Sportslifetalk Media

Kevin Thomas
  • 4.5 (8)
  • Sports
  • Updated Daily

🎙️ Welcome to Sportslifetalk — Where Life Meets Sports with a Vibe! 🏀🔥 From grassroots greatness to WNBA legends, Sportslifetalk is your go-to podcast for all things women’s and girls’ basketball — and the powerful stories behind the game. We shine a spotlight on athletes, coaches, and changemakers who are pushing the culture forward, breaking barriers, and inspiring the next generation. With fresh interviews, fun segments, and real talk, our hosts bring big energy, bold conversations, and a whole lotta love for the game. Whether you're a die-hard hoop fan or just love good storytelling,

  1. 7h ago

    Ginny Boggess Interview | Building a DYNASTY at Toledo Women's Basketball

    There are coaches who climb the ladder quickly. And then there are coaches who learn something on every single rung. Ginny Boggess has spent more than two decades doing exactly that. On this episode of You Got Next, SportsLifeTalk sits down with the head coach of Toledo Women’s Basketball for a conversation about recruiting, player development, program building, leadership, winning—and what it really takes to create something that lasts. Coach Boggess’s journey has taken her through multiple levels of college basketball and stops that include Hofstra, Columbia, Marquette, Penn State, Monmouth and now Toledo. But after 24 years in the game, one lesson has followed her everywhere: Basketball is basketball. And young people are young people. Whether she was stepping into historic arenas, preparing to face elite players like Caitlin Clark, rebuilding struggling programs or competing for championships, Coach Boggess learned that there isn’t some magical secret waiting at the next level. Work hard. Be a good person. Learn. Grow. And take care of your people. That philosophy was tested when she accepted the head coaching job at Monmouth. The program was coming off a two-win season. One of Coach Boggess’s mentors even questioned why she would take the job when other opportunities could eventually come. But Coach saw possibility. If they could go from two wins to five? They were cooking. Instead, they won 14 games in her first season. And eventually, after moving into a more difficult conference and facing another new challenge, a simple piece of advice from her wife Kristen helped refocus everything: “Why don’t you just coach your team?” Control what you can control. Build the culture. Develop the players. Trust the process. That team eventually won four games in four days to capture a conference tournament championship. Now Coach Boggess is bringing those lessons to Toledo. The Rockets have already reached the MAC championship game in each of her first two seasons, but Coach Boggess isn’t interested in building a one-year portal wonder. Her vision is bigger. She wants a dynasty-level culture. A program where the community shows up for the team and the team shows up for the community. A place where student-athletes develop beyond basketball. A place players want to stay. And a program capable of competing for championships year after year. Coach Boggess also takes us inside her recruiting philosophy, why fit matters, what she learned from her own recruiting experience, and why knowing your players can sometimes matter more than what the percentages say. Then, because this is You Got Next, we get to know Coach Boggess beyond the sideline. We find out why her father once booked a nonrefundable skydiving trip without asking her, why Wonder Woman is her superhero, how Garth Brooks, Whitney Houston, Nelly, Rihanna and worship music somehow ended up on the same playlist, and why “Shoop” is the karaoke song that may eventually have SportsLifeTalk headed to Toledo. And yes… Coach Boggess also settles the Jimmys & Joes vs. X’s & O’s debate. B. Jones may never let KT forget the answer. 😂 This is more than a conversation about winning basketball games. It’s about taking the long road. Learning at every stop. Building relationships. Trusting people. And creating something strong enough to last. Coach Ginny Boggess and the Toledo Rockets are building. And they believe they’re just getting started. This is You Got Next. SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

  2. 3d ago

    Sydney Wiese Interview | WNBA Veteran Returns HOME to Coach at Oregon State

    On this Savage Season episode, we reconnect with one of the greatest shooters in Oregon State history to talk about her playing career, transition into coaching, faith, relationships and why her basketball journey brought her right back to where so much of it began. Sydney grew up in a basketball family in Phoenix. Her father coached high school basketball, her older cousin introduced her to the creativity of AND1 basketball, and she had the Phoenix Suns and Mercury in her backyard. Then came Oregon State. During recruiting, Sydney had plenty of options—but conversations with head coach Scott Rueck felt different. It wasn't just basketball. It wasn't a recruiting script. She believed in his vision for what Oregon State could become and took only ONE official visit. The result? Three Pac-12 championships. A 2016 FINAL FOUR. And a place in Oregon State history. That Final Four team was later inducted into the Oregon State Hall of Fame. Sydney also became one of the most prolific shooters in Pac-12 history. How? REPS. REPS. AND MORE REPS. After practice, homework and dinner, Sydney would return to the gym late at night and shoot—sometimes for another hour and a half or two hours. She wasn't simply counting shots. She wanted STREAKS. Five makes in a row. Four. Three. Two. One. Seven spots. Midrange AND three. That work eventually helped take her to the WNBA and professional basketball overseas. But Sydney's career also included adversity. During Oregon State's Final Four season, she broke her hand and missed several games. Instead of disconnecting, she watched the game differently and began seeing basketball through a coach's lens. Years later, another injury helped change her direction again. During ACL rehab, Sydney tried broadcasting and volunteered as an assistant coach at a prep school. She discovered something: SHE LOVED COACHING. Sydney eventually returned to playing, including overseas basketball and a training camp opportunity with Connecticut. Then Scott Rueck called. Sydney prayed about the decision and realized she had peace with putting down the sneakers. In May 2024, she was still pursuing professional basketball. By July? SHE WAS A COACH. And she returned to Oregon State. The staff is truly FAMILY. Her former head coach is still leading the program. A former teammate is on staff. Another assistant coached Sydney when she played. That familiarity has helped her learn while discovering her own coaching voice. And in today's transfer portal/NIL era, Sydney believes relationships matter more than ever. Her approach is simple: Love the players while you have them. Serve them. Develop them. Treat people right. Then came the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂 Her Top 5? Bad Bunny. ELHAE. H.E.R. Chris Stapleton. Elevation Worship/Chandler Moore. That's a 23/24 from KT. 👀😂 Superman remains her superhero, Rod Wave's “Long Journey” is her theme song, and Lady Gaga gets the starring role in the musical version of Sydney's life. Her karaoke choices? Whitney Houston AND Celine Dion. And yes… WE MADE HER SING. 😂🎤 Her favorite current WNBA player is A'ja Wilson, and when SLT reaches Corvallis, Sydney is taking us for sushi—with the deep-fried Corvallis Roll getting B Jones' attention immediately. So what's next? Sydney isn't chasing titles or climbing a coaching ladder. She's focused on becoming great at the role she has TODAY—helping players develop, graduate, pursue professional opportunities and achieve their dreams. Player. WNBA pro. Oregon State legend. Shooter. Teammate. And now… COACH. The journey changed. The purpose didn't. And somehow… EVERY ROAD LED SYDNEY WIESE BACK TO CORVALLIS. Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, rate and review the show, and support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 as we continue amplifying girls' and women's basketball. SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

  3. Sep 27

    Joy Smith Interview | From Duke & the WNBA to Building a Coaching LEGACY

    Duke. The WNBA. Professional basketball overseas. The White House. Sixteen years of coaching. And now Ole Miss. Coach Joy Smith has lived a basketball journey that doesn't fit neatly into one box. On this episode of SportsLifeTalk: You Got Next, KT and B. Jones sit down with the Ole Miss women's basketball associate coach for a conversation about basketball, leadership, recruiting, player development, motherhood, adapting to a changing college game—and the next chapter she wants for herself. Joy's basketball journey began when she was eight years old. After watching her younger brother play, she wanted in. Saturday basketball clinics became AAU basketball. AAU eventually helped lead her to Duke, where she competed at the highest level of college basketball before being selected in the 2010 WNBA Draft. She spent time in the WNBA and played professionally overseas. But one phone call changed the direction of her career. Duke offered Joy an opportunity to return to her alma mater and begin coaching. She had an overseas contract waiting. Her response? Call the agent. Cancel it. She was going back to Duke. And that decision began a coaching career that would eventually take Joy through programs including Duke, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Clemson and now Ole Miss. But one of the most interesting parts of Joy's journey happened away from basketball. During Two Truths and a Lie, KT and B. Jones discover that Joy once interned at the White House. Yes. THAT White House. Joy shares stories from the experience and explains how she worked around domestic and economic policy during the Obama administration, including work connected to then-Vice President Joe Biden. Then the conversation turns back to basketball. Joy opens up about how she's changed as a coach. Early in her career, she sometimes expected players to operate the way she did as an athlete. Experience taught her something different: Meet players where they are. Then help bring them up. Joy describes herself today as a “truth teller.” She'll tell players exactly what they need to hear—but she's also learned empathy, patience and the importance of understanding each athlete as an individual. Motherhood has influenced that evolution too. Joy is raising two young daughters while continuing to build her coaching career at one of the highest levels of women's college basketball. She also takes SportsLifeTalk inside the mindset at Ole Miss. College athletics is changing constantly. The transfer portal. Eligibility. Roster construction New rules. Joy's philosophy is simple: You have to be willing to pivot. Because if you don't change with the game, the game will leave you behind. Ole Miss also has a standard for its group: 100/100. Give your 100 percent, 100 percent of the time. New roster? No excuses. New faces? No excuses. The expectation remains. And when SportsLifeTalk asks Joy what's next for HER, there isn't any hesitation. Her own program. From Hyattsville to Charlotte Duke to professional basketball… the White House to the sideline and now Oxford… Joy Smith's story is still being written. And she knows exactly where she wants the next chapter to go. 🎙️ SportsLifeTalk: You Got Nex SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER We don't do fans. We do FAMILY.

  4. Sep 23

    Macy Hatlestad Interview | From 3 ACL Tears to Nike EYBL Coach of the Year

    CHAMPIONSHIP DNA. MINNESOTA MADE. 🏆🏀 On this episode of SportsLifeTalk’s You Got Next, Savage Season heads to Minnesota for a conversation with Coach Macy Hatlestad, one of the rising young names in girls basketball. From Alexandria to St. Thomas, Minnetonka and North Tartan, basketball has been part of Macy's life for as long as she can remember. And coaching? It's literally in the family. Her father was a Hall of Fame volleyball coach, while her mother spent more than 40 years coaching high school basketball. Macy grew up in gyms, attended practices with her mom and developed into an elite shooter herself. But her journey wasn't easy. THREE ACL TEARS. Two came in high school and another during college. After her second ACL surgery, Macy arrived at St. Thomas questioning whether she even wanted to continue playing basketball. Thankfully, she did. Her message to athletes battling injuries and setbacks is powerful: Believe you can do hard things. Attack the rehab. Do the exercises. Get stronger. Trust yourself. Because sometimes the toughest chapters help create an even better version of you. At St. Thomas, Macy experienced winning, competed in the NCAA Tournament and Final Four, and developed the basketball IQ that would eventually become one of the foundations of her coaching career. Funny thing is… She never planned on becoming a coach. 😂 After college, Macy's mother convinced her to coach an AAU team. That opportunity eventually led her to North Tartan, where she worked her way from younger teams to the Nike EYBL circuit. Then came a championship. Macy helped lead a North Tartan team to a Nike EYBL championship, an accomplishment she says meant even more because it was HER group—the players looking to her in timeouts and trusting her leadership. And the recognition kept coming. Macy was later named 16U Coach of the Year, an honor she accepted with humility while recognizing what it represents for young female coaches continuing to earn opportunities and respect in the game. Her coaching personality? SPICY. FEISTY. ENERGETIC. 🌶️😂 Macy coaches the way she played. She communicates constantly, walks the sideline, claps approximately 10,000 times per game 😂 and demands DEFENSE. She wants her teams to play hard, play smart, share the basketball and represent their own brand regardless of the final score. She's also experienced championship success at Minnetonka, where she was part of the program's 2024 state championship. Then there's the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. Her Top 5 includes T.I., Rihanna, Kehlani, Fridayy and the Jonas Brothers. That combination earned her a MAMBA 24. 🐍 Her pregame soundtrack goes from Lupe Fiasco's “The Show Goes On” to Quavo's “Hotel Lobby” before finishing with T.I. and Rihanna's “Live Your Life.” She doesn't have a traditional favorite superhero. Her real-life superheroes? Mom and Dad. ❤️ And when SLT pulls up in Minneapolis, Macy is taking us to Off the Rails for cheese curds. Her favorite WNBA player? Maya Moore. Basketball has also taught Macy an important lesson: Enjoy the victories. Appreciate the accomplishments. Learn from the losses. But don't allow basketball to define you. Because when the game ends… THE SHOW GOES ON. So what's next? Macy wants to continue developing girls basketball through Minnetonka and North Tartan while helping grow the women's game on an even larger scale. At SportsLifeTalk Media, we're committed to amplifying the athletes, coaches and leaders shaping girls' and women's basketball. Support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 and help us continue telling these stories. Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode. Three ACL tears couldn't stop her. Championships didn't satisfy her. And her story? It's still unwritten. Remember the name: COACH MACY HATLESTAD. SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

  5. Sep 20

    Jen Brown Interview | From BED-STUY Hooper to Building Queens Basketball

    On this episode of SportsLifeTalk’s You Got Next, Savage Season sits down with Jen Brown, head women’s basketball coach at Queens University of Charlotte, for a conversation about hoops, leadership, recruiting, purpose and building something special. Before Coach Brown was leading a Division I program, she was a Brooklyn hooper. Growing up in Bed-Stuy, basketball started outside with a milk crate attached to a wall. She played on concrete, competed against her brothers and learned quickly that New York basketball demanded toughness. West 4th. Rucker Park. Rod Strickland tournaments. Stephon Marbury tournaments. If you showed up in New York, you better HOOP. And Jen could do more than hoop. She could DUNK. 😳 Coach Brown eventually began her college career at Pitt before transferring to James Madison to play for Kenny Brooks, beginning a relationship that would help shape her career. At JMU, she became part of a winning culture and built relationships that still exist today. Years later, her journey came full circle. After six seasons coaching at her alma mater, Coach Brown spent four seasons alongside Brooks at Virginia Tech, helping recruit, develop players and build a nationally recognized program. Then came the opportunity to build something of her own. Queens University of Charlotte. Coach Brown stepped into a program transitioning from Division II to Division I and embraced everything that came with building from the ground up. Her philosophy starts with two golden rules: 1. Be a good human being.2. Work hard-ER. That ER matters. Coach Brown wants players and staff members who aren't afraid to challenge themselves, grow and bring their authentic personalities into the program. Her vision for Queens carries some of that Brooklyn DNA. Grit. Passion. Toughness. Competitiveness. If you play Queens, Coach Brown wants you walking away saying one thing: “They play HARD.” The Royals want to play with pace and freedom while developing players who understand how to read and react instead of simply memorizing plays. And when Coach Brown hits the recruiting trail, she's looking beyond points, rankings and highlight reels. She watches the INTANGIBLES. How do you react to a bad call? How do you come out of a game? How do you respond to your coach? How do you treat teammates? Can you play without the basketball? And most importantly… Are you a PALMS-UP player constantly questioning everything? Or a PALMS-DOWN player saying, “We good. Let's go.” 👀 That tells Coach Brown plenty. Then there's the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂 Her Top 5? DMX. Jay-Z. Lauryn Hill. Yolanda Adams. Kirk Franklin/God’s Property. That's gangster rap to gospel in one car ride. 😂 And yes—that lineup earned a MAMBA 24. 🐍 Black Panther is her favorite superhero, while Jay-Z's “Encore” gets the nod as her theme song. Her favorite WNBA player? Cynthia Cooper. And if SLT pulls up in Charlotte, Coach is sending us to Showmars for a fried fish sandwich. Away from basketball, she's MOM first. Her son Jace—who was almost named Jabron because of her love for LeBron James 😂—keeps her busy with schoolwork, outdoor activities and trips to the pool. But Coach Brown's bigger purpose extends beyond wins. She wants to mentor the next generation of young women as they navigate basketball, money, branding, social media and opportunities that didn't exist for previous generations. Her goal is to hold the door open for the next Jen Brown coming behind her. And at Queens, the mission is clear: MEET THE MOMENT. MTM. Build winning habits. Develop champions. And eventually? Take Queens University to the BIG DANCE. 👀🏀 At SportsLifeTalk Media, we're committed to amplifying the athletes, coaches and leaders shaping girls' and women's basketball. Support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 and help us continue telling these stories. Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode. SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

  6. Sep 20

    Mo'Riyah “Mo” McKinney Interview | Elite 2029 PG Bringing DETROIT TOUGHNESS

    🎧 Mo McKinney | You Got Next Detroit basketball is built different. Mo McKinney is proof. 🔥🏀 On this episode of SportsLifeTalk’s You Got Next, Savage Season heads to Michigan to introduce one of the rising point guards in the Class of 2029: Mariah “Mo” McKinney of Belleville High School. Standing around 5-foot-5, Mo doesn't need size to control a basketball game. She has the HANDLE. She has the VISION. She has the SPEED. And most importantly? She has that DOG in her. 😤 Mo plays with a blue-collar Detroit mentality—attacking downhill, disrupting opponents defensively, controlling pace and competing on every possession. Ask her to describe her game in one word? “Crazy.” 😂 And she's not wrong. Mo's basketball journey started with trips to the park with her parents. As her love for the game grew, so did the work. She remembers being one of the smallest players in workouts with her trainer Randy in Lansing, Michigan, but those sessions helped develop one of the biggest weapons in her game today: The ball is on a string. Behind the handles is something even more important—CONFIDENCE. Mo credits her family, especially conversations with her mother, for helping develop the belief she carries onto the court. When we give her three words—confident, relentless and athletic—Mo immediately puts CONFIDENT at No. 1. Because when she steps on the floor, you can see it. But there's plenty of work still happening in the lab. Mo is focused on improving her midrange game and three-point shooting to become an even more complete point guard. On the grassroots circuit, she competes with Sports City Angels, where she's getting tested against some of the best young players in the country. One matchup against Iowa Attack came down to the final possession, with Mo's team losing on a buzzer-beater. Those are the battles helping prepare her for what's next. And when college recruiting gets serious, Mo already knows one thing that will matter: TEAM BONDING. She wants a program where teammates are genuinely close both on and off the court. Then there's the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂 Mo's playlist brings straight Detroit energy with NBA YoungBoy, Babyface Ray, Babyface E, Lil Durk and Skilla Baby. Her favorite superhero is Spider-Man because of the way he moves with the webs. Her jersey number 2 has two meanings: her birthday is July 2, and she's the second child in her family. And if SLT pulls up in Detroit looking for food? Mo says we're getting shawarma. 😂 Basketball has also taught her something bigger than the game: “It's levels to this.” The game has allowed her to meet different people from different places and understand that everyone's journey is different. Away from basketball, Mo keeps things simple—hanging out with friends and teammates while continuing to work toward her goals. She also enjoys Spanish class and is beginning to learn the language. But don't mistake the laid-back personality for a lack of competitiveness. Ask Mo whether she'd rather hit a huge shot at home or knock down a game-winner on the ROAD and silence the opposing crowd? She's taking the road game. MAMBA. 🐍 So what's next? Mo has one major goal in front of her: WIN A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH BELLEVILLE. 🏆 With talented teammates around her and several years still ahead, the future of Belleville basketball could be special. At SportsLifeTalk Media, we're committed to amplifying the athletes, coaches and leaders shaping the future of girls' and women's basketball. Support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 and help us continue traveling, covering basketball and giving young athletes a platform to tell their stories. Subscribe to You Got Next on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode. SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

  7. Sep 19

    Aryelle Franklin Interview | 6'2” Class of 2030 Phenom Is JUST GETTING STARTED

    🎧 Aryelle Franklin | You Got Next She’s 6-foot-2. She’s Class of 2030. And she’s only been playing basketball for TWO YEARS. 🤯🏀 On this episode of SportsLifeTalk’s You Got Next, Savage Season stays right here in the DFW as we introduce one of the most intriguing young prospects in girls basketball: Aryelle Franklin. The versatile wing already has the size, athleticism, physicality and confidence of someone who has been doing this much longer. But basketball wasn't even her first sport. GYMNASTICS was. Aryelle competed in gymnastics before eventually turning her attention to basketball. She grew up around the game with her mother coaching, but it wasn't until around seventh grade that she decided basketball was what she really wanted. Two years later? She's competing against some of the best players in the country. Let that sink in. Aryelle describes herself as a player who loves DEFENSE, can knock down the three, use her size to play bully ball and do whatever her team needs to win. And that confidence? It's always been there. “I know I'm that girl.” 😤 That's the mentality. She doesn't just want to be good—she wants to be No. 1. But rankings aren't controlling the mission. Aryelle understands that even if she eventually becomes the top-ranked player, she'll still have to work to stay there. Her current focus is developing the handles necessary to become a true BIG GUARD while continuing to improve her shooting efficiency. Aryelle has already experienced what elite basketball looks like after sharing the floor with talented older players who challenged her every day. One player who made a major impact on her is Jacy Abii, whom Aryelle considers a big sister and someone whose game and journey she's admired. Now Aryelle is entering another chapter with Dynamic Prep. And she has a warning: Bring your work. Because they're coming for the No. 1 spot. 👀🔥 On the grassroots side, Aryelle found a home with CyFair Elite, one of the premier programs in girls basketball. For her, the decision wasn't just about exposure or competition—it was about finding a program where she felt welcomed and valued. Her favorite WNBA player? Olivia Miles. And while Aryelle's basketball journey is still incredibly young, she's already had her own Mamba Moment. During a championship game against Royal Crown, her team was down around eight points when Aryelle entered the game, knocked down a three, hit a floater and helped completely change the team's energy. They didn't finish with the win, but Aryelle learned she could impact the game when her team needed her. Then there's the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂 Her Top 5 includes Drake, Rod Wave, NoCap, PARTYNEXTDOOR and Lil Baby. Spider-Man gets the nod as her favorite superhero. Her theme song? “From Time” by Drake featuring Jhené Aiko. And YES—we actually got her to sing! 🎤😂 Basketball has also taught Aryelle something much bigger than scoring points: how to control her emotions, stay focused and remain locked in when things aren't going her way. Her favorite restaurant? Taco Bell. 🌮😂 And she gave us an order complicated enough that we're just going to let y'all watch the episode for that one. So what's next for a Class of 2030 prospect whose journey is barely getting started? Aryelle isn't making it complicated. She's excited to attack her high school career, keep developing her game and see just how good she can become. Four years from now, the basketball world may look back at this episode and realize: We told you early. At SportsLifeTalk Media, we're committed to amplifying the athletes, coaches and leaders shaping the future of girls' and women's basketball. Support our 4 Quarters Program with just $1 and help us continue traveling, covering basketball and giving young athletes a platform to tell their stories. Subscribe to You Got Next on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode. SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

  8. Sep 18

    Michael Panaggio Interview | How DME Academy Became NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

    🎧 Michael Panaggio | You Got Next THE CHAMP IS HERE. 🏆 On this episode of SportsLifeTalk’s You Got Next, Savage Season heads to Daytona Beach, Florida, for a conversation with DME Academy girls basketball head coach Michael Panaggio—fresh off capturing the 2026 Chipotle Nationals Championship. Coach P has experienced basketball from nearly every angle. Player. Professional. Recruiter. Program builder. Coach. And now? NATIONAL CHAMPION. Basketball is literally in his blood. Michael grew up in locker rooms as a third-generation coach. His father coached professionally in the Continental Basketball Association, and his grandfather coached in the league as well. Because of his father's coaching career, Michael grew up all over the country—from Iowa and Indiana to Oregon, Milwaukee and Los Angeles. He eventually became an All-Conference college player, played professionally and even earned Italian citizenship before returning to the game from the sidelines. But coaching wasn't just another job. It was the family business. Michael helped launch what would eventually become the girls basketball program at DME Academy in Daytona Beach. And yes—we FINALLY learned what DME means. 😂 Originally connected to the family business Direct Mail Express, DME has taken on a new meaning inside the basketball program: DO MORE EVERY DAY. That mentality helped transform DME from a developing program into one of the premier destinations in girls basketball. Then came 2026. After navigating injuries, adversity and a difficult stretch during the season, DME earned its opportunity at Chipotle Nationals. Coach P believed before the season that he had the best team in the country. His players proved him right. With leaders like Gigi, Shakai and a talented roster that bought into putting winning ahead of individual egos, DME reached the top and captured the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP. But Coach P believes one of the biggest keys wasn't coaching. It was leadership from the PLAYERS. The championship also represented something bigger for DME. The program didn't begin with a massive campus, hundreds of girls athletes or unlimited resources. Coach P remembers when there were no dorms, no traditional school setup and essentially no female athletic program. They built it. Now they're champions. Coach P also takes us behind the scenes of one of the hardest parts of prep basketball: RECRUITING. He's not simply competing against other elite prep programs. He's asking teenagers to leave their hometowns, friends, teammates and families to pursue something bigger. That's why relationships matter. Coach P has also developed a strong international recruiting pipeline, searching around the world for players who fit DME's basketball culture. Sometimes that means finding the highly ranked prospect. Other times? It means finding the HIDDEN GEM nobody else is looking for. His philosophy helped DME develop players who have gone on to impactful college basketball careers, including Chloe Kitts, whom Coach P calls one of the most important players in the history of the program. Then there's the SportsLifeTalk Initiation. 😂 Coach P's Top 5 features Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Drake, Andrea Bocelli and Usher. That combination earned him a MAMBA 24. 🐍 Spider-Man gets his superhero vote, while Kanye West's “Flashing Lights” becomes his theme song—a fitting choice for a coach constantly preparing players to perform when the lights get brightest. Basketball has also taught him that you're part of something bigger than yourself. Every decision affects your teammates, family and the people in your circle. So what's next after winning a national championship? DEFEND IT. DME has grown to more than 40 girls in the program, with talented younger players beginning to arrive earlier than ever. Coach P isn't satisfied with one ring. Subscribe to You Got Next on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, leave a rating and review, and share this episode. SPORTS IS LIFE. TALK IS POWER.

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About

🎙️ Welcome to Sportslifetalk — Where Life Meets Sports with a Vibe! 🏀🔥 From grassroots greatness to WNBA legends, Sportslifetalk is your go-to podcast for all things women’s and girls’ basketball — and the powerful stories behind the game. We shine a spotlight on athletes, coaches, and changemakers who are pushing the culture forward, breaking barriers, and inspiring the next generation. With fresh interviews, fun segments, and real talk, our hosts bring big energy, bold conversations, and a whole lotta love for the game. Whether you're a die-hard hoop fan or just love good storytelling,

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Thomas
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    876
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kevin Thomas
  • Show Website
    Sportslifetalk Media