Hoops Prospects Podcast (HPP)

Heading into Championship Week, TJ Brown and Rich Harris discuss the top teams and prospects from the Pac-12 Conference, with special guest Bruce Pascoe, a veteran beat reporter, who covers the Arizona Wildcats for the Arizona Daily Star.

The HPP crew reviews all of the action at G League Elite Camp and discusses the prospects who raised/lowered their NBA draft stock the most. USC wing Drew Peterson, a standout at the event, joins the show and discusses a number of topics, including his experience at GLEC, his NBA future, and Bronny James playing for USC. Also, the gang covers the usual topics, such as the latest transfer portal developments, draft news, and the NBA playoffs, including a critical analysis of Joel Embiid’s postseason performance.
CHAPTERS:
1. G League Elite Camp Review (5:08)

• Top game performers
• Poor game performances
• Impressive athletic testing and measurements
• Disappointing athletic testing and measurements
• The NBA Combine Invites

2. College Hoops Notebook (45:15)

• The latest Transfer Portal developments, including Caleb Love re-entering and Zyon Pullin adding his name after the deadline
• Players exiting the NBA Draft
• Coach K named Special Advisor to NBA Basketball Operations
• Mike Anderson is suing St. John’s for nearly 46 million, alleging he was unfairly fired
• LeMoyne College Dolphins are transitioning from Division 2 to Division 1
• Kelvin Sampson interviews for the Bucks Head Coaching vacancy

3. Drew Peterson Interview (1:18:18)
4. NBA Chat (1:38:07)

• Why did the Knicks’ playoff run come to an abrupt end?
• Is it time for the Warriors to blow it up?
• Doc Rivers is gone and James Harden is likely to follow. Were they the Sixers’ biggest problems or is Joel Embiid to blame?
• Suns fire Monty Williams. Has KD become the league’s biggest coach killer?
• Grizzlies suspend Ja Morant again. What’s next for the troubled star?
• Spurs win the NBA Draft Lottery. Is the No. 1 selection a done deal, or are other players in contention?
• NBA Playoff Contest update and predictions for the Conference Finals

The HPP crew tips off Season 3 of the show by talking with UC Irvine big man Bent Leuchten, a Big West All-Academic selection and the conference’s returning leader for true shooting percentage (63.5), player efficiency rating (27.1), and plus-minus (7.5). The HPP gang also covers the biggest developments in basketball in the latest editions of the College Hoops Notebook and the NBA Notebook.
CHAPTERS:
1. College Hoops Notebook (0:38)

• USC’s Bronny James cardiac incident
• The ever-shrinking Pac-12; Colorado joining the Big 12 in 2024
• Memphis Roster Updates
• West Virginia Roster Updates
• Arkansas Roster Updates
• Kentucky Roster Updates
• The latest at New Mexico State
• Ahron Ulis Gambling Scandal

2. Bent Leuchten Interview (49:34)
3. NBA Notebook (1:07:56)

• Reactions to Jaylen Brown‘s new super-max extension
• Dame Lillard and James Harden trades are not on the horizon
• Charlotte Hornets roster analysis
• OKC Thunder has a ton of options
• Teams with obvious holes in their depth charts

4. Mailbag (1:54:25)

• Homeruns and strikeouts in draft evaluation
• Who is really getting traded?
• Did Kyle Neptune trash Cam Whitmore?
• Why is Kyle Anderson playing for China in the World Cup?

With the NBA Preseason set to start in less than two weeks, the HPP crew previews all 15 teams in the Eastern Conference. The show also features the regular NBA and College Notebook segments, and Saint Joseph guard Erik Reynolds II, an Atlantic 10 Player of the Year candidate, talks with the guys about his game, the upcoming season, and Philly basketball traditions.
An All-A10 selection in 2022-23, Erik was one of the most efficient scorers in the nation, ranking at the 88th percentile for points per possession. He ranked second in the A-10 with 19.6 points per game, and he ranked in the top 10 of the conference for FG% (43.0), 3P% (37.9), and FT% (88.5). He also ranked in the top six of the A-10 for player efficiency rating (21.4), win shares (4.7), and plus-minus (5.0).
Per usual, the episode is separated into chapters so you can easily jump to the segments that most interest you.
CHAPTERS:
1. College Hoops Notebook (2:21)

• Kansas suspends guard Arterio Morris.
• VCU guard Joe Bamisile is denied waivers by the NCAA and must sit out this season.
• Xavier is likely to lose forwards Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter for the season due to injury, but the frontcourt will be bolstered by two promising international recruits that the team recently added.

2. Erik Reynolds II Interview (13:54)

3. NBA Notebook (43:59)

• FIBA Worldcup Wrap-up — what’s wrong with Team USA?
• The Rockets want to trade Kevin Porter following his recent arrest.
• Sixers sign Kelly Oubre.
• The Pacers put Buddy Hield on the trading block.
• Celtics and Warriors try to address their big-man issues.
• Dwight Howard is looking to return to the NBA.
• NBA’s new Player Participation Policy — good idea, bad idea, or wrong approach?

4. Atlantic Division Preview (1:35:40)

• Boston Celtics
• Philadelphia Sixers
• New York Knicks
• Brooklyn Nets
• Toronto Raptors

5. Central Division Preview (2:08:58)

• Milwaukee Bucks
• Cleveland Cavaliers
• Chicago Bulls
• Indiana Pacers
• Detroit Pistons

6. Southeast Division Preview (2:38:26)

• Miami Heat
• Atlanta Hawks
• Washington Wizards
• Orlando Magic
• Charlotte Hornets

The Ignite's Mojave King joins the guys for a chat, talking about his international experience, his time in the G League, and his alternative route to the NBA. Also, Doc and Drew discuss the numerous NBA trades at the deadline and debate whether LeBron is the Goat. On the college side, Bunni and Rich open up the Hoops Notebook, release a new Draft Stock Report, and make their weekly game predictions.
CHAPTERS:
1. NBA Chat (3:36)

• With Kevin Durant being traded to the Phoenix, how far will the Suns go? What does this trade mean for KD’s legacy? Did he make the right decision in leaving Brooklyn? Which team ultimately wins in this trade?
• Of the 16 trade-deadline deals, which do you especially like or dislike?
• LeBron James breaks the scoring record. Is he officially the GOAT?

2. Mojave King Interview (30:37)
3. College Hoops Notebook (50:49)

• Among these ten teams that appear to be safely in the tournament: Michigan State, Northwestern, Maryland, Oklahoma State, TCU, Iowa State, Arkansas, Missouri, San Diego State, and Pittsburgh, which are the most likely to slump and fall on the bubble?
• Among these 20 bubble teams: Clemson, UNC, Virginia Tech, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Oregon, USC, Utah, Nevada, Utah State, Boise State, New Mexico, Florida, Kentucky, Auburn, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and Memphis, who is in and who is out? At least half won’t make it, so pick just your top five for each category.
• Updated Final Four picks, including a fifth team (darkhorse) that is not ranked in the top 10.

4. Stock Rising (1:12:52)

• Anthony Black, Arkansas
• Colby Jones, Xavier
• Colin Castleton, Florida
• Kendric Davis, Memphis
• Kobe Brown, Missouri
• Grant Basile, Virginia Tech
• Toumani Camara, Dayton

5. Stock Falling (1:46:15)

• Brice Sensabaugh, Ohio State
• Julian Phillips, Tennessee
• Baba Miller, Florida State
• Matthew Murrell, Ole Miss
• Pete Nance, North Carolina

6. Game Predictions (2:09:41)
Tuesday, February 14, 2023

• Creighton (18) at Providence (24)
• Missouri at Auburn
• Michigan at Wisconsin

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

• Alabama (1) at Tennessee (10)
• Xavier (16) at Marquette (11)
• Indiana (14) at Northwestern
• TCU (22) at Iowa State (19)
• Arkansas at Texas A&M
• UC Irvine at UC Santa Barbara

Thursday, February 16, 2023

• Purdue (3) at Maryland

Saturday, February 18, 2023

• Illinois at Indiana (14)
• Rutgers at Wisconsin
• Tennessee (10) at Kentucky
• Iowa State (19) at Kansas State (12)
• Oklahoma State at TCU (22)
• Baylor (9) at Kansas (5)
• Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech
• Texas A&M at Missouri
• Michigan State at Michigan
• Nevada at Utah State

Sunday, February 19, 2023

• North Carolina at NC State (23)
• Memphis at Houston (2)
• Iowa at Northwestern

Monday, February 20, 2023

• Kansas (5) at TCU (22)

7. Mailbag (2:26:34)