Dancing Devil: HoopsHD interviews McDonald’s All-American Jared McCain

Posted on February 24, 2023 by Jon Teitel

If you want to win an NCAA title you need a good coach, a great resume…and a McDonald’s All-American. Only 3 championship teams since 1979 have not featured such a player (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor). The rosters for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game were announced in January after selecting the 24 best players in the nation from a list of several hundred nominees. If you do not think these guys can make an immediate impact in the fall, just ask Coach Nate Oats how he likes having 2022 honoree Brandon Miller at Alabama! Kentucky seems to be the big winner so far as Coach John Calipari will have a quartet of 2023 honorees joining him in Lexington next season. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jared McCain about being named a McDonald’s All-American and going for the 3-peat.

You helped lead your Centennial High School team to state championships during each of the past 2 years: is it harder to win a title or defend a title, and do you think you will make it 3 in a row this spring? It is harder to win a title. Once we won the 1st 1 we knew what it took to win and what to expect the following season. I do feel that we will 3-peat this year because we have some great players/coaches.

You received offers from several great schools including Gonzaga/Houston but signed with Duke last March: what was the biggest factor in your decision, and how far do you think the Blue Devils will go in March? It was based on the playing style and the platform that I can play on. The coaching staff (including Coach Jon Scheyer) has always been there for me. I think they will win the national title this year: their record does not matter.

You are 6’3”: what position do you play now, and what position will you feel most comfortable at in college? I can play either guard spot. My game has definitely transitioned to more of a PG but if someone else is hot then I can play SG instead.

You are part of a great recruiting class that includes Mackenzie Mgbako/Sean Stewart: how well do you know either of them, and what makes them such great players? I got to meet them at a bunch of different basketball camps and we have created a good bond. I am really excited to play with them because they all bring something special to the table.

Last month you were named a McDonald’s All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? That has been a goal of mine since I 1st learned about the McDonald’s Game back when Collin Sexton was in it several years ago. Kobe/LeBron/KD have all played in it before so it is surreal for me to finally make it.

2 of your fellow honorees (Stephon Castle/Brandon Garrison) joined you last summer on team USA at the FIBA U-18 Americas Championship in Mexico: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? That is a different type of feeling. I was so excited just to make the team. It was like “American Idol”: you have to perform and then you get judged. Some guys stayed and some guys had to leave the room. Playing with 3 guys who are potential lottery picks this summer (Anthony Black/GG Jackson/Cam Whitmore) was crazy. My uniform/gold medal are both framed in my bedroom.

There are 2 other players from California who were selected (Sierra Canyon’s Bronny James/Carmichael Jesuit’s Andrej Stojakovic): have you had a chance to play with/against either of them in the past? Andrej and I actually went to the same middle/elementary school in Sacramento so I played with him a lot in the past. I have not played with Bronny but have gotten to know him while we attended some camps together.

You have a 4.0 GPA: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? I find it pretty easy: my parents have instilled in me since I was young that academics come 1st.

You have around 2 million TikTok followers and some of your video dance performances have been viewed more than 15 million times: what role does social media play in your life? People think it plays a bigger role than it actually does because I post a lot. It can be toxic at times but I have always had fun dancing.

You have your own clothing brand as well as 1 of the highest NIL valuations of any high school basketball player, which has allowed you to sign deals with Champs Sports, Lemon Perfect, and Crocs: what have you been doing with all of that money?! Just saving it: I am not trying to do too much with it now but will still bless my family when I can.

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Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Friday, Feb 24th

Posted on February 24, 2023 by David Griggs

For the latest HOOPS HD BRACKET RUNDOWN where the seedlists of all the staff members are cross country scored and ranked to create a master seedlist which is then bracketed, and that bracket is revealed via Selection Sunday Style – CLICK HERE

SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE (click here to view)

-ATLANTIC SUN – A Jacksonville loss or FGCU win eliminates the Dolphins while FGCU can be eliminated by losing and having Jacksonville win.

 

NEWS, NOTES, AND HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-For John Stalica’s UTR Game of the Day – CLICK HERE

-Northwestern was looking like a Final Four caliber team in the first half against Illinois last night.  They were up 18pts on the road.  The problem was that after halftime, they still had to play another 20 minutes, and Illinois came from behind, got it close, then went ahead, and then held on to win 66-62 as the game came down to the seconds.  It was a big win for the Illini!  Perhaps the first time in all of history that a home win against Northwestern can legitimately be called a “Big Win.”

-Neither Penn State or Ohio State are likely to make the NCAA Tournament (although I suppose Penn State does have a chance), but if you missed the end of their game yesterday, you should watch it!  It was an exhibition of what it is like to be totally braindead and unfamiliar with the game’s situation – CLICK HERE  

-Rutgers had what appeared to be a routinely winnable game at home against Michigan last night, but they didn’t play all that well in the first half, and played even worse in the second half.  To their credit, Michigan did play a good game and picked up a nice road win, and they appear to be building up some momentum late in the season.

-USC, who is squarely on the bubble, picked up a really important, and somewhat impressive 84-65 road win against Colorado.  Beating Colorado in and of itself isn’t that great, but to beat them on the road by that margin at a time of the year when USC really needs road wins…that was a good win!

-XAVIER AT SETON HALL (Big East).  Xavier has had some really good wins and some very impressive moments this year, but they’ve also had their share of head-scratching moments, particularly their last game where they lost at home to Villanova.  Seton Hall is outside the bubble, but could still technically reach if with a strong finish.  A win today may not be enough in and of itself, but it would certainly be a big help.

-RICHMOND AT VCU (Atlantic Ten).  VCU has very little shot of being selected without the auto-bid, but I suppose they do have at shot if they can win out.  They have a 1 game lead with 3 games to go in the A10, and can get one step closer with a win over their rivals tonight.

-NEVADA AT FRESNO STATE (Mountain West).  Nevada is inside the bubble and is fairly safe barring a collapse between now and the end, but Fresno has proven to be a tricky road game this year, and it would be a bit of a setback for Nevada if they lost to a team that is just 10-17 overall on the season.

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Under The Radar Game of the Day – Friday, February 24th

Posted on February 24, 2023 by John Stalica

Kennesaw State (22-8, 14-3) at Central Arkansas (9-21, 4-13) – 8:00 PM ET (ESPN+)

Tonight’s UTR Game of the Day goes to Conway, Arkansas for a game between the Kennesaw State Owls and the Bears of Central Arkansas. An 88-81 win over Liberty capped a stretch for the Owls where they won 11 out of 12 games and put them in prime position for the #1 seed in the Atlantic Sun and at least a share of the regular season title. They would need a win and a Liberty loss to clinch the outright regular season title. Chris Youngblood averages 15.1 points a game for Kennesaw State.

Tonight will be the regular season finale for Central Arkansas; they failed to qualify for the Atlantic Sun tournament and have therefore been eliminated from the Hoops HD Survival Board. In fact, we would also ask that you begin monitoring the conference tournaments tab at the top of the page as we begin to get matchups announced for the conference tournaments beginning later tonight. (We may or may not begin revealing the 2023 Puppet Bunker as well)

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Hoops HD Bracket Rundown – Thursday, Feb 23rd

Posted on February 23, 2023 by David Griggs

NOTE:  This broadcast was recorded at 10pm, est on Thursday, February 2nd, and the seedlist was created prior to 8pm, est.  No games that were played that day, particularly Northwestern vs Illinois or Rutgers vs Michigan, were factored in

The Hoops HD Staff have each created their own personal seedlists.  Those were cross country ranked to create a master seedlist, which was then put into a bracket by Chad.  On this show, we reveal that bracket team by team, and then line by line in a Selection Sunday type format.  The panel is seeing the bracket for the first time as it is revealed, and they debate, discuss, and assess each team as they are revealed.

Below is a final copy of the bracket, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!

And below is an audio only version of the show, but don’t look at it until you’ve watched the show!!!

Posted in Bracket Rundown, Bracketology, Podcasts, Videocasts | 1 Comment

Hoops HD Daily Rundown – Thursday, Feb 23rd

Posted on February 23, 2023 by David Griggs

SURVIVAL BOARD UPDATE (click to view):

-OHIO VALLEY – Eastern Illinois fell to Morehead State yesterday, so they fall a half game behind Little Rock for 8th place and the final spot in the conference tournament.  Little Rock will face SIUE tonight and can get a one game lead with one game to go with a win.  I THINK Little Rock currently has the tiebreaker.  The two teams split during the regular season, and they also split with the two teams that are tied for second, but Little Rock has the next highest win in the conference standings for now.  Either way, it is a very tight race.

-We discuss more of this, as well as the rest of the UTR teams in our final UNDER THE RADAR Video Podcast of the season.  To check it out – CLICK HERE

NEWS AND NOTES:

-I am not going to talk about Alabama’s off the court issues other than to say I’m not going to talk about them.  If that’s what you want to read about, there are thousands of other things out there you can easily find.  They had to sweat last night at South Carolina, and needed overtime, but escaped with a 78-76 win, which should keep them atop the seedlist as the #1 overall.

-Virginia lost 63-48.  At Boston College.  Virginia has been asleep for the last couple of weeks.  They had to sweat out both Louisville and Notre Dame in their two games prior to this one.  What is going on in Hoo-Ville?

-UConn actually ran away from Providence in the second half, and ended up winning 87-69.  I know they were at home, but it was one of the more impressive 20 minute stretches that we’ve seen out of UConn in quite some time.

-North Carolina really had to sweat, but they did escape from Notre Dame 63-59.  It wasn’t the kind of performance that instills a lot of confidence that the team is actually any good, but it was enough to at least keep them within reach of the bubble.  For now.

-Auburn also survived at home against Ole Miss 78-74. It wasn’t the kind of performance that instills a lot of confidence that the team is actually any good, but it was enough to at least keep them within reach of the bubble.  For now.

-Wisconsin, who had been playing really poorly and slipped pretty far down the seedlist (and perhaps outside the bubble), got a 64-52 home win over Iowa that they DESPERATELY needed.  All of their games from here on out will have a pivotal feel to them.

-Boise State needed a big win, and got it against New Mexico 82-77 at home last night.  New Mexico is in very serious trouble as they are now just 7-8 in Mountain West play.  the Mountain West isn’t exactly an Under the Radar conference, but it’s not exactly the Big 12 either.  New Mexico needs a strong finish to their season.

 

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES:

-MICHIGAN AT RUTGERS (BIG TEN).  This should be a game where Rutgers is able to hold serve.  Michigan can in theory make a run at the bubble, but they’d need to win tonight, finish the regular season strong, and then make a big run in the Big Ten Tournament.

-NORTHWESTERN AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten).  This series has always had a little bit of heat to it, and I suppose some would consider it a rivalry, but RARELY has it ever had this kind of storyline to it.  Northwestern (not Illinois) is ranked in the top 25 and should land comfortably in the top half of the seedlist.  This would be another nice road win and improve their resume even more if the Wildcats are able to pull it off.  Illinois has a strong resume as well, and while they’ve lost three of their last five they have still shown they can play at a high level and will also have the chance to move up the seedlist between now and the end.

-UCLA AT UTAH (Pac 12).  UCLA is up to 4th in the rankings, and while they don’t have quite as much at the top of their profile as some of the other teams that are in the hunt for a #1 seed, I definitely think it is possible, and definitely think that regardless of what their seed is they’re good enough to go deep into the NCAA Tournament.  Having said that, this won’t be an easy road game.  Utah still has NCAA Tournament hopes that are barely flickering, and a win tonight could kindle them up some more, but I think it’s pretty much the consensus that they are much more of an NIT team than an NCAA Tournament team at the moment.

OTHER NOTABLE GAMES:

-Memphis @ Wichita State (American) – Memphis is on the bubble.  If they can avoid losses to all of the teams other than Houston the rest of the way then I believe they will make it into the field
-UTSA @ Florida Atlantic (Conference USA) – if FAU wins out through the regular I think they’ll be selected on the first ballot regardless of what happens in the CUSA Tournament
-North Texas @ Charlotte (Conference USA) – it would be a stretch, but North Texas should get at least a look from the committee if they win out until the CUSA Championship game, but then fail to beat FAU
-Towson @ Charleston (Colonial) – Towson is capable of playing at a high level and be able to test Charleston tonight
-USC @ Colorado (Pac 12) – USC is on the bubble, and Mountain Roadtrip is a difficult one, but it’s one that they need to come out of with wins.
-Pacific @ Saint Mary’s (West Coast) – should be a layup win for Saint Mary’s right before the big finale with Gonzaga
-San Diego @ Gonzaga (West Coast) – should be a layup win for Gonzaga right before the big finale with Saint Mary’s

UTR WATCH:

-FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON AT SAINT FRANCIS, PA (Northeast).  These are the 3rd and 4th place teams, but they are also the top two teams that are eligible for the NCAA Tournament and are separated by just one game.  If Merrimack wins the conference tournament, then the highest eligible team in the standings is who will get the auto-bid, and tonight’s game could play a big role in determining that.

-ORAL ROBERTS AT SOUTH DAKTOTA (Summit League).  Oral Roberts has already clinched first place in the conference and is now just warming up for the conference tourney.

-SOUTHLAND – TAMUCC has a one game lead over Northwestern State and can clinch at least a share of first place if they win their game at home against TAMU Commerce and Northwestern State loses at Incarnate Word.

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Happy Birthday! HoopsHD interviews New Hampshire legend Al McClain

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Jon Teitel

There are not a lot of players from the America East Conference who get drafted by an NBA team but Al McClain was 1 of them. After setting career records at New Hampshire for PTS/STL he was drafted by the Houston Rockets in 1984 (along with some other guy named Hakeem Olajuwon). A decade later he was inducted into the New Hampshire Athletics Hall of Fame. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Al about being a great scorer/defender. Today is Al’s 63rd birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

Your nickname is “Ski”: who gave you the nickname, and how do you like it? I had that name for so long it is hard to remember where I got it from. I must have got it while I was in Boston and just carried it to UNH.

You grew up in Massachusetts: what made you choose New Hampshire for college? I went to prep school in Maine and the UNH coach was calling me every day because he was highly interested. Other schools got involved later like Louisville/UNC but I wanted a coach who would put me in the best place to succeed…and that was Coach Gerry Friel. Louisville brought in a couple of great high school players in Milt Wagner/Lancaster Gordon. I scored 28 against Milt in a game so I knew that I was at his level, but I just wanted playing time.

You scored 22.8 PPG as a senior and you remain the all-time leading scorer in school history: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I did not think about the record when I was there but I played both guard spots: if I had only played SG then I would have scored even more. We had a chance to go to the 1983 NCAA tourney but I was hurt for most of the year. I am grateful to be 1 of the best players ever at UNH and it is a good feeling just to be in the conversation. Records are made to be broken: I broke my brother-in-law Robert Dixon’s record!

You also have the most STL in school history: what is the secret to being a great defender? Hard work/dedication. I had fun playing PG because my job was simple: try to disrupt the other team’s offense. I had good stamina and tried to deny passes from the opposing PG. I kind of made it an art by staying in the passing lanes to deflect the ball. I do not think that anyone will break that 1 for a while: it was a lot of fun.

You are also #2 on the career AST list: how were you able to balance your scoring with your passing? I had the green light to make those decisions but I knew that I had to put some points on the board for us to win. I tried to make the right decisions and my coach gave me the freedom to do so: it was not that stressful. I was literally a combo guard but a little more unselfish than I had to be. Looking back, if I had shot more I think we would have won more games.

In the summer of 1984 you were drafted in the 5th round by Houston: could you tell at the time that your rookie teammate Hakeem Olajuwon was going to become a Hall of Famer? Oh yeah: he is the Dream! He was a freak of nature even back then. If I had made the team then I think I would have been very helpful. I played against most of those guys during high school but there is a lot of luck involved depending on which team you go to. The Rockets were a championship-level team and Coach Bill Fitch was 1 of the toughest coaches ever who went with some bigger guys like 7′ Hakeem/6’10” Jim Petersen.

You work as a counselor with the Dorchester Youth Collaborative and run your own developmental basketball and mentoring program: why did you decide to dedicate your post-basketball career to helping kids? I think it was because of my NBA story. We had a broken home growing up but my mother worked around the clock to take care of our family. It led me to think that if my father had been there then he could have helped me get over the hump. I needed a strong mentor to take me under his wing and help me figure things out so I took it upon myself to help anyone who needed it. The Dorchester Youth Collaborative was the best thing to ever happen to me: I still performed NBA-type duties by taking all of my energy to be a fixture in the community. In my heart everything turned out fine. I received a lot of praise from the Celtics, who were instrumental in acknowledging the work that I have done: they have been unbelievable. I was named Junior NBA Coach of the Year for the work that I have done: they have been the backbone for me to keep working with youth. I have helped send kids to charter schools/college: it has been a great journey. Hyde Prep School also inducted me into their Hall of Fame.

You still play in the Living Legends Adult Basketball League (for players over age 40): how competitive are the games, and how long do you think that you can keep playing for? I am done now: we stopped playing several years ago. I played in another league up in Harlem that a lot of NBA greats played in like Charles Smith/Allan Houston/Gus Williams. I also played in a league in Greater Springfield that was unbelievable: we won the championship and I hung it up after that at age 53! All I play now is H-O-R-S-E against the kids.

Your sister Almanda/brother Wes also played basketball: who is the best athlete in the family? I was the best athlete but all of my brothers played high school basketball. Wes played at FAMU and my twin brother toured the US with Bobby Brown!

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I want to be remembered as a great teammate: 1 who cared about others more than himself. My numbers/Hall of Fame inductions speak for themselves. I am a legend in my community both on/off the court and love every kid in the Boston area and try to help them out in any way that I can. The new thing I am trying to do is recreate the Boston Shootout, which was 1 of the best high school tourneys ever. Paul Pierce played in it, as well as Dominique Wilkins. The Boston team won it last year with 8 players who ended up at D-1 schools. Check it out this spring: Battle New England.

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