PODCAST · sports
Before The League
by Grant Gurtin
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.
Episodes
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Ryan Jackson: Underrecruited to UTEP
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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
Grant Gurtin
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Before The League have?
Before The League currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Before The League about?
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...
How often does Before The League release new episodes?
Before The League has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Before The League?
You can listen to Before The League on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Before The League?
Before The League is created and hosted by Grant Gurtin.
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