Chad is joined by a full panel as they discuss all the conference moves coming up for next season, and of course the big moves that are taking place in the power conferences, most notably UCLA and USC recently announcing a move to the Big Ten. We talk about what all this means, how college sports are changing, and how things may continue to change as this plays out.
And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…
Kansas won the NCAA tourney in April and Golden State 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 16th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Dayton/New Mexico/Omaha/Rucker Park/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita/Xavier. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st weekend of August, and the winning team walking away with a $1 million prize. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Thomas Bell, who is playing for Bleed Green after leading the Mean Green to an upset of Purdue in the NCAA tourney last year.
You were born/raised in Illinois: what made you choose North Texas? I was at a JUCO called Kaskaskia College about 1 hour away from my hometown of East St. Louis and we went to the national tournament. My mom was moving to San Antonio and after nationals I got 15+ scholarship offers. Being at North Texas allowed me to be close to my family, plus it is a good school with a great culture.
In January of 2020 you set a career-high with 15 REB in a win over UTSA and you ended up leading your team that year with 5.8 RPG that year despite standing only 6’6” and not starting a single game: what is the secret to being a great rebounder? It is how you do anything else on the court. You have to be aggressive and go all out for it, which will lead to good results.
You finished that season as the top seed in the conference tourney: what was your reaction when you learned that the entire postseason was getting canceled due to COVID? We were on top of the world when we were the top seed…and once everything got canceled we were at the bottom because we lost our chance to shock the world. At least I got a 2nd chance the following year: I just felt bad for our seniors who graduated in 2020.
In the 2021 C-USA tourney you scored 6 PTS in a 4-PT OT win over Western Kentucky in the title game: how were you able to win 4 games in 4 days? We always preached being mentally tough/together. We were a close group, which is what it takes to win 4 games in 4 days. Our coaching staff was on us to keep that belief in our minds so we just went out there and took the challenge head-on.
In the 2021 NCAA tourney you scored 16 PTS in a 9-PT OT upset of Purdue: how big a deal was it to get the 1st NCAA tourney win in school history? It was a good feeling and good for our school. I was really thankful just to be in that moment: it was really fun even though it was not as packed as possible in the arena. Purdue was a good team but we were able to make some history.
You only had 27 AST in 2021 but increased that to 85 AST in 2022: how were you able to improve your passing so much in just 1 year? If you really watch my game I am more of a pass-1st player who just tries to make the next pass. This past year I was in a lot of situations where the ball was in my hands more. We had a game plan and it came easy for me because I can see the floor well.
In 2021 you led your team with 33 BLK and in 2022 you made the conference All-Defensive Team: how do you balance your offense with your defense? Defense wins championships! To be the best defensive team in the nation is what we took pride in and where we hung our hats. I take it personally when I get scored on: the accolades mean nothing unless it also shows up in the win category. It is a blessing and I just tried to play the best that I could.
Last year you started the season 2-3, then won 21 of your next 22 games, then lost your regular season finale at UTEP while you shot 6-16 from the FT line, then your team only scored 36 PTS in a loss to Louisiana Tech in the conference tourney: was the season as much of a roller coaster as it looks like on paper? It was a rollercoaster after we got a lot of media attention with all of those wins. At the end of the day you just need to go out and win ball games so we tried to stay locked in to the task at hand and play our hearts out while still having fun. Our only goal was to win a championship so we just tried to stay balanced.
In the 2022 NIT you had an OT win over Texas State and then an OT loss to Virginia: what is the key to winning games in March that go down to the wire? Being together and relying on your defensive principles and remembering what got you there. If you do not get key stops when you need them it makes it a LOT harder to win games. When you work out every summer it leads to the ability to execute during the season. It gets tough down the stretch so you just have to keep doing what you have been doing.
This month you will be playing for Bleed Green 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? We have some good guys on the team but I have not seen everyone in person yet. I like our team: we have scorers and good big men and are versatile so once we start practicing we will figure it all out because we have a good coach in Andre Shaw. We have a chance to win it all. I would use the prize money to take care of my family and make sure that everyone is good, then just try to do something else positive.
UAB set a school record last year with 27 wins and made the NCAA tourney for the 1st time in 7 years. The Blazers’ basketball program was created back in 1979 and had a lot of success early under Coach Gene Bartow: 15 straight winning seasons, 7 NCAA tourney appearances from 1981-1987, and even a trip to the Elite 8 in 1982. 1 of the stars of those early-1980s teams was Steve Mitchell, a 3-time all-conference player who was named All-American in 1985. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Steve about his many NCAA tourney games and playing pro basketball. Today is Steve’s 58th birthday so let us be the 1st to wish him a happy 1!
As a young boy you allegedly spent nights sleeping with a basketball in your bed: how long did you keep that up for, and do you think that it helped you at all on the court? I started doing that as a young child and continued to do so until high school. This was brought up during my senior year at UAB after I requested a basketball at the Iowa Hawkeye Classic that I could keep with me overnight. I did not sleep with the basketball, but because it was a different brand that we had never used in a game before I wanted to handle it as much as possible to get a feel for it. The next night I scored 33 PTS and our team manager (who gave me the ball) told everyone that I slept with it. Although basketball was my “favorite girl” I did not sleep with her that night!
Coach Gene Bartow became the 1st-ever basketball coach at UAB after coming over from Memphis and you were part of his “Memphis Connection”: how did you end up choosing UAB, and how important were Memphis-area players to UAB’s success? The early success of UAB was due largely to the contributions of Memphis players. Daryl Braden (from TCU), Larry Spicer, and George Jones (the latter 2 both from Baylor) were the first 3 guys to transfer after learning that UAB had hired Coach Bartow to start a basketball program. After those guys came, Leon Morris, Raymond Gause, and McKinley Singleton all came to UAB from Memphis. I chose UAB mainly because they were a top-25 program during my senior year in high school: the previous year they had even made the Sweet 16. UAB had 6 seniors graduating from that team so I thought that I would have an opportunity to play as a freshman. Another factor was that my father was from Birmingham: my family would go to Birmingham 2-3 times/year during my entire childhood so I was very comfortable here. Birmingham has always been a “home away from home” for me.
You were a 3-time 1st-team All-Sun Belt performer: how were you able to continue to dominate throughout your college career? I just worked my butt off every off-season to improve my areas of weakness.
In the 1983 NCAA tourney Wayman Tisdale scored 17 PTS in an 8-PT win by Oklahoma: how did you feel about going scoreless? I was bitter because Oklahoma won the game…but the fan-filled practices and the atmosphere were just incredible and made me thirsty for more. Tisdale was a grown man even as a freshman and deserving of every accolade that he received. I had never seen a guy that big/skilled before.
What are your memories of the 1984 NCAA tourney (you had 8 PTS in a loss to BYU in Birmingham, who was led by All-American Devin Durrant with 23 PTS/10 REB)? I had even more bitterness because that time we lost on our home court in front of our own fans: that really bothered me.
In 1985 you scored a career-high 33 PTS vs. Arkansas State: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Some nights it is just meant to be no matter what the defense does. That night in the Hawkeye Classic was just my night as everything was clicking on all cylinders. Too bad there was no 3-PT line back then: I would have finished with 50 PTS!
That same year you were named an All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It felt good that all of the long hours/hard work I had put in was paying off for me and being recognized by others…but what I really wanted to go further in the NCAA tourney than the 1st round. You have to remember that the Blazer fans were used to watching winners. Before I got here the 2 previous UAB teams went to the Elite 8/Sweet 16 in back-to-back years. In my mind we were coming up short by being eliminated so soon, so while the individual award was good I wanted to see us advance further as a team.
Take me through the 1985 NCAA tourney:
You scored a team-high 18 PTS in a 2-PT win over Michigan State (All-American Sam Vincent scored 32 PTS): how was your team able to get the win? We were fortunate to beat a very good Michigan State team. They had 1 of the country’s best backcourts in Vincent/Scott Skiles so we knew that it would be a huge challenge. However, we also knew that if we could beat them then we would get to play Memphis in the 2nd round. With 4-5 guys from Memphis on our roster we had a lot of motivation so we were not about to let the Spartans prevent us from getting that chance.
You scored 13 PTS in a 1-PT OT loss to Memphis (All-American Keith Lee scored 28 PTS) after Andre Turner made a jump shot with 6 seconds left in OT: what was it like to play against Memphis after having grown up there, and how did you feel after finding out later that you had been playing with a stress fracture in your foot? I actually knew that something was wrong with my foot during the 1st round game. In fact, I did not practice at all before the Memphis game. I knew that I was not 100%, as my movement was compromised due to the pain in my foot, but this was the game of a lifetime. In a game of this magnitude, against guys who I grew up playing with/against all of my life, my foot would have had to come off of my leg to keep me out of that one! Andre and I had been friends/teammates in middle school and even went 21-0 as 9th graders. We were probably closer than any 2 players on either team: in fact, we stay in touch to this day and get together whenever I go back home to Memphis. It was not until I returned to Birmingham and had my foot scanned that I found out it was a stress fracture that was causing the pain.
In the summer of 1985 in the World University Games in Japan, you led Team USA in assists while winning your 1st 5 games by an average score of 119-60, but lost the gold medal game to the USSR when Valdemaras Chomicius made a 3-PT shot with 3 seconds left for a 96-93 victory and the gold medal: did you consider the tournament a success (due to your team making it so far), or a failure (due to not winning the gold medal), or something in between? It was not just a regular 3-PT shot that beat us for the gold medal: it was a half-court heave! We considered it a failure. When we 1st assembled as a team to prepare to go to Japan, Coach Lee Rose told us that our objective was to bring back the gold medal. We never discussed the silver medal because we did not go halfway around the world for anything except a gold medal.
Take me through the 1986 NCAA tourney:
You scored a game-high 21 PTS in a 2-PT win over Missouri (your World University Games teammate Derrick Chievous also had 21 PTS) when Jerome Mincy knocked the ball away at the end of the game before the Tigers could get a shot off: was it extra-special to beat Chievous after playing with him the previous summer, and did you get the feeling that every tourney game you ever played would go down to the wire? It was good to see Derrick again after the World Games, but I knew that 1 of us would be going home disappointed after the tourney: I was just glad that it was not me! I felt like most games in the tourney would be close and not get decided until the last 10 minutes.
You scored 7 PTS in a loss to UNC (future #1 overall pick Brad Daugherty had 13 PTS/13 REB): did you just happen to have a cold shooting night at the wrong time, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards? I was devastated: not so much because we lost to a very good UNC team, but because MY LAST GAME in a Blazer uniform was my worst ever (3-21 FG). I had good looks but they just did not go down: I have never been more disappointed.
You are still UAB’s career leader in PTS/AST: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were? I did not realize it at the time. I am really surprised that I am still the all-time leading scorer despite the introduction of the 3-PT line after I graduated.
In the summer of 1986 you were drafted in the 2nd round by Washington (10 spots ahead of Jeff Hornacek): were you thrilled to realize your dream of making it to the pros, or disappointed that you did not get selected in the 1st round? I was disappointed not to be selected in the 1st round, which was a personal goal of mine. By not being taken in the 1st round, I knew that there would be no guarantees and that I would have to earn a spot on the team. After a coaching change between the draft and rookie camp I found myself in an impossible situation. Washington had 3 returning point guards and 2 other veteran point guards in camp so it did not take a genius to figure out that the 36th pick in the draft would not make the roster.
After graduation you played professionally for several years in Italy, France, Germany, Puerto Rico, and then returned to America to win a CBA title in 1992: what did you learn from these experiences, and how did they compare to college basketball? I quickly grew up and became a man, especially during the 3 years I spent in Europe. Unlike the experience in Japan playing in the World University Games, there were no tour guides or translators. I was on my own as a 21-year old who was thousands of miles away from home and dealing with language barriers, exchange rates, etc. Luckily, I was still playing a game that I loved to play and was getting paid good money to do it. So, after getting over some homesickness and of all the other things I found to complain about, I realized how lucky I was to have the opportunity and decided to make the best of it. Comparing those experiences to college is like comparing apples to oranges. Pro basketball was more of a business: I was playing with and against grown men who were trying to feed their families and their approach to the game reflected that every day.
In 1995 you earned your master’s degree and became an assistant athletic director at UAB, in 1997 you became Director of Bartow Arena, and in 2006 you became a radio analyst for UAB basketball games: how important is your alma mater to you, and which job did you like most? UAB continues to remain important to me over the last 35+ years since I decided to come here as a student-athlete. I have met so many wonderful people here who have made such a big impact on my life. I have witnessed this school’s tremendous growth over the last quarter-century-plus and these were the things that I looked for as a high school athlete. UAB enjoyed unheard-of success during its first 6 years of intercollegiate athletics. I do not know of another program that had that kind of success (1 Sweet 16/1 Elite 8) so early. I really felt that this was a special place and I wanted to be a part of its growth. I liked my jobs as Director of Bartow Arena/radio analyst best. I could still be close to the game of basketball and talk to our fans about a game that I still love dearly.
You have known current Detroit Mercy coach Mike Davis for over 3 decades: what is he like as a coach, and what is he like as a person? I have known Mike since I 1st came to play at UAB. He was a couple of years older than me and playing at Alabama, but every summer we would all play in a summer league here in Birmingham. Years later in 1991 he was my assistant coach in Wichita Falls when we won the CBA championship. In fact, it was Mike who called me and convinced me to come and join them that year. As a coach he is extremely intense and prepared. Like most coaches, he does not take losing very well and does everything in his power to prevent that as much as he possibly can. He is a very funny and down-to-earth, laid-back type of guy…in the summertime, that is! Sometimes tough losses can change coaches’ personalities, depending on which season you meet them in.
Kansas won the NCAA tourney in April and Golden State 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 16th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Dayton/New Mexico/Omaha/Rucker Park/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita/Xavier. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st weekend of August, and the winning team walking away with a $1 million prize. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Darren Collison, who is the GM of Team Challenge ALS after making 3 straight Final 4s at UCLA and spending more than a decade in the NBA.
You were born/raised in California: what made you choose UCLA? It was the top major school in southern California and everyone wanted to go there.
You made 3 straight Final 4s from 2006-2008 but lost to a Florida team that won back-to-back titles and a Memphis team that became the 1st to ever win 38 games in 1 season: where do those Gators teams rank among the best you ever saw, and how did you feel after learning that the Tigers’ entire season would be vacated by the NCAA due to eligibility concerns surrounding Derrick Rose? Those Florida teams have to be among the best that we have ever seen in college basketball. They had 4-5 pros in the starting lineup for 2 years in a row! I do not know about all of the eligibility concerns but Memphis had some good players as well and got the best of us.
You led the conference with 2.2 SPG as a sophomore, 87.2 FT% as a junior, and 166 AST as a senior: how were you able to balance all of the different aspects of your game? I had to expand different parts of my game every year based on who I was playing with. If we needed some scoring then I wanted to be the best shooter, and if we had plenty of other scorers then I would make sure that everyone was happy.
As a senior you won the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award as the best college player standing 6’ or under: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was a testament to my work ethic. I loved to work on my game and get better and had the chance to display it on the biggest stage at UCLA.
You/Josh Shipp/Alfred Aboya finished your careers as the winningest class in school history with 123 wins: did you realize at the time how prolific your class was, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I did not know exactly how special our team was during my time at UCLA. I think that our record will be broken some day: all of the players coming up now are more skilled so they just need to find the right chemistry. Coach Mick Cronin does a great job now and will continue to so do moving forward.
In the summer of 2009 you were drafted 21st overall by New Orleans (4 spots behind your teammate Jrue Holiday): did you see that as a validation of all your hard work, or the realization of a lifelong dream, or other? It meant a lot to both me and my family. Every time that I stepped into the gym when nobody was watching it was on my mind. I did not think that I would become as good of a pro as I did due to my size but things worked out my way.
You finished 4th in the 2010 NBA ROY voting after averaging 18.8 PPG/9.1 APG in 37 games as a starter: how were you able to come in and be so successful right from the start? I was playing under Chris Paul, who was 1 of the best PGs in the league at the time. Some of our other guards got injured and I was able to get some playing time, and when I was not playing I was working with assistant coach Robert Pack on my game.
In 2018 you led the league with 46.8 3P%: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? Just work! You have to be a professional in the offseason and stay locked in. People joke about the phrase “no days off” but you have to remain consistent.
You are the founder/CEO of a basketball training facility called ProsVision: what makes your facility different from other ones? We have a lot of trainers who are former pro athletes and their knowledge gives us an advantage to really teach the game. We teach off of our own experience but also learn from the new school.
You are the GM of Team Challenge ALS 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 do not know what I will do with the money: hopefully a donation to a good organization. Our team is coming along and I think that we have a good shot of going far: hopefully the guys will be locked in during training camp.
Kansas won the NCAA tourney in April and Golden State 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 16th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Dayton/New Mexico/Omaha/Rucker Park/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita/Xavier. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st weekend of August, and the winning team walking away with a $1 million prize. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We commence our coverage with Fletcher Magee, who will be playing for WoCo Showtime after finishing his college career at Wofford a few years ago as the best 3-PT shooter in D-1 history.
You were born/raised in Florida: what made you choose Wofford? They just recruited me the hardest. I went up there for my official visit and loved the culture.
In February of 2016 you scored a career-high 34 PTS/11-13 FG as your team broke a D-1 record by shooting 17-21 from behind the arc in a win over VMI: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot your team put up seemed to go in because everyone was “in the zone”? Yes: it was nuts! VMI was not great that year and after we saw a few shots go in early everyone was just raining threes the rest of the game.
You finished that year by scoring 13.8 PPG and being named SoCon ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? There are so many good high school players in Orlando and I was also on 1 of the best AAU teams in the country. That prepared me for what to expect in college and have success from the get-go.
You also led the nation with 92.5 FT%: what is the key to making FTs? It is just about reps and hand-eye coordination and getting your form down. I always tried to put myself in game situations and make myself run if I missed 1. A lot of it is mental: just going up to the line and knowing that you will make it.
In February of 2017 you scored a season-high 36 PTS/13-13 FT in 56 minutes in a 4-PT 4-OT win over Samford: what are your memories of that game that never seemed to end?! It was an amazing game. I played terrible for the 1st 85% of that game and then made some shots late. It was definitely the craziest game that I have ever been a part of.
You were named 1st-team All-SoCon 3 straight years from 2017–2019 and conference POY in 2018/2019: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It meant a lot. Whenever you get recognized like that it is a great feeling to be rewarded for all of the work that you put in. It was a humbling experience.
You graduated with an NCAA record 509 3PM and your career 43.5 3P% is best in school history: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? There is not really a secret: just getting as many reps as you can and shooting the shots that you will be taking during games. You have to put in the work and believe in yourself. A lot of that record was due to Coach Mike Young’s offense and my teammates screening really well for me. I think that someone will eventually break my record but I do not know how long it will take. If someone stays 4 years and has a great career then I think they will break it.
In the 2019 NCAA tourney you scored a team-high 24 PTS in a win over Seton Hall: how big a deal was it to get the 1st tourney win in school history? That was huge and meant so much to me. Everyone always asks me about breaking the 3-PT record that night: it was great…but winning that game was the best feeling. We had great chemistry and had a huge winning streak going so it meant a lot to everyone on that team.
Your father Jerry played football at Vanderbilt: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say myself but my dad was also a great athlete. My younger brother Camp is going to Northwestern to play football so he might end up being the best of all of us.
Next month you will be playing for WoCo Showtime 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 think that we are looking good and have a lot of good pieces. If we get some good chemistry it will be big so we just need to show up ready to go and then perfect our schemes. I honestly do not know what I would do with the money: maybe save it up to buy a house or invest it in bitcoin!
Basketball and religion may seem like 2 very different things but Eric Channing has been able to succeed quite well at both. On the court at New Mexico State he became the all-time leading scorer in school history, played pro basketball in Europe, and was selected to the Aggies’ All-Century Team in 2007. He was pretty good off the court as well, being named an Academic All-American for 3 straight years from 2000-2002. After retiring from basketball he decided to try a different career path, getting a masters’ degree in biblical communication and becoming Pastor of Congregational Care & Family Ministries at College Church. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Eric about being a great scorer and a great pastor.
You grew up in Illinois: what made you choose New Mexico State? I chose New Mexico State for the opportunity to play Division 1 basketball (a dream of mine) and the chance to play for a Hall of Fame coach who believed in me. Also, practically speaking, it was the only full scholarship I was offered. I received solid offers to play at Princeton (a top 25 team at the time) or Wheaton College (a Division III school in my hometown), but playing for a coach like Lou Henson set NMSU apart.
What made Henson such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? Coach Henson was a tireless worker who always strived to improve his craft. He never stopped improving. Early in my career I remember being in his office and on his desk was a packet from an NBA team. It was filled with plays and he was trying to figure out how to improve our offense. At this point in his career (he had nearly 700 wins), many coaches would have been coasting or resting on their laurels…but not Coach Henson. The most important thing I learned from Coach Henson was his overall example of the hard work/sacrifice needed to be successful. I also learned from him that one’s character is more important than one’s competence.
As a freshman you won 3 games in 3 days to win the 1999 Big West tourney, then scored 15 PTS in an NCAA tourney loss to Kentucky: what was it like to face the defending champs featuring a roster of 5 future NBA players (Scott Padgett/Wayne Turner/Michael Bradley/Jamaal Magloire/Tayshaun Prince)? It was intimidating. At the same time, we were a confident group and thought that we had a chance to beat them. In fact, we were winning for a good portion of the first half and the score was tied at halftime. However, every time Kentucky would substitute players they would bring five new guys into the game. We only had a rotation of about 7 players and their strategy wore us down in the 2nd half. They went on a 21-0 run that effectively ended the game. Even in a loss, it was still an amazing experience.
In January of 2002 you scored 41 PTS in a win over North Texas: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? That North Texas game was unexpected. I was in the middle of a shooting slump and was battling multiple injuries. The previous game I had scored only 7 points. I remember a reporter asking me what was wrong and I told him that I wanted to remain thankful and honor God in both the highs and the lows of the season: that was certainly a low point. The next game we played North Texas and I could not miss. I was definitely in the zone: it was an incredible feeling. Given the poor way I had been playing I was especially grateful: a gift from God.
You were a 3-time Academic All-American from 2000-2002: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? First, the Lord gave me a mind that enjoys learning and excelling in school had always been important to me. I wanted to give my best in the classroom just like I gave my best on the court. At times it was very challenging to balance basketball with schoolwork, especially during the season when we were going on road trips every other week. The key was to stay disciplined in my studies and say “no” to certain social activities so that I could get my work done. I was humbled and surprised to receive those Academic All-American honors but am very grateful.
In 2007 you were selected to New Mexico State’s All-Century Team and in 2008 you were inducted into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame: where do those rank among the highlights of your career? Those awards were great honors but they were not highlights of my career. The highlights were the games that our team won together. I would say my greatest highlight was winning the conference championship my freshman year and going to the NCAA tournament. That was a dream come true, having grown up watching the NCAA tournament on TV.
You remain the all-time leading scorer in school history with 1862 PTS/283 3PM/45.1 3P%/85.1 FT%: what is the key to being a great scorer/shooter? It is hard for me to believe that I still hold those records and I am sure they will be broken at some point. The key to being a great scorer/shooter is threefold: God-given talent, hard work, and the right opportunity. I knew from an early age that God had given me athletic gifts: specifically, the ability to put the ball in the basket. From there, I worked night and day to improve my shooting ability. Thousands of shots over many years. I loved to practice and loved the grind. There is no shortcut to becoming a good shooter. Just ask Steph Curry: the greatest of all time! Finally, one needs to get the right opportunity. For me, that was playing for Coach Henson. He loved shooters and designed the offense in such a way that I was put in a position to be successful on a regular basis.
After graduating you played pro basketball in Europe: how does basketball in the US compare to basketball overseas? I played in Switzerland for two seasons. The European game back then was officiated slightly different than in the US. For example, as a shooter, one of my key moves was a shot-fake followed by a drive to the basket or a pull-up jumper. That same move, which I performed countless times in the US, was called travelling by the referees in Switzerland. I remember being called for something like 10-12 travelling violations in one game early in my time there! Other than that, the quality of professional basketball in Europe really varies from country to country. Switzerland was a lower level than a place like Spain or Greece…but no country is more beautiful than Switzerland.
Following your basketball career you began a career in ministry and are currently a pastor at College Church: why did you make the switch, and how do you like it so far? I had a desire to go into ministry starting in the 7th grade when I was positively influenced by my church’s youth pastor. The Lord reawakened that desire within me the summer before my junior year of college. From that point on, my desire for ministry continued to grow and my desire for basketball began to decrease. This was a key reason that I played pro basketball for just two seasons. My motivation for pursuing ministry is my relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the most important person in my life and indeed the most important person in all of human history. He has died for all my sins and shortcomings (which are many!) and has saved my soul. He has done the same for countless millions and wants to do that for all who are reading this. It is the greatest news in the world. Therefore, I have devoted my life to share this good news about Jesus and to help his followers (Christians) grow closer to Him by teaching the Bible. There is nothing else that I would want to be doing with my life.
When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I cannot control how people remember me…but if I could then I would want to be remembered as a player who honored God through the way I played the game and through the way I impacted others. My underlying motivation was always to please the Lord, not to win all of those awards, and I hope that was evident to all who knew me or watched me play.
