For Episode 91 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with Belfast-based Marc Mulholland, the Executive Director & Creative Producer of the Belfast Basketball Classic with Inspirus Sports. Mulholland is a former Irish junior international, and plays a huge role in the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic - the first NCAA tournament to take place in Europe with the Sport Changes Life Foundation and partner NCAA MAAC Conference and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He has been embedde...
Jan 28, 2021•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 91
For Episode 89 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with Great Britain and San Pablo Burgos guard Kareem Queeley. The 2001 born prospect, originally out of Leicester, has been regarded as one of the UK's brightest talents since bursting onto the scene as a 13 year old winning the MiniCopa MVP whilst on trial with Real Madrid. He swiftly signed a multi-year junior contract with Real Madrid , moving to Spain to continue his development - winning a Euroleague ANGT title in the process, whilst repres...
Jan 21, 2021•57 min•Ep. 90
For Episode 89 of the Hoopsfix podcast we sit down with Kent Crusaders Director Jesse Sazant. Sazant, originally from Canada, built the foundations of his coaching career and philosophy working under the legendary Dave Smart at Carleton University, before moving to the UK in 2000 to pursue his teaching career. He got involved with Kent Crusaders - then known as East Kent Crusaders - the day he landed in England, before becoming a director 3 years later and taking over the reins of the programme....
Jan 14, 2021•2 hr 5 min•Ep. 89
For Episode 88 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Head of Basketball Operations for Luol Deng, founder of recruitment and scouting service She's Got Next, and assistant coach at Sierra Canyon High School, Steve Vear. Vear, a former England junior international, played the majority of his career in NBL Division 1 with a season in the BBL with Leicester Riders, before making the move into to his own coaching business and working with Deng, heading up the UK arm of the Luol Deng Foundation. ...
Jan 07, 2021•2 hr 56 min•Ep. 88
In Episode 87 of the Hoopsfix podcast we sit down with former GB international and 12 year pro Dzaflo Larkai. Larkai retired from playing ahead of the 2019-20 season and made a smooth transition into life after playing as an international NBA scout with the Milwaukee Bucks. 'Flo' played professionally for 12 years, spending most of his time in Japan where he won 7 titles, including doing the regular season and playoff double three times consecutively. He also played in Spain and in the UK - suit...
Dec 31, 2020•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 87
For Episode 86 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Jamie Edwards, former England international and now heading up the new Manchester Giants project. After almost a decade of dwelling near or at the bottom of the league table, in February of 2020, Manchester Giants saw new ownership led by Edwards, and have started this season as a new-look outfit, with a competitive roster, new home venue and re-brand. Edwards grew up playing for Oldham Celtics before making the move to Manchester United a...
Dec 24, 2020•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 86
For Episode 85 of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with first year pro and GB Senior international Akwasi Yeboah. Currently plying his trade with Saint Quentin in France's Pro B for his rookie year, Yeboah is coming off a hugely successful college career, where he played at Stony Brook before becoming a grad-transfer to Rutgers. He is one of the few Brits to score over 1600 points during his college career, made multiple-all conference teams, and also led the 2017 GB Under-20 side to Division A...
Dec 17, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 85
For Episode 84 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with Worcester Wolves Head Coach Matt Newby. Having been coaching for over 21 years, Newby, is one of the few coaches to have won titles at NBL Division 4, Division 3, Division 2, Division 1 and BBL levels following his BBL Cup title in January with Worcester. He has won no less than 14 national titles across Senior competitions, from National League, to BUCS and the BBL. He built a programme from the bottom up, taking the Leeds Carnegie program...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 84
In episode 83 of the Hoopsfix podcast we sit down with founder and Director of City of Birmingham Rockets, Rob Palmer. Having originally founded a local league club in the West Midlands in 1988, Palmer also headed up the Birmingham Bullets’ junior development programme from 1993-2000, before leaving his job in banking to pursue his basketball interests, initially working with Birmingham City Council as their Active Sports Basketball Co-ordinator. He founded the City of Birmingham Rockets in 2003...
Dec 03, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 83
For Episode 82 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with former GB Senior international and more than decade-long pro Olu Babalola. Olu, who retired in 2016, is one of the most physically dominant and talented junior players to come out of the UK, coming through the great late Joe White's programme before having an esteemed high school career at St Augustine's Prep where he made multiple All-State teams whilst winning State titles, and scoring more than 1000 points. The 6'6" 260lbs (!) wing was r...
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 82
In Episode 81 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with James Merchant, founder and director of the Richmond Knights. Founded in 2009, the Knights have taken a steady, sustainable approach to growth, starting with taster sessions in schools, working their way up from friendly games to central venue league (CVL) competitions, and not entering their first team into national league until four years later. Now, 11 years later, the programme boasts over 1000 participants across 32 different primary s...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 81
For Episode 80 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with Caroline Charles, founder and owner of the Newham Youngbloods basketball club. Charles founded the Youngbloods in 1992 and for almost three decades has provided an outlet for young basketball players in one of the most deprived boroughs in the country. Caroline has been responsible for thousands of players getting their start in basketball, having fielded Youngbloods teams for both boys and girls through u14s to u18s, as well as coaching th...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 80
In Episode 79 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with one of the most highly regarded UK prospects, 2003 born and Class of 2021's Jeremy Sochan. The former Solent Kestrel departed the UK ahead of the 2019-20 season to head to powerhouse high school La Lumiere in Indiana, drawing attention and being ranked as high as in the forties by national ranking outlets, before returning to Europe this year and signing with OrangeAcademy - the feeder team of ratiopharm Ulm in Germany. Sochan - who has bot...
Nov 05, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 79
For Episode 78 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with four year pro and GB Senior international Josh Steel. Steel - currently playing in Spain's LEB Silver - was a much heralded junior in the UK, starting on BA London Leopards title winning squad as a 14 year old , being selected as a starter in the Jordan Brand Classic international game , and being a part of the Barking Abbey Kent Crusaders squad that won NBL Division 1 men with a roster of all under-19s bar one . Having represented the juni...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 78
For Episode 77 of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with Director of Myerscough College basketball academy, Neal Hopkins. In just eight years, Neal has built Myerscough to one of the most successful elite academies in the UK, having won two EABL titles (the most recent being a co-championship), 4 X AOC Elite National Cup titles, plus two Division 3 titles whilst gaining promotion to Division 2, along with a European Youth Basketball League regular season title last year, all whilst sending numer...
Oct 22, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 77
For episode 76 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with 13 year pro and 20-year coach Paul Douglas, aka Dougie. Dougie, originally a Birmingham Bullet, played all his years in the UK, predominantly in the North East, across Gateshead, Vikings, Sunderland Saints, Sunderland Scorpions, Newcastle Comets and Newcastle Eagles. Having represented England at U15, U17 and U18 levels, he received his first call up to the Senior team in 1993, and when he retired from playing in 1997 was 7th all-time in BB...
Oct 15, 2020•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 76
In episode 75 of the Hoopsfix podcast we sit down with GB starting guard and four year pro Teddy Okereafor. Currently a free agent, Okereafor is mulling over his opens and seems to be open to a return to the UK to play in the BBL, as we discussed the state of the domestic league along with his career and journey to date. Having had a successful junior career in England which culminated in an U18 national championship with the Westminster Warriors, Teddy went to the US to Christchurch High School...
Oct 08, 2020•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 75
For Episode 74 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Great Britain big man, Gabe Olaseni, currently plying his trade in Turkey with Buyukcekmece . This episode is supported by Foot Locker, find out what they are doing for grassroots hoops in Europe at the Foot Locker Basketball Hub . The 6'11" centre is in his sixth year as a pro after a successful college career at Iowa, and has played at the highest levels in Europe, having signed what was reported as one of the biggest rookie contracts in...
Oct 01, 2020•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 74
For Episode 73 of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with highly rated Class of 2021 prospect Cameron Hildreth and his father and coach, Danny Hildreth. Danny is a former BBL professional, having had more than a decade long playing career with Ware Rebels, Brighton Bears, Derby Storm and Worthing Thunder, before stepping into the coaching side of the game, whilst Cameron, a GB junior international, is arguably the best player of his generation, having dominated NBL Division 1 as a 17 year old las...
Sep 24, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 73
In Episode 72 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with former Newcastle Eagles assistant coach Dave Forrester, who announced he would be stepping down from the sidelines last week. Forrester, a criminal defence lawyer by day, has an improbable story that saw him start as a super fan of the club before forging a relationship with Fab Flournoy that eventually saw him take a spot on the bench as assistant coach. He served over a decade on the sidelines with the league's winningest franchise under ...
Sep 17, 2020•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 72
For episode 71 of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with Tayo Ogedengbe, 12 year BBL veteran, England international and the face of the Surrey Scorchers franchise. Ogedengbe has been one of the best and most consistent British players in the BBL for a number of years, having made his debut in 2007-8 with London Capital under Steve Bucknall before representing Guildford Heat, Glasgow Rocks, plus a season in France with Calais, London Lions, and then signing with the Surrey Scorchers in 2015/16 as...
Sep 10, 2020•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 71
For episode 70 of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with Delme Herriman, aka Mr Versatility, former England international and 13 year pro. Herriman, who published his autobiography in 2010 chronicling the details of his life and basketball career, collected 77 caps for England, winning a Bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, alongside a more-than-decade-long professional career that saw him play in Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria and the UK. The 6'6" 'point forward' start...
Sep 03, 2020•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 70
In Episdoe 69 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we speak with Ajou Deng, one of the most talented players to ever come out of the UK. Standing 6'11" with a 7'4" wingspan, Deng - the older brother of NBA and GB star Luol - had a skillset ahead of his time, being able to face up and handle the ball on the perimeter, ending up one of the most heralded prospects to ever land at UConn. Growing up through a devastating civil war in Sudan, him and his family fled to Egypt where he picked up a basketball for the ...
Aug 27, 2020•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 69
For Episode 68 of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with top GB prospect Holly Winterburn who recently announced her decision to return from the US and sign in Leicester on a three-year deal . Winterburn, 19, is one of the most talented junior players to ever come out of the UK, having spent her freshman season at top ranked Oregon where she won a Pac-12 regular season and tournament championship, playing alongside three teammates who would be selected in the top 10 of the 2020 WNBA draft. Her d...
Aug 20, 2020•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 68
In Episode 67 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with former BBL, NBL and England Head Coach, Dave Titmuss, aka Coach T. Titmuss has spent over 50 years on the sidelines of British basketball, starting out as a 22 year old before working his way up to the highest levels of the game experiencing success at every level, with 15 national titles, a Paralympic World Cup gold medal, a World Wheelchair Basketball Championship silver medal, a Paralympic bronze medal, two Coach of the Year awards and tw...
Aug 13, 2020•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 67
For episode 66 of the Hoopsfix podcast we have Andrea Congreaves on the show, widely regarded the greatest female basketball player to ever come out of the UK. The sixteen-year pro was the first Brit to play in the WNBA, and won titles all over Europe after an absolutely dominant college career at Mercer. It is hard to be succinct when it comes listing her career accomplishments but start with having her jersey retired at Mercer, being named to both the school and conference Hall of Fame. Her ti...
Aug 06, 2020•2 hr 2 min•Ep. 66
In Episode 65 of the Hoopsfix Podcast, we sit down with Jack Majewski, owner of London United basketball club and founder of Future Stars International Basketball Tournament. Originally from Krakow, Poland, Majewski was a former player who fell in love with the coaching side of the game, being at the helm of the Polish U16 national team before moving to the UK in the early 90s to join Kevin Cadle on the bench of the Guildford Kings as they made the top 16 of the FIBA Europe Cup. From there, he f...
Aug 02, 2020•2 hr 1 min•Ep. 65
In Episode 64 of the Hoopsfix podcast, we sit down with former GB and England international and current assistant coach at Montana State University, Chris Haslam. Originally out of Southport, Haslam recorded 58 caps for England and GB, representing England from 1997-2004 before being involved with the first two years of the re-start of the GB programme in 2006 and 2007. He had a 13 year professional career, playing not only in the BBL, but Greece, Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic, ...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 41 min•Ep. 64
In Episode 63 of the Hoopsfix podcast we sit down with former England Senior international and 13-year pro, Mike Bernard. Hailing from Manchester, Bernard hooked on to the Giants BBL team at just 16 years old, before going to the US for college and then having a pro career that saw him play in Greece, Italy, Germany, Czech Republic, France, Cyprus, Slovakia - where he had his most productive years and won a championship - and the UK. Having been involved with the Giants during their peak years i...
Jul 16, 2020•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 63
In Episode 62 of the Hoopsfix Podcast we sit down with the only British player to be drafted in the last decade, San Antonio Spurs draft pick Ryan Richards. The Great Britain Senior international, originally out of Kent, was selected with the 49th pick in the 2010 draft, and though never ending up on the final roster in the NBA, has gone on to play all over the world in places ranging from Switzerland, to Iran, Mexico, Austria, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Lebanon and most recently...
Jul 09, 2020•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 62
