Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Auburn Tiger Paw Hayden Clift

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Jon Teitel

It has been a wild month for Auburn: 3 straight wins to finish the regular season, 3 straight wins to clinch an SEC tourney title, and then a 2-PT loss to Yale in the NCAA tourney last Friday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Auburn Tiger Paw Hayden Clift about her team’s remarkable run.

Photo credit: Zach Bland/Auburn Tigers

You are from Madison, AL: what made you choose Auburn? When it came time for me to pick where I wanted to go to college, it was an easy choice: so easy that it was the only school I even applied to. I have wanted to come to Auburn forever. My mom was an Auburn grad and Auburn was all I knew growing up: I started going to Auburn football games before I could even comprehend it! I love Auburn for so many reasons: its sense of community, beautiful campus, traditions, and so much more. Choosing Auburn is one of the best decisions I have ever made and I have not looked back since!

You are majoring in Law & Justice with a minor in Spanish: why did you choose those subjects? I have always loved to read, write, and argue, so when picking a major I knew that Law and Justice would be perfect for me. Once I started taking law classes at Auburn, I fell in love with the law and knew I wanted to pursue a career in the legal field. I have a desire to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves and make a positive impact on people’s lives. When it comes to my minor in Spanish, this was something that sort of fell into my lap freshman year. My major required 2 foreign language classes, so I took Elementary Spanish 1 and 2 during freshman year. After doing well in both of them, realizing that I enjoyed the challenge of learning a new language, and considering the benefits of bilingualism in my future career, I decided to minor in it. 7 Spanish classes later, I can confidently say that I am happy that I pursued it as a minor and hope to use it in my future career.

You have a 4.0 GPA: how do you balance your work on the dance team with your work in the classroom? Growing up, my parents always emphasized the importance of academics and pushed me to be the best student I could be. I am so thankful for this because I have carried this mindset through my time at Auburn and have successfully maintained good grades while being involved in extracurriculars, honor societies, and athletics. Balancing my academics and Tiger Paws has not been easy and has come with a lot of learning moments. In doing so, I have learned the importance of time management, organization, and sacrifice.

You are a junior: what is the post-graduation plan? After graduating in May of 2025, I hope to start law school the following Fall. I am unsure of where I want to go and what area of law I want to practice, but I know for sure that getting a law degree is the path I want to take. With the application process starting in a couple of months, I know that my senior year will be busy with preparing for my career and finalizing my post-graduation plans.

You have been a Tiger Paw for 3 years: how long have you been dancing for, and what is the best part of being on the dance team? This May will wrap up my 19th year of dance, so yes: literally my entire life! I have had the most wonderful experiences through Tiger Paws and this program has introduced me to my best friends! There are so many things that I love about Tiger Paws, but if I had to pick 1 I think the best part is the relationships/connections I have built through our program. I get to spend my days with 19 of my best friends. I am so grateful that this program has introduced me to people I would have never met otherwise and has gifted me with the most genuine friendships. Additionally, I have made memorable connections with the Auburn family. Whether that be at an appearance, game, or event, this program has allowed me to make an impact on the Auburn community and meet so many new people.

1 of your hobbies is reading: do you have any book recommendations? My recent obsession has been books by John Grisham. It is a nice change of pace from the court cases I have to read in my classes! Even though law may not be for everyone, I would recommend them to anyone.

What was your favorite memory from this season: beating Alabama at home in February, beating Georgia on Senior Night, winning the SEC tourney, other? I have experienced some great memories this season but if I had to pick 1, winning the SEC tournament in Nashville would be my favorite. The excitement in the arena the day of the championship game was unmatched and a feeling I will never forget. I loved seeing the Auburn fans come to Nashville to support, and it felt like we were in Neville Arena! It was such an honor getting to see our team be rewarded for their hard working season.

How does your school decide who got to go to the NCAA tourney, and what did it mean to you to see your team do its thing in front of a national TV audience? Similar to our cheer team, our coach (Darby Scarborough) chooses and plans who goes on each trip. She takes into consideration seniority, as well as our individual participation in appearances on and off campus throughout our season. Getting to travel is so much fun and I am grateful to my coach Darby and our spirit coordinator (Latisha Durroh) for providing us these opportunities. It was such a cool experience dancing at a game in front of a national TV audience! We absolutely love representing Auburn through our passion for dance, so any chance we get to show others that is awesome.

This is your school’s 3rd NCAA tourney in a row: did you get to dance in Greenville in 2022/Birmingham in 2023? This was the first year I got to travel to a NCAA tournament and it was blast! Because our travel is based on seniority, our seniors got to travel to Birmingham/Greenville, but I had the opportunity to dance in Nashville at the Women’s SEC tournament in 2022 and Men’s SEC tournament in 2023/2024.

How did you feel about Auburn’s performance last weekend? I am so proud of both our Men’s and Women’s basketball teams for their successful seasons. Although the tournament did not play out how either team wanted, I have witnessed the hard work and sacrifice these athletes have poured into their seasons. It was such an honor to get to travel and cheer them on this season and I will forever cherish these memories: War Eagle!

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All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: HoopsHD interviews Alabama mellophone player Kaden Orendorff

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Los Angeles with an interview of Alabama mellophone player Kaden Orendorff.

You are from Rockton, IL: what made you choose Alabama? I wanted to switch things up and have a different kind of lifestyle because the North and the South are very different. The campus was great and I wanted to be in the Million Dollar Band and play at basketball/football games and do all the postseason stuff. It offers experiences that no other band does.

You are majoring in biology: why did you choose that subject? I want to go to physician assistant school. I am also passionate about the sciences and helping people and being part of a team.

You are a senior: what is the post-graduation plan? I will take a gap year or 2 to do some traveling, spend some time with my family, and get myself ready for grad school.

You have been named to the Dean’s List multiple times: how do you balance your work in the band with your work in the classroom? I do not consider my band time work but rather my relaxation: these are my family/friends at the university.

You play the mellophone: what on earth is a mellophone, and what is your favorite song to play on it? It is the marching version of the French horn, like a trumpet. My favorite song to play is “Right Above It” by Lil Wayne.

How long have you been playing the mellophone for, and what is the best part of being in the band? About 8-9 years. My favorite part is the travel: I have gone coast to coast from NYC to LA and so many cities in between that I would otherwise not have had a chance to visit.

You are a big skier: what is your favorite ski destination? Breckenridge, CO.

How does your school decide who got to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It is based mostly on participation during the regular season: sometimes it involves seniority, and also availability. It is a wonderful opportunity to represent our school/state and showcase our talents.

This is your school’s 4th NCAA tourney in a row: did you get play in Birmingham/Louisville in 2023, San Diego in 2022, or Indianapolis in 2021? I went to Birmingham/Louisville, and was also in Nashville for our SEC tourney win last March.

Any predictions for your game vs. North Carolina tonight? I think it will be a good game and I am excited to watch it. I think it could end up as 1 of the best Sweet 16 games: I am hesitant to make a prediction…but obviously Alabama!

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All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: HoopsHD interviews North Carolina basketball alum/father Pearce Landry about his son Rob

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Los Angeles with an interview of North Carolina basketball alum/father Pearce Landry about his son Rob.

You attended UNC and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1995: how was your college experience in Chapel Hill? Phenomenal! Best experience ever. I played 2 years of JV and then made the team as a junior. Having grown up a huge fan of Coach Dean Smith and UNC while living in the state of North Carolina, it was a dream come true. I married my high school sweetheart Anne right after graduation, and the fact that she was able to come to all my games and we were able to share all the joys/memories of UNC together makes it even more sweet.

What made Coach Smith such a great coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? As a coach, he was an innovator/visionary: always reworking his strategy based on the talents of his team and staying a few steps ahead of the opponents. He also viewed his primary job as producing great men rather than winning games. He was a perfectionist in practice and super-competitive. We had a thought for the day before every team practice which had to do with life, not hoops. I learned MANY things through those quotes and discussing them. But the thought for the day on the first day pf practice every year (which Coach Hubert Davis has continued) has always stuck with me: it is amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the result. This year’s team is the embodiment of that.

In 1993 you won the NCAA title over Michigan, and in 1995 you were team captain as your team made the Final 4 before losing to Arkansas: what was your reaction after Chris Webber called his infamous timeout, and what is the key to being a good leader? So…while I played a game on that year’s varsity team, I spent 1992-93 mainly as a JV player due to an ACC rule that counted my scholarship (the Morehead-Cain Scholarship) as an athletic scholarship which put the team over the limit. A good leader is a servant leader who puts his own good behind the good of the team: better to serve than to be served.

You are now the Chief Investment Officer of Granville Capital and have over 25 years of investing experience: how is the investing business these days? I am privileged to have a small set of wonderful ultra-high-net-worth clients and wonderful partners/staff. Combine that with a good economy and wonderful areas of innovation and business is better than I deserve. Our company is fantastic and focuses on being a great steward of wealth and of our position in our community by serving and giving back whenever we can.

Your son Rob grew up in Greensboro, NC: what made him choose your alma mater? Rob received a full scholarship offer from the Business school at UNC. That, combined with the possibility of playing on the JV team…and perhaps a shot of trying out for the varsity team one day, influenced his decision to attend UNC. Like me, Rob was a student and scholar and true fan before making the UNC team. In fact, due to COVID he had not played basketball for nearly 2 years before trying out for the team in October 2022.

In the 2022 Final 4 the Tar Heels had a 4-PT win over Duke before a 3-PT loss to Kansas: where does that win rank among the highlights of your life, and where does that loss rank among the lowlights of your life? All-time best win ever, and always will be the best win…but it was only a silly game so I would not rank it among the best moments of my life. The loss was not even in the worst 25 because the game that mattered was the semifinal: if you live in the state of North Carolina then you understand.

How many of your son’s games did you get to see in person this year, and which was your favorite 1? All but 4. It has been such a fun team: they are unselfish, play hard, are tough on defense, find multiple ways to win, and are just a group of good kids/families. My favorite games were beating Dook at Dook and an easy victory at home vs Syracuse when the walk-ons got to play/score.

After only making 2 FGs during his college career, he played 1 minute vs. Wagner in the 1st round and made his only FG attempt: what was it like to see your son make a basket in the NCAA tourney?! Just a truly special undeserved gift from the Lord. His whole experience has been an undeserved gift but that was a sweet moment. Hopefully there are more wins to come for the team but that was special. Duwe Farris, Rob’s roommate, made a great pass and displayed really unselfish behavior: many walk-ons would have shot it themselves but Duwe found Rob wide open under the basket.

There are 3 other ACC teams that made the Sweet 16 (Clemson/Duke/NC State): where do you think the conference ranks among the best in the nation this year? We will find out soon!! I know that Pitt deserved to be in the NCAA tourney: they were 1 of the toughest/hardest teams we played all year. It is unfortunate that stats/NET/other statistical measures are being relied upon so heavily rather than simply getting the best 68 teams into the bracket.

Any predictions for the game vs. Alabama tonight? UNC in a close one.

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All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: HoopsHD interviews Arizona Pomline captain Molly Hofer

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Los Angeles with an interview of Arizona Pomline captain Molly Hofer.

You are from Olathe, KS: what made you choose Arizona? The biggest reason was the way that the city of Tucson was all about the Wildcats, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of their Pomline. It is also a step up from the Kansas scenery!

You are pursuing a B.S. in Psychological Science and a B.A. in Law: why did you choose those subjects? I have always been fascinated by how the human brain works: to make people’s lives better you have to know how their brain works. I also have an older brother with autism and I want to advocate for people who cannot advocate for themselves.

You are a junior: what is the post-graduation plan? I want to go to law school so I am studying to take the LSAT this June.

You are a member of the Honors College: how do you balance your work on the Arizona Pomline with your work in the classroom? It definitely requires good time-management skills but I have supportive professors who encourage me. Academics always come 1st and my teammates/mentors make it easy for me.

You are captain of the team: what is the key to being a good leader? It is almost impossible to define but it is a lot about your character. You build credibility by being an honest/genuine friend so that people can trust you. You also need the humility to do the right thing all the time both inside/outside of practice.

1 of your hobbies is listening to music: what is your favorite song/band/singer right now? I love 80’s rock like AC/DC and Bon Jovi, and I also love country stars like Garth Brooks, so I might have been born in the wrong decade!

In addition to performing at games for the men’s and women’s basketball teams (who both made the NCAA tourney), you also got to travel with the football team as they went 10-3 and won the Alamo Bowl: how excited has everyone on campus been for the past 7 months during this incredible sports run? It has been 1 of the most amazing parts of my college experience. The city was supportive before that but now the whole community has come together. It also makes our job so much fun because we get to travel (San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl, Vegas for the Pac-12 tourney, Los Angeles this week, etc.).

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your team doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It is based on seniority for the most part. This year we have 5 seniors + me as the junior captain at the men’s tourney, and 6 other Pomline people went to the women’s tourney, but for football we all get to travel. We have been trained to do this since the day we made the team and it has taught us a lot about how to be an ambassador and ready for the camera at any moment.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Los Angeles? Yesterday we got to take a day trip to Venice Beach. Hopefully we will be here tomorrow and explore more of the city: maybe the Santa Monica Pier?

Any predictions for your Sweet 16 game vs. Clemson? Wildcats all the way! I have full confidence in the team and am super-excited to watch.

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All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: HoopsHD interviews Alabama basketball father Nels Nelson about his son Grant

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Los Angeles with an interview of Alabama basketball father Nels Nelson about his son Grant.

Your son Grant was named North Dakota Mr. Basketball as a senior: what made him choose North Dakota State to start his college career? It was the best school at the time that asked him to come there. I think he heard from some other schools later on…but he never told us which ones!

He played in all 27 of the Bison’s games as a freshman and was named conference 6th Man of the Year: how was he able to come in and contribute right from the start? He worked hard in practice and listened well: he is a good team guy. His height (6’10 and ¾”) also helped.

As a junior he was named to the all-conference 1st-team and the all-conference defensive team: how does he balance his offense with his defense? He played more of an NBA-style at NDSU and would bring the ball down the court and get a lot of AST. He just seemed to be doing whatever was asked of him.

Why did he decide to transfer last June, and what made him choose Alabama? By the time he got done with the NBA combine it was late in the season. There were a few schools capable of making the Sweet 16 that made him an offer. Coach Oats was #1 when we met him: he is an honorable guy who does Bible study once or twice a week.

How many of his games did you get to see in person this year, and which was your favorite 1? Washington was my favorite, but I got to see a few other games as well. He did not play a lot in Washington but the team came together and was winning, so that was fun.

He lost 3 straight Summit tourney titles game with the Bison: how excited were you to finally hear his team’s name called on Selection Sunday?! I love it for him, since it is what his dream is. We have 10 kids and I am just proud that they have all gone out and done what they want in life.

The Tide’s 90.7 PPG is #1 in the nation, but their 80.9 PPG allowed is bottom-10 in the nation: were you surprised that they scored 109 PTS vs. Charleston in the 1st round and then held GCU to 61 PTS in the 2nd round? Not really: when they are playing together they got it. That is what I see as an outsider.

He turned 22 last week: did you get him anything special for his birthday? A big bag of sunflower seeds that are ½ salt and ½ sugar!

Your son Leif is a javelin thrower at USC and your son Joel won the North Dakota Division A basketball title a couple of weeks ago: who is the best athlete in the family? I am because I had the dang kids and kept them alive/fed them! Leif just had the 4th-best half-approach throw in Trojans history and will try a full-approach throw next weekend. My daughter Erin was named homecoming queen in addition to being the 1st woman to score a point for the boys’ football team at her high school (as a kicker). They all worked hard as kids and would come with me on jobs and did not complain. They are honorable Christian kids and a lot of them did well in track and field.

Any predictions for the North Carolina game tonight? If they play well then they will kick butt…and if not then we will be going home.

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All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: North Carolina locker room

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Los Angeles with a North Carolina locker room interview.

SR F Armando Bacot

In the 2022 NCAA title game you had 15 PTS/15 REB in a 3-PT loss to Kansas: what is the biggest factor in winning or losing a championship? It is about your attention to detail and who makes the least amount of mistakes.

Your sister Azhane plays college basketball: who is the best athlete in the family? My little brother King, who is the #1 7th grader in the country and already stands 6’2”.

Last year you had 20 PTS/10 REB in a 2-PT 4-OT loss to Alabama: what do you remember about that exhausting experience? They should have just let the big men sit that 1 out. There were a LOT of ball-screens that day and our guards (Caleb Love/RJ Davis) combined to take SIXTY shots!

Last week you had double-digit wins over Wagner/Michigan State: what was working so well for your team during the 1st/2nd rounds? It was the most disciplined basketball that we have played all year.

How do you feel about taking over the Lakers’ locker room this week? I am a huge LeBron guy so I still cannot believe that his locker is RIGHT THERE!

What do you know about Alabama? They have the best offense in the country but we have 1 of the best defenses so something has gotta give.

Check back for a lot more access all week long!

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