Hoop Heads

On this episode, Mike and Jason discuss the the biggest weaknesses for each of the four Eastern Conference Contenders: the Cavs, Pistons, Knicks, and Celtics. Next they breakdown the possibility that Wemby's career could surpass that of Nikola Jokic before looking at the Spurs chances of reaching this year's NBA Finals. They wrap up the pod with a quick discussion of which teams could realisticall...

Caleb South is currently the Boys’ Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach at Troy High School in the state of Ohio. He also is the founder of CPS Training where he has trained more than 50 D1 and D2 athletes. Caleb previously served as the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Head Coach at his alma mater Bethel High School where his team won their first league title in 36 years and went 28-19 during his two seas...

Andrew Spalter is the Founder and CEO of East Goes Global, an international operating partner that helps the world’s leading teams, talent, and brands expand, operate, and monetize across global markets. East Goes Global serves as the international operating partner for over 20% of the NBA, supporting teams including the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Dallas Ma...

On this episode, Mike and Jason discuss the highs and lows of NBA All-Star weekend including the unexpected early start times, the lack of stars in the dunk contest, participants who haven't played this season (Dame this year/Mac McClung last year), Wemby bringing the intensity, Kawhi's 31, KAT's help defense, the USA vs World, the 4 "games" format, and the one tanking question that the NBA has to...

Welcome to the 86th edition of the Coach’s Corner Round Table on the Hoop Heads Podcast. Each episode of the Coach’s Corner Round Table will feature our All-Star lineup of guests answering a single basketball question. A new Coach’s Corner Round Table will drop around the 15th of each month. February’s Round Table question is: How do you make sure your culture shows up when you’re not in the gym?...

Jordan Stasyszyn and Alexa Barbush run Unleashed Potential, a skill development program based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Jordan is Carlisle High Schools fourth all-time leading scorer with over 1,600 points and a Big 15 Selection. He played Division 1 basketball at Fairleigh Dickinson before transferring to play at Shippensburg University, where he graduated from with a Bachelors in Communications...

On this episode, Mike and Jason discuss James Harden's first two games a Cleveland Cavalier which included wins over the Kings and Nuggets. Next, they dive into the Pistons-Hornets Brawl in Charlotte and wonder how long Beef Stew will be suspended. After that, Mike and Jason make predictions for All-Star Saturday night and share their thoughts on this year's All-Star Game format. Finally, they tal...

Chris Boucher is the author of the new book, “Harry “Bucky” Lew: A Biography of Basketball’s First Black Professional” The book tells the story of how Harry “Bucky” Lew leapt over pro basketball’s color wall in 1902 and continued to integrate every single role in the game over the next 25 years. He was the first Black player, coach, manager, referee, and franchise owner in otherwise white leagues....

Chris Hicks is the operations manager for Midwest Basketball Club in the state of Ohio. He also serves as the Event Director for Bleacher Prospects, which specializes in covering all levels of High School and AAU basketball while providing exposure for young athletes across the Midwest. On this episode Mike & Chris discuss the vital role of advocacy in the development of young players and the...

On this episode, Mike and Jason discuss the James Harden for Darius Garland trade between the Clippers and Cavaliers. They try to wrap their heads around why the Cavs would trade for Harden, their ceiling with Harden on the team, and if the Cavs can somehow pull off another trade for Giannis. Visit our Sponsors! Give With Hoops Give With Hoops is a groundbreaking initiative that fuses basketball a...

The 23rd edition of “The Triple Double” with Rob Brost, Bolingbrook (IL) High School Boys’ Basketball Head Coach . Rob, Mike, & Jason hit on three basketball topics in each episode of “The Triple Double”. The best lesson Rob ever learned from a player What's something Rob believed in strongly as a young coach that he's completely changed his mind on? If Rob's team could only be elite at just o...

Ethan Stewart-Smith is in his 11th season as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Washington & Jefferson College. Faced with the task of rebuilding the program from the ground up when he took over in 2015, the Presidents have enjoyed great success with five winning seasons in the past six. W&J has twice finished the regular season atop of the PAC. The Presidents captured the 2021-22 PAC Tour...

On this episode, Mike and Jason look back at the Eastern Conference preseason over/unders and discuss each East team as the season heads toward the All-Star Game in two weeks. Visit our Sponsors! Give With Hoops Give With Hoops is a groundbreaking initiative that fuses basketball analytics with modern sponsorship. Built for teams who see data as opportunity, from AAU programs to college powerhouse...

Jason Sacks is the CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance. He joined the organization in April 2006 and has since served in a variety of capacities, including President, Chief Development Officer, EVP for Business Development & Philanthropy, Director of Partnership Development, and as Executive Director of PCA’s Chicago, IL chapter. Jason began his career at PCA as the Partner Development Associate...

Jay Paterno currently heads Blue Line 409 LLC which runs ventures in business, television, radio, public speaking and consults on philanthropy, social media and public relations/ marketing. Since 2020 he has consulted in college sports and notably was one of the nation's first consultants in the new area of Name, Image and Likeness for college student-athletes. In 2022 he co-founded Penn State's N...

Travis McAvene is the Global Basketball Grassroots Director for Big Baller Brand (BBB) where he is responsible for developing basketball clinics, All-Star games and AAU tournaments across the United States and Internationally. McAvene has 27 years of high level basketball coaching experience at the prep school, college and overseas professional level. Since 2012, McAvene has coached in the followi...

Welcome to the 85th edition of the Coach’s Corner Round Table on the Hoop Heads Podcast. Each episode of the Coach’s Corner Round Table will feature our All-Star lineup of guests answering a single basketball question. A new Coach’s Corner Round Table will drop around the 15th of each month. January’s Round Table question is: What’s the smallest detail in a game that most fans miss but drives you...

On this episode, Mike and Jason look back at the Western Conference preseason over/unders and discuss each West team as the NBA season approaches the halfway point. Visit our Sponsors! Give With Hoops Give With Hoops is a groundbreaking initiative that fuses basketball analytics with modern sponsorship. Built for teams who see data as opportunity, from AAU programs to college powerhouses. By tying...

Britt Moore is in his 9th season as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Elizabethtown College where he has the Blue Jays off to a 10-1 start this year. Before taking the head coaching position at Elizabethtown, Moore spent six seasons as the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, taking his Panther teams to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Tournament each season. Pr...

Brad Stamps is in his 7th season as the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at his alma mater, Fayetteville High School in Arkansas. Brad’s first job was coaching 8th grade basketball at Woodland Junior High where he worked alongside his mentor and former Fayetteville High School Head Coach Kyle Adams. Stamps later became the head coach at Shiloh Christian where he took a program that had won only one gam...

On this episode, Mike and Jason take turns asking each other, "You Buying?" when it comes to these NBA Questions. Are you buying... The Trae Young Trade? That a team other than the Thunder will win the West? That the Clippers will continue their ascent up the Western Conference? That the Warriors should make a win now trade? That Giannis will be a Buck after the trade deadline? That Cooper Flagg w...

Donny Lind is the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Mount St. Mary’s University. In his first season, the 2024-25 team captured the university's first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) championship with a victory over Iona in the conference title game. They would notch a NCAA Tournament victory - the program's third - by defeating American in the First Four. The 23 wins by the team set a Divi...

B. J. Dunne is in his first year as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at MIT. He spent the past seven years at Gettysburg College, where he put together an 89-68 overall record (.567) and saw his teams advance to four straight Centennial Conference semifinals over the past four seasons. In 2024-25, he helped guide Gettysburg to the program's first 20-win season since 2007-08 and its highest national...

On this episode, Mike and Jason discuss the ramifications of Jokic's injury in Monday's loss to the Heat. Next, they dive into the Cavs lackluster season and the Laker's defensive issues. After that, Mike & Jason hit on the Spurs three wins over OKC in recent weeks and how those losses may have exposed some vulnerability in the Thunder. Finally, they try to figure out the Hawk's Trae Young iss...

Joe Stasyszyn is the director of Unleashed Potential, a basketball skill development company, based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He is also a USA Basketball Player Development Coach, Speaker and Clinician at Coach Academies, Gold Camps, and Clinics around the United States and around the world. Joe was also formerly the National Director of Basketball and Youth Fitness at 24 Hour Fitness, where he m...