UVA and NOVA Legends Podcasts®

Today, I’m joined by  Ganon Baker  — Hampton Roads legend, former college standout, and one of the most respected  player-development coaches in the world .If you follow basketball at any level — youth, high school, college, or pro — you’ve felt Ganon Baker’s influence, whether you realized it or not. Ganon’s journey begins in  Hampton, Virginia , where growing up in the 757 shaped his toughness,...

Maya Bundick joins the NOVA Legends Podcast after an excellent showcase performance at The St. James: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals. The Woodgrove junior guard has been doing it for a while—she helped the Wolverines win a state championship as a freshman, led them back to the state tournament last season, and is now stepping into a bigger leadership role. We talk about her growth from...

The 2025 NOVA Legends Year-End Awards are here—our third annual celebration of the athletes, coaches, and media members who defined another unforgettable year in Northern Virginia sports. This episode honors standout performers across football, basketball (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), coaching excellence, media coverage, sportsmanship, Athlete of the Year, and Legend of the Year. All...

Today I’m joined by Strasburg head football coach Tripp Lamb, who just led the Rams to the first football state championship in school history. Coach Lamb and I talk about why it took such a storied program so long to break through, and what the title means to Strasburg and the Shenandoah County community. We cover his playing career at Staunton River High School and Bridgewater College, followed...

This morning I’m joined by Matthew Hatfield of Virginia Preps to break down the 2025–26 high school basketball season. We start with Petersburg High, its new coach Ty White, and how the program is handling a national schedule. From there, we run through all 12 VHSL classifications (six boys and six girls), revisiting last year’s Final Fours before identifying this season’s top contenders and stand...

Madison head coach Justin Counts joins NOVA Legends to break down a memorable 2025 season — a sixth straight Northern Region title, a brutal playoff path, and another classic battle with state power Oscar Smith. We talk about balancing roster turnover with sustained success, the early-season turning point (South Lakes), the growth of QB Andrew Rowan and RB Matthew Weiler, how Madison tightened up...

Two years ago, North Stafford went 0–10. This Saturday, they’re playing for a state championship. On today’s NOVA Legends Podcast, I sit down with head coach Marquez Hall to talk about:His journey from Tuskegee, Alabama to Tennessee State, the CFL, and finally North StaffordThe influence of HBCU football and Omega Psi Phi on his life and coachingHow he rebuilt North Stafford “brick by brick” from...

Virginia high school football season comes down to one final Saturday—and we’ve got the state’s best analyst to break it all down. Matthew Hatfield (VirginiaPreps.com, On3) joins NOVA Legends Podcast to recap an insane state semifinal weekend packed with one-score thrillers, and to preview all six VHSL state championship games. We cover:Why there were so many one-score semifinal games and what it...

Four of Northern Virginia’s top girls high school coaches sit down for a powerful 2025–26 season conversation on NOVA Legends Podcast. Coach Dianne Lewis (Edison), Kirsten Stone (Madison), Amanda Baker (Langley), and Le Towe (WT Woodson) discuss balancing parenting and coaching, the longevity of women coaches, the impact of private schools and transfer rules, sending their players to college, and...

2025-26 NOVA high school girls hoops are here! 🏀On this episode of NOVA Legends Podcast, I sit down with NOVAhoops’ Chris Jolly to break down the Northern Virginia girls basketball landscape: early-season surprises, Osbourne Park vs. Paul VI, Gainesville’s rise, Concord and Patriot District battles, Loudoun contenders, and the balance of public vs. private powers. If we missed your team or favori...

West Springfield head coach Anthony Parker joins the show after the Spartans beat rival Lake Braddock for the regional title and punched their ticket to the state semifinals. We talk about West Springfield’s first regional crown since 1980, Parker’s coaching journey from Ballou and North Carolina A&T to Fairfax County, the impact of his two sons on staff, and how this team reinvented itself in...

The 2025–26 high school basketball season is here — and we’re tipping things off Loudoun-style. I’m joined by three of the best in the area to break down what to expect on Opening Night and beyond:🏀 Ben Farquhar — Heritage🏀 Jeff Hawes — Potomac Falls🏀 Jacob Krogh — Broad RunWe hit many of the topics fans care about:• How tryouts, practices, and scrimmages shaped their rosters• Players and teams...

On one of the biggest days of the year for Northern Virginia basketball, NOVA Hoops founder Chris Jolly joins the NOVA Legends Podcast to break down the 2025–26 boys season. We go district by district — Concorde, Liberty, National, Patriot, Cedar Run, Cardinal, Dulles, Potomac, and more — talk transfers, academies vs public schools, rising programs in Loudoun and Prince William, and why teams like...

Today I’m joined by four of the top public-school coaches in Northern Virginia:Carlos Poindexter (Hayfield)Doug Craig (WT Woodson)Sherman Rivers (Patriot)David Houston (West Potomac)We break down:• How last year’s NOVA grads are performing in college• Honesty with recruiters and helping players find the right fit• Early impressions from tryouts and scrimmages• Whether December wins matter or if ev...

Lake Braddock head coach Mike Dougherty joins me to break down one of the wildest Northern Virginia football seasons in recent memory. We start with this year’s off-field headlines — the Fairfax eligibility case and the Battlefield chain-crew “radio scandal” — and what they’re like from a coach’s perspective. Then Coach Dougherty walks us through Lake Braddock’s playoff run: rematches with South C...

In this special episode of NOVA Legends, I sit down for my first-ever listener Q&A, answering questions submitted by fans across the NOVA Legends Facebook and Instagram communities. From the glory days of 1970s high school basketball to today’s rising stars, I share stories that connect generations — revisiting iconic games, legendary athletes, and the lessons learned from coaches who built pr...

Today I’m joined by Jill Patterson, who just added another remarkable chapter to her story by winning the 2025 UCI Gran Fondo World Championship in Australia — her biggest victory yet. What makes it so special is that this was a year when she wasn’t training or racing at the same intensity as she had in the past. And yet, when the moment came, she found a way to win. Jill takes us inside the race...

Today I’m joined by Matthew McKeag, who has coached at several top programs across Virginia, including Robinson, Varina, and Glen Allen. We talk about his new basketball consulting initiative and revisit his journey as a versatile, all-around wing at Chantilly High School and Hampden-Sydney College. Matthew reflects on the big wins, tough losses, and lessons learned along the way, while offering g...

Today I’m joined by Byron Thweatt, a two-year captain and standout linebacker at the University of Virginia who went on to a brief NFL career before embarking on a long and distinguished coaching journey. Byron followed his hero James Farrior from Matoaca High School to UVA, where he started all four years under legendary coach George Welsh. During his time in Charlottesville, he played in three b...

Today I’m joined by Madison head coach Justin Counts, fresh off a huge win over Concorde rival South Lakes that puts the Warhawks right back in the playoff picture. We talk about how the 2025 Warhawks have evolved after losing so many key players from last year’s team that came up just short in the state final. Coach Counts walks us through a tough 4–4 start, where every game has been a battle—qui...

Today I’m joined by Yorktown head coach Joe Keimig, who enters his third season leading the Patriots’ varsity program. We talk about what he’s learned at a school known for its high expectations and strong community support, and the great backing he’s received within the building. We also look back on a successful 20-win campaign in 2024–25, and take an in-depth look at the 2025–26 Patriots, led b...

Forest Boyce joins me fresh off another iconic victory — this time aboard Henry Walters’ Barbadian Runner in the 2025 Maryland Million Classic, one of the premier events on the Maryland racing calendar. Forest is among the most accomplished female riders in racing history, with over 1,000 wins and more than $40 million in career purses. We catch up on the evolving Maryland racing scene — from the...

West Potomac basketball coach David Houston returns to reflect on a memorable 2024-25 season that ended in controversy, share his experiences balancing life as both a coach and a sports dad, and preview his team and the Northern Virginia basketball scene for 2025-26. We discuss the increasing movement of players between public and private schools, his own family’s decisions about where his childre...

Good Counsel Coach Mike Mastrantuano joins me to talk about his move to the Montgomery County WCAC powerhouse. We discuss the transition from coaching elite club teams to high school, the expectations of today’s players and parents, and some of the recent shifts in the soccer landscape. Coach Mastro also breaks down this year’s Good Counsel squad, which is off to a terrific start, and shares his t...

Kallie Hovatter ranks among the greatest players in Valley history — a four-time All-State selection at Stonewall Jackson (Quicksburg) who twice led the Generals to the state playoffs. After an injury-plagued collegiate career at St. Joe’s and Elon, she went on to play professionally for 13 years in Australia. Kallie joins me to share her remarkable journey and the keys to becoming one of Virginia...