Happy Draft-iversary!: HoopsHD interviews former NBA rebounding champ Michael Cage

Posted on June 15, 2019 by Jon Teitel

With the 2019 NBA draft taking place next week, we will spend the days ahead taking a walk down memory lane with a choice collection of players who are celebrating an awesome anniversary this year. From a future Hall of Famer selected 2nd overall in 1959 (60th anniversary) through a conference POY picked in the 2nd round in 2009 (10th anniversary), these stars have all seen their dreams come true in past drafts. We continue our series with Michael Cage, who was the best NBA player in San Diego State history for the past few decades until some guy named Kawhi Leonard decided to give him some competition. He was a 2-time conference POY with the Aztecs before going pro and beating out Charles Oakley for the 1988 NBA rebounding title. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Michael about having a teammate who made the Baseball Hall of Fame and the 35th anniversary of getting drafted.

1 of your teammates at San Diego State was a PG named Tony Gwynn: how good a basketball player was he back in the day, and could you have ever imagined that he would become a Hall of Fame baseball player? Tony was of the 1st guys to embrace me when I showed up as a freshman while the rest of the seniors were grinding me. He told me that he had my back and was a mentor to me, which felt really good. He said that they had not had a freshman who was as good as I was in a long time. I had no idea that he was even on the baseball team until I had been there a few months and he mentioned that he had to go to spring training. I showed up to watch him play a few baseball games: all he would do is hit homers and get intentionally walked! I knew that he would make the major leagues in no time at all, even after he got picked by the Clippers in the 1981 NBA draft. I thought that he was a pretty good PG who always found me when I was open…but he was an amazing baseball player.

You were a 2-time WAC POY and a 1984 All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? The thing I enjoyed the most was winning a gold medal at the 1983 Pan Am Games. It was the best summer of my life alongside the best players in the nation: Michael Jordan, Wayman Tisdale, Mark Price, etc. The US has not won the gold medal since then. We had to try out for the team in Colorado Springs in front of a panel of legendary coaches: Bobby Knight, John Thompson, Dean Smith, etc. I was fortunate to get called on the final day and we dominated that summer. My team actually beat Jordan’s team at the National Sports Festival the previous year and got credit for another gold medal. I played in the WAC and there were some great players in the conference like Danny Ainge (BYU)/Tom Chambers (Utah). 1 of the coaches was Don Haskins, who I idolized growing up: I was so in awe of him that 1 time when the ref passed me the ball to shoot a FT it bounced right off me! My scoring record lasted for 21 years until Brandon Heath broke it thanks to the luxury of having a 3-PT line.

In the summer of 1984 you were drafted 14th overall by the Clippers (2 spots ahead of John Stockton): did you see that as a validation of your college career, or the realization of a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA, or other? It was both a validation and realization. I went undefeated as a senior in high school with future NBA player Keith Lee as a teammate and we won a state title. Everyone said that it was a big mistake to go to San Diego State…until I led the nation in rebounding as a freshman! It was a big honor for me when they retired my #44 jersey: I still have the photo on my phone and look at it to remind me of all the hard work/determination I put in to be the best basketball player on the planet. I came from a small town in Arkansas (West Memphis) and heard over and over that I would not be able to make it…but when David Stern called my name I just felt relief and joy and emotion. Stockton was 2 spots behind me and he ended up having more AST than anyone ever! It meant so much to me to be selected: at the time the Clippers were in San Diego but they moved to LA that summer.

In 1988 you needed 28 REB in your final game to beat Charles Oakley for the rebounding title, and you ended up with 30 REB in 48 minutes in a 9-PT loss to Seattle: were you aware of how close you were, and was is just 1 of those situations where every missed shot went right to you because you were “in the zone”? Oakley had gotten 30 REB for Chicago earlier that day and there was a big “28” sign on my locker when I showed up to the arena. I played my tail off and it was the only rebounding title I ever won as a player. Oakley never won 1 of his own but he became a big-time player after that. It validated me as 1 of the up-and-coming PFs in the league. Historically centers were the guys to win rebounding titles but the game was shifting towards forwards like Karl Malone/Otis Thorpe. Now there are stretch-4s who shoot threes. Had I been Oakley I would have forever wondered what it was like to win a rebounding title. I lost more games during my 1st year with the Clippers (51) than I had lost before in my entire life. 4 weeks later Seattle coach Bernie Bickerstaff traded for me because he wanted me on his team.

In Game 4 of the 1989 Western Conference Semifinals with Seattle you had 3 REB in a 2-PT loss to the Lakers at home: how on earth was LA able to overcome a 43–14 deficit after the 1st 14 minutes? You can just never rest with a lead: when they turned it on, they turned it on. We were emotional and everything was working…and then their defense just shut us down and they did to us what we had done to them. If it was the 4th quarter it would not have happened but there was too much time left against a crew of future Hall of Famers. I was shocked but the Lakers deserved it because they had the mindset to never give up and kept coming after us.

Take me through the 1993 playoffs:
In Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals you had 6 REB in a 3-PT OT win over Houston: did you notice Winston Garland walk onto the floor in the final seconds as the 6th Houston player on the court, and how did he not get caught? I do not know exactly what happened but I wondered why he did not get called for a technical. Things were a bit lax back then!

In Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals you had 6 REB in loss at Phoenix: looking back on it now do you think that there is any truth to the rumor that the NBA wanted a Charles Barkley-vs.-Michael Jordan Finals (the Suns made 57-64 FT while the Sonics made 28-36)? The rumor did not bother me: you always hear things but I did not buy into that. There was a FT disparity that killed us at the time but I thought that we were the better team, and I think that we could have beaten Chicago because we were a better fit and had more depth than the Suns did.

After winning your 1st 2 games at home in the 1st round of the 1994 playoffs, you ended up losing 3 in a row (including the final 2 games in OT) to become the 1st #1 seed in playoff history to lose to a #8 seed: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? Playoff-wise it is probably right up there. We were the better team but just forgot that you have to close out a series. We had a chance to sweep Denver in Game 3 but allowed them to erase a 10-PT deficit late in the 4th quarter, which changed the entire series. We owned them in the regular season but I knew that we were in trouble after their team woke up. We had never lost a 4th quarter lead that year…and then the next day their players were talking in the newspaper about tying it up. Denver was a young team coached by Dan Issel and in Game 5 all the pressure was on us to win: they just played better than us that day and upset us in front of a sellout crowd at home. We still had a really special team: I had so much fun that year playing for a terrific coach in George Karl and the whole city was behind us. It was tough for me to swallow and Seattle made me a low-ball offer so I left for Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent that summer. Wayne Embry said that he wanted me there and he wanted me now. I had started most of the year at center even though I was not a center and I became a mentor to our young PF named Shawn Kemp. I am still friends with a lot of those guys like Gary Payton/Detlef Schrempf. The moon and stars were aligned and it was actually happening…until we got away from what we were doing. We should have taken them out in Game 3: when you have someone by the throat, you should squeeze. Everyone wants to win a title but that series did not define us as a team: we were fun to watch and were sexy!

You set an Aztecs record by starting 112 straight games in college, and later played in 736 consecutive NBA games before missing the final 3 games of the 1998 season due to a strained left hamstring: what is the key to an athlete staying healthy (training, luck, mental toughness, other)? That damn hamstring! You have to be in tip-top shape, as that will reduce your chances of being injured. I did not miss a game during high school either. You have to work on the parts of your body that suffer the most pain like your back/hamstrings. You also have to take care of your insides: I drank a lot of water and a lot of natural juice. My teammates would call me the “Juice Man”: my portable juicer back then weighed about 50 pounds and when I would turn it on at the hotel the lights would dim. My 1st year in Cleveland I gave everyone a juicer for Christmas: how common is that?! When I look back on it now I know that there was some luck involved. I would eat some unhealthy food every so often but I knew that my body was my commodity: if it was unhealthy then I could not perform. Getting hurt is part of the game and happens all the time but I do not know if it could work today. That is 1 of the crowning achievements of my NBA career because I was happy. Once the streak was over I seriously thought about retiring: during the streak I felt like Superman despite some sprained ankles and back spasms. It was mind over matter: I could tell my body to heal itself. I did not always feel 100% but my coaches often said that they would take 70% of me over 100% of someone else. Nowadays kids in high school play year-round, which can take a toll on their bodies.

Your son Michael Jr. plays college basketball and your daughter Alexis played volleyball at your alma mater: who is the best athlete in the family, and do your kids credit at least some of their success to genetics? My son is 6’10” and has a 7’5” wingspan so he received offers from some major programs. He has already won 2 state titles and lost 1 and even had an undefeated season. My son played with Stanley Johnson and now gets to look forward to his future. I love the sport, which is why I am still involved with it: it is a joy to watch him run up and down the court. He is 1 of those evolutionary players who can play the modern-day game at the 3, 4, or 5. He can shoot the 3, bring the ball up the floor, and does a lot of things well. My wife is very athletic and we are all very tall. My son will get mad at me because even though he is the most gifted he has not even scratched the surface of what he can do. He is a perfectionist almost to a fault. My youngest daughter is my social butterfly who can get along with anybody: I love that about her. My oldest daughter just internalizes things and then will take it out on you on the floor by playing harder than you.

You currently work as an analyst for Oklahoma City: how do you like the gig, and what do you hope to do in the future? I love watching guys like Russell Westbrook. I played against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he threw the hook shot up over me at the Forum in Inglewood: the players today do not even now where Inglewood is! I am happy that the guys today are getting their big salaries: it has been good for everybody and the game is at an all-time high. I do not think there is a better sport in the world, even though soccer is more popular. I love hearing their stories because everyone has gone through a lot to get here and everyone is different. I am living the dream: working for an NBA organization that takes such an interest in its employees. They treat me like I am Westbrook: I love the state and the fan support and everything about it. OKC just does it right: they are a model franchise based on how they treat their people. Clay Bennett and Sam Presti are basketball guys who make the right moves. I still coach and train and play pickup games 2-3 times/week…and I get mad when I lose! I am so blessed because I feel that I am at my most useful right now. Most guys go into coaching but I love talking about the game and am never short on words. I had such great mentors as a rookie who got me seasoned right away and got my head screwed on straight. I like being around good people because I appreciate their character and what they stand for: I teach that to my own children.

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Happy Draft-iversary!: HoopsHD interviews 3-time NBA champ Bill Cartwright

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Jon Teitel

With the 2019 NBA draft taking place next week, we will spend the days ahead taking a walk down memory lane with a choice collection of players who are celebrating an awesome anniversary this year. From a future Hall of Famer selected 2nd overall in 1959 (60th anniversary) through a conference POY picked in the 2nd round in 2009 (10th anniversary), these stars have all seen their dreams come true in past drafts. We continue our series with Bill Cartwright, who was a 3-time conference POY at San Francisco who led the Dons to 3 straight NCAA tourneys. He had a 16-year NBA career that was highlighted by 3 straight titles as a player in Chicago. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Bill about all those rings and the 40th anniversary of getting drafted.

At Elk Grove High School you were a 2-time California state POY, went 30-0 as a junior, and won the 1st-ever NorCal title game as a senior: did you consider yourself to be 1 of the best high school players in the country, and why did you decide to go to USF? I knew that I could score but we had a really good team so I just worried about playing. The title as a senior was nice because we had graduated a lot of good guys from the previous year. I wanted to go to school in California so I looked at USC, UCLA, and USF. I liked the coach at USF and I liked the school: the guys on the team would come visit me and showed a real commitment to wanting me to go there.

Take me through the 1978 NCAA tourney:
You had 23 PTS/11 REB in a 4-PT win over North Carolina: how were you able to beat the legendary Dean Smith? We played a really good game. Doug Jemison was a 6’6″ high-jumper who blocked a ton of shots for us.

You scored 27 PTS/9-11 FG in a 3-PT loss to Cal State Fullerton: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? That game really sucked! We were playing well but they just made a hell of a lot of shots that day. We had high hopes after some good wins earlier that year and had a good bond but it just did not happen.

You were a 3-time WCC POY: what did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors? I had a great time at USF and enjoyed each of my 4 years there. We were able to win a lot of games and worked really hard to accomplish a lot, which is what I was interested in more than any individual accolades. It never would have happened if I did not have really good teammates.

In the summer of 1979 you were drafted 3rd overall by the Knicks (2 spots behind Magic Johnson): 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 talked to Coach Red Holzman who thought that I would get drafted pretty high. Like most players I just wanted to make sure I was prepared to play well once I got there. My goal was not to get to the NBA but just to take what life gave me and go from there, and since I was being led to the NBA I decided to do the best job that I could do.

In the 1980 All-Star Game you scored 8 PTS as a rookie in an 8-PT OT win by the East: how were you able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros? It was not that smooth, but I got to play a lot of minutes as a rookie after Marvin Webster got hepatitis. Playing in New York helped me get a lot of recognition…but after the All-Star break I was tired as hell.

In the 1984 Eastern Conference 1st round you scored 29 PTS in a 4-PT OT win over Detroit in the decisive Game 5: were you more impressed by Bernard King (who scored 44 PTS despite having the flu and 2 dislocated fingers) or Isiah Thomas (who scored 35 PTS including 16 in the final 93 seconds of regulation to force OT)? They both played great that night: it had to be the hottest freaking arena that I have ever played in! I was lucky to play with Bernard: I saw him do a lot of amazing things every single night. We were lucky to win, which made it even sweeter.

In Game 5 of the 1989 Eastern Conference 1st round with Chicago, Michael Jordan made his famous jump shot over Craig Ehlo at the buzzer while hanging in the air to clinch a 1-PT win over Cleveland, and in Game 2 of the 1991 Finals Jordan made his famous layup while switching hands in mid-air en route to winning the 1st title in franchise history: was the secret to his greatness simply the fact that he could stay in the air longer than anyone else on the court? There are a couple of contributing factors. He was a tremendous athlete. He gets no credit for the switching-hands layup because nobody on the Lakers jumped up to defend him.

In Game 1 of the 1992 Finals Jordan set a couple of records in Game 1 by scoring 35 PTS in the 1st half and famously shrugging after making his 6th 3-PT shot of the half: did you feel that it was harder to win a title or defend a title? I think that both present their own challenges. After we lost Game 1 to the Lakers in 1991 a lot of people thought that we would sweep the next 4 games, which we did. In the 1992 Finals we were playing a Portland team that was viewed as more athletic. Each year had its own challenges, probably more mental than physical. You have to give our coaches a lot of credit: they made great moves defensively such as trapping Magic Johnson in the backcourt, which disrupted the Lakers’ offense for the entire series. Portland had us beat in Game 6 (leading by 15 PTS in the 3rd quarter) before Phil put the bench players in and they brought us all the way back in the 4th quarter.

In Game 6 of the 1993 Finals John Paxson made a 3-PT shot with 3.9 seconds left in a 1-PT win to clinch the title: did you feel like your team could just keep winning titles for the rest of the decade? When we beat Detroit in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals we felt that everyone loved us and our style of basketball…and they did! However, after you win your 2nd title, people start looking for someone else who can beat you.

After retiring you became an assistant coach under Phil Jackson while the Bulls won a few more titles in the late 1990s: what made Phil such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? Phil understood that basketball is more than just basketball: it is about balancing your life, knowing what is going on in the world, being aware of your body, etc. He would encourage us to read the paper and also introduced us to yoga. Some guys think that basketball is more important than their family, but it is not. You cannot get too high or too low: just stay on your feet.

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Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews NBA prospect Martin Krampelj

Posted on June 13, 2019 by Jon Teitel

There is only 1 week left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 20th. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. Martin Krampelj has had a long journey to professional basketball both in terms of geography (growing up in Slovenia) as well as anatomy (a trio of ACL tears). He succeeded on both ends of the court at Creighton in terms of offense (60.2 career FG%) and defense (top-10 in Big East play last year in both BLK/STL). HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Martin about his academic/athletic achievements and what it would mean to get drafted.

You grew up in Slovenia: how did you 1st get into basketball, and how big is the sport in your homeland? I grew up with my 2 sisters and 3 cousins who were my neighbors. 2 of them were older and I always wanted to do what they did so when they started playing basketball then so did I a week later. Long story short: I loved it and it grew into something bigger. I think that soccer might be bigger than basketball but Slovenians love basketball. Goran Dragic, Luka Doncic, and other high-profile basketball players from Slovenia are a very big influence on kids and our country.

In 2012 you played on the Slovenian national team at the U18 Euro Championships: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what was it like facing future lottery pick Dario Saric (who scored 27 PTS in 30 minutes during a win by Croatia)? Playing for the national team was a dream come true for me. Slovenia and Croatia are big rivals in every sport so it is always fun to play against them. I remember that Saric was just unstoppable at the time: that is why he is in the NBA now.

What made you choose Creighton, and how did you like playing for Coach Greg McDermott? Creighton offered me an official visit to the university and I fell in love with everything I saw. The fans, coaches, teammates, and all of the other people around were very nice/fun to talk to. From an educational standpoint Creighton ranks pretty high nationally. I did not even mention the facilities yet: they are absolutely on the highest level possible. With all of that I was very fortunate to be in a “small city”, which I liked because I came from a way smaller environment. Coach McDermott is a great coach who everyone would love to play for. What I really like about him is that he brings the best out of his players and gives the team a chance to be successful both on and off the court.

Last year you were the only player to rank in the top-10 in Big East play in both BLK/STL: what is your secret for being a great defender? Part of the secret was that I was kind of undersized on my position so I looked a lot faster than the guys who I was matched up with. Obviously defense at Creighton is a team effort so I was put in a position to be successful. We all helped each other and the main thing was to talk on defense, which will also help a defender be successful.

You finished your college career as a 60.2% FG shooter: what is the key to being a great shooter? I did not even realize that until now. That is not bad but it could be even better now that I think about some of my missed layups (haha!). I just think that I was very efficient in player movement/positioning that helped me score a couple of easy ones every game. Again, I could not have done it without my teammates. The whole team is basically around 40% from the 3-PT line so that puts a lot of confusion and pressure on our opponents. Those numbers come with a lot of hard work and watching a lot of film.

You were a 3-time member of the Big East All-Academic Team: how did you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? First of all I want to thank my professors who helped me schedule school around my basketball schedule and really helped me stay on top of everything. I never missed class and built good relationships with professors who were willing to help everyone be successful as long as we worked hard.

You have suffered 3 ACL tears during your career: how is your health doing at the moment? I have never felt better!

You stated on Twitter that you decided to go pro “after testing the waters and receiving valuable feedback”: what kind of feedback did you receive, and did the fact that you graduated last month have any impact on your decision? I liked my chances to stay in the draft. I got to compete against projected 1st round picks and had a good feeling that I could compete with them. I got my degree and now want to pursue my dream of playing in the NBA.

How do you think the Bluejays’ frontcourt will be this fall with both you/Samson Froling turning pro and Jacob Epperson continuing to rehab from injuries? We are at our best with our backs against the wall. Creighton always finds a way to win games and I am sure that it will continue next year. Christian Bishop might be only a sophomore but I think that he will step up his game because he learned a lot this past season. Jacob has not played very much (21 total games over the past 2 years) but proved that he is unstoppable so he will heal and then become a star.

What would it mean to you to get drafted, and will you head overseas if you do not get drafted? It would be my dream come true to get drafted. I have watched the NBA Draft since I was a kid…even though I had to wake up in the middle of the night to watch it! I never had all that hype and buzz from high school so I am used to proving myself again and again. I will do whatever it takes for me to become an NBA player.

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Happy Draft-iversary!: HoopsHD interviews broadcaster Bill Hillgrove about former Pitt star Billy Knight

Posted on June 12, 2019 by Jon Teitel

With the 2019 NBA draft taking place next week, we will spend the days ahead taking a walk down memory lane with a choice collection of players who are celebrating an awesome anniversary this year. From a future Hall of Famer selected 2nd overall in 1959 (60th anniversary) through a conference POY picked in the 2nd round in 2009 (10th anniversary), these stars have all seen their dreams come true in past drafts. We continue our series with Bill Hillgrove, who did play-by-play for Pitt basketball in the 1970s when Billy Knight was turning into an All-American. After joining the ABA Billy became 1 of the best scorers in pro basketball, and after retiring he became a longtime NBA executive. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Bill about the 45th anniversary of Knight leading his team to the Elite 8 and then getting drafted a couple of months later.

Knight was highly recruited out of Braddock High School in the Pittsburgh suburbs: what made him choose the Panthers? I think that it was the influence of assistant coach Tim Grgurich. The 1974 team could have been recruited on a trolley car since they were all from this area!

He averaged a double-double during each of his 3 seasons on the varsity: how was he able to balance his scoring with his rebounding? He was just a smooth player who had the gift to let the game come to him. His 1st game was on the road at Gettysburg and the NCAA did not declare him eligible until a few hours before the game, but he came out and it appeared that he had been there a long time. We were playing at UCLA in December of 1972 and I drove him in a rental car to Pauley Pavilion. We arrived only 23 minutes before tip-off, but he went out and scored 37 PTS: after the game Coach John Wooden walked across the court to shake his hand. It was an example of how he could just get his ankles taped, walk out on the court, and still play his best.

As a senior in 1974 his team won a school-record 22 straight games: did it reach a point where they expected to win every single time they stepped onto the court? I think that was the mindset: if they lost it was a shock to everyone.

In the 1974 Elite 8 he had 19 PTS/10 REB in a loss to top-ranked NC State: how was he able to play so well against the eventual national champs? We beat Furman before facing the Wolfpack on their home court. Coach Norm Sloan did not have to leave the state to win it all. Knight was the best player on the floor and he knew it. NC State had some great players like Tom Burleson/David Thompson but Thompson actually tripped over 1 of his own players and had to go to the hospital. Too bad that Pitt lost because they were a darn good team.

He finished that year by being named an All-American: what did it mean to him to receive such outstanding honors? For a kid from Braddock to get any national recognition was fantastic. It was a steel town that had collapsed.

In the 1974 NBA draft he was picked 21st overall by the Lakers (1 spot ahead of Truck Robinson): why did he decide to join the ABA instead? I think that I was part of that. I escorted him to an ABA game where Julius Erving was playing. We went to their locker room afterward and Dr. J sat down with Billy and convinced him that the ABA was the best option for him. I went to 1 of his 1st NBA games in Buffalo with my family: I noticed that every single time Billy got the ball Randy Smith clapped his hands and asked Billy to pass it to him!

In 1975 he scored 17.1 PPG for the Pacers and made the ABA All-Rookie 1st-team: how was he able to make such a smooth transition from college to the pros? He felt that he belonged, just like when he started his sophomore year at Pitt. He was relaxed, which was his calling card.

In 1977 he averaged 26.6 PPG (#2 in the NBA behind only Pete Maravich): what made him such a great scorer? He had a great jump shot and was a really great offensive rebounder. He could go inside or outside and had good hands: he was a pure delight to watch.

He later served in the front office of several different NBA teams: how did he enjoy being an executive compared to being a player? I think that he enjoyed the process very much. He would have liked to be athletic director at Pitt: it was not meant to be but he still comes back to campus to take part in different ceremonies.

He was later voted to Pitt’s all-time starting 5: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? He really remembers his roots and is just a great person. He is the best player in Pitt history even though we have had many great ones.

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Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews NBA prospect Nic Claxton

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Jon Teitel

There are only a couple of weeks left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 20th. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. The Claxton family already had 1 NBA dream come true 25 years ago, as Charles was drafted by the Suns in 1994 and later played for the Celtics. Charles’ son Nic will try to make it 2-for-2 next week after leading the SEC in BLK last season and being projected to be selected in the 1st round by several mock drafts. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Nic about being a great defender and what it would mean to get drafted.

Coming out of high school you were recruited by several great schools including Baylor, Florida State, NC State, and South Carolina: what made you choose Georgia? Ultimately my love for the university. They did a great job of recruiting me: I almost went to Florida State but my visit here reaffirmed in my heart that I was making the right decision.

You have spent several summers playing for the Virgin Islands: how big is basketball down there? It is pretty big and in the future I will try to help them out in any way I can. They are trying to use basketball as a platform to get kids on the right path so that they can avoid drugs/violence.

In 2016 you played against the US in the FIBA Americas U-18 Championship: which of your opponents impressed you the most (Jarrett Allen/Mo Bamba/Trae Young/other)? I actually liked Michael Porter Jr. a lot: once he gets healthy I think he is going to be a problem for other people in the NBA. He has a really good shot and I expect to see him make a big splash.

You only started 5 games as a freshman but started all 32 games last year: what was the biggest change from year #1 to year #2? The coaching change at our school. Coach Tom Crean came in from day 1 and showed me how he was going to develop me and push me every day to be the best player that I could be.

In March you scored a career-high 25 PTS/9-12 FG in a 6-PT win at Florida (including a finger-licking celebration in the final minutes): was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yes: I was definitely locked in all game. We had lost several close games to finish February (4 in a row by a combined 9 PTS) so that night I took matters into my own hands: it was a good moment for our team.

Last year you led the SEC with 81 BLK and led your team with 34 STL: what is your secret for being a great defender? Having pride in playing defense, which I have had since I was young. I have a chip on my shoulder and I do not want my opponent to score against me. Being 6’11” also helps!

You made the SEC Academic honor roll during each of the past 2 years: how much importance do you place on academics, and do you plan to eventually get your degree? Definitely. My parents (especially my mom) are really big on academics so I have always tried to balance basketball with school. I plan to finish my degree either during my playing days or afterward so I know that I will eventually come back to campus to graduate.

Your father Charles was an all-SEC player at Georgia who later joined the Celtics and your younger brother Chase has signed to play basketball at Winthrop: who is the best athlete in the family? I have a lot of confidence in myself so I will have to say me! All 3 of us are great athletes and I am extremely proud of my brother.

Why did you decide to turn pro? I did not know if I would be keeping my name in the draft but I decided to stay after getting some good feedback from teams at the combine.

What would it mean to you to get drafted? Hearing my name called on draft night would be a huge blessing so I will just keep praying/working until then.

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Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews NBA prospect James Batemon

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Jon Teitel

There are only a couple of weeks left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 20th. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. Some guys enter college as blue-chip prospects while others enter with a chip on their shoulders. James Batemon was the latter but his resume grew greatly last season: 1st-team all-WCC, led the league in STL, and almost led his Loyola Marymount team to a CBI title. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with James about being a great PG and what it would mean to get drafted.

You grew up in Wisconsin and began your college career at North Dakota State College of Science where you were a 2-time All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It meant a lot to me and my family. I had a chip on my shoulder after being lightly-recruited so it was helpful to get that junior college background before getting to where I wanted to be.

How did you end up at Loyola Marymount? I fell in love with the coach during my visit. They reached out to me after my junior college season was over and LA was a hot spot with great weather and a great opportunity for me.

You played for Coach Mike Dunlap: what makes him such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? He teaches the game a lot and is great at Xs and Os. He taught me so many small things like certain angles on the floor and different kinds of schemes, all of which were very helpful.

You started 30 games in your 1st year in Los Angeles and led the team in scoring: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I wanted to prove everyone wrong who had overlooked me. We had a bunch of new guys and I knew that someone needed to be a scorer/facilitator. I led the team in scoring as a PG after playing SG during my 1st year in North Dakota. When you are playing with good teammates you can feel confident distributing the ball more often.

In 2018 you were the only player in the top-5 of the WCC in PTS/AST: how do you balance your scoring with your passing? Your teammates have a lot to do with it. If I was too conservative my teammates/coaches would tell me to be more aggressive. I am just a ballplayer but if I take too many shots then I will start trying to get my guys involved more.

Last year you led the conference with 54 STL: what is the key to being a great defender? Reaction time, covering ground, and just being in the right position. I also took more than 10 charges last season!

You were named 1st-team all-WCC: how does the WCC compare to some of the best conferences in the country? I think we compare pretty well to the Power-5 conferences. Gonzaga was clearly 1st and Portland was clearly last but everyone else in the league was competing hard against each other.

In the 2019 CBI semifinals you scored 9 PTS in a 9-PT loss at eventual champion South Florida: how close did you come to winning a title? We came very close and were right there. They took off on us in the final minutes and had a crazy scoring run. It seemed like it was called differently than on the West Coast but you cannot blame the officials.

How has the pre-draft process gone so far while you rehab from tendinitis, and how is your health doing at the moment? It has been great. I played the whole season with severe tendinitis in my knee. I did not know that at the time but I did not want to miss the whole season so I just sucked it up and played. My rehab is going great and I am close to being 100%, then I will be back on the court going full-speed in no time. I noticed a drop speed-wise last year but I want to be 100% for the scouts.

What would it mean to you to get drafted? It would mean a lot! Even if I do not get drafted I just want the opportunity to work out for a team and show them what I have. To go from junior college to D-1 was the 1st step, and it would be a dream come true to play in the NBA: I cannot wait to see what is next!

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