Paul and Zain connect with Centennial High School and Team Why Not star guard Jared McCain. Jared is the #29 ranked prospect in the ESPN Top 60 Class of 2023 Rankings and holds offers from Stanford, Duke, and Gonzaga, and more. Jared talks about: The experience playing for the CIF championship in front of LeBron and Drake The experience of being in the Peach Jam Bubble and playing 14 games over 14 days Where his head is at with the recruiting process His vision boards - some of the goals he has achieved and some of the goals he would like to achieve How his Corona Centennial team is going to have to approach the season differently now that they have more of a bulls-eye on its back His huge social media followings and how he thinks about producing high quality content New skills and hobbies he has picked up during quarantine You can follow Jared on Instagram @jmccain24, TikTok @Jaredmccain24 and on Twitter @J_mccain_24

High School Basketball Happenings

Interview with Jared McCain - #29 Ranked Player in the Class of 2023 Rankings

Paul and Zain connect with Westtown School and Team Final star center Dereck Lively II. Dereck is the #2 ranked prospect in the ESPN Top 100 Class of 2022 Rankings and recently committed to play his college basketball at Duke. Dereck talks about: Why he chose to commit to Duke What influence his mom had on his game The support from Duke nation he has had since committing The hardest thing about being 7'2 Winning Peach Jam with Team Final  Playing with Jalen Duren  What the off-court experience at Peach Jam was like  What advice he would offer to other top recruits going through the recruiting process You can follow Dereck on Instagram @derecklively and on Twitter @dereckl41

Interview with Dereck Lively II - #2 Ranked Player in the Class of 2022 Rankings

Paul and Zain connect with North Little Rock and Bradley Beal Elite guard Nick Smith Jr. Nick is the #6 ranked prospect in the ESPN Top 100 Class of 2022 Rankings and holds offers from Kansas, UNC, Auburn, Arkansas, and Alabama among others. Nick talks about: - The Peach Jam championship against Team Final - What the Peach Jam experience was like off-the court - Latest on his recruiting and Memphis entering the fold - If he (and other players) look at the rankings You can follow Nick on Instagram @lif3nick and on Twitter @ntsmith1402

Interview with Nick Smith Jr - #6 Ranked Player in the Class of 2022 Rankings

Paul and Zain connect with Montverde Academy and Team Durant star small forward, Dariq Whitehead. Dariq is the #4 ranked prospect in the ESPN Top 100 Class of 2022 Rankings and recently committed to play his college basketball at Duke. Dariq talks about: - How Montverde’s 2020, 2021, and 2022 teams compare to each other - How the EYBL Peach Jam experience was not too different than what he experienced at Montverde his junior year - His background as a football player and when he decided to give up football to focus on basketball - What Olympic sport he believes he could be serviceable in and what Olympic sport he stands no chance in - The genesis of his nickname You can follow Dariq on Instagram @_riqwhitehead2 and on Twitter @dariq_whitehead

Interview with Dariq Whitehead - #4 Ranked Player in the Class of 2022 Rankings

The NCAA's name, image, and likeness guidance effective July 1st sent shockwaves throughout the amateur athletics landscape.  There is still confusion about what is and is not permissible for amateur athletes, particularly for high school athletes, in how they can get paid legally for NIL activities.   In this episode, Paul and Zain connect with Dr. Karissa Niehoff Dr. Niehoff is the executive director of the National Federation of State High School State Associations (NFHS).  The NFHS is the organization that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the US.  It has almost 8MM athletes under its purview.   Dr. Niehoff talks about: What the current guidance for high school athletes who want to get paid for their name, image, and likeness is The relationship between the NFHS and the state associations What has her most excited and most concerned for NIL at the high school level How Mikey Williams is able to get legally paid for his NIL What advice she would offer for high schoolers interested in getting paid for their NIL What advice she would offer to coaches and school administrators with athletes trying to navigate the NIL waters You can follow Dr. Niehoff on Twitter at @KarissaNFHS and the NFHS at @NFHS_Org

NIL for High Schoolers! Interview with Dr. Karissa Niehoff - Executive Director of National Federation of State High School State Associations

Paul and Zain connect with Keenan High School and Nightrydas Elite SG Jazian Gortman. Jazian is the #7 ranked prospect in the ESPN Top 100 Class of 2022 Rankings and is one of the fastest stockrisers in the entire high school game. Jazian has picked up offers from Illinois, Florida State, Clemson, and more this summer. Jazian talks about: What has led to his rapid ascension in the rankings How he plays with such joy and intensity Updates on what schools he's talking to the most to. The intense game that the Florida Nightrydas had against Mokan Elite in which might have been the game of      the summer. His love of music and what instrument he played when he was growing up You can follow Jazian on Instagram @jaygort1and on Twitter @TreonLil

Interview with Jazian Gortman - #7 Ranked Player in the Class of 2022 Rankings

Paul and Zain connect with Coppell High School and 3D Empire star point guard Anthony Black. Anthony is the #27 ranked prospect in the ESPN Top 100 Class of 2022 Rankings and is one of the fastest stock risers in the entire high school game. Anthony has picked up offers from Iowa State, Illinois, Kansas, Duke, and more this summer. Anthony talks about: - What has led to his rapid ascension in the rankings. - Why he chose to play with a local independent team vs. a big shoe circuit team. - What 1 or 2 factors will determine where he will play his college basketball. - His love of football and the decision to give it up to focus on basketball. You can follow Anthony on Instagram @antb1ack and on Twitter @AnthonyBlack24_

Interview with Anthony Black - #27 Ranked Player in the Class of 2022 Rankings

Updated rankings for the class of 2021, 2022, and 2023 were released on Wednesday.  Paul and Zain discuss: - what factors go into the rankings - how Paul and team whittle the list down from thousands of kids playing around the country down to 100 players  - how some players who didn't have high school seasons because of COVID were impacted in the rankings - some of the top stockrisers in 2021, 2022, and 2023 - players on the cusp of being ranked in 2022 - when the first batch of 2024 rankings will be released

The Latest ESPN Rankings - Key Takeaways And Inputs Into The Rankings

Paul and Zain connect with Arizona Compass star point guard TyTy Washington. TyTy is the #34 ranked prospect in the ESPN Top 100 Class of 2021 Rankings and led Arizona Compass to a semi-final appearance at this year's Geico Nationals. TyTy talks about: The genesis of his nickname TyTy Arizona Compass' victory against Wasatch at GEICO and the semi-final game against Montverde His recent offers from Baylor and Kentucky and what the conversations with those coaches entailed What he's learned from his parents who were both college athletes about what it takes to be an elite athlete When he plans to announce his final five schools You can follow TyTy on Instagram @tytywashington3 and on Twitter @tytywashington3

Interview with TyTy Washington - #34 Ranked Player in the Class of 2021 Rankings

In this episode of the High School Basketball Happenings Podcast, Paul and Zain connect with Legacy Early College shooting guard, Bryce McGowens. Bryce is the #22 ranked prospect in the ESPN Top 100 Rankings and has signed to play his college ball at Nebraska. Bryce talks about: The decision to transfer to Legacy Early College and the incredibly tough schedule his team has played What advice his older brother Trey has given him about playing college basketball in the Big 10 How he places at his own pace and never seems sped up on the court What he's learned from his family of elite athletes about what it takes to be an elite athlete at the next level You can follow Bryce on Instagram @bryce.mcgowens and on Twitter @BryceMcgowens5

Interview with Bryce McGowens - #22 Ranked Player in the Class of 2021 Rankings and Nebraska Signee

All the salient news going on in the high school basketball community, as told by a high school basketball enthusiast