple positions, so that
really helps. And, you know,having more size so I can guard
more more guards and more on theperimeter, just adds to our our
defensive strength.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Do you think there's anything specifically he asks of
you to do on the floor on theday to day or during games or
maybe even something new that hewants from you this year?
Speaker 6 (19:10):
I'll say everything is really the same. You know,
score, rebound, defend. I thinkit's really all the same. Being
in the right bizarre rightspots, right position, to help
my teammates and then alsomyself.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Is there anything that even from just your own,
viewpoint that you wanna improveon from last year?
Speaker 6 (19:30):
I'll say, rebounding and just my, defensive hustle.
So just, you know, you don't youdon't wanna score. We don't want
them to score, and that's how wegonna win.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
So Alright.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
So now the fun question. Who on the team do you
think has the best style?
Speaker 6 (19:46):
Style? Me. Yeah. Me. 100%.
No. Yeah. Or or, Christian. I'llget it. See why.
Yeah. Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Give me
Speaker 6 (19:53):
a minute. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Alright. That's great. So you guys have had that
year together. I mentioned thatearlier. Is there anything that
you're looking forward to withmaybe him or some of your other
returning teammates that youguys want to have, like, an
experience together?
Speaker 6 (20:09):
I'll say just, you know, winning that title
together. I think, you know, itwas real emotional last year
losing, but we knew we couldhave done it. So I feel like
winning that this year wouldjust, you know, it'll it'll be
like pearly gates.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Alright. Thank you so much for the interview, and good
luck on your year.
Speaker 6 (20:26):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
And that was Christian Watson here at media
day. Next week, FullertonCollege had their first
scrimmage, but if you wanna seethem at their first game on
November 1st, they play at MiraCosta College. Thank you to
everyone here at FullertonCollege men's basketball. I'm
Ari Nakhshone here on thecoaches show on Hornet Radio.
Hi. I'm Arun Nakshone here on the coaches show on
Hornet Radio, and it's media dayfor men's basketball as they get
ready to start the season.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Welcome to the Coaches Show. I'm here with
Perry Webster, one of the moreprolific community college head
coaches. Conferencechampionships, state
championships. That's what youlook at when you look at Florida
College Basketball. And, Perry,one of the things I wanna know,
because you know that I'minvolved in a lot of community
(01:09):
college sports, The trend ofcommunity college sports has
changed a little, and I'm askingyou this because you're an
educator and a mentor out here.
We see more professional hirecoaches coming on to the scene
here at community colleges. Isthat a good thing for community
college sports, or should westay traditional with the tenure
(01:31):
as coaches being out here?
Speaker 3 (01:33):
That's a good question. I I, you know, I think
that people are having to makechanges to to keep their sports
viable. It's hard sometimeswith, with the amount of full
time jobs, faculty jobs that areavailable or not. So, in one
sense, I'm happy that they'recreating these professional
expert jobs, so so we can keepthe sports valuable and and show
(01:55):
how, valuable our athleticprograms are. In another sense,
I'm I'm concerned that, youknow, we're losing the full time
faculty positions that havebuilt California Community
College Athletics.
So trying to solve that and andwork through that, I think we
really won't know for the next10, 15 years if if we're on the
right track or if we're not onthe right track. It's still yet
to be seen.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
So, Perry, to follow-up on your last
statement, I mean, we look atwhat's going on right now, and I
know you were in all themeetings. So let's take a hard
look at community colleges andphysical education because you
know where I stand on thisissue. You know, where does
physical education fit on thecommunity college level?
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah. It's concerning. You know, it's it's
concerning that the Cal Statesmade that decision, to eliminate
the area e, which, you know,where where the one unit of PE
has been required, for transfer.I'm concerned about what it
looks like moving forward aswell. You know, community
college, is about serving thewhole person.
We have to have a holisticapproach to education. That's
(02:57):
always been the case since theancient Greeks. And to see them
kinda squeezing out, PE is veryconcerning. I I think that, the
PE requirement the one unit ofPE requirement to help serve
students, Students getting anopportunity to go to a walking
class, a boxing class, abasketball class, taking a
(03:17):
stress management class. So muchof the concern is about the
physical and and mental,well-being of people in in a
country that's, obese, in acountry that has a a health
health epidemic.
Us eliminating the eliminatingthe PE, department is is not
something that I think iscoincides with the healthy,
(03:40):
population. So on our campus,the fight's still not done.
We're trying to keep it andwe'll see what happens here in
the next few weeks.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
You know, we look at these student athletes that
you've helped and that you'vemoved on. I know it really
hasn't trickled down yet intocommunity colleges, but one
other aspect of this, thingslike NIL and transferring from
right to left, does that work orare you somebody who's a
traditionalist that says, hey,let's just keep sports alone?
Speaker 3 (04:07):
I think there's a lot of me that's a traditionalist,
but a lot of me sees that, theseplayers have value. And if
everybody else in society, isable to use their value to make
money, so should the athleteswho sometimes, not all the time,
come from socioeconomicbackgrounds that they need the
money. It has affected ourlevel. There's there's players
(04:27):
getting paid at our level, andthat's okay with me. I would
like to see some kind ofguardrails in terms of what the
transfer portals look like and,some kind of rule set up, but
there's just no no realgoverning body right now at the
at the top.
So it it is kind of the wildwild west and, but I do like the
(04:48):
players having some empowerment.I think that, it requires us
coaches to reach our players ina different way than maybe we've
reached them in the past. Istill believe you can be hard on
players. I still believe you cancoach players and you can mentor
players. But I do think that,you know, loving them and making
sure that they're welcome andand enjoying their experience is
(05:09):
another important thing.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
I'm here with the head coach of Fuller College
Basketball, Perry Webster, andPerry went saying that we look
at the basketball season now.Last year, you guys only lost 2
for the entire season and youwere 15 and 1 in conference. So
when you do as well as you do asa head coach and you have these
talented young people that comeand play basketball for you, how
(05:33):
do you look at last year withdisappointment or did you and
how do you take it to the nextstep this year?
Speaker 3 (05:38):
Yeah, it's hard to look at it disappointingly. You
know, when we were we were thedefending state champions to the
year before, we took everybody'sbest shot. We played the best
schedule in the state. We stillend up winning a conference
championship and and gettingbeat in the final 4 and kind of
a fluky deal. If I if I didn'ttake that and look at it, look
back at it successfully, I Ithink I drive myself crazy more
(06:00):
than I already do.
So, I'm gonna I'm gonna be proudof that. You know, we moved
every single student athlete onEvery player got a full
scholarship. Every sophomore gota full scholarship. So for us,
that's, you know, it was reallya pleasing year. And I and I
think we're ready to bounceback.
I I think we took a good hardlook at our roster last year at
(06:21):
the end of the season and madesome adjustments that we needed
to make. We brought in moresize. We felt like in that final
four game, we just didn't haveenough size to compete and go
win that game the way we neededto. So we brought in more size
and and we're excited about thethe year ahead of us.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Yeah. I'm a little surprised you're not short and
feisty like me in there, butthat's okay. That's an
exception. You talk about movingyour guys on. How important is
that?
And I know I ask you that everyyear about that, Perry, but
you're one of the few coachesthat move them on as an
educator, as a mentor. Do yousort of sit there at the season
(06:57):
and say to yourself, I need toget these guys at least to the
next educational level?
Speaker 3 (07:02):
Yeah, I mean, that's the nature of the beast of what
we're trying to do is to getthem the opportunity at the next
level. They're here because wehave a proven track record of
moving them on. They're alsohere to win and be a part of our
culture and be a part ofFullerton College and the
community and all those otherthings. But at the end of the
day, they wanna know where haveyou sent players? Where are they
at now?
I think we've got 5 or 6 guysdivision 1, another 8 and 9 that
(07:24):
are in a d 2 NAIA just thisyear. And and to go back to what
you're talking about with NIL,we got guys getting paid. We got
guys that played here that aremaking good money now to play
college basketball, and we haveguys in our current roster that
are gonna get paid to move on.So, when you think about where a
non scholarship CaliforniaCommunity College and guys are
(07:44):
getting out of here and they'remaking real money, it's
important and and it's somethingwe we really strive to do.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Before I let you go, one question that I know Corey
Nalen would wanna know. How dowe get more fans to come back
out? Because Corey talks aboutthe old years of community
college basketball, the greatplayers that came through
community college basketball.You know, being a coach and a
player yourself, how do we getthe fans back to fill up the
(08:11):
nest here so that people willwatch community college
basketball?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yeah. You know, I think on our campus, we've done
a pretty good job the last fewyears. I mean, we we sell out
this thing especially late inthe season. You know, early in
the season would be nice to geta little bit more support and 6,
it's kinda hard with with ourseason though. The way it is is
because there's a big chunk ofthe season where we're off of
school for 8 weeks.
So being able to go connect andget the students out here has
(08:37):
been difficult at times in theseason. But we brought, you
know, Marsha Foster did a greatjob last year helping us get
students out. Vicki Calhoun nowis here and she's coaching our
cheerleading team, and I knowshe's gonna she's gonna really
push to try to get studentshere. We feel like we've been
pretty well supported. We, youknow, we get a lot of the old
(08:59):
timers that come to all ourgames that are very supportive.
So it's you always want more,but I know that coming to the
nest, especially late in theseason, is is a is a difficult
place to play. So we'll keeppushing to try to get them there
earlier in the year.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
We're looking at another 15 in one season. I'm a
put you on the spot. Are wegonna be better than that?
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Well, you know, I never I never gonna tell you
what our wins and losses aregonna look like. We'll play
hard. I know that, and we'llplay together. I know that.
There's a lot of talent on thisroster.
Like I said, it's a littledifferent than we've been the
last few years. We're a lotbigger. We're really athletic. I
think it's a team that'll bereally fun to watch. I mean,
there's gonna be a lot ofdunking, a lot of shot blocking
(09:45):
and and they play hard And,they're they're they're pretty
well together.
There's a good group ofsophomores that have been here a
few years. There's some talentedfreshmen that have come in. And
so, I'm really excited to getthe the season going. I know
that we're sick of practicingagainst each other at this point
in time. We have 2 division 2scrimmages next week that we're
really looking forward to, andthen season's just around the
(10:06):
corner.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Well, we'll get ready to look forward to that season
as I've got one of the morebrilliant young men standing
next to me. I'll tell you what,if you ever have a chance to
come out and share a basketballgame, get out there a little
early so you can meet PerryWebster. He's the most
incredible young man you wouldmeet. He's a great father. He's
a great partner in life to hiswife, and he's an educator and
(10:28):
mentor.
And he cares about the studentsthat he deals with on a daily
basis. Perry Thank you. Thanksfor coming out, and I wish you
the best for this upcomingseason.
Speaker 4 (10:38):
Thanks, Mark.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Perry Webster, head coach of your Fullerton College
Hornets.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Welcome back to the Coaches Show. I'm Ari Nakhshone
here with JD, and we're at mediaday.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
So this year, you got high expectations. You guys, you
win. You're winners. You have avery, like, defensive oriented
game. How do you expect that tostart this year?
Speaker 4 (11:02):
I felt I felt like it's gonna start, pretty well. I
say we've been working allspring, all summer, all fall,
really. So I think it's gonnahave a big impact for sure.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
You guys have won 4 conference championships, 2
state championships. Is thatyour expectation for this
season?
Speaker 4 (11:19):
Yeah, for sure. I mean me and my team, my coaches,
we all prepared to win so we allwanna win at the highest level,
which is, you know, conferencechampionship, state
championship. So that's for surewhat we're going for.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
Defensively, what do you think you bring to this
team?
Speaker 4 (11:34):
I feel like I just bring, like, ultimate effort,
energy all the time. Myteammates as well, they always
bring ultimate energy, effort aswell. So we all just gonna be
some dogs on defense prettymuch.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
So Fullerton College, what made you choose it?
Speaker 4 (11:48):
Really, coach Perry. I came here. I toured the school
and everything. He gave me thebreakdown, told me, you know,
how much better I'm a get as aperson, as a player. So, yeah, I
just basically took his word forit.
It was probably the best choiceI could have made.
Speaker 1 (12:01):
Was there anything specific that he said that
really solidified your choicehere?
Speaker 4 (12:06):
Well, he just knew, like, I was young coming in, you
know, inexperienced. So hebasically, I'm just gonna have
to learn coming in. He just,taught me, like, basically, I'm
early. I'm learning. So that'sjust the most most important
thing.
I just gotta continue to learn.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Alright. And the fun question now, who do you think
on the team has the best style?
Speaker 4 (12:24):
The best style, I would say I'll say I'll say I
could say myself, but I'm a passit to see what see what I got.
He got nice style. So I'm a sayI'm a say Christian.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
So away from the style back to the defense, how
do you think that coach or whatis his expectation from you
specifically?
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Specifically to to guard all the time 247.
Basically, be all over thecourt, do whatever I can do,
help out whoever I need to helpout and just be a anchor on
defense pretty much.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
Alright. And that's JD. I'm Ari Nakhshone here on
the coaches show. Thank you somuch. Thank
Speaker 4 (13:00):
you. Appreciate it. Hi.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
I'm Ari Nakhshone shown back on the coaches show,
and I am here with ChristianWatson. So defensively, what do
you think you bring to thisteam?
Speaker 5 (13:11):
I think on the defensive end, I bring a lot of,
length, obviously, just the wayI'm built. A lot of quickness. I
get my hands on balls. I couldalso guard, I think, 1 through
3, 1 through 4 on this level. Sojust being able to, rotate,
switch out on different people,being a versatile defender, I
think that's what I could bring.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
Last year, you guys had a great season. You were
league MVP. What do you thinkthe expectations are coming into
this season?
Speaker 5 (13:35):
I think, honestly, the only expectation for us,
inside our circle is honestlyjust going and winning the whole
thing. I felt like last year, Igot really, really close just
being a shot away from thechampionship game. So I think,
honestly, my only expectation isto just go and win it all. I
think personally, I, of course,wanna get better and take leaps
from last year, but I think thebiggest goal is just getting the
(13:57):
win at the end of the day andjust having another successful
season and hopefully gettingsome hardware at the end.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
So what made you wanna come here to Fullerton
College?
Speaker 5 (14:06):
Honestly, it was the coaching staff. Last year before
coming in, coach Perry had, beenrecruiting me really hard. He
always kinda stayed since thebeginning when I was kinda
figuring out what I wanted todo, and he always just gave me
the real, kinda told me, like,he had a spot for me and that he
wanted me to come in and kindahelp run the show and play point
(14:26):
guards. And, obviously, I had tobuy in and, prove that when I
got here. But, honestly, justthe coaching staff, what I
heard, the players that can'tplay the year before who got
out.
So I think a little bit of both.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
What specifically did he say to you that made you
really choose Fullerton and youdecided you wanted to play here
no matter what?
Speaker 5 (14:45):
He just kinda explained to me, what their
program is because I didn't knowas much before. I know they won
the championship before, butjust kinda, how the recruitment
is, players like me that he'scoached before. It's just kinda
how he wants to use me and whathe his end goals are and helping
me get to my end goals too aswell. So just those
(15:06):
conversations, I think, help meconnect with him and obviously
make me end up making thischoice.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
So the fun question today k. Who do you think has
the best style on the team?
Speaker 5 (15:20):
We got a lot of, players with different style. So
I would say other than myself, Iwould definitely say I like, I
like Jakari. I've seen Jakariwear some cool little pieces.
I've seen Jakari and I like JD.JD a little bit too.
(15:40):
Those are 2 of my guys, so theyalways kinda like myself. We
kinda, like, try to put ondifferent stuff, things like
that. So yeah. For sure.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
JD was also giving you some shout outs. He said
himself, maybe you as well. SoThat
Speaker 5 (15:51):
sounds good. Great.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
You able to make
Speaker 5 (15:52):
a light.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
Yeah. There you go. So you guys got the chemistry
building. You've been here ayear. How do you think that
that'll help you guys even getfurther than you did last year?
Speaker 5 (16:01):
I I I think just the experience of playing with each
other, of course, is gonna help.Last year, a lot of us didn't
play with each other as much. Soit was kinda, it wasn't
difficult, but it was more of achallenge just gelling together,
especially in the beginning. Butnow just me being here for a
long time, just knowing theplayers as well as the coaches
now, it just it just makes it somuch more easier along with me
(16:22):
and some of the returning guyslike JD, Adi, even the red
shirts, Kyrie and stuff likethat. They've been around the
program and they know thesystem.
So we all kinda know what toexpect from each other and then
the coaches as well. So it makesit a ton easier.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
So outside of your expectations for this year and
what you wanna accomplish, isthere any big goals that you
have for the future of yourbasketball career?
Speaker 5 (16:44):
Yeah. Outside of, here, definitely after the state
championship, I wanna hopefullysign to a university after this.
And then after that, of course,just get my degree and then have
a shot to play pro. Ever since Iwas a kid, that's kinda been
something I really dreamed ofand wanted to do. So, of course,
I have goals before that, butthat definitely is one of those
(17:05):
end goals I wanna reach.
It's something I thought aboutsince I was a kid. So definitely
that. Right.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I'm Ari Nakshone here with Christian Watson. Thank you
so much for the interview.
Speaker 4 (17:14):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Hope you have a great rest of your season.
Speaker 5 (17:17):
Thank you.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
Tell you so much.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Now we're talking with JQ Strong, and you've been
here before. This is a programyou're familiar with. I was
talking with some of yourteammates. How do you think that
this year your chemistry isgonna build?
Speaker 6 (17:29):
You know, we're real together. So, on and off the
court, I think is a real realbig thing, you know, spending
time with you off the court. Andwe're really gelling together
these last, you know, few weeks,a few months of practice. So I
think, you know, we're rollingtogether for
Speaker 1 (17:44):
So, coach, is do you think he's the reason you came
here, or was it a different partof the program that is that drew
you to Fullerton?
Speaker 6 (17:51):
No. Most definitely, you know, dealing with all the
coaches on my visit. I just feltmore most comfortable, making my
decision to come here, and theyjust made me feel so welcome. So
yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Was there anything specifically that he had said
that really helped you decideyou wanted to come here?
Speaker 6 (18:07):
I'll say just being the better version of me on and
off the court. And I just, youknow, put my trust in him, put
my faith in him, and it's gonnawork out.
Speaker 1 (18:15):
So you guys are winners. You guys have won a
conference. You've been winningthe championships. Is that the
standard for you, this year?
Speaker 6 (18:22):
Of course. Nothing nothing less. We want you know,
we came short last year,semifinals, but, you know, this
coming up here, we want thatring.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
But division that you want you wanna get all the way,
you're trying to win as much asyou can, no losses this year.
Speaker 6 (18:37):
No. Yeah. We're trying to go 26, 27, and no. How
many games would that it takes?We we don't want no losses.
So coach loves defense.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
What do you think you bring to the team defensively?
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Length. I can guard multiple positions, so that
really helps. And, you know,having more size so I can guard
more more guards and more on theperimeter, just adds to our our
defensive strength.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
Do you think there's anything specifically he asks of
you to do on the floor on theday to day or during games or
maybe even something new that hewants from you this year?
Speaker 6 (19:10):
I'll say everything is really the same. You know,
score, rebound, defend. I thinkit's really all the same. Being
in the right bizarre rightspots, right position, to help
my teammates and then alsomyself.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Is there anything that even from just your own,
viewpoint that you wanna improveon from last year?
Speaker 6 (19:30):
I'll say, rebounding and just my, defensive hustle.
So just, you know, you don't youdon't wanna score. We don't want
them to score, and that's how wegonna win.
Speaker 4 (19:39):
So Alright.
Speaker 1 (19:41):
So now the fun question. Who on the team do you
think has the best style?
Speaker 6 (19:46):
Style? Me. Yeah. Me. 100%.
No. Yeah. Or or, Christian. I'llget it. See why.
Yeah. Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:52):
Give me
Speaker 6 (19:53):
a minute. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Alright. That's great. So you guys have had that
year together. I mentioned thatearlier. Is there anything that
you're looking forward to withmaybe him or some of your other
returning teammates that youguys want to have, like, an
experience together?
Speaker 6 (20:09):
I'll say just, you know, winning that title
together. I think, you know, itwas real emotional last year
losing, but we knew we couldhave done it. So I feel like
winning that this year wouldjust, you know, it'll it'll be
like pearly gates.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Alright. Thank you so much for the interview, and good
luck on your year.
Speaker 6 (20:26):
Appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
And that was Christian Watson here at media
day. Next week, FullertonCollege had their first
scrimmage, but if you wanna seethem at their first game on
November 1st, they play at MiraCosta College. Thank you to
everyone here at FullertonCollege men's basketball. I'm
Ari Nakhshone here on thecoaches show on Hornet Radio.
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