Out with some old, in with some new. This is the recurring challenge that many, dare I say most, programs face in today’s college basketball landscape. Case in point: this year’s Arizona Wildcats, a team that, despite its consensus top-10 preseason ranking, has still managed to fly under the radar. 

As is the case with every program of blue blood-esque caliber, Arizona entered this season with a single goal in mind: cutting down the nets at the Alamodome in San Antonio next April. But that’s a long way away from this November afternoon; the season just started and there’s a lot of basketball to be played between now and then. In order for Arizona to get where they haven’t been as a program since ‘01—the Final Four—and damn sure in order to accomplish what they haven’t since ‘97—a national championship—they know they have to stay rooted in the moment, committed to the work and focused on the journey, not the destination. 

In the transfer portal/social media/NIL era, staying focused on the task at hand is much easier said than done. But the culture they’ve been building under Coach Tommy Lloyd leaves little room for outside noise to infiltrate their solidarity. “We have a great group of guys who don’t worry about any of the off-the-court stuff,” says KJ Lewis, a sophomore guard who returned to Tuscon after testing the NBA Draft waters. “We’re such a tight team; all we wanna do is win.”

It’s one thing to express this team-first, win-by-any-means mentality; it’s another to actually embody it. But if you have any intentions of getting on Coach Lloyd’s court, you have no choice. 

It’s easy to forget this is only Coach Lloyd’s fourth season as a head coach. He’s accomplished more in his first three years than a lot of coaches will in an entire career: he’s amassed two Pac-12 Regular Season Championships, two Pac-12 Tournament Championships, two Sweet Sixteen appearances and has never earned lower than a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Talk about excellence. 

Arizona has always been one of the premier brands in college basketball, and Coach Lloyd is only raising the standards. “He wants us to be the best version of ourselves and he pushes us to be that each and every day,” says Caleb Love, the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year. “And he’s never really satisfied, so I think that’s what helps us keep going and keep getting better.”

With the former National Coach of the Year at the helm, the Arizona faithful can rest assured that they’ll always, at least, have the recipe for success…and while merely having the recipe means nothing if you don’t have the right ingredients at your disposal, recruiting is another aspect of Coach Lloyd’s brilliance. If there was a book titled How to Recruit in the Transfer Portal Era for Dummies, Coach Lloyd would be the author and a photo of this year’s team would grace the cover. The coaching staff pieced together a well-balanced group of highly-touted freshmen, high-level transfers and core veteran returnees. On paper, their roster can compete with any in the nation. And though a talented roster is hardly enough in today’s age of college hoops, it’s surely a great starting point. In that regard, this Arizona squad is ahead of the curve. And with roster churn as high as it is across the sport due to transfer rules, a team’s ability to develop chemistry can prove to be as vital to a team’s success as their ability to knock down a jumper. These guys seem to be ahead of the curve in that regard, too. 

“I think the biggest thing is just playing for your brother,” says former McDonald’s All-American, freshman Carter Bryant. “We come in every day and work our tails off to reach the mountain top this year.” It’s always a good sign when your star freshman is looking to the pinnacle of the game.

COP SLAMU ARIZONA COVER TEES

When a player puts on that Arizona jersey, suddenly the name on the back of the jersey falls by the wayside in favor of the name across their chest. “We’re playing for something bigger than ourselves,” says Caleb. “The national championship is always the goal here; that’s the standard at Arizona. And we hold each other to that each and every day, whether it’s practice, workouts, games, etcetera.”

The fifth-year senior combo guard is the engine that makes this team go. Caleb entered college as a heralded five-star recruit with one-and-done expectations and has experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows throughout his career, from the game-winner in the Final Four that ended Coach K’s career at Duke to navigating being the first preseason No. 1 ranked team in history to miss the NCAA Tournament. You name it, and he’s seen it. And through it all, one constant remains: “We have to keep the main thing, the main thing—which is putting wins in our win column” says Caleb. “Winning solves everything.”

Arizona knows a thing or two about winning. It’s a program with a rich history and storied tradition that spans decades. And the players are well aware. “The coaching staff does a good job of preaching who came before us and [talking] about the legacy,” says starting junior point guard Jaden Bradley. 

Jaden is a former five-star recruit who began his career at Alabama, where he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team before opting for a fresh start with Coach Lloyd in Tuscon for his sophomore campaign. After a steady and productive regular season last year, Jaden turned it up a notch when it mattered most. In their three NCAA Tournament games, he averaged nearly 13 points and four rebounds, while shooting 50 percent from three, adding two steals and two blocks per contest. Now, if your point guard is producing like this on both ends of the floor, your chances of success exponentially increase. As Jaden steps into a full-time starting role and prepares to “take on a new leadership role” with a year of experience in Coach Lloyd’s system under his belt, he plans to carry that momentum from the Tournament throughout this season. For Jaden, that doesn’t necessarily mean filling up the stat sheet.

“I just want to do whatever it takes to help my team get wins,” he says.

Wins in college basketball don’t come easy, let alone in the Big Dance. A lot has to go right to be the last team standing. Last year’s Wildcats came within an arm’s reach of a national championship, suffering a 5-point loss at the hands of Clemson in the Sweet Sixteen; this year’s team is (rightfully) confident they have what it takes to get over the hump. But what’s behind their confidence? It all goes back to an old team concept that they’ve seemed to embrace and buy into. 

“I think we have a lot of talented guys who understand that we’re playing for something bigger than ourselves,” says Trey Townsend, a fifth-year senior transfer from Oakland and the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year. “And on top of that, we have an elite coaching staff to guide us in that direction.”

Cover portrait by Arizona Athletics. Action photos via Getty Images.

The post Arizona is Ready to Turn Things Up a Notch: Wildcats Talk New Beginnings, Mindset and Mission for This Season appeared first on SLAM.

Harlem native Darryl Roberts is the founder of Bridging Structural Holes, a nonprofit that spearheads the HBCU All-Star Dream Classic. Like many young hoopers, he dreamed of playing at a high major. Instead, his opportunity came at Lincoln University, the nation’s first degree-granting HBCU. “I fell in love with HBCU culture. My HBCU foundation is pure and authentic,” Darryl says. “And so are my Harlem roots.

“Anybody who hasn’t lived underneath a manhole cover understands that Harlem is the epicenter of Black excellence, Black culture and Black creativity,” he adds. “So when we were looking for a location [for the HBCU All-Star Dream Classic], there was no second choice because we wanted to do things outside of sports to inspire kids as well.”

This year’s Classic had it all: an HBCU resource center; food from Charles Pan-Fried Chicken on the adjacent handball courts; AKAs strolling by, and a youth marching band playing during game breaks. There were boosters chanting from the baseline; classic Marvin Gaye blasting from the speakers. And even Harlem’s own Pee Wee Kirkland. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think you were at the Greatest Homecoming on Earth.

Still, the main reason that hundreds of people gathered on this day was to watch 40 of the best HBCU hoopers in the country put on a show. After a tightly contested and action-packed girls’ game that set the tone, the boys’ game that followed was just as exciting. Both games were filled with highlights galore, prime examples of the overshadowed yet high-level talent that floods the HBCU basketball community and how they can compete with the best of ’em.

HBCU basketball has historically lacked marketing and promotion compared to its PWI counterparts, but that tide is turning slowly but surely. They may never be able to contend with high-majors when it comes to resources, but the HBCU hoops experience is second to none, and the HBCU All-Star Dream Classic shows it on full display, creating a loud and robust narrative about HBCUs, HBCU conferences and the HBCU lifestyle.

“For us, the scoreboard is not important,” says Darryl. “Our mission statement is to provide opportunity, access and resources to help people make better life choices.”

Sometimes, that “better life choice” means sticking to your roots and etching your name in the beautiful fabric of HBCU culture.

Photos by Curtis Rowser III.

The post HBCU Spotlight: The Annual Dream Classic HBCU All-Star Game is a Nexus of Black Excellence appeared first on SLAM.

There’s an elite group of current NBA players who are Nike athletes with signature sneaker lines: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker and Ja Morant. An argument can be made that none of those future Hall of Famers has the best Nike sig on the market at this exact moment. There’s a strong case that Sabrina Ionescu, the New York Liberty sharpshooter, currently holds the heavyweight belt.

Ionescu took the hoops world by storm in college and put together one of the best amateur careers ever. She was the first player in NCAA history with 2,000+ career points, 1,000+ career rebounds and 1,000+ career assists; she shattered the NCAA triple-double record; she broke the Pac-12 (RIP) all-time assist record…and those are merely a handful of her many accomplishments while starring for Phil Knight’s pride and joy, the University of Oregon.

Sabrina’s been killing shit for so long, and it’s scary to think she’s just now entering her prime. She’s proved that she belongs in any conversation in which the greats, men or women, are being discussed. She further solidified that when, after setting the all-time WNBA All-Star Weekend Three-Point Contest record in 2023, she went toe-to-toe with Stephen Curry at this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend.

Ionescu fell just 3 points shy of Curry in what was the first-ever NBA vs WNBA Three-Point Contest, but even a blind man could see that Ionescu was right where she belonged—under the brightest lights, front and center on a basketball court, representing both a group of women who’ve arrived and a group of young girls who are on the way.

“Just to be able to have this be the first of this kind of event and come out here and put on a show but understanding what this means,” said Ionescu. “I’m excited to change the narrative and be able to do it alongside the greatest to ever do it.”

It wasn’t just Ionescu’s sweet stroke that captivated the eyes of viewers; her kicks did, too. She was sporting her Nike Sabrina 1s in a clean colorway of Liberty hues.

On a few occasions, Ionescu spoke to the idea of the Sabrina 1s embodying a story about defying those who doubted her ability to play basketball, let alone with boys, when she was growing up.

Well, defy she did. With the Sabrina 1s, Nike and Ionescu laid the foundation of a gold mine for her signature line, as they quickly became one of the more popular on-court picks among the basketball community.

“Not a women’s basketball shoe or a men’s basketball shoe, but just basketball,” Ionescu said to ESPN this year, when describing the Sabrina 1s. “Being able to tell that story and have people authentically buy in and respect that, I think the time is now in terms of wanting that to be pushed.”

Everywhere you look(ed)—high school, college, the WNBA, the NBA, your local basketball gym—you are/were sure to see a fair share of feet in various colorways of the Sabrina 1. The model was the fifth-most played in sneaker in the 2023-24 NBA season, with players clocking a total of 17,209 minutes played in the silhouette.

And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Ionescu and Nike are running it back and running it up.

Sabrina and the Swoosh launched Ionescu’s second sneaker, the Nike Sabrina 2, along with an apparel collection this past June. Instead of a complete design overhaul, they built upon the first silhouette, maintaining a similar shape, cut and cushion.

“At the center of the collection is the Sabrina 2 signature sneaker, built for players who want to accelerate and cut with quickness,” the brand said. “Nike design teams partnered closely with Sabrina to combine the best of the Sabrina 1 with fresh upgrades that create a sneaker that’s 28 grams lighter and doesn’t sacrifice support, stability or comfort.”

Some of these “fresh upgrades” include a Cushlon 3.0 foam midsole (the first ever in a Nike Basketball sneaker), a Nike Zoom Air Unit in the forefoot, an updated band system around the midfoot and a new “S”-inspired pattern that provides multidirectional traction for quick cuts. Additionally, select colorways will showcase mirror-finished Swooshes, which Nike explains are “an affirmation from Sabrina to the next generation to see themselves in the shoe.”

At first glance of the Sabrina 2, and even the Sabrina 1, it’s obvious where Ionescu’s inspiration comes from. Two sneakers in, and her signature line has drawn early comparisons to Kobe Bryant’s.

Throughout her storied college career and early years with the Liberty, Kobes were Ionescu’s go-to sneaker. The fact that Ionescu’s line is mentioned in the same breath as Bean’s says a lot about the WNBA All-Star’s cultural appeal, but more importantly, her ability and commitment to leading the push to elevate the women’s game to national, and ultimately global, mainstream relevance. It’s a vision she and Kobe shared.

Ionescu first met Kobe in 2019 when he and his daughter Gigi pulled up to watch her Ducks dismantle the USC Trojans. Ionescu developed a close relationship with the Bryant family shortly thereafter. Kobe kept tabs on her throughout the season, often sending words of encouragement as she continued to etch her name in the history books. That summer, Ionescu trained with Gigi and even helped Kobe coach his girls’ team, of which Gigi was a member.

“If I represented the present of the women’s game, Gigi was the future, and Kobe knew it,” Ionescu said during her tribute at Kobe and Gigi’s Celebration of Life service in 2020.

It’s over four years later, and Ionescu still “represents the present.” And at only 26 years old, she represents the future, too. Think Kobe rocking No. 8 for the purple and gold.

“I grew up watching Kobe Bryant game after game, ring after ring, living his greatness without apology,” she recalled. “I wanted to be just like him, to love every part of the competition, to be the first to show up and the last to leave, to love the grind, to be your best when you don’t feel your best and make other people around you the best version of themselves. And to wake up and do it again the next day. So that’s what I did: Wake up, grind and get better. Wake up, grind and get better.”

If you see Ionescu walking through the tunnel before a game, scroll through her Instagram feed or observe her demeanor during interviews, you’ll see a charming personality that everyone likes being around. But underneath that is a fierce competitor who approaches her craft with utmost seriousness and focus, with a long list of results to show for it.

As we go to press during the Olympic break, the New York Liberty are hitting on all cylinders and have the best record in the W by a comfortable margin. Ionescu is averaging 19.8 points, 6.1 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1 steal playing a career-high 33.7 minutes per game.

Ionescu’s impact on the court is undeniable, and her influence off the court is just as powerful. On the heels of the Sabrina 1 and with the latest release of the Sabrina 2, she continues to push the boundaries and create waves for those coming after her, like fellow Nike signature athletes A’ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark—each reported to have their first signature sneaker coming soon.

Ionescu is programmed for greatness—all she has to do is continue being confident and unapologetic about who she is and what she brings to the table, just like Kobe.

Ionescu is a blessing to the game of basketball, and her presence will transcend well beyond her playing days, just like Kobe.

Once, while in college, she said Kobe texted her. “Be you, it’s been good enough, and that will continue to be good enough.” He wasn’t lying.

“I wanted to be a part of the generation that changed basketball for Gigi and her teammates,” said Ionescu in her tribute, “where being born female didn’t mean being born behind, where greatness wasn’t divided by gender.”

From her consistently dominant play to the huge success of the Sabrina 1 and now the 2, there doesn’t seem to be a height that Ionescu can’t reach. For the younger generation who wasn’t lucky enough to watch Kobe in real time, just watch how Ionescu, one of his closest mentees, dissects her opponents with a relentless will to excel.

And in her new Sabrina 2s, she’s gonna look magnificent doing it.

Photos via Getty Images and Nike.

The post The Sequel: Uncovering the Inspiration Behind The Nike Sabrina 2 appeared first on SLAM.

SLAM 252 featuring Jewell Loyd is available now.

Before Jewell fell in love with basketball, her world revolved around tennis. She was exposed to basketball because her older brother, Jarryd, played, but tennis was her thing, and she was destined to be a pro. During her early years growing up in Lincolnwood, IL, a suburb outside of Chicago, she played tennis “every single day, for six hours a day,” she says. And chances are, if she had stuck with tennis over basketball, she’d probably be competing in the same US Open match she was heading to watch after shooting her SLAM cover at our office on a cool and sunny September morning.

But one day at the park changed her outlook forever. 

Loyd played at the park all the time as a young kid. “Of course, after my homework,” she’s sure to add. But on this particular day, when she was about 7 years old, two older boys wouldn’t let her play on the basketball court. Jarryd, about 15 years old then, saw what was happening and offered a solution: We’ll play you for the court. So, it was game on. Two-on-two. The first to 10 points wins. It was Jewell and Jarryd’s first time teaming up together.

With the game on the line, the boys double-teamed Jewell, who was inches away from committing a turnover. In doing so, they left Jarryd wide open near the basket. Throw it up, throw it up! Jewell recalls her brother saying.

In dramatic fashion, she tossed the ball backward over her head and toward the rim, and Jarryd caught it for a game-winning flush. “Jarryd was just flying in the air, and it’s the first time I [had] ever seen my brother dunk. We won, and in that moment,” Jewell says, “I knew that basketball was something that I wanted to be a part of.”

She spent the next few years making a name for herself in the parks around the neighborhood. In many ways, this is what shaped her approach to the game.

“You started at Drake Park, and that’s where you play 21, knockout—it’s kind of the beginners’ court. Then you go to Columbia Park and play three-on-three. And then, once you get a squad, you go to Proesel Park and you represent and play five-on-five. So, you kind of have to move your way up.

“Growing up in Lincolnwood was a privilege,” she continues. “Being in an environment like that allowed me to just be myself, and it challenged me in a lot of ways because I was one of four or five girls to play with the guys, and that was a great experience for me.”

By the time she was in high school, Loyd developed into one of the best players in the country. She was a four-year starter at Niles West High School in Skokie and essentially broke every school record, averaging 24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.2 steals and 2.2 blocks for her career.

While in high school, she had the opportunity to be a practice player for the Chicago Sky. Jewell says this experience is what really put her untapped potential in perspective. She had a front-row seat to observe what it takes to play at the highest level. “Seeing their routines and their lifestyle and the games up close opened my eyes to really be like, Wow, I think I could really do this,” she says.

She committed to play for Notre Dame and joined an already-loaded roster led by All-American guard Skylar Diggins. It didn’t take long for Jewell to adjust to high-major hoops; she was ready from the jump. She understood that she wouldn’t be the strongest and most athletic freshman, so she focused on what she could control.

“A lot of it is your body’s still growing and developing. I knew I wasn’t going to be the strongest right away, so I focused on conditioning,” she says. “When I got to college, I was making sure I was in the best shape, and that’s something that’s been with me since leaving college and going to the pros.”

At Notre Dame, Loyd etched her name in the history books as one of the best players in program history. She was a two-time All-American, two-time All-ACC selection, two-time ACC All-Defense selection, two-time NCAA All-Tournament selection and the 2015 ACC Player of the Year. For good measure, let’s not forget she also has a 2013 Big East Freshman of the Year under her belt (before Notre Dame moved to the ACC her sophomore year).

She accomplished all of this in only three years, and in a move not so popular in women’s basketball, decided to forgo her senior year and enter the 2015 WNBA Draft. And to nobody’s surprise, the Seattle Storm drafted her with the No. 1 pick.

Loyd arrived to the W with enormous expectations, not only because of her pure dominance dating back to her high school years, but also because she was tabbed with the nickname “Gold Mamba” by the Black Mamba, the late great Kobe Bryant himself. Now, that’s a lot to live up to. But if there was anyone built to carry that weight, it was Loyd. She embraced the lofty expectations head-on. It’s extremely hard for a No. 1 draft pick to meet expectations; she has exceeded them.

“Throughout [my rookie] year, it was just about understanding who I am, the belief that I could do something, the belief that I could stay in the League and be part of this League and grow the League. I really thought I could do that,” she says.

“And I’m the kind of person where, if I really believe I can do something, it’s probably going to happen. I’ve always been that person since I was young. I’ve never been afraid to say what I want to do, believe it and write it down. And I don’t dream small. I always dream big, and that’s something no one can ever take away from me.”

The Gold Mamba is cut from the same cloth as her namesake. She’s naturally gifted, has a relentless work ethic and is simply willing to do what the average aren’t. But the similarities run deeper than that. Like Kobe, Jewell has an unquenchable thirst to learn.

“It’s pretty cool as a professional athlete to still be learning and building your game up. For me, the best part about the game is that I’m still learning so much about it,” she says. “That’s the best part about life in general—you constantly learn and build, and you don’t know until you make mistakes and you can learn from those mistakes. A lot of people go to the next level, nervous to make mistakes. But you need them; you need a lot of experiences to help you grow and get better.”

Now, it’s Loyd’s turn to pay it forward. As eager as she is to continue learning and acknowledge those who paved the way for her, she understands the importance of mentorship and is now in a position to help guide the next generation of hoopers. She’s been seen working out with USC star Juju Watkins; she’s been very supportive of Seattle Storm rookie Nika Mühl and the exceptional 2024 rookie class; and she makes herself available to any of her younger peers seeking wisdom or advice.

“I understand that I’m here because people helped me. I didn’t get here by myself,” she says. “If it wasn’t for my family, if it wasn’t for the people in my circle, I don’t know if I actually would have been able to go to the next level.”

The honors are plentiful: two-time WNBA champion, six-time All-Star (and 2023 All-Star Game MVP), three-time All-WNBA selection, the 2015 Rookie of the Year and a two-time Olympic Gold medalist, her most recent coming this past August at the Paris Games. And from the looks of things, all of these accolades, aside from Rookie of the Year, of course, should probably be qualified as “and counting.”

The 2023 WNBA season was a contract year for Loyd, and she played like it, averaging a career-best 24.7 ppg (which was also a League-best that season) and 4.7 rpg. Yet, the Seattle Storm struggled as a team and finished with an underwhelming 11-29 record. 

Instead of jumping ship to team up with other All-Stars, she signed a contract extension with the Storm in the offseason, and bet on herself that other players would be interested in joining her in Seattle and building a championship contender. It seemed like Seattle was heading for a rebuild until a pair of elites, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, hopped on board.

As we go to press, Loyd is averaging 20.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg and 1.5 spg. More importantly, the Seattle Storm have clinched a playoff berth and are looking to make a deep run. And while they may not be the odds-on favorite, trust us when we say that nobody is looking forward to matching up against them.    

Loyd doesn’t have an in-your-face type of personality but rather a sort of quiet confidence that’s felt by her mere presence more than her words. She doesn’t ask for extra attention, though her game demands it. She isn’t typically the loudest in the room, but when she speaks, you want to listen. She has a wealth of knowledge and insight and is one of the most eloquent and thoughtful people—let alone athletes—you could come across.

Since she was a freshman in high school, Loyd says she’s been asked about the legacy she hopes to leave, and she says her answer constantly changes. This time, though, her answer has nothing to do with the game she loves, one that’s defined her life for the past 23 years, ever since that day at the playground with her brother.

“I just want my legacy to be that I’m a really good person, honestly,” she says. “I’m here to serve. That’s what I want people to understand about me. As much as I receive from the world, I’m going to give that back. And you don’t have to take it, but I’m here to let you guys know it’s all love here.” 

Portraits by Luke Schlaifer.

The post Jewell Loyd Discusses Her Journey to Becoming The GOLD MAMBA | SLAM 252 Cover Story appeared first on SLAM.

Cam Thomas has always gotten his buckets in bunches…a lot of buckets in bunches.

He led the entire Hampton Roads area in scoring as a freshman at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, VA. He left Oak Hill Academy as the program’s all-time leading scorer despite having only played there for his junior and senior seasons. He then led all NCAA DI freshmen in scoring during his sole season at LSU. It didn’t matter who Cam played with or against. His responsibility was always the same: score, score and score some more.

That all changed when he fell into the Brooklyn Nets’ lap at pick No. 27 in the 2021 NBA Draft. Not only would he be joining an organization with championship-or-bust expectations, but he was also joining a roster that wasn’t hurting for scoring. Do the names Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden ring a bell?

On one hand, Cam had first-class access to work with and learn from three of the best offensive players in hoops history. On the other, he had to wait his turn and deal with inconsistent playing time, something he’d never experienced at that point in his young career. Even then, Cam never lost even the smallest bit of confidence. It was tested, but that confidence is what got him here. And there’s a tad bit of “crazy” mixed in there, too. All the greats have it. But we know how the phrase goes: It’s only crazy until you do it.

In the sparing minutes he was given, Cam showed flashes of his scoring brilliance. Yet, on any given night, he could play anywhere from four minutes to 17 minutes or even have a DNP. It was like this for most of his first two years in the League.

And then, in February 2023…he erupted. Amidst the Nets moving on from their big three of KD, Kyrie and Harden and trying to figure out what direction they’d move in, Cam got a few more windows of opportunity. And he took full advantage. With Harden long gone, Kyrie just traded to Dallas and KD in trade rumors, Cam was unleashed. It all came together as he made history, becoming the youngest player to score 40-plus points in three straight games. And these 40-pieces were efficient, the works of a true professional scorer.

This past ’23-24 season, it started to slowly but surely all come together. Cam started in 51 of the 66 games he played in, averaging 22.5 points in about 31 minutes per game, a 12-point increase and 15-minute increase from the season prior.

And now we’re here. The Nets just completed a massive trade, and there are many questions about which direction the team is headed. There’s also an entirely new coaching staff, including Jordi Fernandez at the helm. But even with all the questions, there’s one thing that is for certain. The Nets have a more than capable number one scoring option in Cam Thomas.

It’s a warm Friday afternoon in July at SLAM HQ in New York, and the 6-3, 22-year-old combo guard who sits across from us is on the brink of what will be, one way or another, a defining season in his career. He sat down to discuss his offseason, proving doubters wrong, his love for Kobe Bryant and more.

SLAM: How’s the offseason been going?

Cam Thomas: It’s been good. Just laying low, resetting, getting ready for next season. It’s been real good.

SLAM: Have you developed some sort of routine, or do you approach each offseason differently?

CT: I usually try to go with a clean slate because you never know. Stuff changes from year to year, like coaches, schemes, etc. This summer was probably the longest I took off—about two or three weeks. Then I got right back to it.

SLAM: You’re mostly known for your ability to score at the highest level, and you’ve improved as a scorer each year since entering the League. Are there any specific things you’re focused on improving for next season?

CT: Nah, not really. I just want to keep working on everything. Last summer, I tried to put more emphasis on catch-and-shoot shooting, and I think I was way up in the League percentage-wise on catch-and-shoot [this past season]. So, just continue to work on that and fine-tuning the skills I had coming into the League, like my off-the-dribble stuff and finishing around the basket, [while] still improving on catch-and-shoot, trying to have the best percentage in the League.

SLAM: The Nets were part of one of the biggest moves this offseason when Mikal Bridges went across the bridge to the Knicks. This positions you for the biggest role of your career thus far. How have you begun to approach and prepare for this increased role, not only physically but mentally?

CT: Just knowing that and embracing it. Attacking it head-on. I’ve kind of been having those roles [as the leader of the team] ever since I was in high school and college. So, I’m not really worried about it. I’m just excited to get it going and to try to do it in the League. I’m not really worried about it at all; I’m just ready.

SLAM: You’re on a short list of the most talented young guards in the NBA. What do you think you need to do to get to that next level?

CT: Just doing everything—doing it consistently. I had the biggest jump in points from my second year to my third year. I was at 22.5 [points per game], so I think trying to get into that 25 ppg range, upping the playmaking and just trying to keep improving my all-around game. And hopefully, it leads to wins.

SLAM: Are you inspired by the doubters, or would you say you’re completely self-motivated?

CT: It’s a little bit of both…I don’t really worry about the doubters because I’ve always had them. Nobody really believed in my talent and scoring ability—even at Oak Hill, and even in college, and even in the League. So, I’m used to it. Now, it’s really just self-motivation. Even down to sliding in the draft all the way down to pick 27. I still carry that chip on my shoulder. And even with the Nets, not playing consistently my first two years. I have that in my back pocket so I can keep growing and keep improving…to show why you should have played me in my first two years.

I’m not focused on trying to prove myself anymore. Everybody knows I’m one of the top young scorers—top young guards—in the League now. So, it’s really just trying to maximize my ability, see where I can take it and become the best player I can be, this year, and for years to come.

SLAM: There’s clearly a lofty confidence you must have to be an elite scorer in the League, let alone as an undersized guard. What do you think is the main source of that mentality?

CT: I’d probably say growing up in [the Hampton Roads area]. It’s physical there. Everybody’s fighting for the same goal, sports-wise. I feel that helped me in a way. And really…Kobe Bryant. Just reading his mentality and idolizing him, that’s a part of it, too. That’s really how I shaped my mentality: Kobe and my hometown. At the same time, that’s just in me.

SLAM: Do you have any specific individual or team goals for next season? Are you concerned with All-Star, All-NBA and those types of individual accolades?

CT: Individually, I just try to stay in the moment. Whatever happens, happens. If I get it, I get it. If I don’t, I don’t. I just want to keep improving. As far as the team, the goal is to be better every day and try to win as many games as we can. Honestly, we don’t know what our team could look like going into next season. But whatever it looks like, we just want to be the best team we can be and try to put a good product on the floor for Brooklyn.

SLAM: What should Nets fans and Cam Thomas fans expect next season?

CT: Excitement. Entertainment. [I’m] hoping everything leads to wins at the end of the day. We’ll see. It’s different in the League. But I’m prepared, not worried at all. I’ve done it in the League, but I want to take it to another level, for sure.

Portraits by Marcus Stevens. Action photos via Getty Images.

The post Moment of Clarity: Brooklyn Nets Guard Cam Thomas Discusses His Offseason, Staying True to Himself and Proving the Doubters Wrong appeared first on SLAM.

Let’s take it back to where it all started. Before you learned to play in a full-court setting, you had to get comfortable navigating the half-court. It’s the essence of basketball. From quick pickup games at famous courts like Rucker Park to the shell drill that every formidable basketball team practices, 3×3 basketball is the foundation of the high-flying, up-and-down 5×5 game we’ve grown to love.

For the second time in Olympic history, 3×3 basketball will be in full swing as countries compete for a medal, and for the first time in Olympic history, USA Basketball will have a team competing on the men’s side.

After winning Gold at the 2023 Pan Am Games and making themselves known on the FIBA 3×3 World Tour circuit, the U.S. 3×3 Men’s National Team automatically qualified for a spot at this year’s Paris Games, entering the field as the No.2 seed.

The four-player squad assembled has been playing together for a few years now, and that chemistry will be vital for any success they’re hoping to achieve. But while chemistry and togetherness are keys to Gold, the squad will still need some strong individual performances. Let’s meet the men who make up the first USA 3×3 Men’s Olympic Team in USA Basketball history.

There’s nobody better to represent the United States in 3×3 basketball than Jimmer Fredette, one of the nation’s most outstanding college basketball players of all time. He’s a star. He’s box office, and if he’s on your team, you always have a shot at winning. Very few can compete with Jimmer when it comes to putting the ball in the basket. He can catch fire like no other, and his ability to get buckets in bunches will prove valuable in Paris. Name a BYU or Mountain West Conference scoring/shooting record, and there’s a good chance Jimmer holds it.

The former NCAA leading scorer and Player of the Year knows that nothing comes easily, although his natural knack for scoring might lead you to think otherwise. Jimmer took the college basketball world by storm when he went on his remarkable individual run at BYU back in 2011. He’ll look to galvanize the country again—this time in pursuit of an Olympic Gold medal and the first in U.S. men’s 3×3 history. Jimmer has earned two Gold medals and one Silver medal in his 3×3 FIBA career, which began in late 2022. This time around, one could argue the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been. If there’s anything you need to know about Jimmer, know this: If you need a bucket, all you have to do is say the word, and it’ll get done.

“Defense wins championships.” It’s one of the most used adages in the history of team sports. As basketball continues to lean more and more in favor of offense, having a lockdown defender at your disposal who can offset offensive firepower is as pivotal as ever. That’s what Kareem Maddox brings to USA Basketball’s 3×3 Men’s National Team this summer. The Princeton alum and former Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year and All-Ivy League first-team selection (2011) is the squad’s anchor. Along with his defensive prowess, Maddox is a capable scorer with years of professional 3×3 experience, dating back to 2018 when he earned MVP at the USA Basketball 3×3 National Championship. Since then, he’s earned five Gold medals and one Silver during his FIBA 3×3 career.

It’s very hard—almost impossible—to win a Gold medal in 3×3 basketball without at least one sharpshooter on the team. Luckily for USA Basketball, shooting is Canyon Barry’s specialty. The 6-6, 215-pound guard is the son of Hall of Famer Rick Barry and is doing his part to carry on the Barry basketball tradition: winning. The younger Barry was a 1000-point scorer in college and averaged 20 points as a junior for Charleston before an injury cut his season short. He transferred to Florida the following season, where he earned 2017 SEC Sixth Man of the Year honors. Canyon is a steady guard who also brings experience to the table and a handful of hardware to show for it. He has four Gold medals and one Silver medal in FIBA 3×3 competition and earned the 2022 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup MVP. If this year’s 3×3 Men’s National Team has any chance of securing the Gold in Paris, Canyon is going to have to tap into the bag he was in when he helped lead the Florida Gators to the Elite Eight in 2017. And based on the strong performances he’s had on the FIBA 3×3 circuit, there’s no reason to doubt he’ll be ready for the moment when it comes.

The last member of the group is Dylan Travis, a graduate of Florida Southern College. Travis is the only player on the 3×3 Men’s National Team who didn’t play at the Division I level, but any real hooper or hoops fan knows how it goes—the best Division II players in the country can compete at any level. As a junior in 2015, Travis led his team to a Division II National Championship before he played professionally overseas for several season. In 2022, Travis made his USA Basketball 3×3 debut, where he instantly made his presence felt. He’s a sniper who can also get to the cup under pressure and cause fits for defenders. Thus far in his FIBA career, he has two Gold medals and one Silver. So far…

As the 2024 Games are set to begin, the U.S. has, for the first time, qualified four basketball teams for the Olympics. The newest team, the 3×3 Men’s squad, will no doubt shine as bright as the Olympic flame, right at home on the courts of Paris.

SLAM PRESENTS USA BASKETBALL IS AVAILABLE NOW

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 2024 USA 3×3 Men’s National Team Seeks Gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics appeared first on SLAM.

We connected with Coby to speak about his offseason plans, becoming the go-to guy in Chicago, staying in the moment and more.

SLAM: How’s the offseason been so far?

Coby White: It’s been quiet, bro. I really haven’t been doing much because of how long the season was. I’ve been taking it easy—really just been in the weight room, tryna lay the foundation down before I get back on the court. I usually give myself two weeks [of rest], but this year I played a lot more minutes, so this offseason is a little different for me. I’m taking three to four weeks, and then I’ll really get back to it.

SLAM: You’re coming off the best season of your career so far—we’ll touch on that in a minute—but I want to take it back to last year. Was there anything you did differently last offseason in preparation for this season, or was it just a matter of everything finally coming together?

CW: I think last year, as far as on the court and in the weight room, the physical aspect of it was pretty much the same. What really changed for me was that I took the mental side of it differently; I took a different approach. Coach [Billy] Donovan really put it on my mind to transform myself mentally. He felt that was the next step for me. So, I started trying to grow mentally, doing little things such as reading more, meditating, putting myself on a set schedule, praying multiple times a day and things of that sort. And then Coach Donovan took me and a couple of the young guys to Colorado last year. We met with a mental coach, and he gave us little exercises. I just wanted to carry that to my summer training and into the season.

SLAM: You only started two games last year, but early on this season, it was clear you’d have a much bigger role. How was the transition for you establishing your role as the team’s lead guard?

CW: It was challenging at first, but it was fun. Obviously, things changed over the course of our season. Going into the year, I knew I was gonna have a big role, but by the end of the year, it was even bigger than I thought it was going to be. I just embraced the challenge. My teammates and coaching staff were supportive of me and patient with me. It was a learning experience. There was definitely a learning curve at the beginning. But once I got the hang of it and became accustomed to using my voice and being a leader, that’s when things just kind of clicked and I took off from there.

SLAM: Unlike many other lottery picks, you weren’t given the keys to your franchise right away. Can you speak to what staying the course looks like for you and how you stayed ready for the inevitable moment when you’d get the opportunity?

CW: It was hard at first, especially as a rookie. You kind of look around the League and see all your counterparts who were drafted around the same area as you, and you see a lot of guys playing 36 minutes, starting, leading their teams to wins and playing [in] those crunch-time moments. For me, I was coming off the bench, playing, like, 18 minutes a game. I think the mental part was the toughest for me. I’ve always been a hard worker and always worked on my game. I just wanted to show them that no matter what position you put me in, I’m going to continue to be myself and work how I always work in the gym. I just had to understand the mental part—it was a different type of adversity I had never been through in my life. But once I accepted the fact I was gonna have to work for this and be patient, I got a lot closer to God, especially his plan for me. I felt it in my spirit for the longest that my time was gonna come; I just had to be patient. This year, it finally came and I just thank God for allowing me to be in this position.

SLAM: Was there a moment early in the season that you could point to where it was like, This year’s going to be different?

CW: I think training camp just felt different. I just knew I couldn’t fail. I had the support of my teammates and my coaching staff, and I was more outspoken and the leader out there. Then, as the season started, I wasn’t very good—the first month, I was OK. I wasn’t myself the first month, but I remember talking to my brother, telling him I had this gut feeling that it was just all going to come together. Then, in December, things just clicked, and the confidence kept rising. Then, you know, you get comfortable [in your role], and you get the sense like: I belong here. This is who I am. And then I just kept getting better as the season went on.

SLAM: You finished second for the Most Improved Player Award; even though you didn’t win, is there any satisfaction in knowing that other people and your peers are considering you among the young stars in the League?

CW: You couldn’t go wrong [with any of the finalists for the MIP Award], but for me, it’s like—I lost. There isn’t really any gratification. Like, you either win or you lose and that’s just kind of how I see it. For me, it’s extra motivation, extra fuel—but it’s not animosity. Any one of us could have won it. In terms of being in conversations and people starting to recognize who I am—I try not to pay attention to it because I try not to get too high or too low. I enjoy the moments as they come. And then, after they go, it’s behind me. I had a great season, but I have to continue to build a foundation and continue to grow in every aspect of my game.

SLAM: Y’all fell just short of making the playoffs after losing in the play-in; what do you think is the next step for you to become the lead guard for a team that’s a consistent playoff contender?

CW: I think just continuing to build as a leader and use my voice. One of the hardest parts is the emotional aspect. There are so many emotions that go into one game, let alone the entire season. I’m an emotional guy; I wear my heart on my sleeve. When it comes to basketball, I care so much, and I’m emotional about it, and sometimes it’s affected me to the point where I’m not being the leader I should be. I have to be that rock for the team—that foundation for the team. I have to be the one to reel everybody back in. I’m learning in that area.

And I think this summer, I have to do a lot more conditioning. I can’t let fatigue play a factor [in] if I play well or not. I didn’t know I was gonna come in and play damn near 40 minutes a game. The role I had coming into the season, I was like the fourth option. By the end of the season, I was the first or second option. Towards the end of the season, when teams started adjusting to me and making things a lot harder for me, I feel like fatigue played a huge part in some of the games in which I didn’t play as well. I feel like taking a step in my conditioning and physicality will help me take the next step to where I want to be.

I’ll also work on being more creative on the ball. I’m learning how to get to my spots, learning how to play through physicality, because now, every night, I’m getting the first and second best defender on the team.

SLAM: Looking ahead to next season, what are some goals you’re aiming to accomplish?

CW: I think winning truly takes care of everything. But for me, individually, I think that next step is just becoming an All-Star. This past summer, I had one goal, and that was to prove to everyone that I deserve to be a lead guard in the NBA and that I can be a starting guard in the NBA. The one thing I want to do going into next year is just prove that I can sustain this level of play and also take a leap and become that All-Star. I feel like if I continue to work and be on the trajectory that I’m on, I think winning would make it an easy choice. For me, winning always comes before anything.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Bulls’ Coby White Talks Offseason, Staying the Course and Goals of Becoming an NBA All-Star appeared first on SLAM.

Here, we highlight five teams that made the Big Dance and left their mark on this season for one reason or another, each team embodying everything we love about the sport.

FAU

For most college basketball programs, the season starts in November. For the 2023-24 Florida Atlantic Owls, the season kicks off on a chilly March Friday afternoon in Brooklyn, New York. It’s the first round of the NCAA Tournament and they’re up against a tough Northwestern squad; if they lose, their season is over. It’s not to gloss over their 25-8 record entering this game, but another deep run in the Big Dance has been this program’s singular focus since last April. 

FAU, led by head coach Dusty May, is a year removed from the best season in program history. The 2022-23 Owls posted a 35-4 record, ultimately falling to San Diego State on a heartbreaking buzzer-beater in the Final Four. It was an impressive run for the Owls, who before last year hadn’t even made it past the quarterfinals of their conference tournament since Coach May took the helm in 2018. 

Final Four runs for mid-major coaches all but guarantee that high-major opportunities will follow; the same goes for mid-major players who lead their teams on deep tournament runs. Coach May had his fair share of high-major suitors looking to fill vacancies at the conclusion of last year. But instead of joining the yearly coaching carousel, he doubled down on his commitment to the program he helped build and signed a lucrative 10-year extension to stay put. A handful of his players, like standouts Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin among others, surely had their fair share of high-major suitors, too. But they didn’t even enter the transfer portal. This season, FAU returned every eligible player from last year’s roster (the only player they lost was Michael Forrest who graduated). In the land of NIL and the transfer portal, this is almost unheard of–FAU was one of only five Division I schools to do so.

FAU led by one at halftime; there are now about six minutes left in the second half, and the Owls are down nine points. It’s a neutral site, but the crowd is heavily favoring Northwestern. Coach May, in a navy blue long-sleeve shirt and khakis, is standing on the sidelines cool, calm, and collected. Nothing about his demeanor suggests even the slightest ounce of worry. His tendency to stay consistent in high-pressure moments translates to his players on the court. 

They’re chipping away at the lead—a layup here, a three-pointer there, a couple of floaters and free throws—and boom! The score is tied at 58. With seven seconds left on the clock, it’s FAU’s ball. Johnell Davis, the Co-AAC Player of the Year and unanimous All-AAC First Team selection, pushes the ball up the court. Coach May is signaling for him to attack the rim–defenders have struggled to stay in front of him all game. Johnell opts for a pull-up three instead. It’s tipped by the defender and falls flat. Zeros on the clock. Headed to overtime.

The game got away from FAU in the extra period. Northwestern ran away with the lead, and ultimately, the win.

There’s no place for moral victories in a program like FAU, which has such a high standard of excellence. But real college basketball fans should celebrate this team ten times over. This squad represents the essence of college basketball: Loyalty. Commitment. Camaraderie. Staying the course even when things get tough. Building a legacy. Sacrificing personal gains for the greater good. “The relationship we had as a unit, just the unselfishness that we play with and the togetherness we have was a huge factor in everybody coming back,” says Bryan Greenlee, a senior guard who transferred to FAU after spending his freshman season at Minnesota.

It’s amazing that college athletes are able to cash in on their likeness. It’s just unfortunate that this so often happens at the expense of integrity. It’s easier than ever to be swayed by the glitz and glam that surround the game. But FAU’s squad understands that everything that glitters isn’t gold. Or, just maybe, they understand that FAU is a goldmine in its own right.

“There probably was more NIL money and opportunities for players, but just the idea of bringing the same group back who loves playing with each other and trynna do something special again was more important than chasing the money,” says Greenlee. “At the end of the day, the money will find you if you’re a good player.”

Vladislav Goldin, a junior 7-1 big fella who transferred to FAU after his freshman season at Texas Tech echoed Greenlee’s sentiment. “It’s more than just NIL or something else,” he says. “We came [back] because we love each other, and that will pay off in the future.”

They may have fallen short of their goal of repeating their magical run from a year ago, but this is one of the most honorable squads in this new era of college basketball; they’re among the last of a dying breed.

—

All season long, Dusty May’s name was thrown around as the top priority for many high-major athletic directors looking to make a coaching change; all season long FAU ignored the chatter. But just a day after their first-round exit, it was reported that he’d agree to become the next head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, turning down offers from Louisville, Vanderbilt and West Virginia among others.

He leaves behind an FAU program that is worlds apart better than it was when he inherited it. It’ll be interesting to see if Coach May is able to maintain the same success in the more competitive Big Ten and bring a Michigan program back to prominence. Now that he’s at one of the most resourceful institutions in the nation, it’s hard to imagine he’ll have a hard time luring top-tier recruits and transfers. But he’s now a big fish in a big pond–unlike his situation at FAU–so keeping five-stars happy and committed to a team-first approach will be the new challenge that Coach May has to embrace.

If his ability to retain his entire roster after a Final Four run at a mid-major is any indication, it’s obvious that hoopers love playing for him and are willing to sacrifice personal gain to be a part of something bigger than themselves. That’s what basketball is all about. Well, that’s what it should be all about.

North Carolina State

This is the obvious one. NC State was 17-14 and on a four-game losing streak heading into the ACC Tournament. But the way March Madness is set up, that doesn’t matter. NC State unsurprisingly won their first two games in the ACC Tournament against Louisville and Syracuse. It was after beating Duke in the quarterfinals that the basketball world started to sense there may be some March magic surrounding the Wolfpack. They’d go on to beat UVA in an overtime thriller before punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament by upsetting UNC in the ACC championship. That momentum (and a few stellar performances by DJ Burns and DJ Horne) carried them all the way to the Final Four, where their Cinderella story came to an end against Purdue. They hadn’t been to the Final Four since 1983. The ACC (and college basketball at large) is better when NC State is thriving; let’s see where they’re headed after this unprecedented and historic season.

Long Beach State

Long Beach State, led by their head coach Dan Monson, hadn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2012, and nobody expected this year to be any different, not even their athletic director. At the conclusion of the regular season and right before the Big West Tournament was getting ready to start, the AD let Coach Monson know he’d be relieved of his duties once the season was over. While the decision alone wasn’t unordinary, the timing of it was and drew a lot of criticism from the college hoops community. Well, Coach Monson’s players responded in the best way possible. After he shared the news with his team, they put their heart on the line for their coach and rattled off three straight victories, winning the Big West Championship and earning a spot in March Madness. It’s not very often a coach is fired before leading his team on a championship run. Long Beach State wound up losing in the first round to a tough Arizona team, but they did the unimaginable and sent off a well-respected coach in a dream-like fashion. “I’m proud, happy, reflective … mostly proud,” says Coach Monson in the press conference following his loss to Arizona. “Proud of my tenure. I’m proud of doing it the right way. Proud of the student-athletes that came out of here, that came in as young men, left as men. Came in without a college degree and left with a college degree. Came in here with skill development, leaving here with skills enough to go play professionally.”

Oakland

Another obvious choice. Oakland was by far this year’s biggest bracket-buster. They earned a 14-seed in this year’s Tournament and were set to face off against a 3-seed Kentucky squad many picked to win the whole thing. In interviews heading into the game, Oakland’s confidence was on full display; once the game started, it was apparent why they were so confident. You could point to the funky matchup zone they play that kept Kentucky’s offensive firepower out of sorts. You could point to a few lucky breaks that went their way. But mostly, you could point to this year’s most prominent “overnight celebrity” made by Tournament success, Jack Gohlke. He connected on ten threes en route to 32 points and an Oakland victory. Coming off the bench for Oakland, Gohlke was a transfer from Division II Hillsdale College. This one performance on the brightest stage positioned Gohlke to become a NIL star with deals ranging in the tens of thousands of dollars. Gohlke’s hot streak continued in the Round of 32, where he connected in six threes in a loss to NC State. But by then, they’d already overachieved. Led by Coach Greg Kampe, who’s been the head coach at Oakland for 40 years, this team will be etched in Tournament history for their major upset in the first round. Some will take pride in shifting the power of college hoops; their win catapulted a messy divorce between John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats, which will likely have major implications on the college basketball landscape.

Grambling State

Many teams experienced “firsts” in this year’s Tournament. There are arguably none that meant more to their respective programs than Grambling State. Despite their impressive historical success, this was the first time Grambling State made the Big Dance in program history. Not only did they make the Tournament, but they won a game in the First Four and advanced. Simply making the Tournament can elevate a program beyond measure, let alone winning a game. For HBCUs, it’s even more heightened. Coach Donte Jackson and the Tigers have been knocking on the door for quite some time; this year, they finally forced their way in. Despite their loss in the Round of 64 to the eventual Championship runner-ups, Purdue, Grambling State (and fellow HBCUs) can rest assured that they’re putting the college basketball world on notice for all the right reasons.

Photo via Getty Images.

The post Reliving the Madness from the 2024 Men’s NCAA Tournament appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

Headed into the 2011 season, UConn was unranked on every preseason poll and picked to finish 10th in the Big East. They had just come off a mediocre season in which they failed to make the NCAA tournament for the second time in four years. So people had already written them off as a threat in the Big East, let alone as a national title contender. 

In other words, a whole lot of fuel was being added to the fire already brewing in these Huskies—a Huskies squad led by a 6-foot, 172-pound star point guard from the Bronx.

All eyes pointed to Kemba Walker, who returned for the 2011 season, a junior with lofty expectations. He’d already become a fan-favorite proven to score in bunches, always in a fresh pair of retro Js, but could he impact winning at a high level? Could you count on him to lead UConn back to glory? 

Don’t get it twisted, though; Kemba had a well-composed squad around him. Among them were two star-studded freshmen–point guard Shabazz Napier and swingman Jeremy Lamb–who would each become first-round NBA Draft selections themselves. But was it enough? Would their lack of experience be a hindrance? UConn was very talented, but how consistent could they be?

A lot of questions, but UConn had the cheat sheet.

They made it through their non-conference schedule undefeated, winning ten straight before getting into Big East play, including wins over No. 2 Michigan State and No. 8 Kentucky. During that stint, UConn ranked as high as No. 4 on the AP poll and seemed primed to make a run at the Big East crown.

Anyone who knows anything about college hoops of the 2000s and 2010s knows every Big East matchup was a dogfight. On any given night, UConn could convincingly beat a top-10 team like Georgetown or lose by 15 to an unranked St. Johns. It was that type of up-and-down conference slate for them. They finished a disappointing ninth in the Big East and headed into the Big East Tournament, losing four of its last five games. 

Well, the way March Madness is set up, the Huskies were in perfect position to take the country by storm. 

They breezed through their first two games of the Big East Tournament, earning a spot in the quarterfinals–a rematch against Pittsburgh (the Big East regular season champs who blew them out back in December). This time around, in March, the stakes were different.

The game was tied at 74. Seven seconds left on the clock. UConn’s ball. 

Everyone in their right mind knew who was taking the last shot. It didn’t matter. With a mismatch at the top of the key Kemba hit a smooth right-to-left hesi, took a hard attack-dribble left, stopped on a dime, stepped back and raised up for his picture-perfect jumper as the helpless defender stumbled to the ground. The ball splashed through the net, Madison Square Garden erupted and a college basketball legend was born.

“It was a special moment in UConn history; I turned to my assistants as we were walking off the court and said, ‘We got something special going on,’” Jim Calhoun, UConn’s retired hall-of-fame head coach, recalled in a 2016 interview. 

Coach Calhoun couldn’t have been more right. Kemba and the Huskies sealed the deal two days later and won the Big East Tournament. That’s five days, five games and five wins. A truly unprecedented run. But next up was the NCAA Tournament. They’d have to win six more games in a row to be the last team cutting the nets. Surely, they couldn’t continue playing with the same level of intensity after having just survived that Big East gauntlet, right? 

Uh-uh, wrong.

Kemba played like a man possessed; the team went as he went. He averaged 23.5 points, 6 rebounds and 5.6 assists in the NCAA Tournament en route to leading the program to their third national championship in a win over Butler–defeating future hall of famers like Kawhi Leonard and bluebloods like Kentucky (for a second time) along the way.

The 2011 UConn team epitomizes everything we love about college basketball–the swagger, the culture, the underdog story, the journey. From unranked to on top of the ladder, the 2011 UConn Huskies are forever immortalized in basketball history.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: 2011 UCONN  appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

It’s no secret that Kentucky is one of the most prestigious college basketball programs of all time and has one of the most demanding fan bases we’ve seen. Kentucky isn’t satisfied with SEC championships and NCAA Tournament berths; at Kentucky, the standard is national title contention. Final Four and National Championship banners are the only ones hanging in the rafters at Rupp Arena. So, after another unsuccessful season, which ended with a loss in the NIT, they were ready to go through hell or high water to get back on track. Kentucky needed a change, and they needed one fast.  

The first domino that needed to fall was finding a head coach who not only understood the expectations but wasn’t intimidated by the daily pressures of coaching at Kentucky. There was only one man to do the job; ahead of the ‘09-’10 season, Kentucky brought in a fiery John Calipari–a move that changed not only the trajectory of Kentucky’s basketball program but college basketball in general.

Coach Cal didn’t come alone; he brought in the country’s top recruiting class–one of the best recruiting classes ever–highlighted by John Wall and Demarcus Cousins. Kentucky’s roster was loaded with talent that made these Wildcats a must-watch for any basketball fan (unless you’re a Louisville fan or a fellow SEC foe). Having talent is one thing, but getting a bunch of five and four-star recruits to play as a unit is the real challenge for any coach. But the 2010 Wildcats were on one accord. Cal implemented the dribble-drive offense, which only works when you have multiple guys who can beat their man off the bounce. Wall and Eric Bledsoe had no issues doing so. Add elite bigs like Cousins and Patrick Patterson to the fold, and there you have it: one of the most exciting college teams you could imagine.

Whenever the 2010 Wildcats hit the court in their fresh white and Kentucky-blue threads, two-tone Nike shooting sleeves and Nike elite socks, they had the country’s attention. If Kentucky had a game, you’d schedule your day around it.

For a squad led by a freshman core, Kentucky was mature beyond their years. Nothing rattled them; no moment was too big. They steamrolled through the always-tough SEC, sweeping both the regular season and tournament championships, along with a bunch of individual accolades.

Wall was SEC Player of the Year. Cousins was SEC Freshman of the Year. Cousins, Patterson and Wall were first-team All-SEC. Coach Cal was SEC Coach of the Year.

Kentucky hadn’t had a season like this in years; the job wasn’t finished, though. From the coaching staff to the last man on the bench to the team managers, everybody who was a part of that program embraced the task at hand–raising National Championship banner number eight. 

“The ultimate goal was to win a national championship, that’s all we wanted to do,” said John Wall in a 2016 interview, recapping the 2010 season. “So what we did all season didn’t mean anything.”

Kentucky earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They obliterated East Tennessee State, Wake Forest and Cornell, respectively, on their way to an Elite Eight berth where they’d face No. 2-seed West Virginia. By every metric, and most notably the eye test, Kentucky was the better team. West Virginia is always a tough out, but it never crossed Kentucky’s mind that they would lose that game. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they picked the wrong day to have an off-night. They couldn’t buy a three, at one point missing 20 in a row. That’s a hard stretch for any team to overcome, especially in March Madness. They’d still end up in a close game, but fell seven points short of advancing to what would have been the program’s first Final Four since 1998. 

Talk about devastated–there wasn’t a dry eye in the locker room after the game. “‘Til this day we still talk about that game and everything we could’ve done differently,” said DeMarcus Cousins in the same 2016 interview mentioned earlier.

Despite not living up to the expectations they set on themselves, there’s not a single person who wouldn’t call their season a success. They finished the season 35-3, and Wall and Cousins added first-team All-American honors to their long list of accomplishments. They may not be remembered as national champions; there may not be a 2010 banner hanging at Rupp Arena; but this team revolutionized college basketball. 

Five players (four of them freshmen) from this squad would enter the NBA Draft, and all five of them were drafted in the first round. Wall was selected No. 1, Cousins was selected No. 5, Patterson was selected No. 14, Bledsoe was chosen No. 18 and Orton went at No. 29. This 2010 Kentucky team, cultivated by Coach Cal, laid the foundation for the future of the sport; the ripple effect is still felt today over a decade later.    

If you could only pick one college basketball team from the past 30 years to represent the present generation, both on the court and off, it’d be tough not to pick the 2010 Kentucky Wildcats.  

Photos via Getty Images.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ’10 Kentucky  appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

It’s hard to win a conference championship when you only have two players who average in double figures, let alone getting into the NCAA Tournament and making a deep run. Well, anything is possible when one of those players is on his way to becoming the best shooter in basketball history.

Unless you were a college hoops junkie and someone who followed the mid-majors, there’s a good chance you never even heard of Davidson College before March of ‘08–a liberal arts college with an enrollment of less than 2,000 students. A Cinderella story was being crafted all season long in Davidson, North Carolina, a small town outside of Charlotte. 

Davidson was fresh off a successful season in which they won the SoCon (Southern Conference) regular season and the SoCon Tournament. Despite a disappointing loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, they were onto something special. With just a little more time and synergy, maybe they could shock the world. 

Any success they’d dream about having for the ‘08 campaign was dependent on Stephen Curry, the baby-faced assassin, their returning point guard, a skinny 6-2 sophomore who’d been overlooked his entire life up to that point. He had just come off a season where he earned SoCon Freshman of the Year but was hardly ever mentioned when people discussed the top players in college basketball. As a small mid-major in the shadows of their fellow Carolina foes like Duke, UNC, NC State and others, Davidson and their players faced an uphill battle to earn their warranted respect.

Their coaching staff figured playing a nearly impossible non-conference schedule was the best way to earn that respect. Not only would this put the country and NCAA committee on notice, but if all went well, making it through their non-conference schedule alive would be just the self-assurance Davidson needed to know they could compete with anyone in the field. 

They were very competitive against the high-majors on their schedule but struggled to pull out wins against them. They lost close games to No. 1 UNC, No. 7 Duke, No. 7 UCLA and NC State. Losses like these often shake the confidence of young teams, but that Davidson squad saw the silver lining. They were knocking on the door.

Since Davidson didn’t have any signature wins on their resume, they’d have to run through the SoCon and win the conference tournament to earn a spot in the Big Dance. They did exactly that, going an impressive 20-0 in the conference and securing a 10-seed. For most mid-major programs, this alone would constitute the season a success.

Their superstar, Stephen, had a spectacular season that included a couple of 40-point performances, a bunch of 30 pieces and too many 20-point outbursts to count. He was named SoCon Player of the Year, First-team All-SoCon and AP second-team All-American, among many other accolades. But he still had bigger fish to fry; he wasn’t done yet. Somehow, he was still flying under the radar. Could he do it against stronger and longer athletes? Could his style of play translate in the NCAA Tournament?

Nobody outside of that program could have envisioned what would happen next. Heck, most people inside the program probably couldn’t have envisioned it. 

In three NCAA Tournament wins, Stephen scorched Gonzaga for 40 points, erupted for 30 against Georgetown and blazed Wisconsin for 33. And these weren’t quiet performances; his shooting prowess was like nothing we’d seen before, and definitely not at the college level. The fact that he did all of this while wearing a red Davidson jersey and not one of blueblood’s makes it much more significant. They’d eventually lose a heartbreaker by two points in the Elite Eight to Kansas, who ultimately won the whole thing.  

Stephen was obviously the main ingredient to Davidson’s success that year; let’s be clear, though–nobody, and I mean nobody, makes it to the Elite Eight by accident. There may not have been another household name on that roster, but Stephen’s supporting cast showed up when it mattered most. Namely, their senior point guard Jason Richards was the only player to average more minutes per game than Stephen and finished as the top assist man in college basketball that season. They were a balanced team; everyone bought into whatever it took to get the job done. No egos, no selfishness, no ulterior motives. Add a future hall-of-famer to the mix, and it’s a no-brainer that they were able to achieve greatness.  

Today, Stephen is recognized as one of the greatest basketball players in the history of the game. His ‘08 season at Davidson was the beginning of the future of basketball. Inevitably, the ‘08 Davidson Wildcats go down as one of the most impactful college basketball teams ever.

The post The 30 Most Influential NCAA MBB Teams of SLAM’s 30 Years: ’08 Davidson appeared first on SLAM.

For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.

The early 2000s was a rough time for all but one basketball program in the Big Ten. 

This was when the Big Ten ran through them boys in Champaign, Illinois. Each year from ‘00 to ‘04, the Fighting Illini won either a Big Ten regular season championship or a Big Ten tournament championship. Their ‘04-’05 team brought it all together and won both, doing so in mesmerizing fashion. A reign of terror was brewing inside of Assembly Hall. 

They were any coach’s dream and any opponent’s nightmare; it starts with their incredible guard play.

Deron Williams (D-Will) was a prototypical 6-3 point guard, with a nasty handle, elite vision and a natural knack for buckets. He went on to become the third pick in the NBA draft, a three-time All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist and one of the best point guards in the League for some time. 

Dee Brown is an NCAA icon, remembered today for sporting fresh cornrows, an orange or white headband low on the brow and a long pair of shorts. He was 6 feet on a good day, but his blinding speed, defensive tenacity and swagger more than made up for what he lacked in size. He was a four-time All-Big Ten selection, two-time All-American, Big-Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Bob Cousy Award winner.

D-Will and Dee Brown are one of the most exciting backcourt pairings in college basketball since the turn of the century, but it was a third guard who led the ‘04-’05 Fighting Illini in scoring. That honor belongs to Luther Head, a senior, 6-3 shooting guard, who would eventually carve out a solid six-year career in the League.

Illinois approached the ‘04 basketball season with one thing on their mind. It was championship or bust–national championship or bust. They hit the ground running; there were no signs of a hangover from their disappointing Sweet Sixteen loss the season prior. Four games into the ‘04-’05 campaign, the Fighting Illini beat No. 24 Gonzaga by 17 points, putting the country on notice. The very next game, just a few days later they’d beat No. 1 Wake Forest by 18, putting any remaining doubt to rest.

They made it through the regular season almost unscathed, winning 29 games in a row before a small hiccup against Ohio State where they suffered a one-point loss, their only loss headed into the postseason. Illinois responded by dominating the Big Ten Tournament, sweeping the conference en route to a No. 1 overall seed in the Big Dance.

They got through their first three games of March Madness without breaking a sweat. But an Elite Eight matchup against No. 3 Arizona, led by then-future lottery pick Channing Frye, would define the makeup of this Illinois team. With only four minutes left in the second half and their season on the line, Illinois found themselves down 15 points. Unfamiliar territory, challenge accepted.

Illinois didn’t flinch; their confidence didn’t waver. They just stayed the course. They turned up the pressure on defense, created a few transition opportunities and hustle buckets, hit a few threes and boom… the game was headed to overtime. Carrying the momentum into the extra period, they clawed their way to the finish line and gutted out the victory, completing one of the memorable comebacks in the tournament’s recent history. Final score: 90-89. 

They’d go on to decisively defeat Louisville in the Final Four before eventually falling five points short, to a loaded North Carolina team, in the National Championship game. 

Illinois finished the ‘04-’05 season with a 37-2 record, which at the time tied the all-time NCAA record for the most wins in a season. An impressive 31 of their 37 victories were by 10 points or more. They finished the season ranked ninth in the nation in rebounding, eighth in defense, fourth in points scored, second in three-point field goals made and first in assists. Now, that’s a recipe for success. 
Despite losing and falling short of their ultimate season goal, the 04-’05 Illinois team is etched in modern college basketball history. When you think of the best teams to not win a national championship, that ‘04-’05 Illinois squad is at the top of the list. And they’re celebrated in Champaign as such.

Photos via Getty Images.

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He’s made it abundantly clear that he finds his life’s purpose in helping serve others and providing light in times of darkness. After a spectacular career at the University of Portland, the undersized point guard went undrafted in the 2006 NBA Draft. But his faith didn’t allow that to deter him from his goal of becoming a professional basketball player.

He’d end up having a 17-year pro career that spanned a handful of countries and a brief stint in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings in 2010-11. Last year, he announced his retirement as a player after spending his last two seasons as a player/mentor with the NBA G League Ignite. 

He followed up his retirement with news that he’d be joining the Portland Trail Blazers as a player development coach and their G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix, as an assistant GM.

Pooh pulled up to the SLAM office and chopped it up about everything: his new dual role with the Trail Blazers, his transition from player to coach, founding the Black Coaches Association, what community means to him and more.

This interview has been slightly edited for clarity and conciseness.

SLAM: I appreciate you for being here, first things first. We’ll get into a few things, but I want to start with your latest accomplishment, becoming a coach in the League. How’d that come about?

Pooh Jeter: First, praise God that we’re able to have this conversation and speak on the SLAM platform. This is huge. You know, me being in this new role–I wasn’t expecting it. I was really expecting to still be playing with Ignite, until I got this opportunity from Mike Schmitz, the assistant GM [for the Portland Trail Blazers] and a longtime friend of mine. He had an idea of this dual role, in the front office and coaching. Once Chauncey Billups—who I’ve been knowing since ’05—found out, he was like, I need him too! So it just made sense to have this role of being a player development coach [for the Trail Blazers], and also being assistant GM of our NBA G League [Rip City] Remix team.

SLAM: So, what’s Coach Pooh like?

PJ: Coach Pooh is—I’m still a hooper. But I’m able to share my experiences. One thing I know about player development is people don’t think about the development part. That’s not just basketball. Me being in this role, I’m still like a teammate since I just recently made this transition. For me to be able to tap in for you to bring out your best don’t really gotta do with basketball; we’re human beings as well. I think the trust that players have with me, they’re able to really let me know what’s going on with them. Because, the basketball stuff is—I’ll be able to help with that, for sure.

SLAM: How’s that transition from player to coach/front office executive been for you since announcing your retirement last year?

PJ: The transition has been amazing, man. The last two years I played with G League Ignite really helped me make my transition even better. I still get down and practice, which is cool. I’m one of the only people in the League with this role. It’s an amazing balance; I’m able to really talk to both sides. I’ve experienced so much and it’s not meant for me to hold it, it’s for me to share. My whole mission is refreshing others; that’s what I’m about.

SLAM: In another interview, you mentioned how important it is for you to share information with your community first. Can you speak to this a bit more? What does community mean to you?

PJ: Community is everything to me, wherever I’m at. We gotta fix within if we want to do things on the outside. Once you focus on that part, everything is gonna take care of itself. That comes with information, that comes with love. Coming from the inner city, you really have to tap into that to really change narratives. That’s the whole point of me being a messenger and servant. I gotta serve. Once I’m able to do that, [the younger generation] is gonna do the same. It starts with community.

SLAM: I want to touch on the Black Coaches Association (BCA). How did that come about and what are you trying to do with it?

PJ: BCA really started with coaches John Thompson, Nolan Richardson, George Raveling and John Chaney around the late ’80s. Then it just went away. I had a conversation with Coach Jason Hart—he’s somebody I really look up to for a lot of different reasons. He was venting to me, because at that time (and now) the Pac-12 didn’t have a Black head coach. That’s weird for a Power Five conference—like, why?! Well, I’m really into trademarks and once I saw Black Coaches Association/BCA was available, I got on it. So then, with the relationships that I do have, here comes [a long list of Black coaches] that became members of the association. I was still a player at the time, and there was so much going on in the world. I just wanted to make sure these coaches were alright mental health-wise. Everybody started making their calls and it got big! We probably have 2,500 Black coaches in our database.

Now that I’m on the sidelines, I’m looking at other pro players who want to get into coaching. Again, it’s about who we’re getting our information from. I’m just tryna do something to make sure the community—my community—is prepared for the opportunity. Black Coaches Association is my baby. It’s a real passion and priority of mine.

SLAM: What’s left for Pooh to do in the game of basketball?

PJ: I’m gonna go to this scripture in the Bible: “even though I have plans in my heart, God directs my steps.” I have to continue to pray and just be aligned with the steps we’re on and hopefully, these steps are leading somewhere. You know, I wasn’t expecting to be a coach and in the front office; that wasn’t my plan. I just pray that my steps are being directed in the right way, with God. One of the requirements is to walk humbly; I’m just trying to walk humbly and make sure God’s will is done.

Here’s the official Hoops, Rap and Everything Black playlist. It’s updated regularly. Add the playlist to your library to stay in the know, and be sure to follow SLAM on Spotify.

Photos by Marcus Stevens.

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: Pooh Jeter is All About Serving Others, Whether He’s on the Court or Sidelines appeared first on SLAM.

“I didn’t have an idea of what my future looked like at that moment of being in the clubs, just promoting and being around the guys… so I was just taking it as is,” says Shabar.

Eventually, his stars began to align themselves. In 2017, he met some heavy hitters from Adidas and found his way to establishing a full-time role with the company, which marked the turning point in not only his career but also his perspective moving forward. “From me working with Adidas as a marketing consultant in the grassroots basketball department, that kind of, like, sparked my interest of, oh, I could work corporate, I can actually do this… That made me shelf nightlife,” Shabar recalls. “It gave me the idea that I can do something different and leverage my relationships and leverage my abilities.”

His journey is exemplary of how the game can enable a kid who was dealt a tough hand to make the most of his cards. He grew up in a single-parent household in Redfern Projects, one of the notorious projects in Queens, and says he clawed his way out. “My mom was adamant about me getting out of the projects, she wanted a better life for me and I thank her for that,” says Shabar. “A big part of that pathway was putting me in sports. I think that’s the first encounter of the idea of getting out the hood–it’s sports or rap. Once I picked up that basketball, I felt empowered.” And like many young Black boys who grow up in the projects, Shabar had hoop dreams of making it in the pros. Unfortunately, his playing days were cut short after sustaining a knee injury while playing at City College of San Francisco, but the game remained a central component of his life trajectory. He never got to realize his NBA dream… as a player. He still found a way to the League, just in a different way. 

Today, Shabar is the Oklahoma City Thunder’s fan development experience coordinator, a role he accepted last November. “It was a real emotional moment, to be honest with you,” Shabar says of the moment he learned he had been offered the job. “You know, you dream of getting drafted. This was my draft.”

As a fan development experience coordinator, Shabar’s priority is creating an intersection with culture and basketball through activities that engage local fans. It’s something that’s much easier said than done, especially for a small market like Oklahoma City. But Shabar is equipped with the experience to excel. “It’s something I’ve been doing for a long time,” he says. “In a sense, promoting parties is that intersection between sports and culture and lifestyle branding. I was creating experiences in New York City; I’m just bringing that same thing here.”

Shabar has gotten off to a great start in helping strengthen the bond between the Oklahoma City locals and the Thunder. He recently spearheaded an “HBCU Night” in honor of Black History Month, in which they highlighted Oklahoma’s only HBCU, Langston University, where students created a special edition shirt inspired by the tradition of their school. The night’s goal was “education, elevation and celebration,” says Shabar. Safe to say, mission accomplished.

“I’m just here trying to grow and learn everything I can from everybody that’s around me,” Shabar says. “Eventually I would want to step into a leadership role… but I’m happy to continue the journey with a sports organization, specifically the OKC Thunder. It’s a great time to be here.”

At the time of publishing, the Thunder are first in the Western Conference. If they continue to win at this rate and our SLAM 247 cover stars continue to progress as rapidly as they are, Shabar’s job is made that much easier.

Here’s the official Hoops, Rap and Everything Black playlist. It’s updated regularly. Add the playlist to your library to stay in the know, and be sure to follow SLAM on Spotify.

Photos by Brooke Brennan and Stuart Bennett.

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: OKC Thunder’s Shabar Ewing is at the Forefront of Culture and Community Engagement appeared first on SLAM.

Pepe Bratanov, also known by his artistic moniker Peppy Colours, is a Toronto-based visual artist and curator of The Local Gallery New York. His work has garnered numerous awards and recognition internationally. We recently sat down to discuss his love and passion for basketball-inspired art, how the partnership between The Local Gallery and SLAM came to be, investing in art, art gallery misconceptions and more. 

This interview has been slightly edited for conciseness and clarity. 

Curtis: The partnership between The Local Gallery and SLAM is very unique; can you speak to how it came about?

Pepe: Truly unique. It was born out of mutual love for the game. On a brand level, there was a total alignment, and on a human level even more so. Everyone involved is so passionate about hoops and art. On one hand, you have TLG with a very strong interest in hoop culture and is dedicated to growing and pushing the contemporary art scene. On the other hand, you have SLAM, a brand that needs no introduction, the most authentic voice in basketball storytelling for a very long time. This partnership just made so much sense on so many levels.

Together, we saw an opportunity to carve out a space that hasn’t been fully explored. We’ve seen small things done here and there that try to bring the art and basketball worlds together, but in most cases it’s one-offs, pop-ups, brief celebrations of the game, but nothing as committed and dedicated to basketball and hoop culture as what we’re building. And where we’re building it. We’ve entered New York City, the biggest art market in the world with 1,500 or so galleries. It’s saturated, so we couldn’t just be another gallery. We needed to find a niche. We needed to do something differently. And we did. We launched the first gallery in the commercial art world entirely dedicated to basketball and hoop culture all year round.

Curtis: What is it about basketball and its culture that makes it possible to have an entire art gallery solely dedicated to art inspired by the game?

Pepe: I think the key here, as you said, is in its culture. The sport itself is beautiful and extremely entertaining, but it’s the culture that makes it so special and sets it apart from other sports. There’s so much that surrounds the game–the sneakers, the fashion, the music, the video games, the entertainment, the diversity and inclusivity. There’s a lot of trend-setting. Hoop culture is pop culture. And pop culture has always played a big part in influencing the art scene. Art is about expression. It comes from the artist’s sad or happy place. It’s often a reflection of culture, popular or not, and the current state of our society. And when basketball and basketball culture touch so many aspects of our lives, it’s easy for it to make its way into art. You could even say it’s inevitable.

I think when we were starting this a lot of people expected that we’d be showing portraits of basketball players. And we do show some portraits occasionally when they’re done in a really interesting way, but it’s so much more than that and honestly, it’s all the other stuff we show at the gallery that gets people excited about what we do. Whether it’s an artist applying old Japanese pottery techniques to porcelain sneakers and basketballs, art made with sprinkles or textiles, or portraits made with vintage Jordans, the diversity and unexpected nature of the work is what draws people in. We’ve had people who are not even into basketball visit the gallery and fall in love with what we do.

And on top of it all, I think we’re experiencing a bit of a renaissance when it comes to the growth of basketball and everything that surrounds it. It just seemed like the right time. We had all the right ingredients to create something special.

Curtis: As a curator, and artist yourself, what draws you into basketball-inspired art?

Pepe: The diversity and fresh takes. It’s 2024; everything looks like something else. It’s hard to create something that’s truly original, if not impossible. But I continue to see things that are done in an interesting way, things I think people will connect with on an emotional level. And creativity–I always look for creativity in the work. Having talent is important, but nothing beats creativity and fresh thinking.

And to go full circle, of course, the culture. Basketball is so rich in culture and it’s what allows the creation of all this diverse work. Side note, I’m obsessed with soccer. I watch it and play it religiously. Growing up in Europe, soccer was all I knew. But when it comes to art, I was never able to find inspiration in it outside of the game I’m watching or playing.With basketball it’s a whole different thing. It’s got a special place in my heart even though I adopted it later in my life, not until the early 90s when the NBA and Jordan’s Bulls were introduced in Europe in a more prominent way.

Curtis: We’ve heard people like Rich Paul urge athletes to invest in art; what’s your take on art as an investment?

Pepe: When it comes to art, I think for me the most important thing is you need to connect with the piece you’re acquiring. Have that special connection with the art and the artist. You’re going to wake up next to this piece every day. It needs to mean something to you. It needs to trigger something in you. One look at it may turn a bad day into a good one.

So I’d say if you’re making the investment, make it an emotional one. If it happens that the artist is on the rise and the value of the work will double in a year or two, all the better. It’s a win-win. But the work must mean something to you. Leave the rest to us. We’re always on the lookout for emerging talent that we believe is on the rise in hopes to help make your emotional investment a financially sound one, too.

Curtis: There’s a huge misconception about the relationships between artists and galleries. Again, leaning on your experience as both a curator and artist, can you speak to the role of art galleries in 2024 and why they’re maybe more necessary in today’s climate, contrary to popular belief? Especially with people having more access than ever before with the advent of the internet and social media.

Pepe: For artists, the biggest thing is validation. It’s in our nature as human beings. We need it, we seek it. There’s a reason why the movie industry has the Oscars, athletes have the Olympics and so on. Pretty much every industry and sector has its own way of recognizing the cream of the crop. Love it or hate it. It’s in us.

There are millions of artists out there and only so many galleries. Getting into a gallery helps propel the artist’s career. If you love a certain artist and their work, I strongly encourage you to buy their work from the gallery they’re showing in. It gives them an immense sense of pride. Especially when the artists next to them may not be able to sell. When you buy from the artists directly, you’ll help them pay one of their bills for the month; buy their art from the gallery they’re showing in and you’ll be helping them build their career.

Curtis: Looking ahead, what do you envision The Local Gallery NYC adding to the grand scheme of the art community? 

Pepe: Freshness, creativity, diversity and inclusivity. We are new and unburdened by some of the old ways of the industry. I believe we have a fresh take on art. We’ll always look for and support creativity. And just like the sport itself, it’s our mission to have a space that is inclusive and supports diversity. Oftentimes, I see people passing by our doors and feeling uneasy, uncertain if they should come in. There’s this misconception attached to art galleries, that they’re not for everyone. And some are indeed not for everyone. This is not us. This is the place for you where you can discover exciting new work, get immersed in creativity and leave inspired by the sport, its culture and the art that meshes it all into one.

Pull up and check out the gallery at 43-42 12th St, Queens, NY 11101.

Photos by Marcus Stevens

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: Meet the Curator Behind The Local Gallery NYC, SLAM’s New Art Gallery appeared first on SLAM.

Aside from the NBA frame he was blessed with, nothing has been handed to Tyler on a silver platter. He’s earned everything the game of basketball has given him so far. His game is so smooth, you’d think it came naturally. But Tyler is quick to dismiss that notion. “From seventh grade down, I was trash,” he tells me bluntly. It’s hard to imagine, but I’ll take the man at his word. 

Basketball became his sole focus in eighth grade after giving up football, and by his 10th grade summer, Tyler had developed into one of the top prospects in his class. “I was consistently getting better–playing against the top players and playing good against them, and going to top camps and being one of the best players,” he recalls. “That’s when I realized I’m pretty good at basketball.” Many of the elite college programs in the nation realized it, too. He received offers from schools like Kansas, Baylor, Houston, Texas, Florida State and others. But Tyler had his eyes set on something even bigger. And with more pathways to the League than ever before, he decided to forgo his last two years of high school and college eligibility and turn pro, at 16 years old. His mind was made up; his goals were set, and he wanted to position himself to streamline the process of achieving them. “I realized school isn’t for everybody,” he says of his decision. “I just wanted to play basketball and go to the NBA.”

Today, Tyler is one of the most consistent players on the NBA G League Ignite squad. Naturally, the G League doesn’t yet garner as much media attention as the NCAA, so there isn’t as much “hype” surrounding Tyler’s name relative to some of his draft classmates. But Tyler (and any good NBA general manager, for that matter) knows that hype isn’t what wins championships. While most players preparing for the draft have to balance school and other obligations, Tyler’s only responsibility is hoop. In this regard, he’s already a step ahead of many of his peers, in addition to playing in an NBA system, with and against NBA vets, and training with NBA-level coaches. 

Night in and night out, with G League Ignite, he displays his do-it-all skill set that has him projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. He’s a walking mismatch, big enough to punish small guards and quick enough to exploit traditional bigs. He’s bouncy and lengthy enough to finish at the rim on one end and protect the rim on the other. And he’s still getting stronger and adding muscle mass, which adds to his upside as a potential plus-defender in the League. But what Tyler does best is put points on the board. He’s a lefty sniper with beautiful shooting mechanics and extended range beyond the arc that can often leave opposing defenses in a frenzy.

His talent alone could support a 10-year stint in the League where the average career span is less than half that. But when you attach Tyler’s talent to his intangibles and work ethic, you’re looking at someone who could be a multi-time all-star and then some. How great he becomes is completely up to him, and he seems ready to attack any challenges that are on the way. He’s a coach’s dream, a sponge, willing to play any role to have a positive impact on the game.

“I feel like I can make an [instant] impact with my shooting and length on defense,“ he says, looking ahead to his rookie season.”But I just want to do whatever it takes to stay on the floor–be more vocal, set picks, do the little things just to prepare for next year.”

Photos by Max Scheide.

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Every June, my former AAU team, Hoop Booth, would travel to Old Dominion University for their team camp to play a handful of games against some of the best high school and AAU programs in the area. And every year, there was one team I’d look forward to playing as a marker for where my game was: I.C. Norcom High School out of Portsmouth, Virginia. They were talented across the board, well-coached and flat-out tough. But Dorian (or Doe Doe as they called him) was the piece that really made this team go. Dorian was ahead of his time. This was back in 2010, so Kevin Durant had only been in the League for three years. It wasn’t yet the norm for hoopers taller than 6-7 to have the skill and fluidity of guards who played below the rim combined with the athleticism and length of true bigs. 

Today, Dorian Finney-Smith is one of the most coveted role players in the L. During a time where the average career length is about 4 and a half years, it’s not an accident that Dorian is in his eighth NBA season with what seems like many more ahead of him. Sure, he was blessed with physical gifts but it’s his unwavering refusal to take these gifts for granted that got him here.

Dorian pulled up to the SLAM HQ in Queens and we sat down to discuss his upbringing, going undrafted, his outlook on fatherhood, which includes helping his own father get released from prison recently. He also opened up about the legacy he hopes to leave behind and his community service efforts.

This interview has been slightly edited for conciseness and clarity.  

Curtis: Growing up in Portsmouth, it would have been so easy to adopt a small-town mentality; can you speak to the commitment you made at an early age to do something special?

Dorian Finney-Smith: Well, my older brother [Ben Finney] played as well, so I was able to watch his process. And his best friend, who’s like family to me, Vernon Macklin, was like the first person from my city to make it to the NBA and that was motivation for me. To be able to touch somebody who got drafted–to be able to have conversations with and see somebody who I know got drafted made me know it was possible. With him being highly ranked and being from my small city, that was all the motivation I really needed.    

Curtis: I know you had a target on your back as a major athlete in a small trouble-ridden area. How did you keep on a narrow path and not fall victim to the peer pressures that plagued a lot of the Portsmouth youth?

DFS: My momma being on our ass [laughing]. But also, one of my older brothers was killed and my pops was in prison, so I had all the motivation I needed to know that I didn’t want to live that type of lifestyle. Everybody my brother grew up with who I would use to call the big bros was getting locked up. I realized by eighth or ninth grade that the life that rappers and everybody glorified was only gonna lead you to two places, either death or jail. They’d just fall into the system. I also had a best friend, Jeremy Canty, and his pops was a real stand up man who was good for me. His pops took me to all my workouts and stuff like that when my momma couldn’t. She had to work and she got five other kids, so she couldn’t get us to practice and stuff like that. I had a great community around me, man. I had a good support system. A lot of people wanted to see us win, wanted to see me win.

Curtis: Most highly coveted prospects like you choose to go the private school or prep school route. What went into your decision to stay home and play for Norcom High School, your local public school?

DFS: I wanted my friends to get looks, too. I wanted the college coaches to come see them when they came to our practices. I wanted them to get some notoriety. I just wanted everybody to eat, that’s just the type of person I am. I always said, ‘if you’re good enough, they’re gonna find you.’ And back then it was different; we wanted to play public school. And we still got the opportunities to play against the James McAdoos and the Findlay Preps once we won our first state championship. I ain’t easily influenced, so it wasn’t like my mom and them were trying to get me out the city.

Curtis: After a steady and consistently improving college career that began at Virginia Tech and ultimately Florida, filled with honors like ACC All-Freshman Team, SEC Sixth Man of the Year and 2x Second-team All-SEC, you went undrafted in 2016. How would you say your upbringing and experiences prepared you for adversity and helped you stay the course to earn an opening day roster spot for the Dallas Mavericks after going undrafted?

DFS: My mom used to have this saying, ‘it don’t matter, we gonna always end up on top.’ That was the mentality I always had. I never really got the immediate results I wanted; I always had to work for it. Even in high school, I didn’t play my freshman year. My friends were playing, and I sat on the bench the whole year. I never pointed my fingers at nobody; I always looked in the mirror and worked on my game. That’s exactly what I did. I ain’t feel sorry for myself or nothing, I just started working. And I wanted them to feel my presence whenever I got on the court. I knew whatever [NBA] team I was going to, they weren’t gonna have me there to shoot all the balls. I knew playing defense was probably what was gonna get me on the court. I just wanted my energy to be felt as soon as I stepped on the court. So, when I got to training camp, I felt like I did that.

I didn’t even have the best summer league. I remember sitting in my locker just being appreciative like, ‘man, this might be my last day here.’ D-Will was just smirking at me like, ‘I don’t know rook, this might not.’ But I was just appreciative. C’mon, man, I’m from Portsmouth, Virginia and I got Dirk Nowitzki sitting beside me, bro.

Curtis: Piggybacking off your decision to stay at Norcom in high school, you mentioned you wanting everybody to eat. Now, you’re doing that, literally, with your community service efforts. Can you speak to the inspiration to give back to your community and what that means to you, especially as a Black person coming from where you come from?

DFS: It means a lot to me, man. It wasn’t just my mom, it was the whole community who helped raise me. I grew up in an era when you may see somebody at the store and you’re doing something hard-headed, and they might say, ‘man, chill before I tell your momma.’ The community cared, especially when you’re doing something positive and they know you’re working hard to get out of that situation. They all encouraged me. If they saw me hanging with someone they even thought was a bad influence, they’d pull me to the side and tell me, ‘watch yourself when you’re around him.’ So I always felt like this was bigger than me, especially when I started looking back at it. Even my brother’s friends–when they used to do all the little hard-headed stuff, they’d be like, ‘Doe, stay home tonight.’ So, I just wanted to pay my dues, man. Because any one of those times they could’ve just said ‘come on,’ and that could’ve been it for me. 

But again, my upbringing, too. My mom always gave back, even when we stayed in the projects. It’d be another house full of kids that we’d be passing and we’d be giving them hand-me-downs or vice versa. We were a little older and bigger so we would be giving away our clothes to other kids. My mom always had that family-type feel, you know. She’d feed the whole neighborhood–make a big pot of spaghetti and feed everybody, all of our friends. There’s six of us, so if everybody got two friends, it was a lot [laughing]. So, I just took after my mom. My first year doing my camp, I was on the training camp deal but to everybody else, it was like, ‘he’s on the team and he’s from Portsmouth.’

Curtis: This past holiday season, you got an early Christmas gift–your father was blessed to come home after doing almost 28 years in prison. Even though he was away, he was still a part of your life, so can you speak to your relationship with him?

DFS: When my brother passed, and when I had my first daughter, it made me want to build that relationship with him. Shout out to Coach D, Billy Donovan, who used to always push for me to have that relationship with him. During my redshirt year at Florida after I transferred there, Coach D and my mom thought it was best that I talk to someone about my brother and stuff. So working with them and talking about my life, we came up with the plan of trying to reconnect my relationship with my pops and staying consistent with it. That’s pretty much how it happened.

Curtis: Can you touch on the process of helping him get released?

DFS: When I got to the NBA, Jamahl Mosley, who coaches the Orlando Magic–we were talking and I told him about my dad’s situation and he was like, ‘man, you should hit up Cube (Mark Cuban) and see if he knows someone who could help you with that.’ After I got my first deal (with Dallas), I ended up saying something because I knew I was gonna be there for another three years. Cube got me in contact with Jason Lutin–shout out to him. And Lutin just attacked this thing like a full-court press, man. He dove into it. He hit up his contacts–Jerry Kilgore, shout out to him, too. And once they read the case, they said he should’ve been got out, or at least on his way out. I was able to talk to the parole board last year, probably, like, a week before the trade [to Brooklyn]. It was a lot going on, it was a dope experience for it all to happen and come to fruition. He got here, and the first probably 10 minutes was just a staring contest, just me looking at him, checking him out. My kids are all over him. And that’s who he really wanted to see. Not saying he didn’t want to holla at me, it’s just he wanted to be with his grandkids.

Curtis: Has your relationship with your parents shifted your mindset of fatherhood?

DFS: Of course. Like I said, it was six of us and four of us played Division I basketball. She used to be at three games in one day. She’d go from my game, to my sister’s game, to Old Dominion to see Ben. She’d leave at halftime; but you’re going to hear her voice, you’re going to see her and she’s gonna wave to you when she leaves, you know what I’m saying? She used to try her best, man. That’s who the real GOAT is. My mom was very determined. She didn’t let us make any excuses. Anything that happened at home–once we on the court, we on the court. She helped us with that mentality, and I still use it today. You know, I just never wanted my kids to grow up like I did. I want them to be able to say I was there.

Curtis: When all is said and done, how do you want to be remembered–by the basketball community, by your kids, by Portsmouth?

DFS: I always say God-fearing family fam, but I’m going to elaborate on that a little more. I just want my kids to know their dad loves them and I want them to appreciate life. I try to lead by example because any day this shit can be taken away, at any time. I learned that at an early age with my brother, and hopefully it don’t gotta be to that extent with them. I always try to tell them, ‘get what you can get out of each day.’ As far as the community, I just want to do my part, man. I want them to know that I care, I care about my community, I care about the generation after me. And like I said, it’s bigger than me. If I could change the mindset of one kid each year, then I did my job. I just try to be who I would’ve needed when I was young, or who more of my friends could’ve used when they were younger.

Action photos via Getty Images. Portraits by Marcus Stevens

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: Dorian Finney-Smith Talks Fatherhood, Helping Dad Get Released From Prison and Going Undrafted appeared first on SLAM.

Today, Justin is widely known in the art world and recognized for his unique style of cutting up luxury items and retro Jordans and piecing them together in collages mixed with paint and other mediums. He went from selling his first piece of art for about $150 and now has pieces that sell for upwards of $15,000. For those looking to invest in something besides material items, stocks, cars, etc., rest assured that investing in a Justin Ruby piece is a safe bet. But money isn’t his motive, his contributions to the fabric of the world are much more heart-driven.

Justin’s art is keen on the most intricate details, not just in the visual components but also in the underlying storytelling. Each stroke of his brush and choice of materials is deliberate, weaving together emotions and narratives. From the delicate play of light on a subject’s face to the subtle symbolism embedded in the background, every element serves a purpose in the grand scheme of his creations. And while he’s not limited to one medium, the consistent theme on display in most of his artwork is his love for sneakers. His process involves carefully selecting sneakers that resonate with the essence of his subjects. The sneakers themselves become characters in the art, telling a unique tale of their own. Justin’s art transcends the canvas; it’s a dialogue between culture and the human experience.

“I used to say all these different reasons like materialism or whatever,” he says when asked to describe what inspires his artistic style. “Materialism is a theme in my work, but really it was just for acceptance. I still didn’t feel like my homies or my good friends felt moved by my art. It felt kind of removed from them still. So I was thinking about what I could do that’d make them care. What I could do to tell a narrative that they could relate to, where they could feel involved. I knew they would go nuts if I posted a video on Instagram of me cutting sneakers up. I didn’t even know what I was going to do with it. I remember laying [the pieces] out on the floor trying to make a face out of them. And this was my first pair of 7s.”

You can find two of Justin’s remarkable pieces, along with over 20 others from different artists on display and available for purchase at The Local Gallery NYC, presented by SLAM, located at 43-42 12th Street Long Island City, NY 11101. 

I sat down with Justin to discuss the moments that led him to take art seriously, having his work shown in galleries, his love for hip-hop and more.

This interview has been slightly edited for clarity and conciseness.  

Curtis: York is a very small and relatively uneventful town, so I’m curious: how did you get introduced to art and when did you decide to take it seriously?

Justin Ruby: I feel like I had multiple introductions because I feel like there were introductions that didn’t stick. At the first high school I was going to, [art] wasn’t really a cool thing to do. Then I moved schools, and it was like art was this cool thing. There were cool kids who did art, so there wasn’t shame to be so excited about it. I was in art class and I kept getting in trouble and shit, and then this one time my teacher gave me detention. She was like, ‘You’re going to do an assignment while you’re in here.’ So, I brought in this drawing the next day and she’s like, ‘Who did this drawing for you?’ I was like, ‘I did this drawing.’ She made me sit down and do another one because she didn’t believe me. Then I did it and she was like, ‘Justin, you need to stop screwing around. You could really go to school for this.’ Then she took me to the advanced teachers and stuff. They were all like, ‘Dude, you could really do this. You could get a full ride to college.’ I had some college-level teachers and they really encouraged me and built up my confidence as a creator, and as a person, too.

I didn’t really fit in anywhere; I was just in this gray area. I was too white for one thing and too “[cultured]” for another. I just felt kind of like a loner sometimes. I never even seen artists; I thought artists were dead people. I never heard of a living artist who made money off of it. I wasn’t raised in abject poverty or anything, but it was like, ‘Bro, I just want more.’ And I realized every time my parents would fight or my family would be stressed, it was because of money. And I’m like, ‘Yo, I want more!’ Like, there’s more to life than living paycheck to paycheck, I just had this ambition to do something.

Curtis: Where does basketball and hoop culture come into play for you?

JR: I thought basketball was my passion, but really, I just love the culture. If we were playing pickup, I could play really well. But there was something about the structure of the game—I wasn’t really coachable and I didn’t understand the flow of the game. I didn’t remember any of the plays and shit. So like, I’m thinking about some project I could do. Everyone’s thinking about the gameplan and I’m trying to figure out what shoes I’m going to wear.

Curtis: Clearly sneakers are a huge part of the type of art you create today. Where does your love for kicks come from?

JR: My best friend, Mikey. His dad was like this mythological character; he was present in his life, but he lived in Philly, so he would only see him every once in a while. But Mikey would always come back in with some Jordan’s-not Spizikes or what’s in Foot Locker. He would come in with, like, some OG 13s. I was learning and he was always teaching me about shoes. This is when I realized I really enjoyed design-picking out colors and things like that. We went to Sneaker Con and we saw them painting shoes in a contest. Mikey was like, ‘Justin, you can do this better than all of them.’ And I remember Mikey surprised me one day. He convinced his dad to buy me an airbrush and then he brought me these Military Blue 4s and he’s like, ‘Bro, paint these for me.’ We were so excited, we didn’t even wait. It was like 11:30 at night. I didn’t even prep them right. You’re supposed to strip everything off, but I got straight to it. I remember Mikey wore them like two or three times and they were chipping off on the side. I love him because he was trying to support me, but he would get straight clowned for wearing them. I painted like maybe two more pairs of shoes, but then I saw I could paint on a canvas and sell that for like for like $350. 

Curtis: How did you get into your artistic style of cutting up sneakers and putting them back together in a collage-style painting?

JR: I never really liked painting landscapes or animals or anything. I loved figures and I would draw basketball players and stuff. And I was into rappers. This was my first attempt at getting people’s attention. And then, like, doctors and lawyers started liking it. Because everybody is a part of this culture. I could have a rich doctor put my work on their wall, but I can also have people who never seen a piece of art love it and be moved by it. I can move somebody in the trenches and I can move somebody in first class. It was the first time I felt powerful. Like, ‘Damn, I can really make some type of impact.’

Curtis: Hip-hop is a huge component of this column and you mentioned being into rappers. Do you listen to music while you’re creating art? How does hip-hop inspire you?

JR: I remember when I first discovered Lil Wayne. Lil Wayne is still like my favorite character. He kind of really really pushed me into liking rap. I listen to all music. It really depends on what mood I’m in. It’s more of how it makes me feel in the moment. Sometimes, it depends on the piece I’m working on. If I’m in a mode where I have to work for 15 hours in a day, I’ll start out slow and graduate to something more high energy. But I listen to majority rap, for real. Obviously, Drake has been one of my favorites-obviously J. Cole and Kendrick. There was a point in time where I would only listen to Kendrick. And now I really been listening to R&B and stuff. I really love Bryson and Brent. I feel like they’re constantly comparing who’s best and stuff, but it’s like everybody has separate contributions.

Curtis: There’s a big misconception about the relationship between artists and galleries. What does it mean to you when you have your work showing in galleries?

JR: When I first started, that was the ultimate goal. Having your work in a gallery is like getting drafted. When your work is on a legit wall and you see it there, and they’re having an opening-it feels like I’m legit now. Like, I’m a professional. At first, you’re like a typical starving artist and you just want to pay your bills. But then once you get past that point, it’s like, ‘I’m going to be someone.’ It’s not about the money, it’s about contributing. To the culture, to like the society. You have people messaging you like, ‘This shit changed my life.’ Showing your work in galleries is dope, especially when you find a dope gallery and they’re actually a legit gallery.

Curtis: Where do you want to take your career? What does success in this crazy and evolving art world look like to you?

JR: I feel like it’s changed. I had goals last year-I hit some of them, I missed some of them. But right now, I haven’t really been setting goals. I just want to contribute whatever I wake up that day feeling like. A lot of times, I make these detailed plans and one little thing will get delayed, and then this thing gets messed up and this other thing falls through and then this new opportunity comes. So I’ve just been living in the moment. My goal is just to make better work, great work, amazing work and reach people.

Photos via Alex Yarrish

As always, here’s the official Hoops, Rap and Everything Black playlist. It’ll be updated weekly with each column. Add the playlist to your library to stay in the know, and be sure to follow SLAM on Spotify.

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: Artist Justin Ruby Cuts Up Your Favorite Kicks to Make Stunning Basketball Portraits appeared first on SLAM.

Towns, originally from Columbus, OH, graduated from high school in 2016 as a top-100 recruit. With more than 20 scholarship offers, he committed to Harvard University over the likes of high majors like Ohio State and Michigan. He lived up to his hype, becoming an instant impact player for the Crimson and, as a sophomore, winning Ivy League Player of the Year and being named AP All-America honorable mention. Unfortunately, injuries would cause him to miss the following two seasons.

Hoping for a fresh start, Towns transferred home to Ohio State University, where he suffered another serious injury, causing him to miss yet another season. He then announced that he’d be stepping away from the game completely to focus on his health, both physical and mental.

The time away helped Towns get more aligned with what he believes his purpose is. If he was going to give basketball another try, the only school he wanted to play for was Howard University.

“I knew off jump that I wanted to go to Howard if I had any eligibility left,” Towns tells me.

“I feel like the value of something like attending an HBCU isn’t always seen clearly,” he says when asked about his decision to attend Howard. “It’s [Black people’s] to build, ours to protect and ours to cultivate into this huge magical thing.”

Photos via Getty Images.

The post New Chapter: Inside Seth Towns’ Decision to Transfer to Howard University appeared first on SLAM.

After attending Rutgers her freshman year, where she was a 50-40-90 player and earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors and made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, Johnson transferred to NC State, where she earned ACC Sixth Player of the Year as a sophomore and All-ACC Second Team honors last year as a junior.

At the end of last season, she entered the transfer portal again, this time for a new challenge.

She chose to lace them up for Norfolk State University, the reigning MEAC regular season and tournament champions, and as excited as she is to experience the HBCU culture firsthand, she made it clear this was a basketball decision.

“They have a lot of good coaches on that level, and they develop players. That was important for me this time around,” Johnson tells me. Johnson hopes her decision will lead more girls to weigh HBCUs as legitimate options to further their careers and achieve their goals. Her sights are set on the WNBA, and many mock drafts have her projected as a potential first-round pick. Anyone who’s smart wouldn’t bet against her.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Diamond Johnson’s Sights are Set on the WNBA, But First: Doing Something Special at Norfolk State University appeared first on SLAM.

After 22 years, Hampton announced it was leaving the MEAC in 2017. In the six years since, Hampton has moved conferences twice, first to the Big South and then to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) last year-each move marking a significant uptick in competition.

“I hate to say it, but the first year [in the CAA] was a rude awakening,” says Hampton head coach Edward Joyner Jr., who’s been with the program since 2006. “But it was also an exciting new endeavor that we were willing and ready to jump into. Going into our second year, we’re raising the bar for ourselves with what we’re recruiting and what we’re trying to do to put ourselves in position. We’re capable of winning some ball games and trying to play with the elite in the conference.”

Despite no longer being in the MEAC, Coach Joyner has made it a point for his program not to forget the HBCU community it’s a part of. He intends to sustain the rivalries deeply rooted in the fabric of Hampton basketball, like those with Howard and crosstown rivals Norfolk State. “We’ve tried to keep our traditional rivals,” Joyner says, “so we don’t lose the uniqueness of being an HBCU even though we left the conference.”

For the 2023-24 campaign, Hampton was voted to finish 13th out of 14 in the CAA preseason rankings. But Coach Joyner says he relishes being overlooked and proving naysayers wrong. “When you say chip on your shoulder-that shit ain’t no chip, it’s a boulder,” he says emphatically. “Right now, we’re playing for something bigger than us. We’re in a moment where [HBCUs] are being looked at through us. That’s what we preach every day. Our pressure is a different pressure, but if you don’t want that pressure, don’t come. Why not try to become the standard?”

Photos via Getty Images.

The post After Moving Conferences Twice, Hampton University is Looking to Make Some Noise in the CAA appeared first on SLAM.

It all starts with the man in the middle, Armando Bacot. Bacot decided to forgo the NBA draft and return to Chapel Hill for a fifth and final year. The highly decorated senior is North Carolina’s all-time leader in rebounds and double-doubles. A mainstay in the starting lineup since he first touched down on campus, Bacot is the heart and soul of the program and the perfect piece to build a culture around. There’s arguably nobody in the country with more expectations to succeed this year than Bacot, who was voted a Preseason First Team All-American and named one of 20 candidates on the preseason watch list for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, given to the nation’s top center. Aside from his physical ability, his wealth of experience will prove to be the most valuable asset for this Carolina squad. Being one of NIL’s biggest beneficiaries certainly helped make his decision to return easier, but the team-first big has his eyes set on making one more historic run in the tourney. 

RJ Davis is another senior who’s had a lot of major moments at UNC and decided to return for another run at a title. The 6-0 guard from White Plains, NY, is destined to see his notable work ethic and commitment to excellence pay off. His game, along with his confidence, has grown each year, and that makes him a tough cover for whoever his matchup is on any given night. Voted to the preseason watch list for the Bob Cousy Award, RJ is motivated to prove himself as one of the best point guards in the nation. UNC’s leading assist man for the past few seasons, he’s one of the most reliable guards in the ACC when the game is on the line. It’s no secret that the key to success in March is having good guard play, and that should be of no concern for the Tar Heels with RJ leading the backcourt.

Freshman guard Elliot Cadeau is the most highly touted recruit thus far in the Hubert Davis era. He reclassified up a year after committing to UNC and is expected to make an instant impact this season. The Diaper Dandy was voted 2023-24 Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year and will have every opportunity to solidify his place at the top of his class.

Other newcomers to keep an eye on are two snipers: 6-5 graduate transfer Cormac Ryan by way of Notre Dame, and 6-7 junior transfer Harrison Ingram by way of Stanford, who was voted to the preseason watch list for the Julius Erving Award.

It’s early, but this year’s Tar Heels have started the season full steam ahead. Will they be able to carry the momentum and bring home their seventh national championship come April? It won’t be easy, but they have the makings of a team ready to cut down the nets in Phoenix. 

The post The 2023 Jumpman Invitational: The UNC Tar Heels Men’s Squad are on a Revenge Tour this Season appeared first on SLAM.

Coach Golden has been meticulously building his program in two ways: through  recruiting—both the transfer portal and prep ranks—and instilling a winning mentality and commitment to collective success that all starts on the defensive end. The Gators climbed into the top 10 in KenPom’s defensive efficiency ratings at a point during last season, and they finished ranked eighth in the nation in blocks per game with just over five. Between a mix of highly touted transfers and returning players who’ve improved their games, the Gators added some offensive firepower to the fold, which should make for an exciting brand of basketball.

Riley Kugel is a player many people are expecting to have a breakthrough season. A lot are surprised he even returned to college after the skills he showcased last year and the potential he had to jump to the NBA. The former top-100 recruit earned SEC All-Freshman honors and averaged 12.6 ppg in conference play, the most by a Florida freshman since Bradley Beal in 2011-12. This year, Kugel was voted to the Coaches’ Preseason All-SEC Team.

The 6-5 swingman is the main building block for the Gators, and he’s off to a great start this season, showing why he’s destined to be a first-round pick whenever he does decide to take that step. He dropped a smooth 25 points and 9 rebounds on No. 13 Baylor and continues to thrive in his role despite being at the top of opponents’ scouting reports. Luckily for him, he doesn’t have to bear the burden of offensive output alone. His backcourt partner is proving to be just as lethal.

That partner is Walter Clayton Jr, a 6-2 combo guard transfer by way of Iona, who earned 2023 MAAC Player of the Year. He creates tempo and is going to be a key ingredient to what Florida is aiming to accomplish this season and beyond. His scoring prowess has been on full display, with an early season-high of 28 points against the ACC’s Pittsburgh Panthers. It appears that playing for Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino the last few years at Iona has paid off. Making the jump from mid-major to high-major, Clayton Jr seems right at home. While Kugel might be the player who receives most of the attention due to his NBA frame and pro-style game, Clayton Jr is the head of the snake whose production will dictate how far this Florida team goes.

Other key players include 6-4 graduate transfer Zyon Pullin and 7-1 Micah Handlogten, a sophomore transfer from Marshall. Pullin is a three-time All-Big West honoree who poured in over 1,300 points during his four years at UC Riverside, and Handlogten is a versatile big who was the 2023 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year.

On paper, this Florida roster can compete with anyone in the country. And by the looks of things early on, they might be ready to go dancin’ come March. 

The post The 2023 Jumpman Invitational: The Florida Gators Men’s Squad Has their Eyes on the Prize appeared first on SLAM.

While on her way to a workout, Evina spoke with me about her upbringing, recruitment, trusting the process, making history, being a hip-hop producer in her past life, interning with the Portland Trail Blazers, and more.

CURTIS: How are you doing? How’s the off-season been treating you?

EVINA: The off-season has been really good. I definitely miss playing, but I’ve just been getting my workouts in crazy. I either work out in Portland or Eugene. And I live in Salem, so I’m an hour from both. It’s just like, I’ve got to get it in regardless. And I feel really different this off-season, I feel really different. 

CURTIS: You grew up in a basketball family; can you talk about your family’s introduction to the game?

EVINA: Basketball was the only sport my family ever played; my mom was the only person in my family who didn’t. My dad played at OSU and overseas. All my brothers played. My younger brother plays. So it’s like basketball is just what it is.

CURTIS: So what was the moment when you knew you were special and knew you were different from your peers who you were competing against?

EVINA: I grew up playing with boys. When I was getting really good with my boys team, we would have parents from the other teams complaining like they didn’t want a girl on the team. It’s like you’re getting mad that I’m a girl, but I’m beating your son’s ass. When it got to that point it was like, ‘okay, I think we got something special.’ My coach growing up always told me that I was gonna get a scholarship from anywhere I wanted to, that I was gonna go to UConn, that I was gonna win a national championship. He literally spoke it into existence. It was just all coming true because of all the work I put in.

CURTIS: Piggybacking off of that, coming out of high school you were a top two prospect in the country. Can you speak to the preparation that’s necessary to reach that point? What did your day-to-day look like growing up as you were becoming the most sought after recruit?

EVINA: Thinking back on it now, it was kind of crazy–like the type of day-to-day I was having, especially at a young age. And coaching kids now, I feel like they don’t do what I was doing and just kind of eat, live and breathe basketball. I just loved the game. I loved the game to a point where I felt myself getting better and I didn’t want to stop. I would wake up and my coach–his name is Price–would pick me up from my house. Me and my brothers would go to the gym and get it in at like 6 a.m. Then he would take us to the donut shop, we would all go to school, and after school I would find some way to the gym. If my parents were at work and couldn’t take me, I would walk like an hour to the gym. And I would be there until like 10 o’clock and I wouldn’t leave. I missed out on a lot of things, but back then it was like I didn’t want to be anywhere else. The gym was my safe place, so I was just there all the time and I was good there. 

CURTIS: How did your recruitment out of high school unfold, what made Tennessee the right choice initially?

EVINA: Basketball-wise Notre Dame was where I wanted to go. But the school part, I was like nah this isn’t gonna work. I remember going on an unofficial visit to Stanford as a freshman and as soon as we were walking away from the coach, my mom and I looked at each other and I was like, ‘this ain’t it.’ There was nothing wrong with it, it just wasn’t for me. Then when I got down to my top five, there were definitely a couple of schools I didn’t want to tell no. I felt like at the time, Tennessee had everything that I wanted. They had a Black cultural center. I’m like, ‘this is where I’m supposed to be, my people are here, I feel at home.’

CURTIS: So after having two impactful seasons, you decided to transfer; what went into that decision and why UConn?

EVINA: There was just a lot of stuff going on at Tennessee. I still have no regrets. I’m still super thankful that I went there and spent my time there. I met some incredible people who I still talk to. And it’s not like I wasn’t getting playing time. I was the starting point guard both years, leading the team in scoring and assists. I told myself I never wanted to be the kid to transfer and go to another school. After my first year, there was so much going on outside of basketball that was affecting us on the court. But I wanted to stick it out and do whatever was possible to make things better. But then it got worse. I didn’t feel like we had a true culture. The year I transferred was the first year of the transfer portal. I put my name in the portal and my AAU coach was in contact with UConn. I had a lot of schools reach out but I was turning people down left and right. I pretty much knew where I wanted to go. I didn’t want this elaborate process. I knew if I had a good official visit that I was gonna commit on the spot.

CURTIS: After two great years at UConn, it was time to decide what your next steps were. Did you consider using the extra year of eligibility that was granted as a result of COVID?

EVINA: Hell no, I was ready to go [laughing]. Five years was already too much. I had a really good redshirt junior year, I really almost left after that. I played super well in the tournament and they had me projected in the top ten, but we didn’t win. We lost in the Final Four. Me being stingy, I was like we got unfinished business and ended up coming back the next year, which I don’t regret either.

CURTIS: How did your time at UConn prepare you for the W?

EVINA: Honestly, the transition from UConn to the pros was pretty easy, and I think it’s because we have a pro-like system already embedded in UConn. Both on the court and off the court, at UConn, we have to dress and present ourselves a certain way. It was annoying at times, but then you get to the league and it’s like, ‘oh shit, this makes sense.’ So transitioning, I don’t think was hard at all. But it was definitely different in knowing there’s only 12 teams and barely 12 roster spots. There’s only about maybe three people on each time with guaranteed contracts. You’re coming in thinking they’re gonna keep you, but they don’t care where you come from. Sometimes it’s not even about whether you played good or bad. For example, when I got drafted to Seattle, it was the perfect team, perfect situation, wrong time. But it’s like you just gotta keep it pushing. And it’s hard for a young player to jump around. I’ve been on five different teams in two years.

CURTIS: Can you speak to trusting the process and what that looks like for you?

EVINA: It’s definitely been a journey and it’s super tough not letting your mind get to a point of thinking you’re not good enough. But everywhere I’ve been, every place I’ve been to, I’ve continued to put the work in, whether I was playing or not. You just gotta keep your mind into it. All the work I put in helps me never waver from knowing I’m good enough and belong in the league. I’m getting better. I’m gonna get my time at the right time. And I think when you just continue to put the work in–like especially this off-season, I just feel different.

CURTIS:  What do you like to do when you’re not hooping?

EVINA: I love music. I’m listening to music all the time. All the different words, the different beats. Maybe I was a producer in my past life. Either that or a mob wife, I think [laughing]. But yeah, I love listening to music and just vibing for real. I like going to concerts. I just be chillin’, watching movies. I don’t really be on nothing crazy.

CURTIS: Who are your favorite hip-hop artists?

EVINA: Probably Kendrick right on top of Cole. But then sometimes I’ll throw in Young Dolph or BigXThaPlug, like the Tennessee will come out, you feel me? It really depends on what my mood is. Sometimes Dame D.O.L.L.A will be in the mix. Dame can really rap.

CURTIS: Apple Music or Spotify?

EVINA: I’m an Apple Music girl.

CURTIS: What’s your Apple Music replay looking like, who’s at the top?

EVINA: It’s pretty versatile. I know Larry June got it. I’ve been listening to him like crazy. His album that came out this year is probably my favorite from top to bottom. I listen to a lot of Mexican music trying to work on my Spanish a little bit.

CURTIS: Oh wow, that’s a perfect segue because I wanted to ask you about that. You are the first, and only, Mexican-American to be drafted in WNBA history and be playing in the League. Can you talk about your roots and what it was like when you first found out that you’d made history? 

EVINA: I think it was my mom who told me because someone had said it on Twitter. She was like, ‘I didn’t know you were the first Mexican-American to be drafted.’ Man, when I got my Mexican passport, I cried, like literally tears coming out my eyes. Just because it means so much to me. I’m half Black, half Mexican and all my life, because I may not appear as a Mexican, people didn’t believe me. So when I got my passport, I’m like you can’t tell me shit, this is legit. I’m really Mexican, my mom is full Mexican. So just being able to have that passport, how much it means to my family, it really does mean a lot to me. Hopefully, one day I’ll be able to put a Mexico jersey on. 

CURTIS: How has your identity shaped you as a person?

EVINA: Just feeling the love from my family–I think that’s what it’s about, right? They come up to me and tell me I make them proud. They tell me to keep going and that I give them hope and just a different perspective. I’m like ‘damn, really? I’m just putting the ball in the hoop.’ When I hear them talk to me like that, it’s just like I don’t ever want to stop–knowing the impact I have on my family and for the people who always believed in me. I played down there this past year and that was super cool. And I think that’s the main reason why I’m trying to learn Spanish now. That’s definitely my goal. I told all my Mexican teammates to only speak to me in Spanish. That’s the only way I’m going to learn.

CURTIS: I read that you interned with the Portland Trail Blazers. What was that experience like: what’d you do, what’d you learn? There’s a wave of W players really emerging in the NBA/media space. Can you talk about why you chose to intern with the team, and what some of your off-court aspirations are?

EVINA: I was an intern for basketball operations. I was learning everything–salaries, salary cap, contracts, scouting. There are so many layers to it. I learned how to cut up film. I was helping with warmups and a bunch of other stuff. It was a huge learning process, just to kind of see the other side of things. I’ve been the player, so not being on the player’s side of things was different. The money the NBA is playing with is totally different. I’d rather do a 10-day in the NBA than a full season in the W [laughing]. But yeah, I wanna hoop as long as I can, but I wanna have other stuff going while I’m hooping. 

CURTIS: Last question: What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you? Could be anything.

EVINA: Maybe that I have a big and pretty funny personality, just not taking life too serious[ly]. People around me are like, ‘I didn’t think you were gonna be like this, I thought you were just a cute face.’ I hate people like that. You know, she or he looks good or looks cool, but their personality is trash. I never wanted to be that type of person.

Photos via Getty Images.

As always, here’s the official Hoops, Rap and Everything Black playlist. It’ll be updated weekly with each column. Add the playlist to your library to stay in the know, and be sure to follow SLAM on Spotify.

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: Evina Westbrook Talks Sparks Off-Season, Her Love For Hip-Hop, Mexican Roots and Interning With the Trail Blazers appeared first on SLAM.

For the second year in a row—after Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe last year—the reigning men’s basketball national player of the year returned to college instead of going pro. Zach Edey, the 7-4 big fella by way of Canada, is back for one final season with the Purdue Boilermakers, who were ranked third in the AP Top 25 preseason poll and on a short list of favorites to finish the season cutting down the nets in Phoenix. Edey was named a unanimous AP preseason All-American, and up to this point in the season, he’s proving why. 

While a repeat sweep of all the national player of the year awards would be nice, Edey’s decision to come back was about something much bigger than individual accolades. “It was coming back and playing with a team that really loves me, teammates that I love, a coaching staff that loves me, university that loves me and a fan base that loves me,” says Edey. “And then to be able to compete for every championship that there is in the country, that’s a pretty tough deal to turn down.”

After falling on the wrong side of a Cinderella story last year and losing to No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Purdue has returned most of its core. The revenge tour starts and ends with the squad’s best player, Edey.

“I’m not too worried about trying to prove myself to people, that could get dangerous,“ he says. “I know who I am, I know what I bring, I know what I do. I’m focused on putting up numbers in the win column.”

Photos via Getty Images.

The post Zach Edey is on a Revenge Tour and Ready to Bring Purdue Back to Dominance appeared first on SLAM.

Maria Isabel, 27, is on her way to becoming a superstar, there’s no doubt about it. The singer/songwriter has been singing since she could speak, and began professionally making music about four years ago. If she’s not in the recording studio or gracing a stage, there’s a good chance you’ll see her courtside at The Garden, cheering on her beloved New York Knicks. With a charming voice and presence that can mesmerize any crowd, the Queens native finds a way to captivate any audience she’s surrounded by. Don’t blink, soon enough she’ll probably be headlining her own show at The World’s Most Famous Arena.

I sat down with Maria who spoke with me about her love for basketball, how the game inspires her, her appreciation for hip-hop, what we can expect next from her and more.

CURTIS: Jumping straight into it, you carry New York with you everywhere you go; can you walk me through your upbringing and what being born and raised in Queens means to you? How has that influenced you to get to this point?

MARIA: I was born in Flushing. My parents are both Dominican, so we went back and forth a lot between [New York] and the Dominican Republic. But yeah, Queens is literally my whole world. I feel like it’s affected me in so many ways, just being surrounded by so many people at all times. I mean, it’s the most diverse place in the world. So I feel like from a young age, I was exposed to a lot–a lot of different people and a lot of different sounds. And then within my community itself, I feel like I was really influenced in terms of the kind of music I was listening to and the way I dress. So yeah, I feel like it’s a huge part of who I am.

CURTIS: Being exposed to so many sounds like you say, was there a specific moment growing up for you where you just knew you wanted to build a career through music and remove any plan B or other options?

MARIA: I don’t think there was a specific moment where I was like, ‘Oh my God, I love music.’ I just don’t remember not feeling that way. But I think more so I had a moment of like, ‘Oh, this is gonna work.’ It was about two years ago, going on my first headline tour, and especially playing the New York show. I had a few other stops on the tour and they all went well and it was really cool, but something about being home in my community with people I didn’t know, but also people I grew up with, too – being on that stage and seeing how that went was the biggest moment I’ve had so far that made me feel like this is working.

CURTIS: Switching gears a bit – so clearly, we’re at SLAM and I’m familiar with your deep interest in basketball. what was your introduction to the game; where did that stem from? Was it as a kid growing up, was it an interest that developed more recently?

MARIA: I can’t really remember what age, but I want to say late elementary school or early middle school. I have a lot of cousins, and we were all about the same age and grew up together in Queens. Our parents would always be working, so after school we would just kind of pick someone’s house and hang out there all day. One of my cousins, who I was going to school with at the time is a huge basketball fan – lives and breathes the NBA. I would go to his house after school and he would literally make me watch Kobe highlights. We had a hoop in his backyard and after we finished homework, he would literally have me doing drills in the back. I didn’t even have basketball shoes. He was two or three sizes bigger than me and I would double sock and use his. I’d be in the backyard running around with my food sliding around in his shoes. But yeah, I don’t know. I just had so much fun doing that after school. I think that was the first time I really loved something aside from singing, as a kid, specifically.

CURTIS: So, did you play at your middle school?

MARIA: Yeah. But it really wasn’t serious [chuckles]. It was like a few teams within the school and they would just play each other. There was no formal try out or anything like that. It was very much so if you want to be on the team, you’re on the team. But it was all guys. So I showed up one day and I was the only girl, and they were definitely hesitant. But it was really funny having that experience of playing basketball. I wouldn’t say I was great, but I had a great jump shot [laughing]. But I had no handles, like you could take the ball from me in two seconds. At first everyone was weird because I was the only girl, so no one wanted to play defense on me, which was fine by me because I would literally just stand in the corner, get passed the ball and make the shot. It was phenomenal until people realized I was making the shot and then there was like no mercy. After that, it definitely got harder to participate when everyone’s like a foot taller than you. But it was a good time!

CURTIS: What’s your favorite aspect of basketball?

MARIA: There’s just a different energy there. I always say I love my job, but it makes me really sad that I’ll never know what it feels like to win a ring. I don’t know why but watching that happen just feels untouchable, whatever that feeling is at the end of a season. 

CURTIS: Are there any parts of basketball that you implement into your craft of singing and performing on the day-to-day basis?

MARIA: Absolutely. Going to the gym and being in that space meeting different athletes, and obviously watching basketball, I get inspired by them just in terms of how they take care of their bodies and prep for seasons and games. Singing is really similar. Being on tour and stuff is no easy feat. My first tour was a 60-minute show and I think people underestimate how much prep there is for that – even in terms of lung capacity. If you aren’t ready, you’re running out of breath up there for sure. Even when you are ready, it’s still hard. So, yeah, I think the more I learn from hoopers, the more I try to take that into my own experience of just staying ready so I don’t have to get ready.

CURTIS: Are there any specific basketball players who come to mind when you think of those that have inspired you?

MARIA: Yeah, I think in terms of love for the craft and commitment to it, I think Kobe’s the biggest one. He was really my introduction to basketball, but also I think everyone, regardless of being a basketball fan, you’ve heard of the Kobe mentality. So I think the same commitment of where it’s like, this is my life and doing whatever it takes to be the best. And then when I think in general, just like icon wise, it’s AI. I mean, he’s just a legend.

CURTIS: Switching gears once more to hip-hop. From what I’ve observed of you, you have a pretty expansive palette of music you listen to. As an R&B singer, can you speak to where hip-hop falls into that?

MARIA: Growing up in Queens, I literally couldn’t open my window without hearing Jay-Z or Nas coming through the window. Sonically, hip-hop is really impactful. Even making R&B, a lot of the sonic elements still get pulled from hip-hop. And obviously, my method of singing over it is softer, but even in the sense of someone like Lauryn Hill, kind of trying to go down that road is super influenced by hip-hop. But also, I think a big part of why I love hip-hop so much is because I feel like it was people like Jay-Z and Nas who were speaking to the experience of growing up in New York. So, I was listening to other artists and always being influenced, but something about that just always felt like home.

CURTIS: Some of your production is definitely hip-hop influenced. Is that intentional going into it when you’re creating, or is it more so a natural progression of making music for you with hip-hop being so embedded in the culture?

MARIA: Yeah, I think it’s a more natural thing where I don’t even realize I’m doing it. We’ll start a song off softer and I’ll just feel like something is missing. There’s like a push missing. And that’s usually where hip-hop comes in. Even writing my last single – I was in the studio with the producer, Illangelo, and we were listening to A Tribe Called Quest and a lot of Q-Tip before even beginning to think about the song. I feel like the song flowed naturally from the influence before I started making it. Rap and hip-hop are truly like poetry.

CURTIS: You referenced your single “I Drove You Crazy,” so I have to ask. Does that mean we can expect a project soon? No pressure [laughing]. I know you probably get this question all the time.

MARIA: Yeah, I’m finishing an album right now, which I’m really excited about. I’ve definitely been writing for the last year and a half or so. And honestly, a lot of that was just like experimenting with new stuff and trying to grow from where I was and meeting new people and trying new things. But yeah, it’s coming together. 

CURTIS: As we’re approaching the holiday season and new year, what are some things that you feel are next for you in terms of your growth as a human, as an artist and just where you want to take your career?

MARIA: New music is obviously the biggest thing. I think R&B was my first love when it came to singing. But I’m Dominican, I’m from Queens, like we said. So a lot of Latin and hip-hop influences, and I really want to just keep expanding on all of those things. My music is my most honest representation of myself. So, I really want to make sure that I kind of hit all those touch points as I grow. So, new sounds for sure. And then I really want to go back on tour in the new year, hopefully in the spring, and see more places, see more people.

Curtis’ Corner

Hoops: Hoop fans everywhere can rejoice! Bronny James was cleared to return this week, four months after he suffered cardiac arrest at a summer workout. He’s one step closer to returning to game action, which means we’re maybe one step closer to seeing the first father-son duo grace the same court in an NBA game. It’s so easy to root for Bronny; most importantly, I’m just glad he’s healthy.

Rap: Latto is one of my favorite rappers, male or female. She bodied her verse in the all-women cypher that was released this week on XXL. If you haven’t listened yet, you’re doing yourself a disservice.

Everything Black: Former five-star recruit Mikey Williams found himself in a world of trouble with the law earlier this year. He was given a second chance this week after his nine felony charges essentially turned into one misdemeanor (given he satisfies a list of requirements). I’m just thankful he’ll have the opportunity to right the ship. Hopefully, we’re able to see him suit up for Memphis before the season is out. More than anything, I hope he’s able to put this behind him, learn from his experiences and move forward to live out his dreams and fulfill his potential.

As always, here’s the official Hoops, Rap and Everything Black playlist. It’ll be updated weekly with each column. Add the playlist to your library to stay in the know, and be sure to follow SLAM on Spotify.

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: Singer/Songwriter Maria Isabel Discusses How Basketball and Hip-Hop Inspire Her Career as an Artist appeared first on SLAM.

Villanova Defeats UNC in the National Championship Game at the Buzzer (2016)

UNC’s Marcus Paige had just hit what would be one of the NCAA’s craziest shots in national championship history to tie the game at 74 a piece with just under 5 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for Paige, that shot is erased from many people’s memory bank because of what transpired shortly after. Coming out of a timeout with the length of the court to go and 4.7 seconds on the clock, Villanova’s Kris Jenkins inbounded the ball to Ryan Arcidiacono. He’d make his way up the court and pitch the ball back to Jenkins who was trailing the play. With 1.2 seconds left, Jenkins walked into an open three-pointer, let off a picture-perfect textbook release and the rest was history. Buzzer beaters are among the most exciting plays in basketball. But a buzzer-beater to win the national championship?! There’s a pretty good chance I’ll never see another walk-off buzzer-beater in the national championship again in my life. For that reason alone, I’ll savor this moment forever.

LeBron James Breaks the NBA’s All-Time Scoring Record (2023)

I’m just old enough to remember watching LeBron James when he was at St. Vincent-St. Mary. It feels like yesterday he was deemed “The Chosen One” as a 17-year-old junior in high school. Love him or hate him, there’s no true basketball lover who doesn’t respect the man. As a Kobe fan, I never rooted for LeBron growing up but I always respected his greatness. Quite frankly, he didn’t leave me with much of a choice. His journey from high school phenom to the Mount Rushmore of basketball has been admirable, to say the least. Watching him shoot one of his patented mid-range fadeaway jumpers to break Kareem’s all-time NBA scoring record is a basketball memory I’ll tell my kids about one day. At the rate he’s going, LeBron looks like he could play another 20 years. My future kids just might get to watch him for themselves.

Stephen Curry Breaks the NBA’s All-Time Three-Point Record (2021)

Every time Stephen Curry makes a three-pointer, he breaks a record. His own record. It’s no secret that Steph is the best shooter to walk this planet. On Dec. 14, 2022, under the bright lights of the world’s most famous arena Madison Square Garden, he stamped what was already a foregone conclusion. As he broke free from the Knicks’ defense, he caught a pass on the right wing from Andrew Wiggins and let it go with no hesitation like he’s done too many times to count over the course of his career. Nothing but net. Watching him lead his underdog Davidson Wildcats on an unprecedented NCAA Tournament run back in 2008 was mesmerizing. Experiencing watching him break the NBA’s all-time three-point record, and counting, is the epitome of what makes Steph the greatest show on earth.

Dawn Staley Becomes the First Black Coach to Win Two Division I Titles (2022)

I’m a fan of so many women’s college basketball programs, but since I was a kid UConn has been my favorite. I never ever root against them. This was the case in 2022 as they faced the South Carolina Gamecocks in the national championship. From the tip-off, South Carolina controlled the game and ended up pulling out a 15-point victory for what’d be Dawn Staley’s second national championship. As much as I would’ve loved to see Paige Bueckers capture a chip, I couldn’t help but be proud of witnessing history with Coach Staley becoming the first Black coach, male or female, to win two Division I titles. She’s known for no-nonsense approach to the game, but it’s evident how much she loves her players. In a sport that’s made up of mostly Black athletes, Black women coaches aren’t represented equitably. Coach Staley takes pride in her Blackness and carries that chip on her shoulder. Being able to watch her handle herself so gracefully on the way to making Black history is one of my favorite hoop memories that I can recall. 

Kobe Bryant Scores 60 in his Farewell Game at Staples Center (2016)

On April 13, 2016, basketball enthusiasts had a tough decision to make. You could either choose to watch the Golden State Warriors strive for their record-breaking 73rd victory or you could tune in to watch Kobe Bryant’s last game ever. As much as I love some Golden State, Kobe’s farewell was the easy choice for me. At this point, Kobe was fighting through a broken down body that he put on the line for two decades on his way to becoming one of the greatest hoopers to ever grace a court. The aura surrounding the game was charged with emotion as Kobe delivered a performance for the ages. He willed his way to 60 points, and most importantly a comeback win over the Jazz. Every basket felt like a poetic punctuation mark to an illustrious career. As the final buzzer sounded, the cheers of the crowd echoed gratitude, respect and a profound farewell to one of the game’s greatest icons. Kobe’s last game was more than a spectacle; it was a symphony of greatness that basketball fans will cherish forever.

Curtis’ Corner

Hoops: College Basketball “Feast Week” is underrated as a series of sporting events. This past week, we’ve seen some great hoop from some of the top teams in the country. Feast Week gives teams a taste of tournament-style play in preparation for March Madness down the road. The Zach Edey-led Purdue Boilermakers won the Maui Invitational for the first time in program history. Could this be the year they win the Big Dance, too?

Rap: Like most rap fans, Scary Hours 3 has been on constant rotation for me. Every track is barred up, and you hatin’ if you say otherwise. “Evil Ways” and “The Shoe Fits” are my go-to’s from the EP. Furthermore, I’m patiently waiting for Cole’s “The Fall Off” and really curious to hear what it will sound like. What are the chances we get it before the year is out?

Everything Black: André 3000’s “New Blue Sun” is beautiful. It’s the perfect background music for any occasion. I love how comfortable André is living in his truth. As much as I’d love one, he doesn’t owe us a hip-hop album. His legacy is set in stone as one of the culture’s greatest artists ever.

As always, here’s the official Hoops, Rap and Everything Black playlist. It’ll be updated weekly with each column. Add the playlist to your library to stay in the know, and be sure to follow SLAM on Spotify.

Photos via Getty Images

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: 5 Moments Every Hoop Fan Should be Thankful to Have Witnessed appeared first on SLAM.

Quiet as it’s kept, Osman Bangura’s fingerprints are all over the game at every level—high school, college and even the NBA. At different points over the past two decades, he coached one of the nation’s best basketball programs in Virginia’s Paul VI High School, and at Howard University for a stint. He’s also helped build Team Durant and Team Takeover, respectively, to become two of the premier Nike EYBL programs in the country. When it comes to coaching and basketball, you name it and Osman has done it. He’s played many roles, both big and small, in helping a multitude of hoopers achieve their dream of playing Division I basketball and some to the league. He has unequivocally become THE guy in the DMV grassroots basketball landscape.

“I’ve been coaching for a very long time,” says Osman. “But people don’t really know that because I don’t boast. People do the talking.”

Osman, 46, who was born in Sierra Leone and moved to Prince George’s County, Maryland when he was eight, has no qualms about playing the background while others get the shine. His soft-spoken confidence sets him apart from many of his peers. He’s not in it for his ego. He knows his role—whichever one the moment calls for—and he plays it about as well as anyone in the country in his field. He simply wants to help put kids in a position to get scholarships and help kids improve their quality of life through the game, and he’s done both ten times over. It’s not that he shies away from the notoriety and attention, but he’s not seeking it either.

“I’ve done so much for kids and I don’t expect nothing back,” he tells me. “The way I was raised, you do right and the blessings are gonna come.”

Osman got into basketball late, and though he developed to be a pretty good player, admits he was never quite the prospect like his brother, Alpha Bangura, who went on to play for St. John’s University before carving out a solid career overseas. “I’ve always been a solid player. I was more of a defensive guy, I wasn’t a stud or all-American,” says Osman describing his game. And while he earned some opportunities at the next level, his college playing career was full of forks in the road.

Unfortunately for Osman, he suffered a handful of injuries including a ruptured Achilles and detached retina, which would eventually get the best of him and prevent him from having the playing career he envisioned for himself. He last played for Division III powerhouse Virginia Wesleyan in Virginia Beach before hanging up his jersey for good. “I was so beat, I thought basketball just wasn’t for me. I couldn’t get through it,” he says. 

But Osman knew he still had more to give to the game, even if it was no longer predicated on his athletic abilities. Osman returned to Maryland and one of the first people he reached out to was Glenn Farello, then-head coach at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, one of the best public high school basketball programs in the area at the time.

Farello has since moved on to coach Paul VI, where he’s been for the past 16 seasons. Farello has been named Coach of the Year 13 times. He’s coached more than 80 college basketball players and counting, with 22 who have played professionally five who have played in the NBA. And Osman was there for a chunk of that. “I told Farello, ‘Man, listen, I’m back home [from school]. I been through so much and I want to give back. I have a lot to share,’” Osman recalls. It was a no-brainer for Farello who coached Osman’s brother, Alpha, years prior.

The year was 2003 when Osman made that phone call and jumped into coaching, and he hasn’t looked back since.

“I felt [coaching] is what I had to do, I felt like I sold myself short as a player. I know I could’ve done so much more but I just coasted through it,” says Osman. “I had to give back, even if just one person got something out of it.” Well, if you consider all the current college coaches, Division I hoopers and NBA players who Osman coached along his journey, it’s safe to say that a lot of people got something out of it. Brooklyn Nets’ Dariq Whitehead, New Orleans Pelicans’ Jordan Hawkins, Syracuse’s Judah Mintz, Oregon’s Kwame Evans and Florida State’s Jalen Warley are just a super tiny sample size of Osman’s former players.

This list of basketball success stories that Osman is attached to is only going to keep growing, too. Today, he is the head coach at Thomas Pullen, which Osman says is one of the best middle school basketball programs in Maryland. He also recently decided to part ways with Team Durant as their program director and head coach, and rejoin crosstown rival Team Takeover, where he got his first taste of coaching AAU hoops in the early 2010s. Even with Osman leaving Team Durant and joining forces with a rival squad, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone badmouth him or question his integrity. And that’s because Osman’s intentions are made very clear; it’s always all about the kids.

Many people consider the DMV to be the promise land for college basketball recruiting, and Osman is at the center of it. He’s not the only major figure in this space, but he’s at the top of a shortlist of the most impactful. And while Osman could justifiably walk around with his chest out, he prefers to play it cool. He gives the credit back to his student-athletes and his staff every chance he gets.

“Without the kids, there’s no coaching,” says Osman. “And the biggest thing I would say is that there’s way you could do all of this by yourself. I would absolutely not be successful if I didn’t have my staff. I have it easy because I stand up [and coach], but these guys take a lot off my shoulders from scouting, recruiting, washing uniforms and driving vans.”

There aren’t many youth coaches out there with a track record that’s comparable to Osman’s. He’s done just about everything this game has to offer. But he’s still determined to keep growing and evolving. He says he still has feats to accomplish and goals to check off. He’s worked at every level except the NBA, and that’s where he has his eyes set when thinking about the distant future. “I’ve done so much in this [youth basketball] space and I think I’m needed in this space. But long-term I would love to be an NBA scout or GM in the future,” says Osman. “I couldn’t play at the highest level but maybe I can coach, be a scout or in the front office at the highest level and impact the game that way.”

Sure, his goals are lofty but I wouldn’t bet against Osman. And it goes back to something he said early on, “you do right and the blessings are gonna come.” He’s not perfect, nobody is. But Osman has done a lot of right over the years. It’s safe to assume the blessings are going to continue coming tenfold.

Curtis’ Corner

Hoops: Another week of college hoops and another freshman putting the world on notice for what to expect for years to come. This time it was LSU WBB freshman Mikaylah Williams who dropped 42 points in a win against Kent State. LSU is loaded with experience and a championship pedigree made apparent by last year’s national championship. Adding talented freshmen like Mikaylah to the fold just means LSU will be a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.

Rap: If you’re on the hunt for a refreshing listen filled with elegant production, smooth flows and quality substance, check out Oddisee’s album “To What End,” which dropped early this year. I just recently came across it and have been running it consistently.

Everything Black: This week Brandon Jennings penned a guest story for SLAM about his Tuff Crowd collaboration with Stephen Curry’s Curry Brand. Brandon called it “the most impactful collaboration the league has ever seen” and he made some valid points to support his claim. Be sure to give that a read and check out the collection here.

As always, here’s the official Hoops, Rap and Everything Black playlist. It’ll be updated weekly with each column. Add the playlist to your library to stay in the know, and be sure to follow SLAM on Spotify.

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: Osman Bangura is the Grassroots Guru for DMV Hoops appeared first on SLAM.

When I was deciding how I wanted to kick the column off, I knew I wanted to take it back to the very essence of why we’re all here in the first place: the love of the game. Over the years, I’ve played with a lot of people who love to ball, but there’s one person who’s separated himself from the pack. 

Seth Allen, former Maryland Terrapin, Virginia Tech Hokie and ACC 6th Man of the Year is the best player I’ve played with—and I’ve played with my fair share of killers. He was my backcourt partner for a few years in high school and someone I went through a lot of battles with on and off the court. I got a first-row seat to his rise from an overlooked prospect to an ACC impact player. I knew Seth was the perfect person to kick off this column.

It’d been a minute since he and I connected for a long conversation, so it was great catching up and hearing him walk me through his journey from his perspective. It all starts with the love of the game.

“My love for the game started young,” Seth tells me. “Ball” was his first word. A basketball he got when he was four years old was the first Christmas present he remembers. And with a lot going on in his household growing up, basketball was the only thing that provided him with a sense of stability. “Basketball was the only thing that was consistent for me in life,” he says. “I was always in different types of environments, and basketball was the most stable thing in my life. I was always around different people, but basketball was always the same.”

There are elite hoopers all across the world. Make no mistake about it, Seth Allen is one of them. And nobody, I mean nobody, becomes elite by accident. You don’t go from being an underrated 3-star prospect to Mark Turgeon’s first Maryland recruit by accident. You aren’t given the keys as an ACC freshman point guard by accident. You don’t hit the game-winning free throws against No.1 ranked Duke, as a freshman, by accident. You don’t become the top transfer on the market by accident. You don’t become ACC 6th Man of the Year by accident. And you damn sure don’t lead a Virginia Tech Hokies squad to their first NCAA Tournament berth in over 10 years by accident. 

Sure, he’s a naturally skilled and gifted athlete. But that’s rarely ever enough. Seth’s basketball success, all of it, is rooted in his obsessive love for the game. Look up “for love of the game” and a portrait of Seth should pop up. 

He loved the game before he even knew. “At first I didn’t even know I loved it or was good at it,” says Seth. After getting enough compliments from his peers and adults around the neighborhood, he started to believe in his ability for himself. And he needed every ounce of confidence to help him overcome the challenges that’d stand in his way along his journey.

Seth’s first real obstacle: a high school coach who sprinkled a healthy dose of doubt on his Division I hopes. Fortunately, that didn’t deter Seth’s ambition from striving to accomplish everything he set out to do. After his sophomore year, Seth transferred from C.D. Hylton in Woodbridge, Virginia to Fredericksburg Christian School (FCS) in Fredericksburg, Virginia, about an hour away from home. Once again, he’d find himself getting acquainted in a new environment. Once again, he relied on basketball to provide a sense of stability. And once again, basketball proved to be a reliable companion for Seth to lean on. After an incredible junior year and an impressive showing on the summer circuit, Seth committed to the University of Maryland in 2011, becoming the Terps’ first recruit in the post-Gary Williams era. Seth would cap off a stellar two years at FCS with a resume that helped him earn his spot as the Free Lance Star’s Player of the Decade for the 2010s.

Despite his jaw-dropping performances night in and night out in high school, Seth arrived on campus in College Park with a lot of naysayers who were skeptical of his production translating to the ACC. “Out of high school, people were thinking I wasn’t gonna be able to play my freshman year, and then I ended up playing and starting half the season,” Seth recalls. “And then sophomore year… my love for the game grew the more I gave to it.” He’d always been a gym rat, but at Maryland, he quickly learned that there were levels to this. “What the game is – you get out of it what you put into it and that’s something I didn’t fully understand at a young age,” he says. “In college, every team practices and lifts weights. That’s literally like the price of admission to being a college Division I player. So then it’s about who’s gonna do extra.” Well – Seth did extra. And that extra paid off.

With Maryland announcing they’d be joining the Big Ten Conference, Seth decided he wanted to stay put in the ACC. At the time, it was the best conference in college basketball by a considerable margin. They also just added Syracuse, Louisville and Notre Dame from the Big East. On top of that, it was important that his family could easily travel from their Northern Virginia hometown to his games along the Atlantic coast. Seth was the pick of the litter of all the 2014 transfers and received interest from many of the top schools in the country. So when he committed to Buzz Williams and Virginia Tech, who had just finished 2-16 in conference play, over NCAA Tournament mainstays like UVA, Syracuse, Baylor and others, many people questioned his choice. But Seth’s decision was calculated. “It was like, ‘I want to stay in the best league. And you know what? I’m gonna go to the worst team in the ACC and show everybody I can turn this team around,’” says Seth.

Another change of scenery. Another new environment in which he’d have to find his place. Another moment in which Seth had to rely on his love and trust in basketball to provide a sense of security amid so much uncertainty. Another instance of basketball proving its loyalty to Seth. 

Seth proved to be a man of his word. As a junior In his first year leading the Hokies, after sitting out a season under the old transfer rules, they did a complete 180. They went from second to last in the conference to a winning record and finishing in the top half of the ACC, barely missing out on the Big Dance before being invited to the NIT and advancing to the second round. It’s one of the biggest program turnarounds in ACC history. But the job wasn’t done. There were higher heights to reach. And Seth knew that if he wanted to reach them, he had to take his commitment to another level. Loving the game wasn’t enough, he had to fall in love with the process.

Seth upped the ante in his approach to the game. “I would say the moment really locking in was my senior year,” Seth says. “I deleted all my social media. I really was sleeping in the gym.” Seth was able to bring it all together the following season, his senior year, becoming the nation’s most lethal player in the clutch for the 2016-17 season with about eight game-winning clutch time buckets. His heroic performances helped him earn ACC 6th Man of the Year and helped Virginia Tech clinch their first NCAA tournament berth in over 10 years. Mission accomplished.

But the story isn’t over. Not even close. 

At 29 years old, Seth has continued to find ways to get better and evolve his game. “In your late 20s, you get to start figuring out what you’re really good at,” says Seth. His love for the game has only grown and shown up in new ways, too. He’s built a sustainable pro career that has spanned seven countries thus far, and a short stint in the G-League after being drafted by the Stockton Kings. Seth has given all he’s got to the game, and he has a lot more to give. “Until the ball stops bouncing, I’m still playing,” he says. “I love the game so much, so when I stop playing, that’s going to be a big moment. I want to play as long as I can. And then I know once everything’s all said and done, like, ‘okay, I gave the game everything I had.’” 

Even then, his career in basketball won’t be over.

After he’s done playing, he intends on coaching and teaching the game. He speaks extremely highly of those who have poured into him and helped him get to where he’s at. “I was blessed to be around really good coaches and have really good guidance,” says Seth. He’s maintained his relationships with his coaches, and he’s made them all aware of his intentions on coaching down the line. It helps that he’s a sponge and takes pride in being a student of the game. He was the only one taking a notebook and pen to every team meeting, soaking up game from veteran coaches in hopes of becoming one when the time is right. 

“I want to teach the young guys and I want to see how much the game is going to evolve,” says Seth. “Basketball players are artists. If you teach them the right way to play and then let them be the artists they are, then magic and beautiful stuff comes out of that.”

But what he can’t do is teach someone to love the game. That’s a choice they have to make for themselves. What Seth can do, however, is continue to love the game himself and good things will come out of it like they always have for him. Seth owes it all to basketball. “This ball, since I was four, took me so many places,” he says. “No matter where you go, even if you don’t speak the language and can’t talk to the people, basketball has always been the same.”

Take care of the ball and the ball will take care of you. Love the ball and the ball will love you. Seth knows this better than anyone.

Photos via Getty Images.

Curtis’ Corner:

Hoops: This is your opportunity to get on the hype train early. MiLaysia Fulwiley is a PROBLEM! The South Carolina freshman put the nation on notice with her college debut and is primed to help the South Carolina women’s basketball program stay among the elites in the country for years to come. 

Rap: I’ve had Westside Gunn’s “And Then You Pray For Me” album on repeat since it dropped. It’s niche, but a banger. Go bump that one time!

Everything Black: SLAM, in partnership with The Local Gallery Toronto, just opened The Local Gallery NYC a couple of weeks ago. It’s a year-round art gallery that will always be filled with art that’s inspired by the game of basketball. The legendary Spike Lee pulled up and copped a custom New York Knicks jersey puffer vest, created by Jocelyn Hu. Spike even rocked it at the game on Wednesday for Wemby’s Madison Square Garden debut. 

Pull up and checkout the gallery on 43-42 12th St, Queens, NY 11101.

Here’s the official Hoops, Rap and Everything Black playlist. It’ll be updated weekly with each column. Add the playlist to your library to stay in the know, and be sure to follow SLAM on Spotify.

The post Hoops, Rap and Everything Black: The Love of the Game feat. Former 6MOY Seth Allen appeared first on SLAM.

Hoops and rap became the lenses in which I see the world through. And of course, those lenses are filtered with my Blackness, something I take pride in and never shy away from.

Hoops, Rap and Everything Black is a weekly column that zeroes in on the two fundamental components of SLAM—hoops and rap—while threading in other aspects of the vibrant tapestry of Black culture. You, readers, can expect dynamic storytelling, features, interviews, personal essays, photos, mood boards and videos. I’ve also put together a 22-playlist (inspired by the No. 22, which I wore for most of my hoop career) called Hoops, Rap and Everything Black playlist that will go along with each column.

Just for fun, here’s the mood board I created when conceptualizing what I want Hoops Rap and Everything Black to reflect; this should give you a glimpse of what to expect.

A little bit more about me: Modestly, I developed to be a pretty decent hooper and played DI ball at Longwood University in Virginia. I still hoop every chance I get, and God willing I’ll hoop for the rest of my life. I grew up in the DMV, and over the course of my career played for notable programs like Hoop Booth and Under Armour’s DC Assault (now DC Premier), and schools like Fredericksburg Christian School and Middleburg Academy. I played with and against pros and high-level hoopers at every turn. I got my Master’s in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University and am currently wrapping up my second Master’s in Journalism at NYU.

Now that we got all that out of the way, let’s get to it. I appreciate you for being here, and hope you join me every week on this journey. You can read the first column here.

The post Introducing: Hoops, Rap and Everything Black—a Weekly Column about the Culture of the Game appeared first on SLAM.

Last year, there was one women’s HBCU program in particular that separated itself from the pack for the vast majority of the season: Jackson State University. While members of the media were focused on Deion “Primetime” Sanders and the school’s football team, they were overlooking a historic run unfolding right before their eyes. The women’s team entered the SWAC tournament on a crazy win streak and was heavily favored to clinch a spot in March Madness. They’d end up being upset by Southern University in the semifinals on a last second buzzer-beater. This year, the Lady Tigers are on a revenge tour to make up for that lost opportunity. They’re returning All-SWAC First Teamer Ti’lan Boler and SWAC Coach of the Year Tomekia Reed, along with a group of ladies proven to have a positive impact on the floor. The sky’s the limit for the Lady Tigers–let’s see where they land.

Norfolk State punched their ticket to the Big Dance after a stellar season in which they won their regular season and conference tournament. They want to take things a step further this year. That means advancing in March Madness. Repeating their success will prove challenging as the Lady Spartans lost two All-MEAC First Team selections, including the Defensive Player of the Year, Camille Downs. But this year’s squad is star-studded, led by one NC State transfer Diamond Johnson, a potential WNBA draft pick. Johnson isn’t the only high-major talent on the roster, which consists of transfers from St. Johns, VCU and Seton Hall. Coach Larry Vickers was named MEAC Coach of the Year last season, and the staff he’s put together has been a major factors in transfers opting to play for him. The Lady Spartans have the ingredients to be very special and make some real noise in college basketball this year.

All eyes will be on returning MEAC Player of the Year Destiny Howell out of Howard University. The 6-foot guard will be on a mission to maintain her spot as the best player in the conference. She’s the only player from last year’s All-MEAC First Team who wasn’t a senior or graduate student. If she’s even a little better this year and All-Rookie selection Nile Miller continues trending upward, Howard University has a real shot at cutting down the nets at the end of the season.

HBCUs have an exceptional history of producing female athletes who embody strength, resilience and excellence both on and off the court. This season, we continue to honor and build upon this legacy.

Photos via Getty Images.

The post What to Expect for the 2023-24 HBCU Women’s Basketball Season appeared first on SLAM.

Will somebody in the SWAC stop Texas Southern from capturing a fourth consecutive conference tournament title? Will Howard carry its momentum from last year into this season and run through the MEAC again? The jury is still out.

Among HBCU teams to pay extra close attention to this upcoming season Howard is obviously near the top of the list. The program is returning a handful of core players from last year’s roster, including 2022-23 MEAC Freshman of the Year, Shy Odom. They also added two high major transfers to the mix: Seth Towns by way of Ohio State and Dom Campbell from Notre Dame.

A player who’s prone for a breakout season is point guard Zion Harmon out of Bethune-Cookman. What Harmon lacks in size, he makes up for with grit, tenacity and a special ability to apply pressure on both ends of the floor. The former four-star recruit is coming off a season in which he earned All-SWAC Second Team and Freshman of the Year honors. If he’s able to hit another gear this season, it’s not far-fetched to envision Bethune-Cookman fighting for a spot in March Madness.

One team flying under the radar that everyone should have an eye on is the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). The defensive-minded Hawks were streaky last year but had some special moments that have hoop fans wondering what the program’s ceiling could be. UMES beat Temple University (the same Temple who beat No. 16-ranked Villanova and No. 1-ranked Houston) on their home floor and had a midseason stretch in which they won 11 out of 12 games. Coach Jason Crafton’s Hawks led the nation–yes, nation–in steals per game (11.1) and forced turnovers per game (19). A battle-tested roster that’s hungry to build on the historic season they just accomplished–that’s a recipe for success.

The post HBCU Spotlight: Here’s What You Should Know Ahead of the 2023-24 Men’s HBCU Preview appeared first on SLAM.

Masai Ujiri, NBA champion and president of the Toronto Raptors, founded Giants of Africa 20 years ago but has been leading basketball camps in Africa even before that. Giants of Africa is a foundation that has youth empowerment at its core.

“We conduct basketball camps and community outreach events with an emphasis on hard work, leadership and integrity,” according to their site. Masai grew up playing basketball in Africa and took note of the talent and love for the game throughout the continent. Yet, the adequate resources at their disposal were minuscule. Masai took it upon himself to seek out like-minded people who were heavy hitters in the game that could help him change that reality. 

One of those people is Patrick Engelbrecht who played for the South Africa national team in the early 2000s. During his playing days, he met Masai who was coaching the Nigerian junior national team. Masai invited Patrick to help with the camps he was running, and they began to develop their relationship and discovered they had similar sentiments towards the state of basketball in Africa. Patrick is now the Director of International Scouting for the Toronto Raptors.

“I’ve just been working with kids for a long time, especially on the continent,” says Patrick.

Giants of Africa has grown immensely since it was first birthed as a foundation. They used to do whatever they could to get in where they fit in. But as they grow in every aspect, their aim becomes clearer and clearer, which garners more support. “The organization has become so professionalized,” says Patrick when asked about the foundation’s evolution over the years. “They’ve just done such a good job of making sure that the resources reach the kids – that the resources go to the right place.” Patrick believes this is why Giants of Africa has been able to advance so quickly. “Anytime there’s been donations, Masai has figured out how they streamline this to make sure every dime reaches the kids.”

The foundation is much more involved than just running camps, clinics and events. They are determined to make the basketball resources sustainable across the continent. “It’s been interesting watching them go from just running camps and clinics, to now taking on building infrastructure,” says Patrick. In 2021 Giants of Africa pledged and committed to building 100 courts throughout Africa. As of today, they’re up to 29 courts.

To celebrate the foundation’s 20th anniversary, they hosted their inaugural Giants of Africa Festival. The festival took place this past August in Kigali, Rwanda, standing as a beacon of a transformative shift, highlighting the continent’s prowess and untapped potential that lies within its borders. Over the course of a week, 250 boys and girls from 16 different countries participated in an eventful festival that was filled with basketball, education, culture and entertainment. 

Sarah Chan, Africa Scout for the Toronto Raptors, has been involved with Giants of Africa for almost seven years as part of the Giants of Africa development associate team. Her role is fully encompassing: she coaches and is all-hands-on-deck with anything else that is needed. “I’m looking for words to really capture it for you, but I keep telling people that you had to be there to experience how powerful this week was,” she says when asked to describer her time at the Giants of Africa Festival. “It was one of the most magical weeks I’ve ever spent in my life.”

There was a lot of anticipation for this festival as its original plans were derailed by the pandemic. But despite the setbacks, the festival far exceeded its expectations. “The main aim and main goal of the festival was to just live out Giants of Africa’s mission, to empower the African youth through basketball,” says Sarah. “I can’t use any other word than magical, and for me, that was what utopia can be. I call Giants of Africa a utopian home for all of us—the youth, the staff and all the experts that come together…everybody that comes through. It definitely is a family and it truly is a movement, and every experience is so special and it’s just full of love and very unforgettable.”

Darlene Tashobya, one of the youth who attended the festival, is currently hoopin’ at Vermont Academy. Her biggest takeaway was that “the camp is bigger than basketball,”—she made a handful of meaningful connections at the festival and says she still talks to a lot of people from the festival on a regular basis. With her sights set on playing Division I basketball, she also wants to be on the board of the women’s branch of the BAL (Basketball Africa League) and “work with FIBA to have more exposure for the women’s game in Africa and give women in Africa a bigger platform to express themselves through basketball and getting more opportunity through the sport.” 

Darlene’s list of goals is a testament to how Giants of Africa is excelling in their mission: empowering the youth of Africa through the best sport in the world, basketball.

You can learn more about the foundation here.

The post Giants of Africa is Helping Reshape the Narrative Around International Hoops appeared first on SLAM.

Spike Lee, sporting a Nike sweatsuit and Knicks-colored pair of Jordans, invited SLAM into his beautiful studio, plastered with exclusive Knicks and NBA memorabilia that he’s accumulated over the years, to reflect on the movie. He walked us through everything from the casting process, the Jordan XIIIs, working with Ray Allen and Denzel Washington, the movie’s legacy and much more.

SLAM: Can you walk us through the ideation of the movie? How did it come about and what sparked the idea?

Spike Lee: Well, for years, people had asked me when I was gonna do a basketball film. I executive produced “Love & Basketball,” but that was not mine, ya know? It wasn’t my thing. I still love that film today and people still love it. That film came out very well. So, I started to write [“He Got Game”] and I sent it to Denzel, not expecting that he was gonna like it. He called me back right away and said, Did you write this?! I said, Of course, I wrote it! And we got it made.

SLAM: Where did the title of the film come from?

SPIKE: He got game. I mean, that’s something that you just heard. I can’t say I never heard that before. If you got it, you got it. You know what “game” is. It clicked right away. Usually, when I’m thinking about a film and the subject matter, the title comes to me very quick. I gotta know what I’m writing about before I start.

SLAM: How was the casting process? Did you already have people in mind for each role?

SPIKE: Denzel played junior varsity at Fordham University. His coach was the legendary PJ Carlesimo. So I knew this script might be attractive for Denzel. I wrote this for him. And I’ve watched many, many basketball films that have been made, particularly ones with actors [who are] supposed to be basketball players. And I don’t think those films were good. Jesus Shuttlesworth is the top high school prospect in the world, and I knew in my heart that no actor could play that. So, I knew that I had to get a baller. I looked at people leaving college coming to the pros, and also players already in the League who still looked youthful, so you would believe they were a high school senior at Abraham Lincoln High School in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York.

I went to various people. Kobe said he couldn’t do it because in the offseason he’s working. Here’s something people don’t understand: Whoever I was gonna cast had to commit, pretty much, their whole offseason. There were several players who wanted me to just give them the role. They didn’t wanna come to audition, and that was not gonna happen. Ray [Allen] came in and did a phenomenal audition. But I knew for whoever I cast, I would need an acting coach. So, I hired the great Susan Batson. Denzel was giving him tips, too. And that’s how it all came together.

SLAM: Ray Allen became widely respected as one of the hardest workers and routine-driven players in the League. Did you notice any particular habits that translated while he was preparing for his role as Shuttlesworth?

SPIKE: Ray Allen was committed. I mean, that’s how he got the part. I told him, Your whole offseason is gonna be on this film. And it was a great sacrifice. These guys kill themselves in the regular season, they need their bodies to heal in the offseason. But he had no offseason. He said it wasn’t a problem. Whatever we had to do, whether it was doing a million takes or whatever, Ray did it. He was committed, and we had a great support system. I know it’s a cliche now, but we wanted to put Ray Allen in position to win.

SLAM: Was there anything that stood out about the other NBA players you casted for the supporting roles?

SPIKE: Oh, yeah. The team that made up the squad had Hill Harper, who is a very fine actor. Then the pros were Travis Best, who went to Georgia Tech; Walter McCarty, Kentucky; Rick Fox, North Carolina; and John Wallace, Syracuse. They all auditioned for the role of Jesus Shuttlesworth, but I knew that Jesus had to have teammates. So, I knew from the pool of people I auditioned, I could fill out the squad for the Abraham Lincoln Railsplitters. 

SLAM: Did you have a gut feeling, during filming, about the significant cultural impact this movie would have in the world of basketball?

SPIKE: Well, here’s the thing: I sit courtside at the World’s Most Famous Arena, The Garden. I knew if this film was not dope, I would hear it not only from the Knicks but from the visiting teams as well. And that wasn’t an option. So, I knew we had to get it together.

I also want to talk about the technical advisor on this film. One of the greats, one of the top 50 NBA players of all time,  Earl “The Pearl” Monroe. Every time we were filming a basketball sequence, Earl “The Pearl” was sitting right next to me. And we had this scene in the film where Jesus discovers that his father didn’t name him after the biblical Jesus. He was named after Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, whose nickname in the Philly schoolyard was Black Jesus.

SLAM: The “Black Toe” Air Jordan XIII was released in ’97 and ultimately got tabbed the “He Got Game” XIIIs after being popularized by the film. What about this particular silhouette made it the feature sneaker for the movie?

SPIKE: It was very intentional. It started with my first film. What did Mars wear? What did Buggin’ Out wear in “Do the Right Thing” What did Radio Raheem wear? When you grow up in New York, that’s just part of the culture. 

So I told Michael Jordan we needed to have some for the film. And then I told Denzel, too. Denzel rocked those. I know they call them the “He Got Games,” but a lot of people call them the “Denzel Washingtons,” too. I love the line in the movie when Denzel is in the sneaker store, and they see the ankle monitor.

SLAM: How did you decide on Public Enemy for the soundtrack?

SPIKE: While I was writing the script, I was listening to the classical music of Aaron Copland. He’s one of the great, great, great composers, and I knew I wanted to use select pieces he had written for various scenes in the film. Then I went back to Chuck D and Flavor Flav. I’ve always loved that song, “For What It’s Worth,” by Stephen Stills. And I wanted to use parts of that.

Then we did the music video, well, the short film. Michael Jackson told me, Spike, don’t ever use the phrase “music video.” Anyway, we did the short film. We got Stephen Stills to come back and be a part of the song. Everything came together on that one, and that’s very rare. I’m a professor at NYU, and I tell my students all the time, It’s hard to make a horrible film, let alone a decent one. Because there are so many elements, but it came together on that one.

SLAM: There’s a scene with Jesus on the couch watching TV and Shaq, Dick Vitale and John Thompson are praising his game. Above the TV is a SLAM Magazine cover with Jesus on it. At this time, SLAM had only been around for about four years. What went into this decision? 

SPIKE: SLAM is part of the culture. I had to think long and hard about having a character, Jesus Shuttlesworth, who in the film is the top high school prospect in the world. So [putting him on a SLAM cover] was very simple. 

SLAM: How do you measure the impact of the movie and how it has transcended generations?

SPIKE: A lot of these young cats, when they come to The Garden, [they] ask me if they can be in a sequel. And they were very young—some of them could not have been born when this film came out. It’s just part of the culture, ya know? I’m grateful for that. 

Here’s the thing, though. One time I wanted to do a sequel. But I knew I couldn’t do it without Denzel. Ray was on me to do a sequel, but Denzel said he didn’t do sequels. Well, I think he broke that rule. “The Equalizer,” I think there are three of them. I kid him about that.

SLAM: I actually read an article from years back where Ray was speaking of his interest in doing another film. I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask—is that something you would be interested in doing?

SPIKE: At one point, I wanted to. I mean, it’s been 25 years. I’ll see Denzel again, and since he told me he’d never do a sequel and now he’s done them, maybe he’s changed his mind. But you know, Denzel and I have done four films together. So hopefully, maybe one day we’ll get together for our fifth. I’m not saying for “He Got Game,” but just to work together. We’ve done great work together. 

SLAM: You’ve managed to maintain your spot as one of the best at what you do, despite the varying changes in the world of media. What’s keeping you inspired to not only continue adapting but also thriving in today’s climate?

SPIKE: I know I’m blessed because if you’re able to make a living doing what you love, that’s not a job. I tell my students this, too. Hell is working a job you hate. That’s not just hell, that’s holy hell. It’s a blessing, and I don’t take it for granted. I’m just very, very happy that “He Got Game” is considered a classic.

This interview has been slightly edited for clarity.

Photos via Marcus Stevens and David Lee.

The post Spike Lee on the 25th Anniversary of ‘He Got Game,’ Casting Ray Allen and the Inspiration Behind the Iconic Film appeared first on SLAM.