Oakland Head Coach, and all around legend Greg Kampe joins Chad, Rocco, and Zach as they discuss his career and how he’s guided Oakland from a struggling D2 program to one of the more successful Under the Radar programs in all of college basketball. We also discuss how college basketball has changed throughout his 42 career, the struggles of putting together an out of conference schedule, crazy Christmas sweaters, his relationships with other coaches, and more.
And, for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…
Florida won the NCAA tourney in April and Oklahoma City 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 18th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing at Indianapolis/JMU/Kansas City/Lexington/Louisville/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Maurice Watson Jr., who will be playing for Red Rose Thunder after leading 3 different conferences in APG during his college career.
You got your nickname “Doo-Wop” from Allen Iverson: what kind of relationship do you have with the Hall of Famer? We had a closer relationship when he was playing in the NBA because he was in Philly all the time. I have always been a guy who wanted to be you rather than be over you. I was close to AI’s son/daughter, but after all the negativity came up later in his career we did not spend as much time together. I got the nickname from him when I would sneak down from my seats up high in the Wachovia Center to be down by the court. I want to reestablish my relationship with him in the future: he has always been a big motivation for me.
Your high school coach at Boys’ Latin was your father Maurice Sr.: what was the best part of having your father as your coach, and what was the not-so-best part (if any)? The best part was being held to a high standard…and the worst part was being held to a high standard! He was ON me: I needed to score 25 PTS a game and had to be 10 times better than anyone else. It was the best thing because I was able to learn from my mistakes. My dad coached the B team so when I played on that team I learned how to make the players around me better. If I did not score 25 then I would have to drive home with him or read in the newspaper how he was bashing his PG. I know what it takes to have everyone against you so playing for him is something that I will always cherish. X’s and O’s do not make you the best coach: you need to have toughness/love/etc.
You became 1 of the best scorers in Philadelphia Public League history with 2356 career PTS: what is the secret to being a great scorer? Trusting the work and being full of yourself. As Kobe said, if you put all the work in then it will show. I played well out of fear: the motivation was not to score 25 or make the NBA. I wanted to play well enough so that when I got back to my phone my friends would not be grinding me up. Some of it was just so I could be proud of what I did and talk trash to my boys. I trust the gift that I got from God.
In 2012 you were named a 1st-team Parade All-American: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Kyle Anderson/Kris Dunn/Nerlens Noel/other)? I would say Kyle: he was like Luka (Doncic) before Luka! He was able to keep his opponent from stealing the ball even though he was not very fast. Kris was also very impressive, but he was tall/athletic/fast.
You began your college career at BU: why did you decide to transfer in 2014, and what made you choose Creighton? I did not want to leave BU because I loved it there. I only have about 4 regrets in my life…and leaving BU is 1 of them, even though Creighton took good care of me. BU could not get me to the NBA: the Celtics’ scouts said that they needed to see me face better competition. Villanova was my dream school growing up in Philly: when I decided to transfer they offered me a scholarship, but I could not do that. Creighton had no other NBA/NFL teams and 20,000 fans every night: it was everything that I wanted.
You played for Coach Greg McDermott: what makes him such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? I just had this conversation with someone else. When you are in his life he is like a father to you because he is a player’s coach. Everything he said he would do is what he did. He would not yell at you during practice but rather whisper in your year about how you were not working hard enough. If we wanted to get more money on our meal cards then he said we would have to get up 400 shots. He was always there for me and still answers the phone so I can never be mad at Coach Mac. I would send my kid to play for him today: he is a big family guy and even now that I am a pro Creighton will shout me out and still send me gear. He taught me that if you want to be a captain or make the NBA you have to work hard/get shots up/get into the weight room/be disciplined. I got in trouble in college once by not listening to him, but he gave me all the warnings because he is a great guy.
As a SR you played 19 games before tearing your left ACL: how bad was the injury, and how were you able to get back onto the court? My ACL tear was a very traumatic injury: most guys would come back from that in 9-12 months but it took me 18 months. 8 years later I am still battling it due to the meniscus/cartilage problems. I have played through pain during the past 3-4 years, but if I can play 10 years as a pro I will consider my career a success. It is about how much I want it and investing in myself and really being a pro. I must use my free will if I want to keep playing.
You led 3 different conferences in APG during your college career (America East/Patriot/Big East) and were leading the nation with 8.5 APG at the time of your injury: what is the key to being a great PG? Loving your teammates and knowing that it is not about you. I had great relationships with all my teammates: I knew if any of them had a sick mother or needed someone to buy them a meal, which gave me the ability to call them out because they knew that I cared. I would watch the game highlights 10 times and if someone missed 10 layups then I told them I would give them the ball 10 more times. We would go to the gym and work out together. Not many people know this: I tried to score every time that I had the ball, but my instincts would take over so I would pass the ball at the right time. The only time I did not lead my team in FGA was during my freshman year because people do not realize how much you are shooting when you are also passing.
After graduating you spent several years playing basketball overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? IQ, physicality, and the fact that there is no favoritism. You could be Luka getting fouled but the refs will not call anything. I am the “foreigner” who nobody can understand and eats food that nobody has heard of. It is tough to be dropped into a new country and adjust on the fly. You have to get used to new food, the time difference, the lack of lifting in the weight room, etc. Your teammates who are from that country do not want you to “get their shine” so they might not pass you the ball or will talk to the GM about you. Sometimes it is about politics rather than basketball so you cannot be as vocal, but it is a great life so I take the good with the bad.
You are playing for Red Rose Thunder in the TBT: what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I would put it into a life insurance policy for my kids, and use the rest to open up a youth advocacy center that is a 1-stop shop. Kids could come there to record music/paint/play basketball/write/draw/etc. That is my goal in life.
Florida won the NCAA tourney in April and Oklahoma City 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 18th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing at Indianapolis/JMU/Kansas City/Lexington/Louisville/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Darryl Morsell, who will be playing for Shell Shock after being named Big 10 DPOY in 2021.
1 of your teammates at Mount Saint Joseph High School was your eventual college teammate Jalen Smith: could you tell back then that he was good enough to become a lottery pick just a couple of years later? Not initially. I 1st saw him when he was in the 7th grade: he was tall/long and played hard, but got more skills as he got older. By his junior/senior year I thought that he could make the lottery.
You were a top-100 recruit coming out of high school: what made you choose Maryland? I just wanted to stay home. My recruitment by the big schools picked up late, but I had a great connection with Coach Mark Turgeon and his staff. I also saw local guys like Melo Trimble/Anthony Cowan stay in the area and have success.
You played in all 32 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? Just finding ways to contribute to winning. I played 4 different positions from PG to PF: we had some injuries and I was 1 of the most versatile guys on the team.
In the 2019 NCAA tourney you had a 2-PT win over Belmont and a 2-PT loss to LSU: what is the key to winning games in March that go down to the wire? Executing your assignment and harping on the little things: boxing out, talking on ball screens, being in the right spot on offense, etc.
In 2020 your team won a share of the conference title: what was your reaction when you learned that the postseason was being canceled due to COVID? I was very sad for the seniors who would not get another chance: that team was very talented. It still has not completely hit me.
In 2021 you were named conference DPOY: what is the secret to being a great defender? You just need to have the right mindset. I was 1 of the older guys in the conference and took pride in setting the example and not letting any younger guys come into the league and have success.
You were a 2-time Academic All-Big 10 selection and earned your bachelor’s degree in just 3 years: how were you able to balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? It is hard for athletes, but going to Mount Saint Joseph helped. I got to declare my major early, managed my time well, and took classes year-round.
Your parents Duane/Carolyn attended almost all your college games (both home and away): how close is your family? Very close. I am an only child, so I depended on them, and they had high expectations for me.
After graduating you spent the past several years playing in the G League and overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? In the US we have more athletes and there is a faster style of play. Overseas it is more IQ-based: some guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo can get out in transition, but most of them play a slower style.
You are playing for Shell Shock in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? We are coming together and having a lot of meetings to be prepared for the TBT. I would probably invest my share: I am still young so I want to get as much as I can while I am playing.
Florida won the NCAA tourney in April and Oklahoma City 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 18th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing at Indianapolis/JMU/Kansas City/Lexington/Louisville/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Jermaine Marrow, who will be playing for Sideline Cancer after becoming 1 of the best scorers in D-1 history at Hampton.
Hampton coach Edward Joyner Jr. saw you at a basketball camp when you were in the 8th grade: what was your reaction when he offered you a scholarship on the spot? We were at the Boo Williams Summer Camp. I was surprised to get the offer…until I heard that he had been following my career since the 6th grade! It came to fruition, and I chose to stay home for college.
1 of your friends growing up in Newport News, VA, was Allen Iverson: what was the future Hall of Famer like back in the day? He was a cool/chill dude: I know a different version than what the world knows. He worked hard and never wanted to lose at anything, whether it was basketball/dominoes/etc.
As a freshman at Hampton you scored 15.6 PPG and were named to the conference all-rookie team: how were you able to make such a smooth transition from high school to college? I just put the work in and was in the right situation. They won the MEAC title in 2016 (the year before I arrived) but had lost a lot of seniors from that squad, so I was fortunate to have a coach who believed in me early on.
In February of 2019 you had a career-high 40 PTS/5 STL in a 5-PT OT loss to High Point: was it just 1 of those situations where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I remember that game: we were leading in the final minute of regulation…but they got 2 STL and made a pair of threes to send it to OT. I had the “hot hand”, even though we lost.
As a senior you passed Rick Mahorn as the all-time leading scorer in school history: what did it mean to you to break the record, and do you think that anyone will ever pass you? It meant a lot. Going into my senior year I had a LOT of high-major schools who wanted me to leave. I did some pre-draft workouts the prior year and knew what I had to work on. Rick’s record stood for 40 years, so if someone can break my record then they will have to put up a LOT of buckets…and I will tip my hat to them.
You were also top-15 in the nation that year with 6.5 APG: what is the key to being a good PG? Having control of the team, having guys believe in you, and believing in them. When 1 of your teammates is make shots, you must keep feeding the hot hand.
Your 2680 career PTS remain top-40 in D-1 history: what is the secret to being a great scorer? I put in a lot of repetitions/workouts. I give credit to my dad/trainer/coach: there were a lot of early mornings and late nights putting up shots so that I could gain more confidence.
You have played pro basketball overseas for the past several years: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? I have played in both Europe/Asia. Europe has more fundamental players who look at and play the game differently from guys in the US: it is an inside-out game and has less isolation, while Asia has more 1-on-1.
You have a birthday next month: any plans for the big day? No big plans: maybe take a vacation with my kids before I head back overseas.
You are playing for Sideline Cancer in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? THAT would be a good birthday gift! We are looking good: we are bringing our core back from last year, when we were 1 shot away from getting a big win in Louisville, so we know what the guys can/cannot do. If we win it all then I will invest my prize money.
Florida won the NCAA tourney in April and Oklahoma City 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 18th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing at Indianapolis/JMU/Kansas City/Lexington/Louisville/Syracuse/West Virginia/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We commence our coverage with Michael Weathers, who will be playing for Challenge ALS after being named Austrian Basketball Superliga MVP in 2024.
You and your twin brother Marcus began your college careers together at Miami OH: how easy a decision was that? It was kind of a no-brainer: it would have been harder to figure things out on our own.
In 2017 you were named conference ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? We had 5-6 freshmen on the roster so it was a whole new system. I just tried to figure out the whole atmosphere and take the bull by the horns. We lost 21 games so it was a learning curve.
Take me through the 2021 SWAC tourney as a player at Texas Southern: In the semifinals you scored a season-high 30 PTS in a 3-PT OT win over Jackson State including a game-tying 3-PT shot at the buzzer in regulation and a game-clinching 3-PT shot with 16 seconds left in OT: where does that rank among the most clutch games of your career? That was 1 of my most clutch games. We were coming out of COVID when there were no crowds so when the big moment came I was prepared for it. That COVID year turned out to be 1 of the best for me on the court.
In the title game you scored 13 PTS in a win over Prairie View en route to being named conference tourney MVP: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was 1 of those “1 shining moments”. To represent HBCUs was a big thing so it was a thrilling time for us. We came together for 1 common goal, made a little history, and never stopped celebrating.
Take me through the 2021 NCAA tourney: You scored 8 PTS in an 8-PT win over Mt. St. Mary’s: how was your team able to bounce back in the 2nd half after trailing by double-digits at halftime? We just kept our composure and stayed locked in on what we needed to do. It was our 1st time being under the bright lights so we were a little anxious in the 1st half before finally settling in.
You scored a game-high 24 PTS in a loss to Michigan: could you tell at the time that Hunter Dickinson (16 PTS) would become 1 of the top-25 scorers in the history of the sport? He felt tall to me and was a big presence in the paint. He is a skilled 7-footer so I knew that he would have a great career.
In 2017 you led the MAC in BPG and in 2021 you led the SWAC in STL: what is the secret to being a great defender? Just trying hard on defense. Most people do not do that so you have to take it personally.
You have spent the past few years playing pro basketball overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball in other countries? The teamwork aspect. In Europe they are organized around ball movement, while the US has better players working in isolation situations. Europe is very similar to college except for the 6-second difference with the shot clock (24 vs. 30).
Marcus plays pro basketball, your late father Michael Sr. played basketball at Drake, and your stepfather Henry played football at Grambling: who is the best athlete in the family? I will say myself: I have the highest vertical and can defend 1-5…but my brother is 2nd-best.
You are playing for Challenge ALS in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? We are looking good so far and I think that we can make a good run this year. If we win then I will probbably just invest my share and see how much money I can make.
Posted inNews and Notes|TaggedMichael Weathers, TBT|Comments Off on TBT Preview: HoopsHD interviews Michael Weathers of Challenge ALS
The NBA Draft is scheduled to take place tonight/tomorrow so this is our final attempt 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 San Antonio already has Victor Wembanyama at the 5 then they are probably not selecting a C with the 2nd overall pick. 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/YEAR OR COUNTRY) 1. Dallas: Cooper Flagg, SF/PF (Duke/FR) 2. San Antonio: Dylan Harper, PG/SG (Rutgers/FR) 3. Philadelphia: Kon Knueppel, SG/SF (Duke/FR) 4. Charlotte: VJ Edgecombe, PG/SG (Baylor/FR) 5. Utah: Tre Johnson, SG (Texas/FR) 6. Washington: Ace Bailey, SG/SF (Rutgers/FR) 7. New Orleans: Khaman Maluach, C (Duke/FR) 8. Brooklyn: Jeremiah Fears, PG/SG (Oklahoma/FR) 9. Toronto: Kasparas Jakucionis, PG/SG (Illinois/FR) 10. Phoenix: Derik Queen, C (Maryland/FR) 11. Portland: Noa Essengue, SF/PF (France) 12. Chicago: Carter Bryant, SF (Arizona/FR) 13. Atlanta: Collin Murray-Boyles, PF/C (South Carolina/SO) 14. San Antonio: Egor Demin, SG/SF (BYU/FR) 15. Oklahoma City: Asa Newell, PF (Georgia/FR) 16. Memphis: Liam McNeeley, SF (UConn/FR) 17. Minnesota: Nolan Traore, PG (France) 18. Washington: Thomas Sorber, C (Georgetown/FR) 19. Brooklyn: Nique Clifford, SG (Colorado State/SR) 20. Miami: Jase Richardson, PG/SG (Michigan State/FR) 21. Utah: Joan Beringer, PF/C (France) 22. Brooklyn: Cedric Coward, SG (Washington State/SR) 23. New Orleans: Will Riley, SF/PF (Illinois/FR) 24. Oklahoma City: Drake Powell, SG/SF (North Carolina/FR) 25. Orlando: Walter Clayton Jr., PG (Florida/SR) 26. Brooklyn: Rasheer Fleming, PF/C (St. Joseph’s/JR) 27. Brooklyn: Hugo Gonzalez, SG (Spain) 28. Boston: Maxime Raynaud, PF/C (Stanford/SR) 29. Phoenix: Danny Wolf, PF/C (Michigan/JR) 30. LA Clippers: Noah Penda, SF/PF (France)
Posted inNews and Notes|Comments Off on 2025 NBA Mock Draft (Final Version)
