Episode 132 is a banger as we dive into the life of a gentleman who has found himself behind the scenes in the professional sports world and NBA; Josh Kahn. A New York native Josh has an interesting story about how he has been able to carve out a life of directing and film/content producing.

From starting at NYU film school, then interning at NBC Josh slowly built his resume right before the economy crashed in the United States. From there a funny but also inspiring story about going after something you want has Josh landing a position as the senior creative producer for the Chicago Bulls! With the Bulls, Josh had to really find his skill set as his role was a pretty unique one for that time; not many NBA teams were creating content and it wasn’t a priority yet.

Using his interpersonal skills to connect with players like Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol and Jimmy Butler, Josh has great reflection and insight on what it takes to keep moving forward in the industry.

After his time with the Bulls, Josh gets a unique opportunity to work for Uninterrupted led by Maverick Carter and Lebron James, leading to Josh being involved in many major projects. Josh is an award-winning director and holds a unique (not so anymore) hidden talent which has become a fun little adventure for him. A creative, insightful and talented person this episode has some great stories and conversation.

To see more of the work Josh has made you can find it on his website https://www.joshkahn.tv

We thank Josh for being with us!

A local BC Legend joins us on A Hoops Journey today; Mr. Chris Porteous. Chris's basketball life is literally a “journey”, one that is full of ups, downs and so many in-betweens. The 2-time Provincial Champion and former MVP goes back to tell us about his early life, growing up in Whistler and then moving all the way to Montreal.

From there Chris finds himself back in Vancouver at the age of 12 and stepping into the historical program at Kitsilano Secondary. Chris took off and built a huge name for himself in the hoops world, filling the bucket and being one of the best players in the Province for a two-year dominant run. Alongside many great teammates Kits was able to be one of the few programs to win back-to-back Championships.

The important part of this episode is how Chis reflects on his struggles with school, and how being able to go to post-secondary wasn’t as easy for him as it might be for many. In the end, Chris found himself at Cap University College under Paul Eberhardt. Chris dominated the league in his rookie year being the leading scorer and helping guide the Blues to the Nationals.

After Cap Chris then has a turn with basketball where he tries to find himself as a person, working hard and trying to figure out what his future might be. Today he is an employee for Safe Schools and coaching with one of the local clubs in Vancouver, knowing he will have and is having an impact on kids means the world to Chris. What an episode, so many takeaways and possibly some things you may have not known about him. Episode 131 is legendary! Tap in!

Today we chop it up with a coach whose name has been mentioned many times on AHJ, Ro Russell. Coach Ro has an extensive resume with ties to many people in our game not only in Canada but in all of North America.

At an early age, the Jamaican immigrant was taking notes from his entrepreneurial parents and started his vision at the ripe age of 18. Decades ago Coach Ro started taking club teams and programs across America and many say he was the first to do so!

Coach has great reflection on the things he’s learned along the way, sometimes not always the greatest moments but lessons that have helped him get to where he is today. Yes, the man is still coaching after all this time and he’s doing his best to impact the youth and find them places to hoop!

Mitch and coach also discuss the current state of AAU in Ontario compared to other Provinces, if the high school game can last and so much more! An episode you need to check out, we thank Coach for being with us! Tap in!

On Episode 129 of A Hoops Journey, we get a unique opportunity to sit down with the CEO of Canada Basketball Michael Bartlett. Growing up around sports and loving the intricacies that came with it, Michael had a passion for all but basketball is what stood out most!

After being in a good job role with MLSE the job at Canada Basketball came open and Michael jumped at the opportunity, feeling like it was exactly what he needed. Since that time (3 years ago come March), Michael and his team have worked tirelessly to build Canada into a hoops nation!

Mitch and Michael have great conversation around values, being vulnerable and the importance of being open-minded as a leader. Further to that, they discuss the upcoming Olympics, why Canada basketball fans should fear no more, and so many other great things!

A fun episode and a great snapshot of what happens at Canada basketball, this episode is for all the real heads out there! Thank you to Michael for being with us, and we’ll see you in Vegas!

With the madness of March just around the corner, it’s perfect timing to sit down with a long-time Division 1 basketball coach and 2002 Naismith Coach of the Year; Ben Howland.

Born in Oregon but growing up in Santa Barbara, Coach Howland fell in love with the game like many of our former guests; he was invited to check out a neighbourhood youth league and it all went from there! Shout out to the Goleta Boys and Girls Club! Developing and growing his skills as a player, Ben then had his eyes set on Division 1 and he ended up going the Junior College route first, with his final years being played out at Weber State.

From there Coach had some great opportunities as an assistant, including being a graduate assistant at Gonzaga and having to guard future HOF PG John Stockton! Ben got his first head coaching gig at the University of Northern Arizona where he turned the program from one of the worst in the whole NCAA to Conference Champions and the schools first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament in 1997-98. (Yes you are correct, our friend and former guest Andrew Mavis was a key part of this tournament run and program turnaround).

From Northern Arizona to PITT, then onto UCLA Coach Howland gives great reflection on how he approached each program with a different lens and mindset on who he wanted to recruit and why, finding a way to lead all those programs (including NAU) to a tournament appearance.

At UCLA coach worked with numerous future overseas and NBA pros, most notably names like Jrue Holiday, Kevin Love, Norman Powell and Russell Westbrook. He also led the Bruins to three straight Final Fours from 2006-2008.

The last chapter finds Ben at Mississippi State where in 2018-19 he took his team to yet another Tournament appearance, their first since 2009 (Sidenote- Only a handful of coaches have led four programs to March Madness appearances, with Coach Howland being one of them). His resume, pedigree and experience speak for themselves, this episode is fantastic and one you really won’t want to miss.

Episode 127 is an opportunity to meet and know more about young gun, Villanova commit and National Team member; Jasmine Bascoe. Someone who shows maturity and game beyond her age, Mitch and Jasmine have a great conversation about life and hoops!

Early in the episode, Mitch realizes that Jasmine is indeed the daughter of Shane, a former CCAA All-Canadian and Player of the Year! From there the conversation turns to having a family so tied to the game (Mom and older brother included) and what that means for the Bascoe’s. Jasmine is another product of being around hoops at a young age, finding herself riding her bike and watching her dad’s team practices from day one! From there she was drawn to the sport and everything that came with it, embracing and enjoying the grind to get better and hopefully play Division 1 for her Country.

Knowing that Jasmine has her best years ahead of her, she discusses how she was able to become the player she is, why representing her Country means so much to her, having a positive mindset during COVID, being called up an age level for Team Canada and why Villanova felt like home!!

Next up are the playoffs for her Kings Christian team and then getting ready for post-secondary! We will be watching, and wish Jasmine all the best in her future career!

Episode 126 has us chopping it up with long-time coach and specifically with our women’s national teams; Steve Baur. Steve truly has one of the most unique stories out there with his career starting in an unorthodox way.

After spending time finishing his degree and coaching some community ball in his hometown, Steve then has a few opportunities that come across his table, luckily for him he decided to go for it and follow his heart!

Steve ends up going all the way to Brandon, Manitoba where he and Mitch first met. Helping take over the women’s program in a rebuild, Steve and long-time mentor Les Berry stayed the course recruiting and trying to get the lady Bobcats on the map. From there is where things get wild, moving to coaching the Men’s program in Brandon, heading back to his alma mater and so much in between, this episode cannot be missed.

Throw in his experience with Canada Basketball to this day, Steve carries one of the best coaching stories in Canada, he offers great reflection and insight, sit back and enjoy this one!

Episode 125 might be one of the most unique stories you’ve heard to this day! Sean Anthony is a born and raised Vancouverite but his path turned into an interesting one.

A young Sean was not exposed to the game early on, and it wasn’t until he made the move to St. George’s School that he was introduced to the game and why it was so great. From there Sean played Provincial team, and had successful high school years but carries some interesting reflection on why his grade 12 year maybe wasn’t as heavy a recruiting list as he would have hoped!

Ending up at McGill, where the coach that recruited him had left made for another interesting experience where Sean persevered learning lots about himself and his game! In 2010 Sean was the 6th overall pick and adjusted to the pro game quickly! Fast forward to today, Sean is a long-standing PBA basketball player, with many career and league highlights!

We also touch on things like perspective on business and life after hoops! A great story that shows how many paths there are for us and the game, tap in and hear more about Sean! Let’s go!

From the heart of Edmonton and beyond we have the chance to chop it up with a hooper, an educator, a strong human, and someone who is motivated to make the world a better place; Andrew Parker.

A Caribbean native and family man, Andrew immigrated to Canada in 1976 and his family made an impact on the local community. It didn’t take long for Andrew to realize he was athletic, however translating that to becoming a hooper was the challenge Andrew was ready for and it took off from there! For those who know, this man is one of the best dunkers in 🇨🇦 history!

Some life choices and trouble meant Andrew had to go to Concordia College to prove he was ready for the U Sport level. It seemed like destiny as all Andrew wanted was to follow the footsteps of his older brother to the University of Alberta and play for the Golden Bears! Andrew worked hard at his craft and knew he was built for all that came and more. From there AP finished his teaching degree, started coaching again and found himself to be a huge positive influence for many in his community.

Are we really 123 episodes in? Damn right we are, and we don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon! We have an all-time episode for you today as we chop it up with Syracuse grad and multiple record holder, WNBA draft pick, current professional in Paris and long-time national team member Kayla Alexander!

ATHLETE. ARTIST. ADVENTURER. AUTHOR. SPEAKER

Considered to be a “vet” with @canadabasketball now, we go back with Kayla to discover her roots and experience as a young person. For those that don’t know Kayla comes from an athletic family where competition ran high! Trying to sum up the accomplishments of this star in one write-up would just not do justice. More than just one of Canada’s all-time hoopers Kayla has worked hard to be a well-rounded person, with the most important being an example for the young women of our future! There’s so many layers to this episode, tap in and take note!

Today’s episode is a banger for many reasons! We sit down with current Vancouver Bandits guard and former Division 1 star; Duane Notice.

Born from Jamaican roots and growing up in Toronto there was no option for Duane other than the game we all love. In his senior season of high school Duane made the decision to go to Prep school in Connecticut, opening up more opportunities and the chance to have Frank Martin visit his home. The Notice family loved what coach had to say and committed to the young South Carolina program hoping all would go well.

Needless to say, it did! Duane played many different roles at South Carolina with the pinnacle being a trip to the 2017 Final 4; the first and only time South Carolina has been.

The 2010 Jordan Brand Classic International MVP and 2016 SEC defensive player of the year also reflects on battling through injuries, the important role of Kyle Julius and others in his life, being on the West Coast and so much more! Duane is also a huge movie guy, hosting his own podcast @scenesdm, where him and his guy @mervm_22 discuss all things cinema!

You will love this episode and hear from a player who’s been in the trenches and still in it. We wish Duane the best going forward, that he recovers well and is prepared to help lead the Bandits next year! Tap in!

This one! It could be the highlight dunks or the half-court shots, but either way, you know the name! A special episode as Mitch was a former teammate of Josh and they grew up playing Provincial team together and battling each other in high school.

Josh takes us back and shares a bunch about his young life that many might not know. Always a great athlete Josh talks about why hockey was his first love, how basketball became part of his life and how McNair High was the right school for him!

Josh has a great perspective on life and hoops, understanding the importance of a certain coach this podcast is familiar with, getting close to winning a national title (twice), hooping for the Harlem Crowns and all in between!

The dolphin park dunk champion now finds himself in Victoria, BC surrounded by a growing family and loved ones. We really appreciate Joshy coming on and sharing more of his story with us, a true BC legend you don’t want to miss this one!

When do you get the chance to connect with someone who can call themselves a FIBA Basketball gold medal champion? Before this summer one of the best Canadian player/coach stories out there might have been unknown, however now all you need to do is a quick search and find out not only is Gordie an accomplished coach but a player as well.

Born and raised in Penticton, BC, we peel back the layers for coach and find out he’s a huge hockey fan! Unfortunately, Gordie grew a little too much and ended up at Idaho State Junior College with two goals in mind: playing Division 1 and playing for Team Canada. Gordie can check those both off as he transferred to Idaho for two years and suited up for Team Canada on multiple occasions, including the Olympics.

Mitch and Coach discuss the importance of mentorship, why he thinks Ken Shields is the greatest basketball mind Canada has ever seen, his thoughts on adversity and how it shapes us, plus the background of sports psychology and what it’s done for him and his teams over the years. We also get Gordie’s thoughts on the difference between European systems at the youth age Vs what happens here in Canada.

Of course, we had to break down a ton on what happened this summer, his relationship with Dennis Schroder, and why this past German team was so unified and together. This is a must-listen! Best of luck to Coach Herbert and Germany at the Olympics!

You most likely know the name if you’ve been around the game, and if not then tune in and get to know more about the current Director of Basketball Operations for the @cebl; Mr. Joe Raso.

A true Canadian and gentleman who represents Hamilton to the fullest, we go back with coach and talk about his upbringing in an immigrant family and how the game we all love was drawn to him.

As stated, coach worked tirelessly in his backyard, Hamilton, growing as a coach becoming an assistant at McMaster early on and then going back to the high school game before becoming the head coach at Mac. Fast forward 18 years at Mac, multiple OUA titles, national championship appearances, All-Canadians coached and time with our national team, Joe finds himself in a unique role with the CEBL and is excited about this growing league's future!

Add in some personal reflection on his love for the high school game, why sometimes being the best player on your team is important, and having a son who’s still involved you have one heck of an episode. An opportunity to learn and hear from a great, tap into Ep 119!

Our guy Hammy! We get to sit down with the creative force behind Hopz Productions / Transition Game Inc. and Crunch Time Film Productions, Michael Hamilton. Michael is a guy from northern Alberta who made his way to the Lower Mainland and has had an impact on our local hoop scene for decades.

An accomplished filmmaker, Mitch and Michael go back in time to discuss his love for the game, competing in a small community plus the move to Edmonton for some College Hoops. Eventually, Michael found himself in the Vancouver area and has been thriving ever since!

Michael has joined an award-winning team to direct a highly anticipated film project on the iconic civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. called I Am MLK Jr. Prior to that, he directed a doc series called Facing Schwarzenegger, about Arnold Schwarzenegger. In conjunction with Entertainment One Michael produced and directed the amazing story of Nash, a theatrical documentary, TV, and digital special on NBA All-Star Steve Nash.

Additionally, he has produced and directed branded content for Peter Guber’s Mandalay Sports Media, Vice, while developing projects for Lebron James distribution company Uninterrupted, and Steve Nash’s production company Meathawk.

Mitch and Hammy have a storied pass which provides lots of laughs and moments down memory lane! Truly thank him for being with us and know you will enjoy episode 118! Tap in!

Episode 117 takes us all the way to New York with the 11th-ranked player in the United States, a Michigan basketball commit, and one of the best up-and-coming Canadian players we have in our country; Syla Swords!

Syla is getting ready for her senior season with @luhigirlsbasketball as her squad is the pre-season #1 team in the entire United States! Syla is beyond her years in maturity and understanding who she is, she has lofty goals, a desire to improve and a unique family dynamic to lean on in hard times.

Mitch and Syla discuss the tough decision to leave Ontario and move to the States, why Michigan was the place for her, her crazy double Bronze medal in July, and what her long-term goals are with Team Canada! We thank Syla for being with us and wish her all the best this season! Any young hooper out there needs to check this episode out, you will hear and learn what it takes to be a next-level player! Tap in!

Special Episode!

Rest in Peace to Greg Francis who passed away on April 2nd, 2023. Greg was an integral part of the 2000 team and a great person and teammate

From 2000 to now! Well, WE DID IT! @canadabasketball has qualified on the men’s side for the first time since the 2000 Olympics in Australia! As a show we thought it would be fun to revisit those memories with a few of the ones that did it- Jay Triano, Andrew Mavis, Eric Hinrichsen, Todd MacCulloch, Shawn Swords, Jonny Lee and Peter Guarasci!

The fellas go back in time and think about their own experience combined with the emotions they felt when realizing Canada had made the Olympics for 2024! Some great insight, thoughts and Canadian pride in this episode plus a guest appearance from a young up-and-coming journalist and hoop head Alex Adams! Alex was on the sidelines in Jakarta reporting on the FIBAWC games and bringing great insight through his podcasts with Raptors Republic.

It goes without saying that if you love basketball in our Country you need to check this one out! Congratulations to every single player, coach, manager, staff, media, parent, etc who had some part in this journey! 23 years gone in a flash and there’s only more to come! Episode 116 is live!!!!!

Our latest episode was a unique one in terms of talking with a player from BC who hardly played in BC in his younger years. Across the span of this show, there are some original experiences and takeaways for our listeners as James reflects on an early leap to basketball in the United States. After returning from the AAU / Prep system James talks about his next moves as well as the why and how he ended up committing to Division 1 Lehigh University, then transferring to Boston College in the middle of Covid.

James has some great thoughts on the system here in BC, why kids need mentorship and guidance, and how he’s trying to do his best to impact the youth in BC and Canada. As he currently recovers from a knee injury he is anticipating getting back on the court and playing pro overseas to continue what is sure to be a successful career. Whether it’s pro ball or representing the Czech National team you can guarantee hard work and desire on the court, much like this episode! We wish James all the best and know you need to check this one out!

Episode 114 has us sitting down with the Wesmen legend himself; Dave Crook. Coach Crook (And current Athletic Director at the University of Winnipeg) has been around the game a long time and worked to develop many programs across Canada. Dave’s career starts early with a young Michael Grange (Episode 111), all the way to Lethbridge under unique circumstances.

Dave was not only a U Sport coach, he worked with Canada Basketball from 1996-2005 all while creating some great memories and stories that he shared with us. When Dave talks you can hear what those National team years meant to him, the photo in this profile is connected to a story he tells on the episode!

Between enjoy lake life in the summer and getting the Wesmen athletic programs ready, Dave reflects on his life and what’s left for him in his future. We really thank Dave for being with us, if you have come across this man you most likely left with a smile. Episode 114 is a great one, enjoy!

Episode 113!! We hope you are all soaking up the last days of summer!

This is one for the ages. Jamie is a young man who has worked hard and now finds himself as an assistant with TCU men's basketball. Jamie’s story goes back to growing up in Toronto and playing lots of hoops, however not realizing what it took to go play Division 1 made for an interesting path.

A wild story about Hurricane Katrina, playing for and working with Buzz Williams, mentoring Jimmy Butler and our former guest Junior Cadougan- this episode really has it all!!

This is one you might have to play twice, it was a pleasure to chat with Jamie and hear his story. As he says at the end of the episode we need to keep sharing and letting people know the path that was built so we thank him for being with us! Episode 113 is a must!