Hoop Heads

Wes Lambert is the Founder of Ball Coach AI and the Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at Maryville (TN) High School.  Ball Coach AI scouts your team and your opponents, builds your playbook, runs your call sheet, and tracks games live, so you walk into every gym already prepared. On this episode Mike & Wes discuss how Ball Coach AI can make coaching work more organized and efficient. Wes explains how coaches can turn saved plays or even a napkin sketch into searchable diagrams, add coaching notes, and use animated playbooks to help players understand actions in timeouts. He describes opponent scouting and self-scouting that combine statistics with coaches’ observations, including an example where an updated five-guard lineup was caught before a game. In-game stat tracking can flag trends such as six straight empty possessions while practice planning can draw on team stats and previous matchups. The conversation emphasizes that technology should inform, not replace, a coach’s judgment and communication, while freeing more time for players and family. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review.  Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation. Take a moment to grab a notebook before you listen to this episode with Wes Lambert, Founder of Ball Coach AI and the Boys’ Basketball Head Coach at Maryville High School in the state of Tennessee. Website - https://www.ballcoach.ai/ Email - [email protected] Twitter/X - @BallCoachAI Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/X - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

PK Cherry is a player development specialist and a former professional basketball player. Cherry has played in the NBA Gleauge, Dominican Republic, France, and Mexico. As a result of his playing experience, Cherry has unique insights into player development at all levels from NBA to NCAA. He has worked with numerous NBA players including Joe Johnson, Mike Scott, Deni Avdija, Kevin Porter Jr., and Wenyen Gabriel. On this episode Mike & PK Cherry discuss his inspiring journey from childhood challenges to becoming a basketball trainer and coach, emphasizing the importance of love, purpose, and integrity in the game. This episode explores how to develop players holistically and foster a positive basketball culture. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review.  Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation. Be sure to take careful notes as you listen to this episode with player development specialist PK Cherry. Website - https://www.bballprophet.com/ Email - [email protected] Twitter/X - @PointGodBasket1 Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/X - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike goes solo and picks one fact for each of the 30 NBA teams to show where every season is headed. Early standouts include the 7-1 Philadelphia 76ers behind Tyrese Maxey's 29.1 points per game, Luka Doncic at 38.3 points per game for the Lakers, and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, whom Mike calls the Rookie of the Year front-runner. He also flags big concerns, such as Anthony Edwards missing about two months with a knee injury, Oklahoma City's injuries to Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren, and Nikola Jokic's 22 percent shooting from three. Along the way you hear his takes on the Zion Williamson question in New Orleans, Cooper Flagg's start in Dallas, and the rookie guards drafted in the same range, including Darius Acuff in Sacramento and Mikel Brown in Brooklyn. If you want a fast, opinionated lap around the whole league, this is your episode. Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/X - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ The Hoop Heads Podcast was recently selected as #4 on a list of the 47 Best Basketball Coaching Podcasts. Check out the list here - https://podcast.feedspot.com/basketball_coaching_podcasts/ Feedspot is an RSS Reader that lets you follow your favorite podcasts alongside blogs and news in one place. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jean Bain is in his 8th season as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Brandeis University, compiling over 100 victories during his tenure.  Bain previously held assistant coaching positions at Columbia University, Dartmouth College, the University of New Hampshire, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Bain played college basketball at Northeastern University where he was named America East Rookie of the Year in 1999, served as team captain in his junior and senior years, and received All-America East honors in 2002. On this episode Mike & Jean discuss how pickup games, mentors and years of unpaid assistant work shaped the coach he is today. The conversation moves from Medford parks, where older player Tom Blanchard brought Jean along, through prep school and Northeastern, then to WPI, New Hampshire, Dartmouth and Columbia before he landed the Brandeis job. Bain shares how he recruits nationally for academics and financial fit while looking for high character and selflessness, and how he builds player development and five-on-five practices at the Division III level. He also explains what loves about competing in the UAA, which has no conference tournament, unique travel,  and often sends multiple teams to the NCAA tournament. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review.  Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation. Have a notebook handy you listen to this episode with Jen Bain, Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Brandeis University. Website - https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/mens-basketball Email - [email protected] Twitter/X - @JFBAIN5 Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/X - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aaron Jacobs is entering his first season as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Rockford University.  Jacobs previously served as the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at North Park University. Prior to North Park, Jacobs served as an assistant coach at Wabash College from 2022-24.  Jacobs began his collegiate coaching career at Wisconsin Lutheran College during the 2021-22 season. As a student-athlete, Jacobs competed at Holy Family College from 2017-20, where he helped lead the program to the best record in school history and its first national tournament appearance in 2020. Jacobs later attended Lakeland University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration while serving as a student-athlete and member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. On this episode Mike & Aaron discuss how he rebuilt the Rockford roster that started at nine players into a team with eighteen new faces, including twelve transfers, and shares the daily habits that build trust, from an open-door office stocked with snacks to "family announcements" and a practice plan built around competition. He closes by defining year-one success by habits instead of wins and naming his biggest challenge (building slowly) and his biggest joy (his players), which is essential listening for any coach thinking about the leap to head coach. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod. Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review.  Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation. Grab pen and paper before you listen to this episode with Aaron Jacobs, Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Rockford University. Website - https://rockfordregents.com/sports/mens-basketball Email - [email protected] Twitter/X - @CoachAJacobs Connect with the Hoop Heads Podcast on social media! Twitter/X - @hoopheadspod Instagram - @HoopHeadsPod YouTube – Hoop Heads Podcast Facebook – Hoop Heads Podcast Subscribe to the Hoop Heads Pod Newsletter - https://hoopheadspod.com/newsletter/ Website - https://hoopheadspod.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.