BOBBY JACKSON

INTRO

     It's very rare that you meet individuals in life that are humble and truly genuine.  Those two qualities are very rare. You definitely don't find those traits in individuals that attain a certain level of success.  The biggest compliment that I can give my friend Bobby Jackson is that he always stayed the same in terms of how humble/down to earth he is and the way he treats people. So thank you for that Bobby!

     I also know that he is one of the hardest working players that I ever had the pleasure of playing with.  Hard-nosed.  (Squaring up with Tracy McGrady.)  Competitive. (Battling Mike Bibby for minutes on those Sacramento Kings teams.)  Marksman shooter. (Sixth Man of the Year 2003.)  So the success that you saw Bobby have in college, the NBA, current business endeavors and the golf course-shouldn't really be a surprise.  There is one individual that instilled a foundation in BJ at an early age.  She is one of the main reasons why he became the man he is today.

TRAINWITHERICHARRIS: We had a very diverse team in regards to where guys came from.  What made you want to sign with the Gophers coming from your respective hometown? (Salisbury, North Carolina) What other options did you have? 

Bobby Jackson: I wasn't highly recruited coming out of high school, so I went to junior college. (Juco) The one thing that caught my eye about the University of Minnesota was the fact that there were a bunch of guys on the team that got along from all different parts of the country.  Coach Clem Haskins played a huge part in my decision.  So did Milton Barnes and Larry Davis.  In terms of the schools on my list, I narrowed it down to Indiana, Cincinnati, Oklahoma, Wake Forest and Clemson.  Those were the schools that I looked at.  Everybody thought I would go to Wake Forest or Clemson because those schools were close to home.

TWEH: I remember you coming on your visit and killing when we played pick-up.  I thought to myself, who is this guy?  Do you remember that?

BJ: I do. Again, that's what I took away from that visit.  I loved the fact that everyone was close knit.  The guys treated me the same and didn't look at me like I was coming in to take their job.  I was looking for that brotherhood.

TWEH: You definitely showed how skilled you were that day, but your work-ethic and passion for the game were also evident.

BJ: Basketball was always a challenge to me.  I loved playing against different guys and showing who I was and where I came from.  I had to get it the hard way and go to juco. (Western Nebraska Community College) That experience taught me a lot.  I wouldn't change it.

TWEH: What was the basketball culture like in your hometown?

BJ: We were behind a little bit.  You come from NYC-the mecca of basketball.  You guys had a lot of avenues growing up.  Playing for the Gauchos gave you the opportunity to play all over the country.  We had a small AAU team and I played with my best friends.  Most of those guys weren't good enough.  We would stay in the area and play teams in Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston Salem, but would never venture outside the state.  From that standpoint, we didn't get to see the wide spectrum of basketball.  I could've played for a bigger AAU program, but I wanted to play with my friends. I think that's one of the best things that happened for me.  I never lost focus of where I came from and I never left my friends behind-even though my game developed and their's didn't.  We got our butts kicked pretty much all the time.  However, it was the friendships we had and the bond that made me stick there and be there for them.  I would definitely do it again. 

TWEH: What was your first interaction with Clem 'The Gem' Haskins like? What was his message to you?

BJ: Two things stood out for me with coach.  The first thing was the fact that I didn't have a father figure in my life growing up. Secondly, I never had the opportunity to play for a black coach.  Coach Haskins was a straight shooter.  He told me, "You have the potential, you have the talent, but this program is about getting your education and teaching you how to become a man.  I'm going to be hard on you."  For me, that was a challenge.  I valued and respected that!  A lot of other coaches weren't doing that.

TWEH: What do you mean?

BJ: I went on visits to other schools and it wasn't about your well-being and developing you as a young man.  Those things were a factor in terms of deciding to go to the University of Minnesota.  I remember it like it was yesterday.  He was the only coach that said, "With your potential, you have a chance to play in the NBA. If you're willing to do the right things and play the right way, you definitely have a shot."  That's why I love and respect coach Haskins.  He saw something in me and it materialized.  He was that father figure I never had.

TWEH: R.I.P. to your mom Sarah Jackson.  Did she like Coach Haskins? 

BJ: Thanks.  My mom absolutely loved him!  When I did go on the other college visits, I told her about what they were offering me and what they wanted from me.  She was like nope.  She never wanted me to get anything for free.  She said, "You're going to get a free education and play basketball. I don't want them to think that they have anything over your head."  She wanted me to earn my keep.  That's just how my mom was.  I relayed all of the information from my visits to her.  At the end of the day, my mom was basically like, "You have to make a decision as a young man.  I can tell you what to do, but what do you feel comfortable with?"  So I respect her for allowing me to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision.  Which led to the University of Minnesota.

TWEH: I know that those bags (money) were tempting though!  They had to be coming your way. Lol.

BJ: It was, I can't lie about that.  It just goes back to my mom and the values/foundation that she instilled in me.  She worked really hard to support us, but she only had a sixth grade education.  It was really tempting to me.  So I always had her in the back of my mind in terms of not accepting anything for free and working for my own.

TWEH: Looking back @ how the 95'-96' season ended. I believe we won our last 6 or 7 regular season games. Did you have any feelings that 96'-97' could be special?

BJ: To be honest E, I knew we were good in 97'-I didn't realize we were that good.  I didn't know what the ramifications were in terms of making it to the Final Four.  All the hype associated with it.  I actually didn't pay attention to it.  It didn't hit me until we actually played our first NCAA game.  That season was special.  We had big road wins at Indiana and Michigan.  We also won the Big Ten Championship outright.  I didn't really pay attention to how successful we were at the time.  I was just a kid from Salisbury, North Carolina that loved to play basketball.  I was just looking forward to going out there and competing with the great group of guys we had.

TWEH: I really felt like we had the pieces to be a really good team going into that year.  Toughness and size inside, perimeter players that could score the ball, great D inside and out, and experience.  What role did you try to bring every game?

BJ: Going into my senior year in 97, I wanted to focus on being a leader.  I wanted to be a good teammate and at the same time push my teammates.  Another big thing was that we all respected the coaching staff. (Larry Davis, Bill Brown, & Charles Cunningham) They made us better every day and pushed us.  We had some great, tough-nosed coaches.  If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't of been where we were.

TWEH: True indeed. Two things I remember about our practices were how intense they were and the fact that we competed against one another.  Me, you, Sam Jacobson, Quincy Lewis and Charles Thomas. Then the 'bigs' John Thomas, Courtney James, Trevor Winter and Miles Tarver competed like crazy on the other end.  We also had the 3rd group with the 'Twins'-Jason & Jermaine Stanford and Aaron Stauber.  They played their part as well and made us better.  Can you elaborate on the art of competing?

BJ: I agree 100%.  In today's sports, kids don't want to compete.  They want everything handed to them.  For us, I loved the art of competing.  Competing is something that should be done every day in sports.  Most kids forget how to compete.  They want to be on a team where their job is given to them.  They want to start without putting in the work.  Our coaches made us work.  That's the only way we were able to get where we did because we competed every day.  We did it in a friendly environment and we all respected our coaches.  I probably was the only rebel on the team.  Competing is a huge part of being successful.  My question is this.  If you can't compete in today's sports, how do you win?  How do you become a leader?  How do you understand what brotherhood and teamwork are all about if you can't compete on a high level and then put that in the game?

TWEH: We had the 'Barn' rocking.  What was special to you about Williams Arena?

BJ: The end of the 96' season was very important. What we did was build momentum and create a buzz in the 'Barn' for 96-97.  Just the way we played and how intense we were.  The fans appreciated the way we changed the game by picking up full court defensively.  We created a buzz and people started coming.  We had it electrified when we played at the 'Barn'. It was a special place to play.

TWEH: We beat Clemson early in the season in the 'San Juan Shootout'. When I talk to my friend Merl Code (shooting guard on that team) he always says that we were the only team that made them feel like they were in a physical war.  They usually punished the other team.  What do you remember about that game?

BJ: That game was probably the most physical game that I ever played in.  Even though I had a great game, they made me work for everything.  That Clemson team made me work the hardest on the court!  They will always be a great memory, because we played them twice that year. Fortunately, we were able to beat them. They played team basketball and played physical.

TWEH: The UCLA game is a blur for me-lol.  What were your thoughts going into that game?

BJ: What I remember about the U.C.L.A. game was the fact that all the critics said we didn't have a chance.  I remember reading that and it pissed me off.  They were the storied program with the rich tradition.  So I was very motivated to beat them.  However, they were very talented and played the game at a high level.  Our physicality played a huge part in us wearing them down.

TWEH: That Kentucky game was a nightmare.  I felt like I let us down in terms of the guard play and how many turnovers we had. That was uncharacteristic of us.  We had I belive more than 20 turnovers. The funny thing about that game though, is that we cut it to about 6 with 2 to 3 minutes left.  Coach Haskins made the returning team watch that game in the beginning of the 97'-98' season.  You know how intense his film sessions were. Lol.

BJ: He made you guys watch it? Lol. Honestly, I watched that game a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't believe how much we turned it over.  It was an apple turnover fest.  It wasn't just one person-it was everybody.  Being a coach now, I was looking at myself like 'how could you try to make that pass.'  Like you said, we still had a chance to win that game. Hats off to Kentucky, they were a great team.  We hadn't seen that style of play that whole year.

We all come from basketball rich States.  Name your state's all time starting 5.  (After some back and forth banter and debating, BJ finalized his list.)

BJ: Man that was a tough question. You made me really think about that one.  If I sit down and think about all of the guys that played in the 'league', I could go on forever.  I'll go with this 5 right now.
1. Steph Curry
2. MJ
3. Jerry Stackhouse
4. James Worthy
5. Charles Shackleford

TWEH: Here is where things get interesting.  Speaking of Steph, how would you have guarded him?

BJ: That's tough. When I played, you could hold and grab. As well as use the arm bar.  The rules are different  now.  I would pick up 94 feet and be physical with him.  My goal would be to wear him down for the 4th quarter.  Is he going to make shots-yes.  It's ok to make shots in the first 3 quarters, but in the 4th, I need him to be worn down. No legs.

TWEH: You also have to go at Steph or any other great offensive player. You have to make them work and play defense.  I know you didn't have a problem with being aggressive on the offensive end.

BJ:  He wouldn't of guarded me.  He would of had to guard somebody though.  What I respect about him is that he does play defense.  Not all the time, but he does give the effort.  He's a great player that puts the work into his craft.

TWEH: What was the story behind the long socks? I still don't know.

BJ: Man it used to be cold in the Barn.  So I needed those long socks to stay warm.  Once I got to the league, I was used to it and it just stuck.

TWEH: What motivates you now BJ.  What are you passionate about?

BJ: My kids motivate me now E.  My goal is to be the best dad that I can.  I do things with them and spend as much time as I can with my kids.  The game of basketball has been great to me!

TWEH: Thx for your time B. It was great to talk about those great memories with you.

BJ: Thx E, it was fun. Appreciate you.

Bobby Jackson
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Eric Harris
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THE COFFEY SHOP

     How do you explain a 6'8 unselfish (CAN YOU SAY UNSELFISH) high school basketball player with the skill-set/mind-set of a point guard, and the ability to knock down shots like a shooting guard?  Those point guard attributes don't come around often.  Not to put any pressure on Amir, but I think of three individuals. Magic, Jalen Rose and LeBron.   Did I mention that he can defend the 1 thru 4 positions?  The answer is Minnesota's home grown talent-incoming Golden Gopher Amir Coffey.  He has all of the tools to be successful on the collegiate level & in the pros.  His toolbox includes handles, footwork, high basketball I.Q., leadership skills, coachability, creativity, mental toughness, defense, and he hits the boards.  The kid has the total package, yet he is one of the most humble and respectful young men you will ever meet.  Renee Pulley is a basketball guru in the state of Minnesota, as well as the founder of the Nike Elite AAU program Howard Pulley Basketball.  This is what Mr. Pulley said about the phenom. "Amir is a point guard at 6'8 who can pass, rebound, and shoot.  He is a great kid who is totally team first without a selfish bone in his body.  I think he has a chance to be in the NBA and he will turn Minnesota around next season."  

     The Coffey name holds a lot of weight in the Twin Cities.  Amir's dad Richard was a key component on the 1990 Elite 8 Gopher basketball team.  Both of his sisters starred at Hopkins High School before playing D1 basketball.  I had the pleasure of talking to Amir about his journey as a student-athlete and his plans on transforming the Gophers back to an elite level program-not only in the Big 10, but nationally. These are lofty goals for any incoming freshman, but if anyone is up to the task-it's Amir.  "Amir is a talented kid.  I say kid because Amir still looks like a 9th grader.  He is just going to get better and better as he matures.  He missed a full year and is still exceptionally skilled!  He is a phenomenal passer and very unselfish (there goes that word again) in a day when many college kids don't have and aren't interested in that kind of game, said Kenny Novak. (Amir's Hopkins H.S. Head Coach.)

TRAIN WITH ERIC HARRIS: The state of Minnesota has been producing a ton of talent for a long time now.  Your name has been ringing bells in Minnesota and the midwest for years.  Break down your game for me & let the East coast know why they need to pay attention.

AMIR COFFEY: I'm a top talent combo guard. I can dribble well, I'm a great passer and I can score.  I play multiple positions on the court.  I was recruited as a 1 & 2 for college.  I just get the job done.

TWEH: What school do you go to and how did you guys do this year.

AC: I go to Hopkins High School. We are 23-1.  We still have a few games till sections and states start. (At the time of the interview, this was the teams status.)

TWEH: What do your individual numbers look like?

AC: I average 19 points and 14 rebounds.

TWEH: Why the University of Minnesota?  I didn't think we had a chance to get a 6'8 point guard that can do everything on the court.

AC: The main thing was the relationship I built with the coaches over the years.  They have been recruiting me since my freshman year.  We talked on the phone or texted each other every other day.  So I built a strong relationship with them and I had a great visit there.  I also liked what Coach Pitino told me about the position they would play me at and the way they run their offense.  I like the players there now and it felt like the right fit for me.

TWEH: Have you been to any Gopher games this season?

AC: I've been to a couple games.  Usually when they play, I have a game on the same night.

TWEH: Who did your top 5 come down to?

AC: My top 5 came down to the Gophers, Arizona, Miami, Texas, and Alabama. In no particular order.

TWEH: I never played with your dad, but the stories about him from Coach Clem Haskins are legendary.  Coach always described Richard Coffey as a fearless competitor/warrior.  How would you describe your dad and the influence he had on you & your sisters on & off the court?

AC: My dad was an enforcer, so he played a different game than my sisters and I. He did all of the dirty work and played his heart out every game.  He always said that 'we had more skill than him.'  So when we were younger, he just wanted to put more in our game.  The shooting and dribbling skills that he didn't have.  You can't teach that stuff to someone when they're older.  It starts when you're young so that you have it down.  Of course we were going to always play hard.

TWEH: How young were you when the training started?

AC: The training with him started as young as I can remember.  We were always in the gym working on skills.  When we were older, we started working with some trainers that he trusted and he knew for a while.

TWEH: Talk about your mom's influence.

AC: My mom's name is Sheba. She never worked out with Me, Sydney or Nia, but she has always been a big supporter of us.  She came to all of our games.  Till this day, I don't think she ever missed one.  She's always been around to help us any way she could!

TWEH: Game to 10 by 1's. Who wins? When did you finally beat your dad? 

AC: The first time I beat my dad was probably in 6th or 7th grade.  At that time, he was getting older and couldn't move as well.  I would just use my speed to get by him.  When we were younger he could move a little bit better and he was still tough and rough.  He has no chance now.

TWEH: Your dad wasn't the only household rivalry growing up. Both of your sisters play d1 ball and will eventually play professionally. What was that experience like?

AC: My oldest sister Sydney is a senior at Marist College. My middle sister Nia is a junior at Northwestern.  When we were younger they used to get me. I think I can take them now.

TWEH: Your favorite quality about each sister outside of basketball?

AC: Sydney is very outgoing and has a good sense of humor.  Nia is a very caring person and easy to talk to.

TWEH: I know that you've heard some Coach Clem Haskins stories from your dad.  What's your favorite?

AC: My dad used to tell me stories about Coach Clem Haskins all of the time.  A funny story that he told me happened at one of their practices.  Coach was injured and he was in a wheelchair and he was yelling at the team, but he couldn't get up.  So he told the team to huddle up while he had a blanket over his legs.  Then he ripped the blanket off and tried to stand up.  It was pretty funny the way my dad reenacted it.

TWEH: Favorite place u visited on campus?

AC: The student hall on campus is probably the coolest place I visited.  The restaurants in the food court, the movie theater and bowling alley. It was nice.

TWEH: Favorite thing to do in Minneapolis?

AC: I like riding around in the city with my friends and listening to new music.  The city is really beautiful.

TWEH: Who is your favorite artist? Why?

AC: J. Cole. That's my guy.  I love what he talks about.  It's not always about money, girls and drugs.  He talks about life and what people go through. The things he went through as well as a kid.

TWEH: Toughest player you ever played against in your league? Why?

AC: Tyus Jones. Tyus was a good leader and just a smart player.  He got everyone involved on his team and also was able to get his numbers.

TWEH: Toughest player you played against in Nike's E.Y.B.L.? (Elite Youth Basketball League)

AC: I would say Malik Newman. (Freshman at Mississippi State.)  Every team in the EYBL is tough.  I'll go with Each One Teach One from Florida.

TWEH: Talk about Renee Pulley and the influence he has had on you.

AC: Renee is a great guy.  I've known him since I was little.  He really looks out for kids and builds them up thru basketball.  He has a lot of good programs like the Howard Pulley summer league and all of the camps that he runs.  He just really looks out for people.  Not just the kids that come up in his program-everybody.  So I appreciate him for that.

TWEH: What are your individual/team goals for next year?

AC: My team goals are to win a Big 10 championship and get in the NCAA tournament.  Individually, I just want to develop as a player and get good quality minutes as a freshman.

TWEH: My first time seeing you play at the EYBL in Minnesota, I immediately thought of Jalen Rose at Michigan.  That comparison came to mind because of Jalen's ability to score, pass, play the point and change speeds at 6'8.  Do you ever hear that from people?

AC: Yeah that's funny.  That's who most people say my game reminds them of.

TWEH: Favorite sneaker brand? Favorite shoe to ball in?

AC: Nike. The Jordan 11 Columbia.

TWEH: Favorite subject? Why?

AC: English because I always do well and I like my teachers.

TWEH: What's your G.P.A.?

AC: 3.4/3.5

TWEH: Favorite book? Why?

AC: When I was younger, Harry Potter was my favorite series-I read every book.  I don't know why I loved em so much.  People used to call me weird.

TWEH: Favorite NBA team? Favorite player?

AC: The Rockets.  James Harden.  I love watching him play and adding moves to my game.

TWEH: I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. How did the injury make u better?

AC: It helped me in terms of the time it gave me to work on my body and add some muscle.  That will help me down the road.  Also, I was able to pick up different things from watching on the bench.  I watch tape a lot, but it's different when you watch from the bench.

TWEH: After retiring from a long and successful career in basketball.  Do you ever see yourself living in a warmer state to get away from that insane cold weather?

AC: That's a tough one. I love Minnesota-I've lived here all my life.  You're right though, it is cold.  I guess moving somewhere warmer would be a possibility.

TWEH: Thanks Amir. I look forward to watching your great career as a Gopher and in the pros.

AC: Thanks Eric. The pleasure was all mine.

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ASHLEY MARTIN

     When you think of the modern day athlete,  you usually don't have too many positive thoughts about them off the field/court. The stereotype is that they are selfish and  think of themselves first and foremost, never giving back to the communities that they come from.  Although we know that this isn't always the case, it is refreshing to work with an athlete that is doing something to promote change and positivity for others.  The truly astounding part about Ashley Martin is that she is still in High School.  I know that when I was in H.S., I only thought of myself. 

     "Ashley became a priority recruit from the moment we first saw her. We can run her at the guard spot and she can score, post up smaller guards, make great reads, even bring the ball up-but we can also run her in the post if we need to, simply due to her height and mentality for the game. This is a kid who can do a little bit of everything and will only get better and better. She will be a tremendous addition to or team immediately", said Iona Head Coach Billi Godsey. 

     It is my pleasure to introduce you to a young lady that wears many hats. I'm proud to say that she is a TRAIN WITH ERIC HARRIS client, but she is also a human rights activist, student-athlete, change agent, and future Iona Gael-Ashley Martin.

TRAIN WITH ERIC HARRIS: For those that don't know you, who is Ashley Martin?  What drives you?

ASHLEY MARTIN: In terms of basketball, the competition drives me.  Always wanting to be the best whenever I step on the court. I want to make my name known whenever we play.

TWEH: Your dad (Chucky Martin) was very successful as a player. (Now assistant coach @ Indiana University.) Do you ever think about that when you have success on the court? Do you believe that it's genetics?

AM: Not at all. Don't get me wrong, my dad is a huge part of my career. I get my work-ethic from him and my mom.  As far as skills, I don't think it's genetics.  I think it's a lot of hard work!  Both of us being in the gym at 6 am and going on runs. Parents can always influence their kids, but it was always my choice to play basketball.  He never pushed it on me.

TWEH: It's usually the opposite with most dad's that have played the game on a high level.  They become too involved.

AM: He was never like that.  It's funny because he actually didn't want me to play AAU.  I really had to get it going on my own in terms of finding an AAU team.  Once he saw me putting that extra effort in, he started to workout with me.  Then he contacted you so that we could really get after it. 

TWEH: Who do you play AAU with?

AM: Westchester Hoopers.

TWEH: Your mom (Jackie Phelps) is a steady presence in your life, how important is she?

AM: My mom's impact has been tremendous. She has always been my go to.  It's great to have both parents, but mom has been that steady presence who takes me to games, practices and workouts with you.  She's not a basketball voice, so she can just give her unbiased viewpoint on certain situations.

TWEH: It seems like you have a very strong support system-I feel like that's very important to anyone that's trying to be successful.  Your mom talks very highly of former UNC Tarheel and current Columbia University coach Derrick Phelps. Are you you guys related?  What role does he play?

AM: No, we aren't related.  Derrick has been a very good mentor during my basketball career and the recruiting process.  He has played a key role.

TWEH: Congrats on your commitment to Iona College.  I know that you're excited.  What are some of your goals from an individual and team standpoint?

AM: Individually I want to continue to keep getting better and learn how to be productive on the collegiate level.  Rookie of the M.A.A.C. is a goal that I have in mind.  If I work hard enough and the stars align for me, then that will be a possibility.  In terms of the team, I want to win the M.A.A.C. championship.  We have a really good 2016 class coming in next year and I feel we can make a run for it.

TWEH: What made up your mind in terms of choosing the Gaels? What other schools were interested?

AM: Delaware, Hofstra and Rider.  What sealed the deal was Iona had a really good family atmosphere and it was a really good fit in regards to the coaching staff and the size of the school.  I felt really comfortable with every single one of the coaches.  I could call any one of the coaches right now and it would be like talking to a coach who's been coaching me for years.

TWEH: What was your parents approach to this important decision?

AM: My parents left it up to me and helped out with the pros and cons.  Obviously, if I was going crazy and making a bad decision-they would've put their input in.

TWEH: Coach Godsey seems like a really nice person.  See also seems committed to taking that program to the next level. So don't be fooled by how nice she is off the court-lol. I know that she and her staff are going to push you.  Do you welcome that challenge?

AM: Of course!  I wouldn't be playing basketball if I didn't want to be pushed by my coaches.  Coach Godsey and Coach Kelly do get after the players in practice and in games.  That's one of the main reasons that I chose Iona.  I trust them to really push me to that next level.

TWEH:Tell us about your foundation  www.survivalchildrenfoundation.org. I'm really impressed that you are so passionate about helping others in Ghana.  You rarely see that in today's self-absorbed youth culture. Where did it all begin? Why does it mean so much?

AM: My mom & I first went to Ghana 3 years ago when I was 15 on vacation.  We went to one of the poorest towns in Ghana and we had a chance to hang out with the kids and speak to the people.  That opportunity gave us a chance to see what it was really about.  It was such a moving experience. As soon as we left the town, I wanted to go back and spend the rest of our trip there.  I didn't realize what I wanted to do until we returned to N.Y.

TWEH: What was the leg work like?

AM: Once we got back to New York, I said to my mom that 'we should come up with some ideas to help the kids in the town.'  We finally agreed to do the foundation and go from their in our pursuit to help the kids. Originally she didn't want to do it because she knew it would be a huge responsibility, but I was just so committed to it. I called one of my classmate's parent-who's a lawyer, and he helped with drawing up the legal documents to incorporate the organization. I also asked a family friend to help with office space and we wound up getting a space for free.

TWEH: What issues did you see while in Ghana that were so disturbing?

AM: The poverty, lack of accessible running water-so many things.  What really moved me was that everyone was still so happy & positive. If these people were happy with literally nothing, who would I be not to help them out if I have the power to?

TWEH: How can people help to support the cause?

AM: We have fundraisers to bring in funds. One fundraiser that turned out to be a fun idea was when we sold jewelry.  People that are interested in supporting  should check out the site, there is a lot of info there.

TWEH: Back to hoops. Who do you pattern your game after?

AM: Diana Taurasi is a big idol of mine and Derrick Rose. I would say a combination of those 2 guards.

TWEH: Favorite artist?

AM: I like hip hop, R&B and pop. I'm kind of all over the place.

TWEH: Favorite shoe to ball in?

AM: It doesn't matter. As long as they lace up & have good traction, I'm good.

TWEH: What do you want to pursue academically @ Iona?

AM: I'm interested in psychology, I think that with the foundation and not really knowing what I want to do after college-something to think about is child psychology. If I do end up pursuing the organization, then maybe a minor in business.

TWEH: Any aspirations to play after Iona?

AM: Of course, I feel that every basketball players dream is to play after college. That opportunity would be a huge blessing.  If not, you need a plan B.

TWEH: Favorite subject in school?

AM: Don't really have a favorite. They're all pretty much the same to me.

TWEH: What's your GPA?

AM: B's all the way thru.

TWEH: Thx for your time Ashley. It's a priveledge to train you and see your development on the court. Most importantly, I'm inspired by what you're doing off of it.  Keep being an inspiration to your generation as well.  Keep up the great work!

AM: Thx for everything Eric!

Websites
www.survivalchildrenfoundation.org
www.iona.edu
www.marymountnyc.org

Instagram:
@itshley
@iona_wbb
@westchesterhoopers

'SUCCESS DOESN'T JUST HAVE TO BE ON THE COURT.'

     As the founder of Train With Eric Harris, I have been blessed to have the opportunity to train hundreds of kids.  99.9% of them want to play in the NBA.  Unfortunately, the majority of them will never realize that dream.  Although the game of basketball has been great to me, I'm a perfect example of that.  The purpose of the 'Business Profile' is to show young people that there are other opportunities than just being an athlete.  I also want to highlight individuals that are 'successful' in the business world.

     Kyle and Cynthia Allman are two of the most ideal parents that someone in my position could ever ask for. When your goal is to develop a young man or woman, you can only do but so much if the role models at home aren’t in place. So as Kyle Allman Jr's. trainer, I thank you guys. I know that teachers, coaches and other role models in Kyle’s life thank you as well. Having both parents at home is a blessing and I commend you guys for that!

     With that being said, let’s get to Kyle Allman Sr. I had the pleasure of sitting down with the Black Enterprise executive to talk about what goes on in his day to day business life and the events that led him to this current position. B.E. is the premier business, personal finance, career and investment source for African Americans and has a readership of 4.3 million-Mr. Allman is an integral part of this machine. He’s a role model. I hope that you can be inspired by his walk. He may not know this, but I have already been inspired by him!

TRAINWITHERICHARRIS: Thanks for taking the time out Mr. Allman. You know I always mention how you and Cynthia have done a great job raising Kyle and the fact that having two parents at home is crucial. I applaud the both of you on that!

KYLE ALLMAN: Thank you brother. It takes a village to raise a kid. My mom Bertreann Allman and Cynthia’s dad Lindsay Eason play a big part.

TWEH: They say that behind every great man, there is a great woman.

KA: You are 100% right. Cynthia and I have been married for twelve years. My love and admiration for her is unwavering. She has been and continues to be my supportive fixture in everything I do. In addition, she has been and continues to be an amazing mother to K.J.

TWEH: Beautiful. Where did u grow up?

KA: Grew up in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Vandeveer Projects.

TWEH: Where did you attend high school and college?

KA: I left Brooklyn for a private boarding school in Philadelphia called Girard College when I was in the 4th grade and went all the way thru 12th grade. I would come home on the weekends and be there Monday thru Friday.

TWEH: How did you find out about Girard College?

KA: My aunt Justine Chambers told my mother Bertreann Allman about Girard College. Growing up in the projects you’re concerned for your kids and you worry if they’re going to get in trouble. Aunt Justine went to the University of Pennsylvania. She heard about Girard College. She gave my mom the information, I took the test and was accepted towards the end of 4th grade and I stayed there. Thx Aunt Justine. She’s a retired teacher.

TWEH: I didn’t know you went to school in Philly for most of your childhood. How would you describe Philly?

KA: There’s two sides of it. I would go to my aunt Justine’s house-she lived in southwest Philly. It was an urban inner-city area, but it wasn’t the projects. It was a street with a lot of homes and tenements. That was cool getting acclimated with the Philadelphia area. The school itself wasn’t in the best of neighborhoods. It was in north Philly. We were surrounded by a 10-12 foot wall. Our campus was like a college campus. We had dorms and we had our schools. We had this huge Armory. So what I was able to experience was definitely much better than any of the high schools here.

TWEH: So your experience kind of mirrors the ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air.’ Even though Will Smith was older than you when he moved to the west coast. You’re the ‘Fresh Prince of Philly.’

KA: I was clearly exposed to a whole different lifestyle. I didn’t lose sight of the inner-city and my friends back home. At Girard, we had to have order and make our bed every morning. You had to wear a suit and uniforms. If you didn’t keep a B average, you lost your going home privileges. So there were things in place that set the tone for the straight and narrow.

TWEH: Any other details about Girard College that you want to add?

KA: Another twist to it is that during my time there, it was a private boarding school for boys. It has since gone co-ed.

TWEH: What were your passions growing up as a young man? Were you into hoops at all?

KA: I got into hoops around 5th grade and took to it pretty well. Baseball was another sport. I started on the freshman basketball team and got moved right up to varsity by the end of the year. I was the varsity team MVP in the 11th grade. So I’m always messing with Kyle when he thinks that he was better than me. Once I excelled in basketball, I dropped baseball. G.C. also offered vocational classes too. I took ‘woodshop’. So from 9th thru 12th grade I was in woodshop. I’ve mad coffee tables, end tables and grandfather clocks.

TWEH: So you’re even nice around the house?

KA: I’m decent. At this stage, I would rather pay somebody because I don’t feel like doing it.

TWEH: When did you realize that hoops would not be a career choice for you? Did that realization hurt?

KA: I was away for my high school and junior high school years, so I was just determined to come back home. I was offered a half scholarship for basketball to Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. It wasn’t that I reached the end of the line; it’s just that by choice-I just wanted to come home. It didn’t matter what school offered me a scholarship in Philly-I wasn’t going to stay there. The plan was to come home, go to college and work and see where it goes from there. I attended Long Island University and there I played on the intramural team. It just became recreational at a certain point.

TWEH: Did you ever think that you would get into the media/advertising industry?

KA: Not at all. After my first year of school I took a break. I realized that I’m going to school, but I don’t really know what I want to do. I landed a job at this publishing company with the city. The name of the newspaper was called the ‘City Records’. I was in their publishing area and did that for about a year and a half. My next job after that was with a publishing company as a circulation assistant-which is the numbers part of the business.

TWEH: When did the Black Enterprise ‘moment’ happen?

KA: In 1996 I saw Black Enterprise Magazine for the first time. I said, I want to work there in a number of years. That’s the goal-to work at B.E. Then in 1999 I interviewed and was given the job. I worked in the circulation department doing the same thing. A few years into that, I started volunteering with the events that we were doing with the magazine. I started to have a love for doing events and sponsorships and things of that nature, but I never thought I could be a salesperson even though people told me I had the personality for it. Six years into working there, the CEO (Earl Graves Jr.) said, “I want you to try something.” I was kind of against it, but he insisted. He said, “I want you to try this new sales position that I’m opening up.” The rest is history and here I am. I run the sales department nine years later.

TWEH: That’s crazy how it all unfolded.

KA: The funny thing is that I actually came to him to tell him I was leaving. I wanted to leave because I just wanted to focus on events and they didn’t have a job offer there. Mr. Graves said, “I don’t want you to leave, you have a great personality and I think you can do sales. Why don’t you try that.” So ignorance is bliss. He saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself and I thank him for that.

TWEH: I love the magazine because of the information it provides. Were you a fan of the magazine before you joined?

KA: Yes. The cool thing is that I’m working somewhere and I love the effect that it has in terms of changing the lives of people. I see folks that are really making a difference and doing some remarkable things.

TWEH: What’s your day to day role/responsibility at B.E.?

KA: My main responsibility is that I have a team of six salespeople. My daily role is to ensure that they are meeting with the clients, finding new clients, growing relationships, and looking at new revenue opportunities with the clients they have. I take on a short list of clients as well. My list is shorter because I’ve gone thru that stage and now it’s about grooming them. There are some main clients that I deal with just because of how important they are and it needs my level of attention.

TWEH: What’s one cool thing about the company that most people won’t know?

KA: There are so many people that think we’re such a large company. For all the things that we do, (two T.V. shows, 7-10 events, two different websites and obviously the magazine) we do all of that with just 50 people. The cool thing is just the dedication and hard work of so few people to do all of the things that we do. People think that we have 200 staff members or something like that.

TWEH: I heard about the golf and tennis event that B.E. puts on every year. What are some of the highlights of that event?

KA: We’ve been doing it for 22 years now. If you think back 22 years ago, that was pretty much the time frame when the golf course and tennis courts were becoming an extension of the board room. It was the game of business. This was pre Tiger Woods and pre Venus and Serena Williams. We actually said that we want to provide a venue for African-American business professionals, executives and business owners to come together and conduct their business in a leisure environment. We had Earl and Tiger Woods when he was young. Serena and Venus when they were in pig tails and corn rows before they became big and it just grew over time. We have upwards of 1,500 people that come that are playing golf and tennis as well as some other activities that we have. There’s a spa component, 3 on 3 basketball, evening hospitality functions, financial workshops, and health workshops. It’s an array of different activities. The genesis of it was really just about providing that leisure environment that you can still conduct business in.

TWEH: What’s your golf handicap?

KA: Sadly enough, I have not been able to get it where it should be. I’m still in the 90’s with my scores, but that’s improvement. The fact that I’m in the 90’s-I’ll take that.

TWEH: How often do you play when you’re really going hard?

KA: Right around spring time I might play on a course 10 to 12 times over the course of the summer.

TWEH: Favorite course?

KA: The St. Regis, in Monarch Beach California. It literally was along the water.

TWEH: Job acquisition right out of college is a major issue for our young men and women. What are some tips that you can give regarding being prepared for an interview, having a proper resume, and looking the part.

KA: The major thing that I think most people don’t take advantage of is ‘internships’. Whether you get paid for it or not, those are very important. Mainly because you develop an understanding of the culture of the business environment. Also, you’re getting a chance to groom yourself and test yourself without being penalized. It’s not like you are hired and on the clock. As an intern, people will test you-but you’re not evaluated in the same sense. This can be a good thing because it allows you to learn that these are things I do well and don’t do well. You get to watch other people to see what they do right and wrong. Internships are very key and I don’t think kids today take advantage of them. They think they should be anointed a job without the grooming aspect. If you do it while you’re in school, then at least you develop yourself without being penalized.

TWEH: Anything else you want to add?

KA: I just want young people to understand that there are a lot of great opportunities out there outside of being an athlete. There are 400 something players in the NBA, but there are way more opportunities within the NBA structure and the game of basketball period. If your dream is to play in the NBA or any professional sport-that’s great. You should also be aware of other options. (agents, coaches, T.V. analysts, reporters/bloggers, trainers, equipment managers, video coordinators, owners, general managers, photographers, web designers, fashion stylists)

TWEH: What is your favorite book? Why?

KA: The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck. It’s a book I had to write a paper on in my business class and it has stuck with me since. The book examined how we need to have the ability to not only meet obstacles, but embrace the challenge and overcome it no matter what the scenario.

TWEH: What’s your usual routine for planning and organizing what needs to be executed from a day to day business standpoint? There is so much that has to be done in the corporate world before you even factor in your personal life. Are you old school with a planner, or is it your phone?

KA: My normal planning is pretty simple. I write down a to do list each day of the things I need to get done, or what I need my team to do. As for planning, I have a calendar on my desk that I write everything on. I also send meeting invites/reminders on my phone.

TWEH: Who would you pay to have a business conversation with? Why?

KA: It would be Ken Chenault, CEO of American Express. His rise is of interest to me.

TWEH: Where do you see yourself in 3 years?

KA: In 3 years I see myself as the #2 person at Black Enterprise and also, I should be a proud dad seeing my son KJ graduate from Cal State University, Fullerton.

TWEH: Thx brother. I appreciate you.

KA: Thanks E, you too.

     Kyle Allman is a perfect example of what hard work, dedication, having a vision and taking advantage of an opportunity is all about. He wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth. However, he was blessed with a supportive mom & family who wanted a better situation for him.  The road wasn't easy, but he did the work. I truly believe that when you do the work and prepare for an opportunity-the opportunity will come. The man you see today is still working & striving to accomplish more goals.  There is no doubt in my mind that he will be # 2 at Black Enterprise!  Keep inspiring Kyle!

"Kyle's leadership style in my opinion exemplifies an invested interest in both the company and his employees, having climbed the ranks himself over the years. His approach in problem solving whether client or team matters is always solution driven. Kyle allows employees to express their creativity and is open to ideas for a better team in our dealings with the client without compromising the integrity of the brand and our bottom line."       

 -Dana Santiago (B.E. Team Member)

(Sales Coordinator Position) $50,000 

(Advanced Senior Sales Position) $200,000

You can send any other questions you may have for Kyle Allman to allmank@blackenterprise.com

Check out Black Enterprise @ www.blackenterprise.com

Support Kyle Allman Jr. & the Titans @ www.fullerton.edu

Girard College www.girardcollege.com

St. Regis Golf Course www.monarchbeachgolf.com

www.trainwithericharris.com    www.trainwithericharris.blogspot.com

1.855.872.4600 

YOU GET BETTER IN THE SUMMER.

A prospective client reached out to me the other day and asked 'could he train with me?' Sounds simple enough-a lot of up and coming players contact me on my website www.trainwithericharris.com and ask to train or get mentoring from me.  After asking him a few questions, I had one more very important inquiry for player X.  "What parts of your game have you been working on during the summer", I asked.  His response was, 'I haven't really been doing anything. That's why I'm reaching out to you, so that I can get my game right for the upcoming season.' I immediately had to tell him that he had it all wrong.  The summer months are when great players take their game to the next level.  Not in the fall and during the season.  At that point, it's too late!  During the season, you can get a little better individually-but for the most part it's about your team getting consistently better to accomplish the ultimate goal of winning a championship.  I could tell that my responses threw him off guard, but I had to tell him the real deal from experience.  If I didn't, I would be doing him a disservice.

I will never forget the summer of 96'-when Coach Bill Brown (assistant coach at the University of Minnesota) challenged me to become a better player.  I had two subpar seasons as a Freshman & Sophomore, and I needed to make a drastic improvement in order for our team to take that next step.  Coach Brown being the no nonsense type of guy that he is-kept it straight with me.  He told me that 'I need to improve my jump shot' and he gave me a plan to get it done.  Coach B made a commitment to me that day-he said he would help me accomplish my goal.  I knew he was serious.  However, I also knew he was serious when he said, 'If you don't show up one time, you're on your own.'  I made every workout, and the rest is history.  Coach Clem Haskins was asked about my game after the 96'-97' season and he said, 'Eric Harris has had the biggest turnaround from one season to the next than any player I have ever coached.' 

That takes me back to player X and the fact that he didn't realize how crucial those summer months were.  Once that time is gone, you can't get it back.  Here is what an NBA player's summer agenda usually looks like.  If they are fortunate to make the playoffs or win that ring, as soon as their season is over-they take 2 or 3 weeks to recover physically and mentally and then they get back to work.  The great ones (Michael Jordan for example) add 3 or 4 skill-sets to their game over the summer and comes back as an even better player that next season.  That doesn't even include the weight training and the nutritional aspects.  The all-star caliber player may add 1 or 2 skill-sets.  That 3rd tier player will remain that 3rd tier player because they stayed the same and didn't improve one bit.  They didn't commit to the process.  These are the guys that you hear about that get waived and wind up spending the rest of their career overseas.  This isn't always the case.  There are players that work their butts off and commit to the process, but still can't get a break. 

So the moral of the story is that you have to be on your grind during the summer.  That is when you really put the work in to become a better individual player.  It is cool to play in tournaments if you are in high school or younger, but that doesn't take the place of those hours in the gym.  You build character, discipline, work-ethic, but most of all-you get those repetitions in.  Constantly working on a move so that it becomes second nature.  Seeing the ball go thru the net over and over again and developing that confidence.  There is no replacement for that!!!

trainwithericharris.com
trainwithericharris@gmail.com

Bill Brown
Facebook/@billybrown
Springfield, Missouri

KYLE ALLMAN (FROM THE EAST TO THE WEST COAST.)

I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING YOU ALL TO AN INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS WORKED HIS BUTT OFF FOR THE PAST 4 OR 5 YEARS. THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THAT WORK-ETHIC WAS THE DESIRE TO SEPARATE HIMSELF FROM THE PACK, AND EARN A D1 SCHOLARSHIP.  THAT D1 SCHOLARSHIP WAS OFFERED BY CAL STATE FULLERTON-WHERE KYLE WILL BE A FRESHMAN THIS FALL. ALTHOUGH KYLE ALLMAN JR. IS A HELL OF A PLAYER, I GIVE HIM MORE PROPS FOR BEING A WELL-ROUNDED AND GREAT YOUNG MAN OFF THE COURT.  I GIVE HIS MOM AND DAD ALL OF THE CREDIT IN THE WORLD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A HIGH-CALIBER INDIVIDUAL. 

BUT LET'S GET BACK TO THE BALL PLAYER @ HAND.  KYLE IS A 6'4 SUPER ATHLETIC/EXPLOSIVE COMBO GUARD-WITH HANDLES AND RUSSELL WESTBROOK TYPE OF POTENTIAL. (I KNOW THAT SOME MAY CONSIDER RUSSELL TO BE THEIR #1 PG IN THE LEAGUE, BUT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF HE CONTINUES TO PUT THAT WORK INTO HIS CRAFT-THE SKY IS THE LIMIT FOR KYLE.) PULL-UP GAME. (CHECK) GREAT DEFENDER. (CHECK) HIGH BBALL I.Q. (CHECK) DISCIPLINE TO SUCCEED IN THE CLASSROOM. (CHECK) MATURITY OFF THE COURT. (CHECK) WITH ALL OF THE HYPE THAT GOES ON NOWADAYS, THE PROOF IS DEFINITELY IN THE PUDDING WITH KYLE.  DON'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE HIM SHAKING ADAM SILVER'S HAND IN A FEW YEARS.  HOWEVER, HE NEEDS TO BE EDUCATED ON WHO THE GOAT IS, AS WELL AS WHAT THE BEST CELL PHONE ON THE MARKET IS.  LADIES AND GENTS I INTRODUCE YOU TO KYLE ALLMAN JR. (Instagram) sir.kyle 

(TRAIN WITH ERIC HARRIS)
When did you first fall in love with the game of basketball and who was the person responsible for that?

(KYLE ALLMAN JR.)
When I was either 11 or 12 years old.

(TWEH)
What specifically about the game do you love?

(KAJ)
Just playing the game in general. I love the competition and I feel basketball is way more competitive than any other sport.

(TWEH)
Can you tell me a little bit about your basketball journey? The ups and downs, the different obstacles and how you were able to overcome them?

(KAJ)
My first three years of high school. I didnt get much attention. That ultimately sparked a fire inside of me. Then my senior year I went to a better school and started getting the attention that I felt like I deserved. In the prcoess I started killing the competition which helped tremendously.

(TWEH)
Can you pinpoint your favorite moment from your basketball journey and why it turned out to be your favorite?

(KAJ)
Honestly getting a scholarship only for the simple fact that my parents dont have to pay for me to attend college. So that was a big accomplishment.

(TWEH)
Who is favorite NBA player and why?

(KAJ)
Kobe! Just for his will to win and his competitiveness. I love his motor and he spends hours in the gym which I love doing as well so I can definitely relate to that.

(TWEH)
How did training with Eric Harris contribute to your development and growth as a basketball player?

(KAJ)
He has made me a lot tougher. Gave me the moves that other kids weren't working on that I was able to use in gametime situations so instinctively I got a lot better.


(TWEH)
What have you been able to take away from training with Eric that you feel will ultimately help you transition into playing Division 1 basketball @ Cal State?

(KAJ)
The physicality. His workouts are very intense in terms of when I am training he uses those pads to push me around and getting hit constantly while doing those drills definitely prepared me to play in Cal State and helped take my game to a higher level.

(TWEH)
What would you tell a young up and coming player about training with Eric?

(KAJ)
That he should definitely do it. If you are trying to get better and take your game to the next level you should definitely invest your time in training with Eric Harris.

(TWEH)
You being a multipurpose point guard yourself, is there anybody in the NBA you have modeled your game after?

(KAJ)
Not necessarily but I like Dion Waters . I steal a lot of moves from him and I like his craft.

(TWEH)
Recently Shaq was on record saying that he would take a prime Kobe Bryant over LeBron James. Do you agree?

(KAJ)
Yes I would take Kobe Bryant over LeBron James.


(TWEH)
What is your favorite thing to do outside of basketball?

(KAJ)
Shop and go to museums. I enjoy seeing a lot of new things.

(TWEH)
Can you tell us a little about about your sneaker collection? The word on the streets is you're a sneaker head?

(KAJ)
I love Retro Jordan's. I try to get as many as I can. My top 3 in my closet are my Champagne 6's, DB 10's, and my Bred 4's. I love Jordan's though.

(TWEH)
Who is your favorite Hip-hop artist?

(KAJ)
J Cole

(TWEH)
If you were given a chance to pick up a top-tier female celebrity from any age, decade or generation to take on a date with you who would you take?

(KAJ)
Beyonce

(TWEH)
Who would you take on your team, Steph Curry or Russell Westbrook?
Russell Westbrook for sure.

(TWEH)
Jay-Z  or Kanye West?

(KAH)
Jay-Z

(TWEH)
Pac or Biggie?

(KAJ)
Tupac

(TWEH)
Lastly, can you give a special S/O to anyone?

(KAJ)
My parents .They have supported me and invested a lot of time into my development as a basketball player. Especially my Dad and he is the one paying for my workouts.

THANK YOU TO TRAIN WITH ERIC HARRIS STAFF MEMBER FARAZ CHOUDHURY FOR THE Q & A. (IG) fz3choudhury 

WHEN THE EAST IS IN THE HOUSE!

As the buzzer sounds and the Gophers wrap up their N.I.T. (National Invitation Tournament) title against Coach Larry Brown and the SMU Mustangs-it feels great to be a University of Minnesota alum.  Golden Gopher basketball has been infused with a shot of the "Big Apple" again and the future of the program is very bright.  This time around, NYC is represented by Kimani Young.  Coach Young brings his basketball acumen and east coast ties to the Barn.  Kimani has been an integral part of this  NIT run, and he along with the rest of the coaching staff have one goal in mind-get the Gophers to that elite level of college basketball.  Kimani and I grew up battling against each other when NYC basketball was considered the best in the country.  It's funny how the circle of life can take you on a journey and connect you with people in ways you can never imagine.  As good as Kimani is as a coach-he's 10 times better as a father, caregiver and role model to his 2 boys-Kamaal (11), Khaliq (10),  & daughter Salimah (9).

Follow Kimani on Instagram @ minnesotakeizer
Twitter @CoachKimani

(Eric Harris) When you first heard that you were going to Minneapolis, what was your initial thought?

(Kimani Young) I was excited because of the rich tradition @ Minnesota.  Being a student of the game I knew about all the success in the 90's and early 2000's.  Just knowing that we were going to compete in the "BIG 10"-such a high level of basketball.  I was excited about it!

(EH) Gopher fans really support their sports programs.  How have the fans embraced you guys?

(KY) The support has been fanatical.  Coach Pitino talks about it all the time.  He's been @ Kentucky, Louisville and Florida.  He says from a fan support standpoint, he puts the U of M right up there with the best in the country.

(EH) The “Barn” is one of the best places to play in the country hands down.  When did you realize that it gets really loud in there?

(KY) The Ohio St. game was off the hook.  You couldn't hear yourself think-that's how loud it was.

(EH) Talk about the Big Ten Conference.  What has been the toughest place to play on the road so far?

(KY) To be honest with you, all venues on the road are tough places to play.  Everywhere you play in this league-you play in front of a packed house.  People don't realize this, but over the last 38 years the Big 10 has led the country in attendance.  So that tells you right there what this conference is about in terms of fan support.  These universities are all high academic institutions in college towns.  These people live and die with their athletic programs.

(EH) How did your two boys & daughter react to the change of climate?

(KY) They didn't react too well.  I didn't expect them to have any idea of what the climate would be like in Minnesota.  I guess Minnesota just sounds cold-lol.  They were in Miami for the last year.  Losing the friends and relationships they had there-they weren't very happy about that.  They’ve adjusted now.  They love coming to the games and being in an exciting environment.  Being a part of something they can touch.  The Twin Cities is one of the nicest places to be in the summer!  The lakes and the outdoors are a beautiful experience.

(EH) Can you describe Coach Pitino's philosophy & style of play?

(KY) Coach has combined what he has learned from two hall of fame coaches.  We like to say that we're Louisville on defense and Florida on offense.  We use a lot of pick and rolls.  We want to play fast and get the ball up & down the court.  Shoot threes & be confident.  We call it our "pick and roll motion".  We try to get the ball moving from side to side.  Very free flowing offense.  Defensively we want to speed you up & get you making decisions on the fly.  We want the game to be up-tempo.  It hasn't been easy to do yet-especially in the Big 10, where a lot of programs want to slow the tempo down.  We feel like once we get the personnel to play that way, we'll be fine.  Coach is going to coach you hard and push you out of your comfort zone.  He's going to push everyone in the program to be great.  That starts with the players and trickles down to the coaches and managers.

(EH) As a University of Minnesota alum, I appreciated the fact that you guys competed and worked hard every game this year.  You can live with the results when you work hard.

(KY) Working hard is a part of our blueprint. Playing hard & coming to work every day with your hard hat and lunch pale-ready to get better.   That's the foundation of our program.  That permeates to our fans and we created a nice home court advantage @ the Barn.


(EH) What were the team goals coming into this season?

(KY) We wanted to be able to expose our program to the rest of the country.  We'll be able to do that with the success we've had this year.  The ability to play in the Big 10 and play on the Big 10 network is huge!  It's going to take some time for us to continue to build our brand where kids feel comfortable coming to Minnesota.

(EH) Most people in Minnesota might not know that you were nice as a ball player.  Talk about Kimani the player.

(KY) I worked hard. I had a jump shot.  I grew up under Kenny Anderson and Kenny Smith.  I tried to take a little bit of everything from those guys.  I was blessed to work with trainer Vincent Smith (Kenny's brother) since I was 12 years old.  Coaching is my way of giving back to all the people that helped me along the way.

(EH) Whenever I have those basketball discussions with my peers, I always say that Kenny Anderson was the best HS player ever.  Some people try to dispute that with Randy Livingston (LSU) or Jason Kidd.  What made Kenny Anderson so special?

(KY) Kenny was just born to do this.  I saw him win a City championship & State championship as a freshman.  Score 60 on a box & 1.  The things he was able to do with a basketball was unreal.  He was a magician.  He was a scientist out there.  You combine that skill with his work-ethic & that was the result.  He was always in the gym getting shots up & working on his game.  He knew that was his only way of getting him and his moms out of the situation we were all in @ that time.  Kenny wasn't a very confident player off the court.  He would always worry about the guys he was matched up against.  Whether it was on the road or @ an All-American camp.  But I think that fear is what motivated him to always work.  Then when he put those sneakers on-it was just magic!

(EH) When did you realize that Vincent Smith was a master @ developing talent?

(KY) When I met him he had the #1 player in the country-Kenny Anderson.  If he said you could be a fraction as good as Kenny was, you would be a fool not to work with him.  Then obviously what he did with his brother.  Kenny Smith was 1st team All-American @ UNC, first round NBA draft pick, Rookie of the Year.  That exposure to players like that just made me want to gravitate to Vince even more.

(EH) What has changed from when Vince was giving back to the game and the basketball world in 2014?

(KY) When we came up, it was so many coaches that did it for the love of the game.  They did it for the gratification of developing kids.  Once basketball became such a business, it became harder for guys to pour in blood, sweat and tears.  No one is willing to work a kid out every day @ the local gym and watch a HS coach capitalize off of the kid.  That's what pushed guys away from the era we grew up in.  I watched Vincent Smith work guys out from 10 years old to 20 years old in Lost Battalion Hall.  I worked with Vince & played for my local HS.  He did that with all the guys from my neighborhood.  ALL FOR THE LOVE!  You just don't see many of those situations anymore.

(EH) What has changed in regards to NYC talent today and when we grew up?

(KY) When we grew up there were 20 to 30 high major D1 players every year.  I can't point a finger @ anybody, but there just aren't as many high-major players that are ready to come in and compete @ the level we're @ now.  We may be able to get back to that.  That's just not the case right now.

(EH) What is the goal of the Gopher program in the next 2-3 years?

(KY) We want to be in the Final Four.  We're going to always overachieve.  We want to play the best and compete against the best.  Once we get the players that can play our style of play, we feel we'll be right there with the top programs.  We play one of the toughest schedules in the country. That's what it's about and that's how you see where you're @ amongst the competition.

(EH) Thanks for the time bro & much success. Continue to rep that Maroon & Gold!

(KY) You got it E-thx bro!

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