TBT Preview: HoopsHD interviews Isaac Hamilton of Living the Dream

Posted on July 17, 2023 by Jon Teitel

UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Denver 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 Dayton/Louisville/Lubbock/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita 1/Wichita 2/Xavier. 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 Isaac Hamilton, who will be playing for Living the Dream after making a pair of Sweet 16s at UCLA.

In 2013 you were named a McDonald’s All-American: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Aaron Gordon/Julius Randle/Andrew Wiggins/other)? I think Aaron Gordon. I played with him in AAU and he was always impressive/explosive. When you see how he plays now it makes sense: he is a hard worker.

You were born/raised in Los Angeles but began your college career at UTEP: why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose UCLA? Coach Tim Floyd was a good friend of my family and actually coached my uncle at UTEP (who played with Tim Hardaway). He also recruited my older brother Jordan. My grandmother got sick and I asked the NCAA if I could get out of my NLI so I could be closer to home.

You played for Coach Steve Alford: what makes him such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? He just let us play. On offense we would read/react: we are not robots! He is a great guy and I had a great relationship with him because we had similar interests.

In the 2015 Pac-12 tourney quarterfinals you scored a career-high 36 PTS/13-17 FG in a win over USC (just 4 days after your grandmother had passed away): was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Definitely. I was a gym rat and after my 1st couple of shots went in the rest was history.

In the 2015 NCAA tourney you had 4 AST in a 1-PT win over SMU when Yanick Moreira was called for goaltending on Bryce Alford’s 3-PT shot with 13 seconds left: where does that rank among the wildest finishes that you have ever been a part of? We were down so to end the game like that was crazy! It shocked me at 1st because I did not know what was going on. I was just excited to advance because we had such an up-and-down season that year.

You made a pair of Sweet 16s: what is the key to making a deep run in March? Just playing well together and having guys making shots. You have to emphasize the little things because every game is different. It comes down to doing your best to advance.

You were named 2nd-team All-Pac-12 as a junior: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? We did not have a great season but individually I put in a lot of hard work with Rico Hines (who was just hired as an assistant by the 76ers). I tried to fine-tune my game and he helped me so much with my confidence. To see that end result was a blessing but also a testament to the hard work that I had put in.

You have played pro basketball in the G League and several foreign countries: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? The rules are different and the style of play overseas can be a lot slower. There is more strategy/game-planning due to the pace of the game. It is more of a thinking game there, whereas a lot of players here rely a lot on their athleticism.

Your brother Daniel played basketball at UConn, your brother Greg played pro basketball overseas, and your brother Jordan played in the NBA: who is the best athlete in the family? I would have to go with myself, for sure, but we all push each other. All of our games are completely different from each other because we offer different things on the court.

You are playing for the Living the Dream team in the TBT: how is the team looking so far, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? The team is looking pretty good. We are getting to know each other and figuring out what works best for us as a team. We are getting a foundational plan to approach each game. I am a frugal guy so I will probably just save my money.

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TBT Preview: HoopsHD interviews Sam Sessoms of the Happy Valley Hoopers

Posted on July 16, 2023 by Jon Teitel

UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Denver 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 Dayton/Louisville/Lubbock/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita 1/Wichita 2/Xavier. 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 Sam Sessoms, who will be playing for the Happy Valley Hoopers after scoring more than 2300 PTS in college.

In 2019 as a freshman at Binghamton you scored 17.8 PPG and were named conference ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I went to the perfect place: the PG spot was opening up and I had a coaching staff that believed in me and gave me the keys from a young age. It comes down to working hard but the upperclassmen around me were great.

In December of 2019 you set a school record with 40 PTS in a 5-PT win over BU: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were in the zone? I remember that we went into OT where I scored another 8-10 PTS. The game went back and forth so I was in attack mode the entire game: luckily I got some shots to fall.

In the 2022 Big 10 tourney as a player at Penn State you made the quarterfinals before losing to Purdue: could you have ever imagined at the time that 7’4” Zach Edey would become the national POY just 1 year later? Not really, to be honest. I did not see him play a lot before then because he was splitting time back then with Trevion Williams.

You were also named Academic All-Big 10 that year: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? It was pretty easy: I went to a good high school that was pretty small but we sent a lot of kids to the Ivy League.

You spent your final year of college at Coppin State: what is the biggest difference between a Big 10 school and an HBCU? From a basketball standpoint there was a complete difference in resources/facilities. The Big 10 has a lot of money due to football so Coppin State (a mostly African-American school) could not compete with that. It took me back to my days at Binghamton: every time that we went into the gym we were the underdog.

Last year you were top-3 in the MEAC in PPG/APG/SPG: how do you balance all of the different aspects of your game? I had the ball in my hands the majority of the game. I just tried to hit some shots, make the right plays, and work hard defensively. As a 5th-year player I know how to watch film and play ball.

You finished your college career with 2362 PTS: what is the secret to being a great scorer? Any coach I ever had knows that I am just a hooper. Whenever I finish my workouts I like to go live and play every day.

What is the post-graduation plan? I am deciding between the G-League or going overseas. I have offers from both and am just staying patient.

The Eagles have a new coach this year: how do you think that Larry Stewart will do in Baltimore? I know Larry and think that he will do really well. He had a great career at Coppin State and will provide a new face/fresh start. I think that he will be able to recruit in cities like NYC/Philly and will do really well.

You are playing for the Happy Valley Hoopers in the TBT : how is the team looking so far, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I am excited to get back with the guys who I have played with before. We are all good players so I will do whatever the team needs me to do. We will put our pride to the side and just pitch in where needed. If I win it all then I will look out for my family in case they need anything, and just put the majority in the bank to give myself a little cushion for the future.

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Happy Anniversary! HoopsHD interviews Stetson legend Divine Myles

Posted on July 15, 2023 by Jon Teitel

The Hatters made a trio of D-2 tourneys from 1967-1971, and although they have yet to make an NCAA tourney they have made the CBI twice in the past 3 years. 1 of the best all-around players in school history was Divine Myles, who remains top-5 in career PTS/AST/STL. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Divine about being a great PG and playing pro basketball overseas. Today is the 3rd anniversary of Divine being named to the ASUN All-Decade team on July 15, 2020, so we take this time to remember his remarkable accomplishment.

In the 2014 Alabama 6A state title game you scored a game-high 23 PTS but missed a 3-PT shot at the buzzer in a 3-PT loss to Mountain Brook: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? All of my family/friends were there so it was a big 1. We were not used to losing so it remains heartbreaking even 9 years later…but that is just life.

You received scholarship offers from some big-time schools including Auburn/Seton Hall: what made you choose Stetson? My relationship with the coach. He said that he would give me the keys and let me drive, which was more convincing than the other coaches who recruited me.

You started 30 games as a freshman and were named to the conference All-Freshman team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? It is a very big transition as the college guys are bigger/stronger/faster and have a higher IQ. You do not know exactly what to expect at the highest level of college basketball but God has always been with me. I trusted in him and I was able to go out there, play very well, and get a lot of accolades.

In the 2016 ASUN tourney title game you scored 11 PTS but Zach Johnson blocked your shot with 4 seconds left in OT in a 2-PT loss to FGCU: how were you able to make such a great postseason run after entering the tourney with 21 losses? I have never seen such a quick turnaround by a team that had a losing regular season. We won our quarterfinal/semifinal games by 20 PTS each and were just clicking at the right moment. You can win every singe game during the regular season but if you lose just once in the postseason then you are out: that is when big-time players step up.

Your 1845 career PTS are the most in school history: what is the secret to being a great scorer? I did not even think about that even while I was there: I was just playing ball and doing whatever it took for us to win, be it scoring or facilitating. I worked on different moves and turned into a scorer after being a true PG my entire life. I looked up to guys like Rajon Rondo/Steve Nash but when I got to college the game was changing with guys like Steph Curry/Damian Lillard putting up 20/30/40 PPG so I knew that I had to adjust.

You are also top-5 in school history with 159 STL/501 AST: what is the key to being a good PG? You need to have a great feel for the game: some games involved more fast-break action while others have more half-court sets. You have to set the tempo whether it is a strategic or athletic game.

In 2020 you were named to the ASUN All-Decade Team: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? That was big because I did not think that would come until well after I graduated. There were a lot of great players at Stetson who put up big-time numbers and I was proud to have done that at a smaller school.

You have spent some time playing pro basketball overseas: how does basketball in the US compare to basketball in other countries? It is different for sure because there are great players overseas. I am entering my 6th year of pro ball: the guys overseas might not be as athletic as Americans but they are VERY physical/strategic. They have been taught fundamentals from a very young age and even in their 30s they are doing the same routine. There are a lot of international players in the NBA now.

Your cousin Todd played basketball at Mississippi State: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say me, of course, but I have nothing but respect for Todd. He paved the way for me and had some AAU/high school connections that helped me out because he was a big-time player himself.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? Just like a dog/killer. When I hang my sneakers up I hope they think of me as someone special who would not back down from anybody. My teammates often called me that and I lived by that. You do not always need to score the most PTS but you have to be tenacious and do whatever it takes to win on defense, in timeouts, and by calling out the right sets.

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TBT Preview: HoopsHD interviews Chaz Williams of The Commonwealth

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Jon Teitel

UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Denver 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 Dayton/Louisville/Lubbock/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita 1/Wichita 2/Xavier. 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 Chaz Williams, who will be playing for The Commonwealth after hosting his annual summer camp.

As a freshman at Hofstra you were named to the CAA all-freshman team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? Mostly my confidence, but also having a leader like Charles Jenkins helped me flourish. He was my roommate and was by my side and showed me what it takes to be a great player so I just followed in his footsteps.

Why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose UMass? I committed to Hofstra as a sophomore in high school. When Coach Tom Pecora left to take the job at Fordham I decided to explore other opportunities. I had a few visits lined up: I loved Seton Hall but it was a small campus like Hofstra and I wanted to go to a bigger school and get the full-fledged college experience. Coach Derek Kellogg and I had a great conversation: he told me that he just wanted me to become the best player that I could be.

You are 5’9”: did you consider your size to be an advantage or a disadvantage on the court? When I was younger I always felt like it was a disadvantage because I did not know how to capitalize on it, but as I got older I viewed it as an advantage.

In the 2012 NIT you made it all the way to the Final 4 before a 10-PT loss to eventual champion Stanford: what is the secret to winning games in March? Just staying together and performing as a team. You have to believe in yourself and understand the urgency of the situation when it is 1-and-done. It is time to ball and I tried to lead by example.

In December of 2013 you set a pair of career-highs with 32 PTS/school-record-tying 15 AST (and only 1 TO) in a 9-PT win over BYU: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? It was definitely the best all-around game of my college career. It was 1 of my most prestigious games and 1 I will always remember. I was locked in and only missed a few shots that night.

You were named 1st-team All-A-10 for 3 years in a row from 2012-2014: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was an amazing honor since there were so many great players in the conference. I credit my coaches/teammates because without them it would not have been possible. The coaches put me in the right positions and I was able to flourish. I am never satisfied so even after winning it the 1st time I still tried to compete for things like conference POY and conference titles: it is just part of my DNA.

You finished your career with 840 career AST, which remains top-25 for anyone in D-1 since 1986: what is the secret to being a great PG? Just having a connection with your teammates off the floor. I was just mentioning to my fiancee how I have a great off-court bond with 1 of my old teammates. You cannot put your teammates in bad situations so you have to know their tendencies and where they like to shoot from. You just try to make the right reads. Records are meant to be broken but it is a true honor to still be up there with the greats.

You have spent the past decade playing pro basketball in the D-League and several foreign countries: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? The physicality, for sure. In Europe there is a LOT more that you can get away with. In the US everybody is fast/athletic: in Europe they might not be as athletic but they make up for it by playing smart.

For the past few summers you have hosted the Make Em Believe Skills Academy: what makes your camp different from other camps? I am not here to talk badly about any other camps but my purpose is to help kids reach their full potential. A lot of the campers have parents who went to UMass or know about my own career. I went to a lot of camps when I was a kid: the main guy would show up for 20 minutes on the 1st day and then return on the last day to hand out trophies, but I am the kind of person who is at the camp the whole time.

You are playing for The Commonwealth team in the TBT: how is the team looking so far, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? Our team is looking amazing! I love the group and we all played together before so it is easy to build off-court bonds. I think we have a great chance of winning: we are a sleeper and have been here before as an underdog. I would give some of the prize money to charities that fight cancer/diabetes.

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TBT Preview: HoopsHD interviews Will Cherry of The Gutter Cats

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Jon Teitel

UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Denver 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 Dayton/Louisville/Lubbock/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita 1/Wichita 2/Xavier. 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 Will Cherry, who will be playing for The Gutter Cats after winning a bunch of pro basketball titles overseas.

As a senior at McClymonds High School you had 19 PTS/14 REB in the state title game to become the 1st East Bay squad in 38 years to go undefeated: how was your team able to stay focused for 33 games in a row? Our coaching staff was great. There was also a lot of heartbreak after losing it the previous year so we knew that we could not have any letdown. The 1st year it was fun to be there…but the 2nd year was all about business.

You were born/raised in Oakland: what made you choose Montana for college? It just felt right. I signed with them really early because I did not have a lot of colleges calling me at the time. I took a trip and just fell in love with the players/coaches/atmosphere. It was the best decision for me and a great change of pace from Oakland.

In February of 2012 you had 30 PTS/8 STL in a 7-PT win at Northern Colorado: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? That is definitely up there. It was a hell of a game. I had forgotten about it but I remember it now: I wish that I would have had 2 more STL to break the conference record!

You were named 1st-team All-Big Sky 3 years in a row from 2011-2013: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It meant a lot and showed that my hard work was being recognized/respected. It is always a great honor to make the 1st-team.

You were also a 2-time Big Sky DPOY: what is the secret to playing great defense? Effort! A lot of people think it involves a big skill set but I was taught about the importance of effort from a young age and I took it very personally. If you can stop your man from scoring or score more than him then you will win your matchup. I had a coach who was big on that and helped me improve even more.

You went 8-1 in 9 conference tourney games during your career: what is the key to winning games in March? Just lock in and focus. In any sport you want to up your play come tourney time. Your intensity level/attention of detail has to go way up because there is no margin for error. Our coaches challenged us even more when it came to the postseason.

You won 25 games as a senior before losing to Syracuse 81-34 in the NCAA tourney: what the heck happened?! We got a bad draw! At 1st I felt so bad because I am really competitive but they were a Final 4 team so I cannot feel that bad. We were down by 50 until my walk-on roommate Morgan Young made a 3 to cut the final deficit to 47 PTS. They were the superior team that night.

You played 8 games for the Cavaliers: what is your favorite memory from your short time in the NBA? I had some very good vets on my team in Toronto like Lou Williams/Patrick Patterson/Kyle Lowry who taught me how to be a pro. In Cleveland I played with LeBron James so he was my Michael Jordan: I was a bit star-struck to see how he and Kyrie Irving came into the gym to prepare every day. The 1st game they put me in I was not really prepared. I was so antsy vs. Denver that I remember getting a rebound and throwing the ball on the fast break to…Tristan Thompson. After the game Lebron told me that he understood my 1st-game jitters…but that I should never ever pass the ball to Thompson on the break again!

You have spent most of the past decade playing pro basketball in several countries: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? The NBA is a players’ league but overseas it is more of a coaches’ show and they do not let the players do what they do. The 3-second call is another big difference.

You are playing for The Gutter Cats in the TBT: how is the team looking so far, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? The team is looking great top to bottom! We had a great team last year but upgraded this year with some new pieces. We came close last year but gotta win it this year. I will fix up my backyard and put in some play equipment for my kids, as well as a fire pit where I can kick it with a glass of wine.

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Happy Birthday! HoopsHD interviews GCU legend Bayard Forrest

Posted on July 8, 2023 by Jon Teitel

The Lopes did not join D-1 until a decade ago but hit the ground running, as they have made it to a postseason tourney 7 times in the past 10 years. They were not too shabby before then either, making 7 straight D-2 tourneys from 1992-1998 and winning 3 NAIA national titles from 1975-1988. 1 of the stars of their 1st title-winning team was Bayard Forrest, who was named tourney MVP after having 16 PTS/12 REB/4 BLK in a win over Midwestern State in the 1975 title game. He was picked 19th overall in the 1976 draft and later helped the Suns reach the 1979 Western Conference Finals. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Bayard about winning a title and getting drafted. Today is Bayard’s 69th birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!

You grew up in Prescott, AZ, before moving to Oregon: what was it like to get recruited by Hall of Fame coaches Bobby Knight/John Wooden? It was pretty funny. My 1st recruiting letter was from Digger Phelps at Notre Dame, which was exciting. I got 1 the following week from Bobby Knight…but I did not want to play for a guy who yelled at his players! It was an honor for a guy like Wooden to be interested in a small-town guy like me but I figured that LA would not be a good call for me. He was such a gentleman and I had stars in my eyes: I had never even been on a plane before.

Your uncle worked at Grand Canyon: how big of a factor was he in your decision to go there (if any)? It was a big factor, as was the fact that my dad had played at Grand Canyon. I was not 1 of those guys who had the overconfidence of thinking that I would play in the NBA. My uncle asked me if I wanted to come to Grand Canyon and I told him that I had gotten a call from UCLA: they did not send letters to out-of-state players back then. My uncle was in charge of promotional affairs: he just suggested that I pray about it. I realized I was not really seeking God the way I should have been, and when I did He made it clear that He wanted me at Canyon—which was exactly where I needed to be. I do not regret it at all and made some great memories. My coach (Ben Lindsey) knew how to get the most of his players and was a great recruiter despite not having a budget. He had to raise the money just to fly up and see me. He guaranteed me that we would win a national title…and we did! His wife is on our board of directors and we stay in close contact.

In the 1975 NAIA tourney title game you had 16 PTS/12 REB/4 BLK in a win over Midwestern State en route to being named tourney MVP: what did it mean to you to win a title, and how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? I remember getting ready to play Alcorn A&M in the semifinals and was worried after seeing them jump out of the gym…but we ended up beating them by 20-25 PTS. We had 2 other All-Americans in Mike Haddow/Dave Everett, which changed everything because our opponents could not double-team everyone. We did not care who scored as long as we won. Midwestern State was a big school so it was quite the challenge. We had 3 guys on the all-tourney team but what was very cool was that we also won the sportsmanship award by a unanimous vote. I received my trophy from Hall of Fame coach John McLendon.

That summer you were selected by the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Draft and by the Kansas City Kings in the ABA Draft: why did you decide to play 1 more season of college basketball instead of going pro? I was trying to decide what would be right for me to do. I felt like God just put it on my heart to see what my word was worth. I never dreamed about coming out early in the “hardship” draft. I had teammates who were counting on me and I thought that we would win it again. There were also a lot of rumors at the time that the ABA would join the NBA, but I probably needed that extra year so I have no regrets at all.

In 4 years at Grand Canyon you averaged 18 PPG/12.7 RPG: how did you balance your scoring with your rebounding? I loved rebounding. The hardest thing for me was that I played during the Lew Alcindor rule during high school/college so I was not allowed to dunk despite my 35” vertical. I could out-jump almost everyone I played against and it made us a better team when my teammates could score as well.

You were a 1st-team NAIA All-American for 3 straight years from 1974–1976: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? I did not understand all of the recognition back then but my coach made sure to keep me in the game so that I would get my PTS. We did not know what to expect during our 1st year at nationals but were much more prepared for that 2nd year. My career-high was 42 PTS but I was never able to break Coach Lindsey’s school record of 43 PTS! I have always joked with Coach Lindsey that he would not leave me in the game long enough to break his record but I do not think that he really did that: he was a great player himself and an amazing supporter of our ministry even today!

In the spring of 1976 you were drafted 19th overall by Seattle (4 spots ahead of Alex English): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? I think that it was a combination of the 2. We were the 1st title-winning team in the state of Arizona so it really put Grand Canyon on the map. It was good for the school but also validated my decision to go there rather than attend a major university. Many coaches at big schools said that I would never make the NBA if I went to a small school so it was a nice pat on the back. Seattle coach Bill Russell called me on the phone and said, “Yo, Bay, this is Bill Russell, and we just picked you at #19!” To hear him tell me that he liked the way I played was pretty exciting. I ended up playing with Athletes in Action for 1 year and we became the best amateur team in the world even though we lost to Russia on a last-second call. Wooden was our color commentator that night and was screaming at the Russian referee. I was having the game of my life but actually went into cardiac arrest after being elbowed by 7’3” Vladimir Tkachenko. The Suns bought my rights the following year and Big Bay was my nickname when I played for them: it stuck so “Bay” is what I have gone by since then.

In Game 7 of the 1979 Western Conference Finals as a player for Phoenix you scored 4 PTS in a 4-PT loss at Seattle: how close did you come to upsetting the eventual champs? I have to pull the knife out of my heart just hearing you mention that! We were up 3-2 in the series but lost Game 6 at home. Jack Sikma was really hard to stop but I was having a good game against him. I caught a rebound and dunked it over him and our fans went crazy. Coach John MacLeod pulled me because he thought that I was too inexperienced and put in Gar Heard instead, who was a great player…but was only 6’6”. It was pretty embarrassing to hear the fans screaming for me to be put back in the game. My coach would have preferred to have a 7-footer so I did not get as much playing time. If we had beaten Seattle then we knew that we could have beaten the Bullets in the Finals.

Your nephew Caleb played basketball at Washington State: who is the best athlete in the family? He was a pretty good athlete but was only 6’8”. I do not think that anyone would argue against me: I pushed him pretty hard in high school.

You and your wife Peg currently run FOCUS Ministries: how did you get into it, and how does it compare to the NBA? People ask me if I miss the NBA and I say no way: I was not a partier and just wanted to get home to my wife/kids. When I hurt my back it was a slap in the face because we thought that we would win it all in 1980 but I spent the entire year on injured reserve. When the doctor checked me out during the preseason he said that I had to quit before I ended up in a wheelchair. I went from an NBA player to an unemployed cancer victim 2 days later. I became a youth pastor for 7 years and then my wife/I went to Kenya as missionaries. After 5 years we felt called back to the US by God to start a youth ministry that grew from 22 people to more than 300. My wife worked at Arizona Christian University and speaks at events all over the world. I speak at men’s events, conferences, and churches all over the world and absolutely love what I do now!

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