In The Paint Show Ballislife

On Episode 186 of the Ballislife In The Paint Show hosts Ronnie Flores and Ani Umana go hard on the top high school players to watch this spring and summer. The fellas talk about each of the returning classes, who've they've seen in recent weeks and players they looking forward to evaluating the rest of the spring and summer.
For the 2025 class, where does Cam Boozer go from here? Can names like Hudson Greer and Brayden Burries thrust themselves even higher into the national rankings?
2026 has the makings of a special class. Players such as Brandon McCoy Jr., Tyran Stokes, Caleb Holt and Jalen Montonati lead the way. Montonati and his coach at Owasso (Okla.), Brian Montonati, are special guests to this week's show, as they discuss winning the program's first Class 6A state title, expectations for next season, the approach Jalen takes towards improving his game and whom he emulates.
The 2027 class is a hard act to follow, but names such as Babatunde Oladotun, Jaylan Mitchell and Gene Roebuck have it off to a good start. Also look out for the Florida Rebels 15u backcourt of Cayden Daughtry and O’Neal Delancey!
The ITP Crew goes in-depth on the players you'll be hearing plenty about in the future and get some terrific insight from their special guests, so make sure to tune in to Episode 186 from start to finish! Also make sure to check out our ITP Overtime shorts for more info, insight and behind the scenes stories!

(0:00) - Intro
(1:34) - 2024 National Player Rankings Breakdown
(10:31) - 2025 Class Breakdown: Who To Watch!
(19:04) - 2026 Class Breakdown: That Loaded?
(14:38) - Kentucky's Coaching Change: Sign of Times?
(23:34) - Jalen Montonati Interview (w/Father Brian Montonati)
(25:39) - Montonati's on Owasso (Okla.) Winning First State Title
(29:57) - Jalen Montonati on State Final & Earning Gatorade POY
(33:30) - Jalen Montonati on USA Basketball Experience
(36:25) - Jalen Montonati on Players He Emulates
(42:47) - Reaction to Montonati Interview
(44:16) - More 2026 Standouts to Watch!
(49:52) - 2027 Class Breakdown: Waiting To Explode!
(58:40) - Pangos AA & NBPA Top 100 Camp Dates
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On Episode 185 of the Ballislife In The Paint Show, hosts Ronnie Flores, Ani Umana and Chelsea Hopkins go hard on a variety of topics, including the record-breaking WNCAA Final and WNBA Draft and separating hype surrounding those event from the actual basketball perspective.
Before the ITP Crew goes in on the past few weeks in women's basketball, Chelsea and Ani give their insight on the 2024 Nike Hoop Summit. Is Duke-bound Cooper Flagg head and shoulders above the other elites in the 2024 class? Who else stood out?
The ITP Crew also give their take on the NCAA Final Four and UConn repeating as champions? Are the Huskies an all-time great NCAA team? Or was the field not very strong because of the parity and older players that switch teams in the NCAA transfer portal? Is Mark Pope's hiring at the University of Kentucky a big sign that relying on high school recruits is not an attractive strategy or was the pressure-cooker that is Big Blue Nation just not from some of the big-time coaches that were considered good candidates for the job?
Chelsea goes in on the WNCAA Championship and the greatness of South Carolina's Dawn Staley to put together an unbeaten season with five new starters. This women's Final Four and the WNBA Draft drew record-breaking audiences, but will this crop of players make a big WNBA impact.
Chelsea goes hard on why this WNBA Draft class will have a big impact socially but perhaps not as much on-court. Is there another sure-fire star besides Iowa's Caitlin Clark? Who was the best first round pick after the Indiana Fever's new star guard at No. 1? Who was the steal of the draft and which pick will a team regret down the line?
The ITP crew also debates the NBA Play-In Games and if the Oklahoma City Thunder are a disrespected No. 1 seed? Is guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander a worthy MVP, or is the Nugget's Joker and the Mavs' Luka Doncic on another level? Chelsea and Ani dish hard on the topic!
The ITP Crew goes hard on the most relevant topics in grassroots, college and pro basketball, and offer plenty of terrific insight, so make sure to tune in to Episode 185 from start to finish! Also make sure to check out our ITP Overtime shorts for more info, insight and behind the scenes stories!
(0:00) - Intro
(1:17) - Nike Hoop Summit Insight!
(5:16) - Nike Hoop Summit Player Breakdown
(10:01) - Cooper Flagg: Chelsea's Changing Eval!
(14:38) - Kentucky's Coaching Change: Sign of Times?
(18:20) - UConn Mens: Is This Team LIKE That?
(22:39) - USA Basketball Mini-Camp: Eye-Catchers!
(27:28) - Perspective On Record-Breaking WNCAA Tourney
(37:18) - Chelsea's Perspective On 2024 WNBA Draft
(43:42) - WNBA Draft: Veterans Not Playing It Forward?
(54:22) - W Draft: Basketball Breakdown, Analysis
(55:57) - ITP Hot Take: Best 1st Round Pick After Caitlin!
(57:35) - ITP Hot Take: Best WNBA Draft Steal!
(59:13) - ITP Hot Take: What Pick Will A Team Regret?
(1:03:29) - What Will This Draft Mean To The W?
(1:07:39) - NBA Play-In Games Quick Reaction
(1:09:07) - Are The Thunder A "Disrespected" No. 1 Seed?

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On Episode 184 of the Ballislife In The Paint Show, hosts Ronnie Flores, Ani Umana and Chelsea Hopkins go hard on the epic Monday Elite 8 games, particularly Iowa and LSU, and women's NCAA March Madness.
Before the ITP Crew goes in on the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, Ani gives a quick breakdown on the high school scene and why its a bit mundane right now because of the success of older college teams with transfers in the NCAA Tournament. UCONN and Purdue are not big surprises on the men's side. Is a showdown imminent?
Chelsea and Ani then give their reactions to the Elite 8 WNCAA Tourney showdown between Iowa and LSU, a rematch of last year's NCAA title game. Did Iowa improve that much over the course of the season? Is Clark, Iowa's star guard, just that good or did Kim Mulkey devise a fatal game plan to slow her down? Did LSU lose focus after winning the title last season? Ani and Chelsea go hard!
After a former all-conference D1 player, Chelsea gives her insight of coaching adjustments, strategies and ego. How much does ego come into the outcome of a college game? Do players ever scrap the game plan on their own?
The ITP crew also debate just how great of a college player Clark is (Top 5 ever?) and her potential impact on the WNBA. Will she develop into a WNBA MVP candidate? Chelsea and Ani dish hard on the topic!
LSU-Iowa turned out to be the most watched womens' college basketball game, ever. Will the Caitlin effect transfer over to the WNBA when she joins?
The ITP Crew also offers their W and Men's NCAA Final Four predictions. Does UCONN have a chance to win BOTH championships? Can Purdue vs. UCONN be the big man matchup the men's game needs?
The ITP Crew goes hard on Caitlin Clark, March Madness and offers plenty of terrific insight, so make sure to tune in to Episode 184 from start to finish! Also make sure to check out our ITP Overtime shorts for more info, insight and behind the scenes stories!

(0:00) - Intro
(1:12) - Successful NCAA Teams vs. HS Standouts!
(3:33) - NCAA: UCONN vs. Purdue = No Surprises!
(8:27) - 10 March Madness Defining Moments (Ballislife.com)
(10:54) - WNCAA: Epic Elite 8 Quick Reactions!
(15:08) - Ani's Reactions To Iowa-LSU
(22:31) - Did LSU Lose Focus This Season?
(25:50) - Insight/Perspective From Former WNCAA Player
(34:19) - WNCAA Final Four Preview
(40:43) - Just How Good Is Caitlin Clark? A Debate!
(1:03:18) - Can W Carry Over Caitlin's Lightning In Bottle?
(1:11:49) - Can UCONN's Paige Bueckers Run It Back?
(1:15:47) - Clingan vs. Edey: The Big Man Matchup We Need?
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On Episode 183 of the Ballislife In The Paint Show, hosts Ronnie Flores, Ani Umana and Chelsea Hopkins go hard on the upcoming men's and women's NCAA March Madness.
Before the ITP Crew goes in on the NCAA Tournament brackets, Ron gives a quick take on Chipotle Nationals (April 4-6). Can any team beat FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy (FL)?
Chelsea gives her insight and first reaction to the WNCAA Tournament. What top seeds set to join No. 1 overall team South Carolina in the women's Final Four? The Albany 2 Region is a gauntlet. Will Iowa and LSU meet in a much-anticipated Elite 8 game?
Chelsea breaks down three names you need to know going into the W tournament that doesn't play on one of the top seeded and star-studded teams: Dyaisha Fair (Syracuse), Madison Booker (Texas) and Alissa Pili (Utah) and what makes them must-watch players.
Ani breaks down the state of the transfer portal and the strategies college staffs are using to get a leg up on the competition. It's the game within the game and it began way before the portal officially opened up!
The ITP Crew then give their reaction to the men's brackets and the teams to watch to come out of each region, and why the West Region seems to be the one that will be a bracket buster! Is top seed North Carolina a strong pick? Why is Chelsea a bit shaky on No. 2 seed Arizona? Who has the bet chance to blow that region wide open?
Ron and Ani then break down five men's transfer portal players you need to watch and that could have an impact on the brackets: Keshon Gilbert (Iowa St.), Tyon Grant-Foster (Grand Canyon), Jaden Bradley (Arizona), Shahada Wells (McNeese St.) and RayJ Dennis (Baylor).
The ITP Crew then gives their best picks for those interested who follow Ballislife Bets! What are the best first round games to watch where underdogs will cover and the best money line picks?
The crew closes out the show with Chelsea giving her Final Four picks on the W side. Can the Pac-12 have three teams in the Final Four in the conference's last year of existence?
The ITP Crew goes hard on March Madness and offers plenty of terrific insight on both the men's and women's tourney, so make sure to tune in to Episode 183 from start to finish! Also make sure to check out our ITP Overtime shorts for more info, insight and behind the scenes stories!

(0:00) - Intro
(2:47) - Chipotle Nationals: Quick Breakdown
(5:10) - W NCAA Tourney: Chelsea's Overview
(8:04) - Iowa, LSU & UCLA In Same Region! A Gauntlet!
(11:04) - W Tourney: 3 Names You Need to Know!
(21:14) - NCAA Tourney: Transfer Portal Importance!
(28:55) - NCAA Tourney: First Reaction To Brackets & Top Teams
(36:36) - West Region: Bracket Buster!
(40:50) - 5 Transfers To Know About!
(52:48) - Ballislife Bets: Best 1st Round Winners!
(57:35) - Closing Thoughts On Tourney! Age Matters!
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On Episode 182 of the Ballislife In The Paint Show, hosts Ronnie Flores, Ani Umana, Chelsea Hopkins and Horace Neysmith go hard on the epic weekend of high school hoops, where state championships were decided in power states across the country. The ITP crew also dish on the big controversy in New Jersey, where Manasquan (N.J.) lost on an egregious referee's overturned call to FAB 50 No. 40 Camden (N.J.), which went on to capture the NJISAA Public Group 2 state state title on the court. The show concludes with Horace previewing his upcoming Underclassmen All-American Game on March 24 in Atlanta.
Before the crew takes a deep dive on the high school scene, Chelsea gives her dish on the dramatic SEC Championship Game between LSU and South Carolina, why women's college basketball has surpassed the men's game this season in terms of star power, and her early break down of the upcoming women’s NCAA Tournament! Ron also breaks down how the retirement of Coach K at Duke signaled a changing of the guard in college basketball. The men’s top coaches no longer hold a grip on the players and the sport itself, and don’t have the platform to encourage positive change. Now that the players have exerted more control and power, it’s women’s coaches such as Dawn Staley (South Carolina) and Kim Mulkey (LSU) who command the stage. Why and how did this happen? The ITP Crew breaks it down!
The ITP Crew gives their personal dish on the Manasquan-Camden playoff controversy. Ani and Chelsea feel it was an isolated incident where a wrong court have been righted off the court by the state association, where Horace and Ron lean to the side that what transpires on the court is what stands, even when the human error is blatant. Ron breaks down how and why he conducts the FAB 50 based on results, and focuses on what happens on the court and not in meeting rooms or in court rooms.
Ani gives the rundown of the UIL Class 6A state title game and what makes FAB 50 No. 5 Plano East (Texas) so special. Horace gives the rundown on what went down in the GHSA playoffs and how FAB 50 No. 24 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) won its first state title. Was it an upset then Grayson beat Ace Bailey and McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)? Is Ace Bailey the best prospect in the country, even over Cooper Flagg? Horace and Ani go hard “In The Paint” on the topic and on national player rankings!
Ron then gives a quick rundown of what went down in Florida and California in their big state title games.
The show concludes with Horace dishing on his Underclassmen All-American Game (March 24), its history and purpose (proceeds benefit Diabetes causes) and some of the top young talent expected to play this year. He also breaks down why Gilbert Arenas, the former NBA All-Star, has his son Alijah, one of the top 2026 prospects in California and the nation, play at Chatsworth (Calif.) instead of at Sierra Canyon (Calif.), where his sister plays at, or one of the other power programs. Gil’s reasoning might surprise you!
The ITP Crew go hard on plenty of terrific and relevant high school topics and break down plenty of players who stood out over the weekend, so make sure to tune in to Episode 182 from start to finish! Also make sure to check out our ITP Overtime shorts for more info, insight and behind the scenes stories!

(0:00) - Intro
(2:51) - NCAAW Takeover: How Did This Happen?!
(11:16) - Chelsea Dishes On LSU-South Carolina!
(16:53) - NCAA Men's Coaches: Losing Their Grip
(19:06) - Chelsea's Hot Take on W March Madness!
(24:25) - Big Girls Name For the Future!
(25:50) - Manasquan-Camden Playoff Controversy!
(30:00) - NJ Controversy Fallout: On-Court v. Off-Court!
(39:10) - Texas UIL Title Game Breakdown
(45:28) - Georgia GHSA Championship Recaps
(50:51) - Ace Bailey vs. Cooper Flagg!
(1:01:44) - More State Title Rundowns!
(1:02:53) - Underclassmen A-A Game (3/24) Spotlight!
(1:06:04) - 2026 & 2027 Standouts!
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On Episode 181 of the Ballislife In The Paint Show, hosts Ronnie Flores, Ani Umana and Chelsea Hopkins go freestyle on a variety of relevant topics, from the youth level all the way to the NBA and its product.
Cheslea gives an update on the next EYBL Scholastic event and the ITP crew gives their take on the Oak Hill Academy program. Can it regain its former glory?
Bronny James and his NBA Draft stock is a big topic in basketball. Is he getting a fair shake? What about his physical condition? How much is LeBron James at fault? How about the media? Ron gives his hot take about Bronny playing at the level expected and Chelsea plays Devil's Advocate about his future!
The ITP Crew also talk about the state of the college games on both the men's and women's side. Ani dishes on why the college game is strong despite the lack of stars, while Chelsea dishes why the WNCAA is in good hands even after Iowa star Caitlin Clark moves on.
Speaking of the NCAA, the future of the organization itself is in peril as a result of the massive amount of lawsuits that rule against them as anti-trust issues will keep the organization from ever thriving the same way again. Do the power conferences need to split away? Can there be two separate levels of college, one with a collective bargaining agreement and a scholarship model? Will the organization exist in five years?
The ITP Crew also go "In The Paint" on the future of the NBA's G-League Ignite and what the NBA can do to strengthen its on-court product.
Ron also breaks down the recent Pangos Jr. All-American Camp and Ani gives his hot take predictions on the UIL playoffs!
The ITP Crew go hard on plenty of relevant and hot topics, so make sure to tune in to Episode 181 from start to finish! Also make sure to check out our ITP Overtime shorts for more info, insight and behind the scenes stories!

(0:00) - Intro
(1:37) - EYBL Scholastic Weekend Preview
(9:27) - Is MVA Going To Reload?!
(12:38) - Bronny's Dropping NBA Draft Stock!
(23:23) - Making College Cool Again!
(28:00) - G-League Ignite & Its Future
(32:51) - What Changes Does NBA Need?
(40:04) - W NCAA Thriving!
(42:42) - NCAA Men's: Lack of Star-Power
(48:00) - Recent NIL Rulings & NCAA's Future
(53:47) - Pangs Jr. A-A Camp Standouts!
(57:59) - UIL Playoff Predictions!
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