Going for Gold: HoopsHD interviews 2018 USA Men’s U18 National Team finalist Quentin Grimes

Posted on June 4, 2018 by Jon Teitel

The final roster for the 2018 USA Men’s U18 National Team will be announced later this week before the team heads to Canada to try to win its 5th straight gold medal and qualify for the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup.  This year’s coaching staff has a decidedly Kansas feel thanks to head coach Bill Self and assistant coach/Jayhawk legend Danny Manning.  The list of 18 player finalists includes many of the top teenagers in the nation such as Cole Anthony (1 of the best players in the Class of 2019), Tyrese Maxey (SG who committed to Kentucky last month), and Coby White (2018 McDonald’s All-American).  1 of the other McDonald’s All-Americans still in the running is Quentin Grimes, who committed to Kansas last November and played in the Nike Hoop Summit in April.  HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Quentin about choosing the Jayhawks, keeping up with his athletic family, and trying to win a gold medal this month.

You grew up in Texas and got scholarship offers from schools such as Arizona/Kentucky/Texas: what made you choose Kansas? Coach Self was real honest with me: I did not want to play for a coach who just told me what I wanted to hear. I know that I will have to work hard for the Jayhawks and that nothing will be handed to me.

In February you scored a career-high 51 PTS in a win over Montgomery: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? In the 1st half I hit my 1st 4 or 5 threes and then they started fouling me a lot. I scored more than 30 PTS in the 1st half and just kept playing consistent in the 2nd half.

In the 2018 McDonald’s All-American Game you scored 14 PTS in 19 minutes in a 3-PT win by the West: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most? Probably Nassir Little, who was named MVP. He is a high-energy player and a terrific athlete.

In the 2018 Nike Hoop Summit you scored 15 PTS in a loss by team USA: how on earth did the World Select Team grab 60 REB?! I had to guard RJ Barrett and did a pretty good job on him, but they were shooting a lot of threes and getting lucky with all of those rebounds in the post.

What will it be like to play for Coach Bill Self (as well as assistant coach/Jayhawk legend Danny Manning) this summer on the U-18 FIBA Americas team and then follow him to Lawrence later this year? It will be great to get a head start in terms of learning what Coach Self is looking to help his players become successful.

You are part of an amazing freshman class for the Jayhawks along with Devon Dotson/David McCormack: have you had a chance to get to know either of them before you all arrive on campus? We got to know each other a few months ago at the McDonald’s All-American Game in Atlanta so the connection will be pretty strong by this fall.

Kansas is losing several important players from last year’s team (Malik Newman/Devonte’ Graham/Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk): what was your reaction to Udoka Azubuike’s announcement last week that he would be returning to school after declaring for the draft earlier this spring, and any idea if Lagerald Vick will also be back? I am really happy to have Udoka coming back: I have never played with a big man like that before and I think he will make me a better player. I have not heard anything about Lagerald’s situation.

You were a combo guard in high school: what position do you feel most comfortable at on the court? I feel comfortable at the 1 or the 2. I have good size for a PG so I can see over defenders if I have the ball, and if I am playing SG I can just find ways to get open for shots.

What does it mean to you to represent your country on the U-18 FIBA Americas team? There are only 12 players selected to wear the jersey with “USA” on the front so it is very special. We will try our hardest to win a gold medal.

Your brother Tyler Myers plays hockey for the Winnipeg Jets and your father Marshall played basketball at Louisiana Tech: who is the best athlete in the family? I think it is me: I have been measured with a 38” vertical and I also ran track during high school. My dad played football as well as basketball so we are just a pretty athletic family.

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Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews draft prospect Jordan Capps

Posted on June 3, 2018 by Jon Teitel

There are only 3 weeks left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 21st. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. Jordan Capps won a national championship at Northwest Florida State College before finishing his career at SE Louisiana in Hammond as the team’s leader in PPG/BPG last season. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Jordan about winning a title, overcoming an injury, and what it would mean to get drafted.

You played in all 33 games as a freshman at Samford: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? As a freshman it was really a culture shock because you were the man in high school but everyone in college was a great high school player. I tried to play my role and do what I do best, which is score.

As a sophomore you transferred to Northwest Florida State College and won a NJCAA D-1 title: what did it mean to you to win a title? That team was really talented. I did not know my future path but we had a couple of guys who went to D-1 colleges. We gelled really well and nobody had a big ego that the team could not handle. Everyone is hungry at the JUCO level to get to D-1.

In 2016 as a player at SE Louisiana you were named to the Southland Conference All-Tournament Team: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? My role on that team was much larger: my world got bigger as I got older. I played both in the post as well as outside but during the tourney I just tried to step up for my team so we could make a name for ourselves.

You began the 2017 season by averaging 22 PPG (17-23 FG) during your 1st 2 games before missing the rest of the year with an ankle injury: how bad was it, and how were you able to get back onto the court? It was a very humbling experience. I never had that kind of injury before but fortunately I had the best doctor in the state. It was really tough because I was not sure if I would ever play basketball again, but I just stayed patient through 8 months of rehab and worked very hard to get back onto the court.

In January 2018 you scored a career-high 31 PTS/12-18 FG in a win over Houston Baptist: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? That game was a good 1 and the gym was pretty packed. I was very aggressive in the 1st half and just tried to keep up the energy by being aggressive.

Last year you led the team in PPG/BPG: how do you balance your offense with your defense? Most college coaches will tell you that if you do not play defense then you will not play at all. I take pride in playing well on both ends of the court and I enjoy protecting the rim. I have good timing to get off the floor and have always been a good shot-blocker.

In the 2018 NIT you scored a team-high 19 PTS/9-15 FG in a loss at St. Mary’s: how satisfying was it to show people that you could play well against a top-25 team, and where does Jock Landale rank among the best players that you have ever seen? The Gaels were a top-10 team at 1 point during the season and Jock is a very good player. I wanted to show the scouts that I could play against anyone at the highest level. I use to think that mid-major players had a lower talent level but if you can consistently play well then you have a great chance to play at the next level. I also had a good game against Notre Dame last December (17 PTS) but scouts want to see that you played against the best opponents regardless of the outcome.

You played for the Southland team in the inaugural 3X3U National Championship on Final 4 weekend in San Antonio: how did you play, and was it weird to see guys like Shawn Johnson (Incarnate Word)/Joseph Kilgore (Texas A&M-CC)/Travin Thibodeaux (New Orleans) switch from opponents to teammates? People from the outside might think it is weird because we competed against each other during conference play but we all respected each other. They are all good dudes and I would play basketball with them anytime. We meshed really well and won 2 of our 3 games: they are low-maintenance guys who were just there to play basketball.

Your uncle Orlando Lynch played baseball at ASU and your cousin Jaylen Brown just helped the Celtics reach Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals: who is the best athlete in the family? I would always say me but I cannot hate on Jaylen because he is balling right now!

What would it mean to you to get drafted? It would mean everything. As a kid you work hard from day 1 to chase your dreams but there are always bumps in the road. It is humbling to see the end of the tunnel and hopefully I can make it and have a long career. Getting drafted also gives you opportunities to help your family, which is a pretty cool thing.

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2018 NBA Mock Draft (Version 1.0)

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Jon Teitel

The NBA Draft will take place on June 21st and until then we will do our best to predict where everyone will get selected. Some websites do their mock drafts based on “best player available” but we try to focus on team needs: for example, if a team like Dallas already has Dennis Smith Jr. at the 1-spot then they are probably not selecting a PG with the #5 overall pick. So, please see our 1st round predictions below and then tweet us your comments regarding what looks good and what might need a re-pick.

#.TEAM: NAME, POSITION (SCHOOL OR COUNTRY/YEAR)
1. Phoenix: DeAndre Ayton, C (Arizona/FR)
2. Sacramento: Marvin Bagley, PF (Duke/FR)
3. Atlanta: Jaren Jackson Jr., PF (Michigan State/FR)
4. Memphis: Luka Doncic, SG/SF (Slovenia/INTL)
5. Dallas: Michael Porter, SF (Missouri/FR)
6. Orlando: Mohamed Bamba, C (Texas/FR)
7. Chicago: Wendell Carter, PF/C (Duke/FR)
8. Cleveland: Trae Young, PG (Oklahoma/FR)
9. New York: Mikal Bridges, SG/SF (Villanova/JR)
10. Philadelphia: Kevin Knox, SF/PF (Kentucky/FR)
11. Charlotte: Miles Bridges, SF/PF (Michigan State/SO)
12. LA Clippers: Collin Sexton, PG (Alabama/FR)
13. LA Clippers: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG (Kentucky/FR)
14. Denver: Lonnie Walker, SG (Miami/FR)
15. Washington: Robert Williams, PF/C (Texas A&M/SO)
16. Phoenix: Zhaire Smith, SG (Texas Tech/FR)
17. Milwaukee: Khyri Thomas, SG (Creighton/JR)
18. San Antonio: Troy Brown, PG/SG (Oregon/FR)
19. Atlanta: Donte DiVincenzo, SG (Villanova/SO)
20. Minnesota: Aaron Holiday, PG (UCLA/JR)
21. Utah: Chandler Hutchison, SG/SF (Boise State/SR)
22. Chicago: Mitchell Robinson, C (USA/FR)
23. Indiana: Gary Trent Jr., SG (Duke/FR)
24. Portland: Keita Bates-Diop, SF/PF (Ohio State/JR)
25. LA Lakers: Anfernee Simons, PG/SG (Undecided/HS SR)
26. Philadelphia: Kevin Huerter, SG (Maryland/SO)
27. Boston: Moritz Wagner, PF/C (Michigan/JR)
28. Golden State: Elie Okobo, PG (France/INTL)
29. Brooklyn: Jerome Robinson, SG (Boston College/JR)
30. Atlanta: Melvin Frazier, SF (Tulane/JR)

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Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews draft prospect Stephen Brown

Posted on June 1, 2018 by Jon Teitel

There are only 3 weeks left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 21st. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. Stephen Brown made the All-Patriot League Team 3 times during his career in Lewisburg and made the conference All-Defensive Team 3 times as well. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Stephen about being a great FT shooter, winning the conference tourney MVP award, and what it would mean to get drafted.

You grew up in Virginia: what made you choose Bucknell? I played with Team Takeover out of the DC area and 1 of our coaches knew 1 of the coaches at Bucknell. They recruited me and were the 1st school to give me an offer so it was my 1st choice. When I got to campus to take a tour it just felt like home.

You played for a pair of coaches in Dave Paulsen/Nathan Davis: how difficult was the transition from 1 to the other, and what is the most important thing that you learned from either of them? The transition was difficult: the hardest part was just going through the process of figuring out who would be the next coach. Coach Paulsen taught me how to have a great work ethic and he brought a lot of positive energy to the team to prepare us for what lay ahead. Coach Davis came in with a great style and gave us a lot more freedom than what we had before. The biggest adjustment was the speed of the game, but I liked the new style.

In the 2017 NCAA tourney you had 18 PTS/5 STL/1 TO in a 6-PT loss to West Virginia: what was it like to be a PG facing “Press Virginia”? It was not the best feeling to see their name come up on the TV screen during Selection Sunday but the coaches definitely prepared us for the game. It was nice to use our speed and it was a lot of fun: it gave our team a lot of confidence going into the following year.

You led the league in FT% in 2016 and were 2nd in FT% in 2018: what is the secret to making FTs? There is no secret to it: you just have to be consistent and go through the same routine every time. You have to get comfortable during each game and just find the flow.

In the 2018 conference tourney title game you had 22 PTS/6 AST/0 TO in a 29-PT win over Colgate en route to being named conference tourney MVP: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? Being aggressive: my coaches/teammates kept telling me to take what the defense gave me and to be aggressive when I was on defense. You do not want to have any regrets as a senior so we left it all out on the floor.

In the 2018 NCAA tourney you had 20 PTS/4-8 3PM in a 4-PT loss to Michigan State: how close did you come to pulling off the upset? It was pretty close: we were sticking with them throughout the 1st half but they came out and hit some tough shots in the 2nd half. We had a couple of our bigs get into foul trouble but give them credit for playing well. I am proud of how we played given their size advantage.

You played for the Patriot League team in the inaugural 3X3U National Championship on Final 4 weekend in San Antonio: how did you play, and was it weird to see guys like Jordan Swopshire (Colgate)/Kahron Ross (Lehigh) switch from opponents to teammates? It was a little weird at 1st to be teammates with guys who had been my opponents only 3 weeks earlier but they are all great guys. We came together, connected with each other, and played to each other’s strengths. It is nice to see how they are introducing that tournament to college seniors and it was a great opportunity for us to represent our league.

You graduated in the top-20 of the school’s all-time career lists for PTS/AST: how were you able to balance your scoring with your passing? I did not really think about it. Every year is an adjustment period: as a freshman I just tried to get the ball to our scorers but as I got older I had more opportunities to become a scorer as well. As a senior I tried to find whoever had the hot hand and worked with my coaches to figure out what game plan would be most effective.

You were a co-captain each of the past 2 years: what is the key to being a great leader? For me the keys are communication and leading by example: those were some of my strong suits. As a PG you are an extension of the coach on the floor and you have to make sure that everyone is on the same page both on/off the court. We had guys who were willing to be led so it was not a struggle at all.

What would it mean to you to get drafted? It would mean a lot. Going through this whole process has been a blessing and for a guy like me coming from a small school it would be a testament to my hard work.

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Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews draft prospect Riley LaChance

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Jon Teitel

There are only 3 weeks left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 21st. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. Riley LaChance started the very 1st game of his career in Nashville as a freshman and finished 135 games later with the 6th-most AST in school history . HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Riley about playing in the NCAA tourney, making a buzzer-beater, and what it would mean to get drafted.

(Photo by Joe Howell)

You grew up in Wisconsin: were you most attracted to Vanderbilt’s academics/athletics/both/other? The combination of athletics/academics attracted me to Vanderbilt. The ability to earn a degree from a top-15 university and play in 1 of the best conferences in America was something I could not pass up.

You played for a pair of coaches in Kevin Stallings/Bryce Drew: how difficult was the transition from 1 to the other, and what is the most important thing that you learned from either of them? Coach Stallings leaving was obviously difficult and something that I never would have expected when choosing Vanderbilt, but Coach Drew made the transition super-easy for us. He accepted us and treated us like his players from Day 1 and his staff made us feel comfortable and at home just as much as we felt before. The most important thing I learned from Coach Drew is that there is more to life than basketball. Obviously basketball is a huge part of our lives, but its important to not let the results of a basketball game affect the other facets of your life like relationships/family/school. The most important thing I learned from Coach Stallings is that every possession matters. He ingrained in me the importance of not taking any plays off. He also emphasized that just like every possession in basketball matters, every decision in your life matters as well.

In 2015 you started all 35 games and were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I had a great group of coaches/teammates who believed in me right from the start. Due to some unforeseen circumstances the year prior, all of the incoming freshman had a great opportunity to come in and play right away. I think that the biggest key for me that year was that I was not thinking too much. I tried not to listen to too much outside noise and just tried to play the same way that I did in high school.

In 2017 you made the SEC All-Tournament team: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? I have always been a person who dreams about the big moments. I think that I was so motivated from the way that our 2 previous SEC tournaments had played out that I wanted to do everything in my power to give us a chance to advance in that tournament. We also had an incredible showing from our fans at the tournament who definitely willed us to win the 2 games we did.

In the 2017 NCAA tourney you scored 12 PTS but Matthew Fisher-Davis intentionally fouled Bryant McIntosh with 14.6 seconds left in a 2-PT win by Northwestern (the 1st NCAA tourney victory in Wildcat history: what was your reaction when you saw the foul, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? The feeling in the locker room afterward was obviously 1 of sadness and shock that the season was over. None of us were ready to be done playing but none of were putting the blame on Matt. He had 1 of his best games of the year and brought us back from a huge deficit. That game would not have been even close without him.

Last November you scored a career-high 27 PTS in a win over Radford: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Yes: once I got it going the hoop felt like it got wider!

On Valentine’s Day 2018 you scored 16 PTS including a 3-PT shot at the buzzer in a 1-PT upset of Mississippi State: did you think the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career? The shot felt good coming off of my hand. The defender bumped me a little from behind and made me move forward a little so I was just hoping that I got both feet behind the line. It was definitely 1 of the top moments of my career.

You graduated in the top-15 of the school’s all-time career lists for PTS/AST/3PM: how were you able to balance your scoring with your passing with your shooting? I think that both coaching staffs trusted me with the ball in my hands. Being able to play both point guard and shooting guard led to me scoring/assisting at a high rate.

Several SEC players are projected to be taken in this year’s lottery (Michael Porter Jr./Collin Sexton/Kevin Knox/Shai Gilgeous-Alexander/Robert Williams): which 1 impressed you the most? Michael Porter Jr. did not play against us so I cannot really judge him. Collin Sexton was probably the most impressive: his speed and strength are definitely ready for the next level. I will also say that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s feel for the game and his ability to get to his spots make him 1 of the toughest players in the draft to guard: I think that he will be a steal for someone.

What would it mean to you to get drafted? Obviously getting drafted would mean the world to me, but if not then I plan to go overseas and play professional basketball somewhere in Europe.

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Draft Dreams: HoopsHD interviews draft prospect Devin Sibley

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Jon Teitel

There are only a few weeks left for the college kids to impress the scouts before the NBA Draft takes place on June 21st. We will spend that time talking to the stars of tomorrow as they prepare for the next phases of their careers. Devin Sibley began his career in Greenville as the SoCon Freshman of the Year before adding a conference POY award 2 years later. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Devin about all those awards, winning a league title, and what it would mean to get drafted.

You grew up in Knoxville: what made you choose Furman? My parents are religious so we prayed about it and they thought that Furman would be the best fit for me. They had nice people and a nice community, plus it is close to home.

You played for a pair of coaches in Niko Medved/Bob Richey: how difficult was the transition from 1 to the other, and what is the most important thing that you learned from either of them? It was not a hugely difficult transition because Bob was already “in the house” as 1 of our assistant coaches. Niko taught me a lot on the defensive end and how to support my teammates.

In 2015 you were named SoCon Freshman of the Year: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I actually played poorly during my 1st few games and did not get it turned around until the 2nd half of the season. I focused on playing as hard as I could and on all of the details.

Despite entering the 2015 SoCon tourney as a #10-seed with an 8-21 record, you had 3 straight upsets before a 3-PT loss to #1-seed Wofford in the title game: how were you able to turn around your entire season in a matter of days? It was a mental thing: we had nothing to lose and just happened to click at the right time. We took it 1 game at a time and it benefited us quite a bit.

In the 2016 CIT you scored a team-high 15 PTS and Daniel Fowler made a put-back at the buzzer in a 1-PT win over Louisiana-Monroe: how on earth were you able to overcome a 10-PT deficit in the final 2 minutes? It was a really nice put-back by Daniel. We took everything 1 play at a time: you just have to do the little things like get stops.

In February 2017 you scored a career-high 32 PTS/5-8 3PM in an 8-PT win at Citadel: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? Definitely. Coach gave me the green light and it was a fun game. The basket looked as big as the sea and I was money.

As a junior you helped lead the Paladins to a 21-10 record: how big a deal was it to earn a share of the school’s 1st regular season league title since 1991? It was pretty cool…but we wanted to win the conference tourney as well. However, it was a big honor to achieve that and we will always remember that.

In 2017 you were named SoCon POY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? I honestly did not think I would win it so it was a blessing. It was a great time in my career.

Your RPG increased in your senior year but your shooting percentages went down a bit: were defenses keying on you all season due to your breakout junior year? I decided to crash the boards more and do as much as I could to help us win. I had multiple finger injuries and some other injuries as well so there were a lot of factors.

What would it mean to you to get drafted? It would mean the world to me because it is something that I have been waiting for my entire life. I have been through a lot so it would be a dream come true.

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