UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Alterique Gilbert, who will be playing for AfterShocks after being coached by not 1 but 2 NCAA championship coaches during college.
You won 3 state titles in 4 years at Miller Grove High School: what is the secret to winning championships? Just being a consistent worker behind closed doors and having a team that comes together for a common goal.
In the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game you scored 7 PTS for the West in a win over the East: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Bam Adebayo/De’Aaron Fox/Jayson Tatum/other)? I was most impressed with De’Aaron. I 1st saw him at a Nike Skills Academy and later played against him at a USA camp: his quickness/decision making/athleticism was great. Then again, our whole class was amazing.
You are 1 of the only guys I know who played for multiple national championship coaches during college (Kevin Ollie/Dan Hurley): what was the most important thing that you learned from either of them? When I came in with Coach Ollie I learned that he is 1 of the hardest workers I have ever come across. He really instilled a work ethic in us, but we had a lot of injuries on the roster during our 2 years together. He taught me to “not put peppermint over bad breath”. Coach Hurley is a different kind of guy: his passion for the game is at a different level than everyone else and he taught me how to win at life with the things I do off the court. Now the Huskies are on a 2-year championship run, which shows how he built the foundation. He is a great guy and also 1 of the hardest workers: he is consistently up at 5AM to work on his routines and then sticks with them. It is good to see where the program is now after some tough down years when I 1st arrived. I am excited for the young guys coming in.
You only played 64 games during your 4 years at UConn: how frustrating was it to keep dealing with injury after injury? Injuries are never part of any athlete’s plan so I just tried to ask myself the hardest question: what can I learn from this process? It was a mind thing: I questioned my ability, which was the hardest part. At the same time, everything you learn builds your character and impacts how you live your life, which is the most fortunate thing. You must continue to believe in yourself and stay in the fight. Shout-out to Coach Tom Moore, who taught me that if I never quit then I will never lose.
In 2020 you had transfer offers from several great schools including Arkansas/Florida/Texas Tech: what made you choose Wichita State? I played a road game against them 1 time and the environment was crazy: it was 1 of the most electrifying places I have ever seen. I did not get the full experience during COVID but we always felt the support of the fans. The people were great and it was a big accomplishment for me since it was my 1st full year playing every game. Going to the Roundhouse was a great move for me.
In 2021 you helped the Shockers win their 1st AAC regular season title: where does that season rank among the highlights of your career? It is definitely a big 1 due to the situation we were put in. After Coach Gregg Marshall got fired right before the season we had a little setback but just had to regroup. Everyone played together and we had no chemistry problems because everyone got along. The toughest thing was COVID but everything else was smooth. I think that we could have done even better because we had such a nice group of players/people.
In the 2021 NCAA tourney you scored 10 PTS but missed a 3 off the front of the rim at the buzzer in a 1-PT loss to Drake: did you think the shot was going in? Of course! When I shot it I believed that it was going in, just like every shooter does. I like to take those shots whether I make or miss them: it comes with the game.
You finished top-10 in the conference in APG during each of your final 3 years: what is the key to being a good PG? I will tell you 1 of my secrets that was passed down to me: I scout my team and “marry my shooter” so that I can get him the ball where he wants it. I like to pass the ball during transition before the defense gets set, and if they double-team him then other guys will be open. It is just a “feel” thing: you need to have great relationships with your teammates.
You have played pro basketball in Europe for the past few years: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? I would say the fundamentals that they teach kids in Europe: they understand movement/cutting/passing. Americans do fundamentals as well but when you think of “beautiful basketball” I think of Europe. There is less athleticism in Europe but there are high-IQ players in both places. I had to adjust my game by making those reads, and then it became a lot easier.
You are playing for Aftershocks in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I think that we are looking good and have a nice little team! If we play together and have the right mindset then we will have the advantage while playing at home: I think we will definitely make a run. I do not know about the money right now: I will probably sit on it for a couple of days and think of a plan. I do not like to count money that is not there but I pray that it will happen.