Before the League tells the stories behind college basketball’s rising stars.
Before the highlights. Before the draft. Before the league.
We sit down with college basketball players to uncover the journeys, sacrifices, setbacks, relationships, faith, family, and moments that shaped them both on and off the court.
From the players chasing their first big opportunity to the ones on the path toward professional basketball, **Before the League** is about getting to know the person behind the player — while they’re still writing the story.
🏀 Real players.
🎙️ Real conversations.
📖 The stories behind the game.
This is Before the League.
Ryan Jackson joins the show to discuss his college basketball journey, from feeling underrecruited out of high school to finding his next opportunity at UTEP. After learning the speed and physicality of the college game at William & Mary, Ryan entered the transfer portal and found a new home in El Paso. He breaks down his efficient offensive style, his plans to become a more aggressive three-point shooter, and his goal of becoming one of the Mountain West's premier defenders. Ryan also ...
20 Oct 2026
Dan Skillings Jr: What Coaching Is REALLY About
Dan Skillings Jr. joins the show to reflect on his basketball journey, from picking up organized basketball in high school to becoming a standout at Roman Catholic and making his mark at the University of Cincinnati. He shares how mentor Kenneth Jackson pushed him to reach his potential, recalls unforgettable moments with the Bearcats—including a game-winning layup against Xavier—and describes what it was like returning to Cincinnati as an opposing player. Dan also opens up about the impact...
20 Oct 2026
Kole Grandison: OTE Salutatorian to Texas State
Kole Grandison joins the show to discuss his unique basketball journey, from Immaculate Conception to Overtime Elite and now Texas State. He explains why the transition to OTE was even bigger than moving to college basketball, what he learned from a difficult final season there, and how that experience changed his perspective on leadership, accountability, and winning. Kole also breaks down his defense-first mentality, the challenges of competing against older and more physically developed ...
20 Oct 2026
Trey McKenney: What It REALLY Takes to Win a National Championship
Trey McKenney breaks down what it took for his team to win a national championship during his freshman season—from accepting individual roles to pushing each other every day in practice. He shares how a talented scout team helped prepare the starters, why a Las Vegas tournament became a turning point in the season, and how adjusting to coming off the bench taught him to impact games beyond scoring. Trey also tells a hilarious story about his head coach messing with the Michigan State studen...
20 Oct 2026
Marcus Adams Jr.: “Love the World Even If It Doesn’t Love You Back”
Marcus Adams Jr. joins the show to share the experiences that have shaped him both on and off the basketball court—from navigating injuries and multiple school transfers to enduring the loss of several close family members, including his father. He opens up about the role programs like BYU and Cal State Northridge played in supporting him through difficult times, growing up in an Argentine household, and the personal reminders he carries to honor his father and family. Marcus also looks bac...
20 Oct 2026
Brett Decker: Faith, Patience & the Road to Baylor
His basketball journey started in church leagues, but after his freshman year of high school, he and his father made shooting a daily priority—and the work eventually transformed his game. He opens up about why faith has guided every major decision in his career, from choosing Liberty and Baylor to trusting God's timing through a difficult freshman season. He also shares what drew him to Coach Scott Drew, the Bible verse that continues to guide him, and the moment he realized his hard work w...
20 Oct 2026
Dylan & Kayden Mingo: Brothers Choose Baylor
Dylan and Kayden Mingo join the show to talk about their basketball journeys, the importance of faith, and why Baylor felt like the right place to continue their careers. They share how their father instilled a defensive-first mentality from an early age, the adversity they've faced through injuries and setbacks, and what made Coach Scott Drew stand out during the recruiting process—including praying with Kaden on their phone calls and prioritizing his future beyond basketball. They also di...
20 Oct 2026
Fawaz "Tacko" Ifaola: He Started Basketball at 14 in Nigeria. Now He's at FAU 🏀
Fawaz “Tacko” Ifaola's basketball journey started at just 14 years old, when he traded soccer for basketball after being told he was wasting his height. At first, even the basics were a challenge—but he kept working. After being discovered while playing at The Details Academy in Nigeria, Tacko moved to the United States in 2021, stepping onto an airplane for the first time and beginning a journey that would take him from The Patrick School and Dream City Christian to Colorado and now Florida...
20 Oct 2026
Ricky Liburd: Defense, Hustle & Heart
Ricky Liburd sits down to talk about his basketball journey, from being discovered at an open run to earning his opportunity at the next level. He shares how a late recruiting opportunity in May changed his path, the early coaches who taught him the importance of dedication and defense, and what he believes it takes to build a championship team. Ricky also opens up about adjusting to Midwest winters, balancing academics with the demands of college basketball, and the coaching lessons that h...
20 Oct 2026
Sebastian Williams: From the Freshman Wall to a Vanderbilt Championship Mindset
Sebastian Williams joins the show to talk about his basketball journey, the influence of his mother, and what it took to build himself into the player he is today. He shares how growing up with a former college basketball player as a mother shaped his mindset, the demanding routine he maintained in high school to balance academics and basketball, and the confidence struggles he faced during his freshman season at Auburn. After finding his rhythm during the NIT, Sebastian transferred to Vand...
9 Oct 2026
Peyton Miller: “Mr. 7:30”
Peyton Miller has built his basketball identity around one simple habit: showing up early and putting in the work. Known as “Mr. 7:30,” Miller earned the nickname at St. Peter’s Prep by consistently arriving at the gym early for workouts—a routine he carried with him to Overtime Elite. He opens up about breaking his ankle before his junior year, how missing an entire summer fueled his passion and gave him a chip on his shoulder, and how going from an unranked player to competing against elite...
8 Oct 2026
Fred Payne: The Injury That Changed Everything
Fred Payne reflects on the journey that took him from Boston College to Oregon and the experiences that reshaped his approach to basketball and life. Five games into his freshman season at Boston College, Fred suffered a devastating injury that tore his ACL, LCA, and hamstring tendon. The long road back changed his perspective, giving him a deeper appreciation for the game and a renewed passion for playing. Fred also talks about the impact of Coach Grant on his development and maturity, adjus...
7 Oct 2026
Money Williams: “Separate Yourself”
Money Williams sits down to talk about his unique journey from playing tackle football in California to becoming a college basketball player at Boston College. He shares how the COVID-19 pandemic pushed him toward basketball, winning a state championship at Damian Lillard’s alma mater, and the advice Lillard gave him about separating himself from the competition through extra work in the gym and film room. Money also opens up about his move from Oakland to Montana, transferring to Boston Coll...
6 Oct 2026
Alex Wilkins: Overlooked, Undersized, Unstoppable
Alex Wilkins sits down to share the journey that took him from being overlooked by high-major programs out of high school to earning an opportunity at one of college basketball’s biggest programs: Kentucky. He talks about being doubted because of his frame and recruiting profile, how Furman helped him expand his game, and the tournament run that gave him confidence he could compete against anyone—including UConn. Alex also opens up about his transfer portal process and why building a genuine ...
5 Oct 2026
Marcus Wilson: 2-Sport All-State Athlete
Marcus Wilson sits down to talk about his journey from being an All-State athlete in both football and basketball to becoming a leader at Sacramento State. He shares how playing two sports helped develop his physicality and toughness, his journey through Washington State and UC Davis, and why Sacramento State felt like the right fit. Marcus also discusses working with Coach Mike Bibby, developing his basketball IQ, and learning from NBA veterans like Davion Mitchell and Isaiah Thomas. With a ...
4 Oct 2026
Matthew Willenborg: His Unbelievable Breakout Season
After moving from Florida to Oklahoma, he helped lead his high school team to the state tournament for the first time in 23 years before beginning his college career at the University of Central Oklahoma. For two seasons, he was primarily a role player with limited minutes. Then everything changed. His junior season brought a breakout opportunity, including an incredible 18-point, 12-rebound, 9-block performance against the No. 1 team in Division II. That season eventually led to interest fro...
3 Oct 2026
Kaden Powers: From Quarterback to Big Ten Basketball
Kaden Powers shares the story of how he went from being a standout quarterback in football to pursuing basketball full-time and eventually earning his opportunity at Rutgers. He talks about the game-winning shot that changed his confidence, the NBA players who influenced his mindset, why he modeled his game after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and what it was like stepping into the intensity of Big Ten basketball. Kaden also reflects on his freshman year, including a standout performance against UC...
2 Oct 2026
Jaden Forsythe: Becoming an Elite Shooter
Jayden Forsythe sits down to talk about his basketball journey, from picking up the game at a young age to becoming an elite three-point shooter at Westtown, playing his freshman season at West Virginia, and transferring to William & Mary. Jayden shares what he learned from his coaches, the challenges of adjusting to college basketball, the surreal experience of winning The Crown tournament, and why he believes William & Mary is the perfect fit for his game. Now, his sights are set on...
30 Sept 2026
Felipe Quinones: From Puerto Rico to IMG Academy
From Puerto Rico to Florida, IMG Academy, and the college basketball level, this player opens up about the experiences that shaped his journey both on and off the court. He talks about building a relationship with Coach Jakus, moving to the U.S. after a hurricane, adapting to a more physical style of basketball, winning a state championship at IMG, representing Puerto Rico internationally, and what he hopes to be remembered for. A story about growth, resilience, representing where you come fr...
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