Marlo Davis on coaching at the FIBA World Cup and building powerhouse Crestwood

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign. [00:00:03] Speaker B: Welcome to the Canadian Basketball show, your go to spot for the latest news stories and analysis on Canadian basketball. I'm your host, Lee ban Osman. The FIBA U19 Women's World cup is set to start soon and Canada is putting together, I believe, one of the best, if not the best teams we've ever seen. Silas Swords, Jasmine Basco, Avery Howell, Agot McKeer. Set the headline this team and and here to join me to talk about the FIBA U19 World cup, is the person that will be the head coach of that team looking at metal once again at the World Cup. He's one of, I believe, the best up and coming coaches in Canada. Someone that has coached and helped develop some of the brightest stars we've seen. On the women's side, head coach Marlo Davis. How you doing, brother? [00:00:48] Speaker A: I'm good, I'm good. Thank you, man. Appreciate you having me. [00:00:50] Speaker B: How's it been, man? Preparing just World cup right around the corner right now. [00:00:55] Speaker A: It's just excitement watching the U16s play right now and just seeing them represent Canada, it's really just getting the juices flowing and getting me and the staff kind of excited to start our planning phase already and just excited to get to camp. [00:01:09] Speaker B: Tell me about Avery. U16. [00:01:11] Speaker A: I know. [00:01:11] Speaker B: Crestwood, right? [00:01:12] Speaker A: No. Oh, the U16 area. Yeah. She's good, man. Super, super talented kid. Really always putting the team first. And that's kind of the leadership that I think Canada as a country want to embody and that's selfless leadership. And that's her. So, you know, seeing her on the stage, leading the charge with that group is something special to see because I know her future is really bright. [00:01:32] Speaker B: Yeah. What does like, preparation look like for World cup for you? I know you obviously been assistant Coach before, coached FIBA U18 also as the head coach last year. What does preparation look like for you? And just like heading into this training camp and just preparing for this tournament. [00:01:48] Speaker A: What the main part of the preparation for me would be starting with our coaching staff, just making sure that we're all on the same page, aligned in some of the things that we want to be pillars of the team. Because as most of you know, with international play, our training camps are a lot different than a high school season where you have months upon months to prepare. So just making sure the coaching staff, we all are on the same page, but making sure that our culture is something that we try to establish as soon as possible to make sure that we're on the same page consistently throughout camp and going into competition. [00:02:18] Speaker B: You Tease the coaching staff. Let me just name some people. Natalie Ch. Four time Olympian Isabelle Orman, Laura Daly. What is this staff like? How did it come together? And tell me just about what's it been like? Brainstorming, working with these guys, just preparing. [00:02:36] Speaker A: Steve Bauer, obviously the leader of Canada basketball, he's really set a really good tone over the last year, bringing the right people together and tapping back into those that have already poured into Canada basketball. Like he touched on coach Natalie Achonwa in particular, she's recently retired. Coach Isabel Ormond just accepted a job at McMaster University. So she's gonna be moving there and taking care of some things. So she's actually gonna be unavailable with us this summer. But we've brought in Courtney Pilapitis, who is also a former national team member, recently assistant coach at Fresno State, which now recently just moved to Cornell University. So again, it's another alumni of Canada basketball and our staff. So for us, our main thing is just making sure everybody's understanding who we are and what we bring to the table and doing that with a level of confidence that we feel is going to trickle down to our athletes because once we get into competition, for us it's, it's a gold medal that we're after and, and we feel like Canada as a country is in a space right now where we can be aggressive with our goals and things that we set out to achieve when we leave Canada. [00:03:39] Speaker B: So you're seeing the staff, the coaching staff as the stack is the roster? [00:03:42] Speaker A: I like to think so, yeah. [00:03:45] Speaker B: You obviously coached a FIBA UA team last year. What was that experience like leading that team and was that your first experience as a head coach for Canada? [00:03:53] Speaker A: Yes. So last summer in Columbia was my first time as a head coach and it was very interesting because I think I was learning a lot on the fly in terms of leading a staff and leading a group and like I said, the quickness of how everything came together. So I do think it was a great opportunity for me and my staff that year, which was Krista Inu Jokin and Tamara Tatum. They really rallied behind me a lot and made sure that everything I needed to be a first time head coach was, was great for me. Michelle Abella, she was also an intricate part of everything we did last year. So I wanted to kind of carry that over to this year's staff and that's partly why I'm so excited to work with them. [00:04:32] Speaker B: Yeah, you were also on staff on the team that were on bronze two years ago, the World Cup U19 any favorite memories or that you look back on stories from that experience that you're like, where were you guys at? Where was that? [00:04:43] Speaker A: Spain. [00:04:44] Speaker B: Yeah, Spain. I was in Spain a couple years ago. Man, that's the best time of my life. [00:04:48] Speaker A: Yes, Spain's a good time. The. The most important memory I would take away from that is we played for Rance in the bronze medal game. And coming out of half, we joked about maybe going boxing one, you know, doing something creative. Coach Carly. And then we joked about, all right, well, if we're going to go box and one might as well go triangle in two. And we're. We joked about it, but actually we did triangle into one possession and it worked. And it was kind of like, oh, okay, well, let's try it again. And kept working and, okay, well, let's leave it. And then we just kept going. We ended up playing triangle in two, and it really disrupted what they were trying to do offensively. And they had, like a WNBA lottery pick on their team, and it really threw her off her game a little bit. And we ended up securing a bronze medal in that game with the triangle and two being one of the most intricate parts of what got us there. So that memory for me is always something that. That sticks out to me and my coaching friends as a joke, because triangulin 2 is not something you see every day in basketball. So shout out to Carly for thinking outside the box and being creative and taking that leap. [00:05:52] Speaker B: Yeah, people call it janky, right? Like, I remember Nick Nurse did it and then Curry was calling it janky off, like defense, man. But it works, right, you guys? Hey, got a medal off of it. [00:06:01] Speaker A: Yeah, we had a nice little team as well, so that helped. [00:06:04] Speaker B: Salisaurus turned up. [00:06:05] Speaker A: Yeah. Delaney was huge for us. Toby. Jasmine ended up getting a concussion. I think she had to sit out that game. But. But that squad was really. Man, that was a really good team. Prosper was with us as well. So again, the tone has been set for the last three or four years gearing up for this opportunity. So I'm excited for the kids because they've put the work in from U16s to U17s to 18s and now for them to be able to do it on the U19 stage as most of them get ready to step into that senior pool. I'm fortunate and grateful for the opportunity to share this experience with them. [00:06:40] Speaker B: Yeah, I want to get into, like, your coaching journey when it all started. I know you used to play. How did coaching become a thing for you? [00:06:49] Speaker A: Honestly, kind of Stumbled into it. Like I said, I'm from the west end of Toronto, so Falstaff Community center, we always just go hang out, play ball, all that good stuff. And at the time, Cheyenne was playing for a boys program, Yase, that's ran out of Jayna Finch area, doing an amazing, amazing job in the community, but she was playing on a boys team. So her dad at the time, Patrick Shaw, he wanted to start to get her to play with some girls and things of that nature. So, you know, we were all around. So it was kind of like, hey, you have a cousin that age, you have a sister around that age. So it was like, Jadea Reed, Chance's older sister. Right now, Coach Row would be around and be like, oh, bring your goddaughter, Marlo. Bring your sister so. And so bring your niece. And we literally just put together a team of girls that were probably from the age of like, 11 to, like, 14 or so. And I didn't want to coach. I was like, I'll just help out. And at the time, Greg and Naya, a friend of mine as well, we all kind of were doing it together. And then obviously, life kind of just got busy, but the kids fell in love with it. And that was one of the things that kind of drew me to it, the main one. I remember Cheyenne's older sister, Zach, she just asked, like, can we practice more? Like, she probably doesn't remember this. She was probably like, 12, 13 at the time. And that really, like, touched my heart because I felt like, oh, they're really enjoying what we're doing. And that kind of, you know, steamrolled into practicing more and practicing more. And, you know, the kids, them finding a joy and falling in love with the game. And I think for me at the time, it was what I needed because that was that transition period for me of like, do you want to play basketball? What are you doing with your life? What's your next career path? So at that time, I was a teacher, or I am a teacher. So it kind of just them falling in love with the game allowed me to fall in love with coaching at the same time. So that's kind of how that started. And then we all. We had a parent, Ronnie Alshula. His son was playing, practicing out of Falstaff. So he connected Crestwood and the staff there and all of us, and we ended up kind of going together, and that's kind of what. What started the whole Crestwood movement. So it all started with our AAU program, sisters Keeper. So Cheyenne, Tasha, and a bunch of other athletes, and we all went over to Crestwood. And then as we went our first year, we were super young. Like, I told them I didn't want, really, an older team. I wanted them to get the opportunities to, you know, learn on the job. So our first year was eighth graders and ninth graders. Arish was our only 11th grader. And as we continue to play, I think the first little bit, I wasn't sure, like, who we were going to be. But once I saw, like, some of the top teams, it was, I'm a pretty confident guy. So it became, like, pretty apparent to me in that moment that we'll be all right. And, you know, I started, like, telling people, like, in a year or two, this is going to be the best team in the country. And we kept playing, and we played our first, like, prep game against Kings Christian. And at the time, like, Leticia M. Here is, like, number two in the country. Christina Morrow, Like, I think their whole team went division one. And we were, like, an eighth grade and ninth grade team. And I remember calling Chris Smallings. He was. That was the first event. And I was like, man, why would you give us such a hard game? We're babies. We're new. And. And he's explaining to me, like, the difference between, like, a high school program and a prep program. So he's like, if you're in the prep program or the prep bracket, these are. You can't avoid it. It's either them or TRC with Haley Brown, who went to Michigan, or it was Lincoln Prep with Knight. So it was the same thing. And I was like, oh, wow. So that first game was probably one of the pivotal moments for me as a coach. I think we probably losing, like, 15 nothing to start the game. And called the kids in and made some noise about it. And I think I asked him, like, is anybody bleeding? Like, no. Okay, we're all alive. It's just basketball. And then that game was interesting because I think that was the one that really put everybody on notice. Cheyenne was in the eighth grade at that time and called her over. It was like, it's go time. And she had 35 as an eighth grader. Like, I think she's the best young female basketball player I personally have seen in a long time. Not even. Let me take that back. Basketball player, period. The only other young star that I've seen to do what she was able to do was Junior Cadougan. Like, when Junior was in the eighth grade, he was. He was getting everybody. So that was that. And Latasha like, that was her coming out party because she was matching up with, you know, Latisha Amher, Christina, who went to Wake Forest. And they were super, super talented. So I think after that game, I think we end up losing by maybe seven or eight. And. And that's when for me, it was like, oh, okay. Like, we got something special here. And, you know, another year went on and then, you know, we had Aaliyah Edwards. And I think part of. Part of my conversation with Aaliyah and her family was like, she's the one. And at that time, I don't think as many people in our country truthfully saw that and knew that, but I know her and her family believed that, and I believed it as well. So that's when, you know, our program, like, it went to the moon. Like, I don't want to say it was like a Kawhi effect, but, you know, when Kawhi joined the Raptors, I know it was around the same time, so everybody was like comparing it to that. But in actuality, I think it was a combination of that and the Durant going to Golden State, because I think we were already a really good team and she just kind of took us to the moon. [00:12:26] Speaker B: Adding her was unfair. [00:12:28] Speaker A: I mean, yes and no. I think that's the way, you know, basketball is. And I feel like we see that more and more today. But the. The coolest thing for me as a high school coach that I try to explain to parents, especially here in Canada, is when you get to that next level, especially at the high major, power 54 level, that your teammates are Ms. Basketball, Georgia, Ms. Basketball Florida, you know, all Canadian, All American. So being able to learn to play with other good players, I think is something that's really important for our young stars as they start to step into these spaces. Because that's what's really going to make you whoever it is that you want to become. Because if you're only able to do that a with the ball in your hands 95% of the time, you're going to struggle at the next level when the ball is only in your hands maybe 15% of the time or whatever the case may be. So as Crestwood continues to grow, though, with Aaliyah, she also added the visibility to our program and just the notoriety, I think, of women's sports was growing at that time. So for me, that was a great time for me to learn. Cause that was one of the first times I felt like we were the favorites. Now where, like I said, we started. [00:13:42] Speaker B: Off as feel like you're the favorite every year now? [00:13:44] Speaker A: I like to think so, but that's more just in my mind. Like, every year I come in and I feel like it's a championship year, and that's the culture we've built. So it's really great to see the foundation with the Cheyennes and Aaliyah and the legacy they left. Like, we still talk about Aaliyah every day in the halls, so, you know, they really did a great job. And then to follow that up with now, Toby, I thought Toby. Toby's era was the combination of the Cheyenne and Aaliyah and Tasha and Kayla and Rebecca Tiana. Like, that group, they were really, really special. But I think what they did, like, I think Toby, a God, that group, Tasia, they really took it to another level because they were. They were, like, expected. Like, I think there was still a surprise factor to, like, how good that first group was, especially when we traveled to the States, where they've laid such a great foundation that now that next wave of. Of Crestwood athletes and Canadian athletes in general, there's now an expectation, like, when we go to America, like, they're expecting the Canadians to be good. And that's, you know, not just a Cresto thing. I think there's many other programs that have done really good things across the border to represent Canada. You know what I mean? Whether it be AAU like Handel, Kip, he has become one, and they've been doing great things for years. They're at Fort Erie, both men's and women's Fort Aries program. Charles, he's done a really, really great job of creating Pacific now here. Yes, yes, exactly. With Dave. Love it over there. Just Canadians. I'm always going to rep for that. But, yeah, there's so many other programs that are doing really, really good things. So it helps all of us when one of us does well. So I do think, like I said, that first group, they were trailblazers, and Crestwood as an institution is second to none. Especially with that first group. Like, we didn't really know what the landscape looked like, and they were super, super supportive. So we were one of the first, like, prep programs that were going to the states. Four, five, six times in a high school season. You know what I mean? Like, we're flying to Arizona. We're doing a lot of different things. I'm requesting, like, we want to play top 25 teams only. We want to play the best teams. And we used to tell them, like, we'd rather lose than win by 50. So if it's not a competitive game, then we're not coming. So that was kind of our energy going to all those American high school events. But I also felt like that would trickle down to now aau, because now we've seen them three or four times throughout the school year. Yeah. Now we see them on the EYBL circuits with Kia Nurse or Become One or United Mission Adidas. Wherever you're playing, we see them again. So now when we see them on a national stage, when it's representing Canada, I feel like 10, 15 years ago, we were looking at the Americans in awe. [00:16:32] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:16:32] Speaker A: Where now we're going for gold. Right. But I've seen you last month, I played against you three months ago, I played against you in September, and so on and so forth. [00:16:41] Speaker B: Know what to expect now. [00:16:42] Speaker A: Right. So our kids are also beating them in high school, so they're not looking at them the same way we once did. So that's where the confidence, I think, comes from for our country, is that our kids are now going over there more, seeing it, feeling it, touching it, and coming back knowing that we're. We're right here. And that's the cool thing to see happen. [00:17:01] Speaker B: I was going to ask you, but talking about Crestwood, just in general, the legacy of the powerhouse program that you built, like, I'm thinking about like when Bronze went to Miami the first time and he was like, not one not to like, you guys actually did that, like, and probably like, you guys have produced so much talent that's come out. How many D1 talent has come out of Crestwood? Is it hard to keep track of at this point? [00:17:24] Speaker A: Yeah, I'd have to kind of like, sit back and kind of go through the years. I know last year, like Toby's entire class, all five of them went. This year we have three. And then like, some. Some more over the years. But like I said, I really credit a lot of that to just not just Crestwood. I think basketball in Canada as a whole, I think the osba, North Pole hoops, all these different leagues are creating different spaces for. For athletes to get better and coaches as well. [00:17:51] Speaker B: I was going to ask you this because I've had this conversation with a lot of guests. Sally was on here, a guy I spoke to because the guy went to the States, Right? [00:17:57] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:17:58] Speaker B: But we look at Toby, for example. She stayed. [00:18:01] Speaker A: Right. [00:18:02] Speaker B: What's your thoughts on Canadian talent going to the States? Is it needed? Is it necessary? Like, what's that like? I'm guessing you, like, have you had conversations with Toby? Just about like, hey, schools are reaching out to me from the States. Like, did you ever. [00:18:16] Speaker A: No, they wouldn't reach out to me because that wouldn't be a logical move because a. Like, I think. [00:18:22] Speaker B: But did she ever come to you about that? [00:18:24] Speaker A: No. Kudos to her and her family. Like, I think they were. They were always 10 toes down from day one. They were. Can't thank them enough. Like, they. They let me coach her. They. They trusted me. She trusted me, I trusted her, and it worked out. But me personally, like, I think there are some programs in the US that offer certain things that we can't offer to our. Some of our Canadian athletes. But I don't want to say. I don't want to say selfishly, because I don't think it just applies to me, but I do think, like I said, there are some. Some quality programs in Canada, and I don't think there's anything that our athletes can't get here that they need to be successful at the next level. For myself in particular, like, those are things that, when I'm recruiting a family to come to Crestwood, those are things that I talk about in terms of them being prepared for when they get to college. There's no mistake about it. There's not as much we can do at the high school level to really prepare our athletes. We say it, but they have to live it. And it's the shock factor still going to be there. And our job is really just to prepare them to still be confident in who they are in the moments of struggle, because that's going to come, whether it be in practice, in games, in the classroom, social adjustment, being homesick, whatever hurdles they have to tackle, especially in those first few months, that's kind of where we step in and then trust that they're moved on to people that are going to support them through. Through their times of need, like we did at the. At the high school level here in Canada. But in terms of the basketball, me personally, I think Crestwood is a top 10 top 5 perennial program in North America every year. [00:20:06] Speaker B: So they gotta rank you on ESPN at this point, man. [00:20:08] Speaker A: They should, but it's okay. We'll just keep knocking them off one by one. But I think the only thing that an American program can offer a Canadian athlete that I don't think I can is for them to be McDonald's All American. And I think that I would say Capitol courts. I think they probably feel the same way about their program. I think Royal Crown probably feels the same way about their program. Fort Erie, you know, I mean, I think there's a lot of coaches and programs that are doing amazing work to get their athletes seen and get their athletes better prepare their athletes, you know what I mean? Emotionally, socially, et cetera. So I don't think the need is there as high as people may think. But I do see the value in it and I do understand it. And for some athletes, that might be the best fit for a plethora, plethora of reasons. But if we're just talking solely basketball, I'm confident in the coaches, trainers, families and high schools in Canada to prepare our athletes. [00:21:01] Speaker B: Yeah, because I think about it, maybe on the men's side, it's a bit different. [00:21:04] Speaker A: Men's side, I think, is completely different. And I think that's where the, the ground level. [00:21:09] Speaker B: The coaches still come here in Canada, No? Yeah, A lot of coaches, like ncaa, they come here to scout, right? [00:21:14] Speaker A: Yeah. But I think on the boys side it's a little tougher. Like if we look at the men's and the women's side of basketball now, the top five girls are all probably going, Duke, UConn, North Carolina, Notre Dame, so on and so forth. Where on our boy side from staying in Canada, I think most of them are going about mid major level and obviously the outliers are the outliers. So I do think there is a little. Still an element that America provides to the boys side of high school basketball that we haven't really tapped into yet on Canadian soil. [00:21:48] Speaker B: Yeah, it'll take some time. But yeah, you mentioned Cheyenne. It's funny too because like, I have homies that they didn't watch. Like they didn't know about high school basketball, but they knew Cheyenne, you know, what do you think? You talk about her impact, but tell me also during that time when the Crestwood was formed, that team and you gathered a bunch of people from the community, like, was there like, much like teams, like, like what was that like for like inner city, like local talent from Toronto, you know, I'm talking about. [00:22:19] Speaker A: Yeah, no, Cheyenne definitely, like she, she's the people's champ. I do think she changed girls basketball in, in Canada at the, at the high school level. I think what she did and just how she played it just brought a level of attention to the female game, especially in the GTA and the inner city that the game hasn't seen in a while. Like, I think back to probably Janae Barrett back at Eastern and that was a while back. Obviously the greats are the greats, but Cheyenne definitely, I think changed the game and Made it cool for little girls. There was a pocket. I think it's the 24 high school class. And a bunch of those kids and their families said to me once that when their kids were in grade 11, they were like, my daughter was here in grade. I think it was like, seven or eight to watch Crestwood versus Capitol Courts, that first finals. And their daughters all wanted to be Cheyenne. But I also think Cheyenne is also ruined recruiting of high school basketball because she was getting recruited, like, in the eighth grade, like, from everybody. So now you have a new wave of kids thinking they're supposed to be getting recruited in eighth grade. Parents are thinking their kids are supposed to be getting recruited in ninth grade. So they're feeling this pressure that isn't really there. Like, she is an anomaly. She is different. You know what I mean? And most kids and families coming up after her kind of thought that her path was the normal path, where that's. Everybody has their own path. So I think her legacy definitely is. Is one of that to be spoken of. And she definitely changed the game for the inner city in Toronto. But she also misled a lot of people with how talented and how her experience went at the high school level. [00:23:57] Speaker B: Yeah, you talked about that Crestwood team. What was it like to coach it? And I forget what tournament was at the Madamy. That game, Tombo. But, yeah, that everyone was at. [00:24:07] Speaker A: I remember just like, man, that team was special. We have the arguments now of what was the best Crestwood team ever and stuff like that. [00:24:16] Speaker B: I don't think nothing's topping that. I'm sorry, Toby. And then we're good. But, hey, I don't know. [00:24:22] Speaker A: Honestly, I'm torn. [00:24:23] Speaker B: How many games did that team lose? [00:24:25] Speaker A: When we got Aaliyah, we lost one game in two years in Canada. And the one that we lost, Aaliyah wasn't there. She was in Germany or something with our senior national team. So that. That team was special, but it was really. It was dope because they were all so dynamic in their own way. Like, Latasha Lattimore is probably, like, the most talented basketball player I've ever coached in my life. Like, she can do everything. Like, God just sprinkled some something on her and just like, all right, go. And that coupled with, like, Aaliyah, where Aaliyah is, like, one of the best players in the world. You know what I mean? And just seeing them kind of put it together, there were times where the best thing for me to do is just shut up and get out of their way. They've Got it. And that group really forced me to try to be a better coach, like, whatever I thought I knew, that group made me realize there was another level that I needed to get to. And they consistently challenged me, whether it be managing people off the court, whether it be preparation for practice, whether it be preparation for games and things, things of that nature. So I owe a lot to that group, man. They sacrificed a lot, and I learned a lot. And a lot of the successes that I've had and Crested have had over the years is thankful to that group. And I'm fortunate enough that they still, you know, they still support the program. And knowing, like, their handprint and their legacy is something that, you know, like, we don't take for granted. And we talk about the Crestwood culture. The Crestwood culture. So we're constantly paying homage to those that really laid the foundation for a lot of the things that you see happening for us today. [00:26:01] Speaker B: You mentioned Aaliyah. How did she end up at Creswell from Kingston, Ontario? I feel like ending up in Creswell is kind of like a. [00:26:08] Speaker A: It was. It's honesty. Like, now I'm getting older, so I'm, like, reflecting on how a lot of these things came to pass, and I can't say anything other than more than I'm grateful. But Antwee, Antohenia, I don't know if you guys interviewed him yet, but definitely a legend in Canadian basketball. Um, but he was doing some. Some great work, I think, at the time. Him and James are doing some community stuff, and he was bringing it to Canada. So he had an All Star game in Mississauga, and I ended up coaching her in that All Star Game. And throughout the midst of the game, I'm like, guys, this. This. This kid's amazing. Like, is anybody else seeing what I'm seeing? Like, and I'm like, go. And she's just killing. But I'm like, go. Like, more. Because I'm watching her do this. But I feel like she's only going, like, 60 because she's from Kingston something. And she's probably a little shy, you know, just trying to fit in and so on and so forth. But as the game was going on, it was just like, oh, she's figuring. It's everybody. Everybody out. She's figuring out the game. She's figuring out the refs. And it was to a point where I'm just like. I forget I'm coaching, and I'm just watching, like, I'm just watching her go. So her mom told me that when they got in the car, her dad called her mom and was like, we found the coach for her. So it was like. It was like a movie. So then obviously, we're continuing to speak. And then she came on a visit to Crestwood, played pickup. We actually have, like, a crazy picture of that day of pickup, and it's like, 20 girls in the gym, and all of them played Division 1, but it was really, like, a community thing. Like, it was kids from Jay Addison, Fort Erie, Bill Crothers, Capitol Courts. Like, it was. It was really dope. So we had the pickup, and then Aaliyah and her mom got in the car, and they're about to leave. I did my spiel, and they're about to leave. And Aaliyah, her mom told me that she says to her in the car, like, this is where I want to be. And her mom was like, okay. And then she was, like, about to get out of the car, and her mom's like, what are you doing? Like, you know, we're about to go home. And she was like, I'm going to go tell him. And she's like, no. Like, take your time. Like, think about it. And she kind of, like, stopped her mom and was like, no. Like, this is it. I know. I feel it. And then she came back in the gym and was like, I just want to let you know, like, in September, I'll be here. And the rest is history. [00:28:17] Speaker B: The rest is history. Man, what's it like seeing her now in a W, doing her thing? [00:28:22] Speaker A: It's ridiculous, man. Like, it's still, like. Like, surprises me. It still shocks me. But even before she got there, like, just seeing her, like, at UConn and her coming in, obviously, with that highly touted class with Paige and all that, the other athletes, like, that was still surreal because she's so diligent about her work. She was a professional at 16 years old, and that was where she separated herself from everyone else. So her being great at UConn was no surprise to anybody. Her being great in a W is no surprise to anybody. She's just a pro, and her gift is that she figures it out, and she's able to find success in so many different ways. So whenever I see her on tv, I'm just like, man, that's the little girl. The purple headphones that was in the calf, doing her homework. She was about her routines, teens, and different things like that. So just knowing that she really, like, worked for this. Like, she really sacrificed. She moved away from home at 15, 16 years old. You know what I Mean, just the sacrifices that I know her family has made for her and, and you know, their God fearing people and how much their. Their religion plays a part into who she is as a person and how she was raised is. Is nothing short of amazing because you already see the. The give back in her where she's doing camps in Kingston, like when she was at Crestwood, like, her high school, Kingston, Frontenac, like, they were still, like, you know, cheering for her and supporting her, even with her not being there. And that was something that really stuck out, stood out to me over the years. So for me at Crestwood, when I got Mercure transferred to Montverd, like, I was now on the other side of it. And that's why I made sure I wanted her to know, like, whether you're in a Crestwood jersey or not, like, the love and support and relationship that we have and what we feel for each other doesn't change whether you're in a Crestwood jersey or not. And I wanted to make sure her and her family knew that. And I learned that from seeing how Kingston as a. As a city really supported Aaliyah when she went away. [00:30:23] Speaker B: Yeah, I was gonna ask you, what's the secret sauce? We talked about this before. Off. Off. I feel like off the phone, but, like, what's different about Crestwood than maybe any other program in North America? [00:30:37] Speaker A: Honestly, I think our culture, like, we say it a lot, just Crestwood culture. Crestwood culture. But I know a lot of people think it's the championships are what, like, makes us what we are, but it's actually the other way around. Like, what. Who we are is why we win. Like, we win because of our culture. Our culture isn't what it is because we won't. So I think if anyone was to ask, like, what was the. What the secret sauce would be would be consistent excellence. Like, it's all about, like, from day one, we talk about a championship. From day one, we talk about scholarships. Like, we're not shy about what our individual goals are. We're not shy about what our team goals are. We're not shy about what our big dreams are and things of that nature. So once we all know what our individual goals are, we figure out how do we now align that with 12 people to make sure that we're all moving in the same direction at the same time and consistent about it. Because the consistency piece is what I think separates us. Like, if I was to open my phone right now, I promise you there's probably seven, eight messages in the last 24 hours either, asking if, can I open the gym? Can I find a gym? They'll. They'll message Carly Clark and ask if they can go to Ryerson and get shots up. They'll message Diana at U of T and ask if they can get in the gym. They go to York and play pickup with. With the athletes at York, with Coach Christus. So our culture and our desire to be great, I think, is what really separates us from programs. And I'm not saying those programs aren't doing those things. I just know for us how consistent we are with striving for it. I think I haven't really seen much of that, even when I was an athlete. So I really accredited to the kids in the program and just their commitment to each other, but their commitment to. To themselves, and they understand that those things work hand in hand. So I think that would be our secret sauce. [00:32:32] Speaker B: I want to ask you about Toby just because, like, we mentioned, she stayed in Canada, Right. And I remember chatting with her at the Night Cube Summit, like, two years back, and she could stop talking about you and just, like, how much you helped her. What was that relationship like with her? And when did you first meet her? Because I feel like she. Everyone, like, once I'm like, who's this girl? Duncan, at the age of, like, what, 12? Was it 12? [00:32:55] Speaker A: I don't know, honestly. It was. It was a. Again, the luck. The luck of. Of the draw and just nature. She went to another private school, so she was playing against Crestwood at another private school. And our men's coach at the time, Coach Roe Russell, one of the goats, he saw her and was like. And his eye for talent is, like, next level. Like, he's the guy that's seeing WIGGINS at, like, 10, being, like, that's the kid. So I remember him telling me about Toby, and he invited her family to visit Crestwood and introduced me to them, and we got to know each other through that lens. And we actually were trying to get her to come in grade eight. So we actually have an old picture of Aaliyah, Tasha, and Toby. [00:33:32] Speaker B: Wow. [00:33:33] Speaker A: And it's Toby, like, as a baby. Like, she's, like, 12, and she's probably, like, I don't know, 6:1 at the time. So she's. She's the baby. But we always knew, like, from then that she was going to come over to Crestwood. But when Toby was in the eighth grade, coming into Crescent in grade nine, I knew she was gonna be special. And after having, like, Aaliyah and Tasha and Kayla and some of the other forwards that I had, I knew she was different. So I remember calling a bunch of Division 1 schools cause Aaliyah's graduated. I was like, listen, we have another one. Like, and this one is different. Like, different. Like, she plays just as hard as Aaliyah, but probably more athletic. She blocks shots like Tasha runs like Tasha her touch, her feel. Like her finishing while getting hit. It's different. And just her compete. Like, forget everything else. Toby competes, but obviously Covid hits. So no one realizes. There's a hiatus between Toby's explosion on the scene. It was delayed. So when we're calling coaches in the summer of eighth grade to come and see her in the ninth grade, Covid hit so nobody sees her. And then there's nothing happening until I think we did AAU with Kia nurse during COVID shout out to Richard. So we actually went down to Kentucky and basically created our own Canadian bubble. So we stayed there for a month because you couldn't go, remember, you couldn't go back and forth. You'd have to quarantine. So that was kind of her intro. Everybody. A few schools saw her, you know, so on and so forth. Then we get to school, and it's Toby and Tasia, and, like, we just. We just hit the ground. And, like, I don't think Toby knew how good she was, which was one of the coolest things for me as her coach, because it's just like, I can just ask for more and she'll just give it because she doesn't know that she has it. Like, if she's playing at, like, 60% of her, like, potential. And I'm like, hey, I need more. I need more. And she's now at 63, but that's different. And, you know, as time went on, it was just like, okay, we need to use your left hand. Okay, I need you to dribble, like, by her. Last year, I told her, like, I need you to shoot two or three threes. Whether you make or miss, it's okay. I just want you to be confident and comfortable shooting a 3 in game. So, you know, when I see her at Duke making threes, and I'm just like, man, in the 10th grade, she wouldn't even think about it. So it was really great coaching her because I just knew she would set the tone for us every day. If we're running suicides or down and backs and somebody tried to beat her, it was almost offensive. Like, okay, let's do this again. And she would try to smoke them by a mile. So her competitive is different. She genuinely has a switch, and you can see it. And she is fearless. She is fearless. Like, it's. It's something special to see, man. Like, she has a different it factor to her. Like, I don't even know how to explain it, but she. She's present in every room she steps in. Like, she. She has this. This weird it factor about her. And over the years as a coach, like, obviously, the longer you do it, the more you'll. You'll come across it. But there is very few people that have a switch like hers. And that, I think, is one of the things that makes her special, is that it has nothing to do with me, you, Carol Austin or whoever. It's. She has this desire to want to win at everything she does. She has this. This innate ability to compete at such a high level, but she's able to raise. So if she's playing against whoever it is, at whatever level they're at, she's going to make sure she's there. So that's. That's special to see. [00:37:21] Speaker B: I was going to ask. You watch a lot of Duke games? [00:37:23] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:37:23] Speaker B: ACC freshman of the year, I believe. [00:37:25] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:37:26] Speaker B: I remember when I say Hoop Summit, man, I think she had, like, 16 points in the first half. Just dominated the top prospects in the states. Yeah. Thoughts on her season? [00:37:36] Speaker A: I thought it was amazing, man. Like, it was. It was really great to see because there's just so many different things that people don't see some of the athletes go through. So I know for most parents when kids are freshmen, they're worried about, like, playing time and starting and all this kind of stuff. And it was actually really dope to see Toby, like, not start. [00:37:55] Speaker B: Yeah. Come off the bench. Six, man. [00:37:57] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, where for her, she probably never done that ever in basketball, but her being mature enough to embrace that role for her team and still knowing I am who I am and whether I start or not, that's not gonna dictate or impact how I'm gonna perform on the. On the floor for my team. Obviously, you know, being away from home, like, North Carolina is far. Like, it's not a. It's not Buffalo. So, you know, her being able to. To be away from home, where, like you said, she stayed home, so she was going home to her family every day. So, you know, those different challenges and just seeing her, you know, navigate that on her own as a young adult is really amazing to see. And, like, I know, again, the sacrifices that her and her family have made over these years for this, you Know, type of opportunity. And to see her flourishing the way that she. She has and her. Her still being so connected to Canada, like, she's come home and done like two or three camps already and. And different things of that nature is really cool to see. [00:38:50] Speaker B: I was gonna ask you. I watched that team with Toby, her. And I got. I think you guys wanted the Pan Am Ospas killed. I got what crazy. That game that I watched. I'm gonna put you on the spot. That team versus the Aaliyah Edwards, the Cheyenne, who wins? [00:39:07] Speaker A: That's the one that every kind of debates who you got. [00:39:12] Speaker B: You're the head coach. You coach both those teams. [00:39:14] Speaker A: I don't know if I can answer that one because it's almost like, which one's your favorite kid? But I think they both have something special about them. That. That would be a very, very good one point game. Yeah, that would be. That would be the answer. So I think whoever I'm calling it, whoever gets the last shot, is probably going to win. [00:39:33] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:39:33] Speaker A: Because I think the makeup of the Cheyenne, Tasha, Aaliyah, like, they're. They were. I think they were very top heavy. Right? So I think like Cheyenne, Tasha, Aaliyah, Rebecca and a bunch of like, they were like, special. Like I would say the top four, top three were like, really special. And with Toby's team, I think their bottom was a lot higher. Like, their whole class went Division 1 and then the group under them, like, Avery's on that team. Like the size of Toby's team. Like, we were starting 6, 1, 5, 11, 6 3, 6 3, 6 1. So like our backcourt is 6 1. It's a gotten Avery. You know what I mean? And then Liv shoots the lights out and she was like multiple times freshman of the week in the 8:10, you know what I mean? Like, so we had like Division 1 players coming off the bench of. Of that team. So I think their depth would give them a little advantage over the 2020 team. But then I think the 2020 team is just firepower. Like, it's coming, but then, you know, like a God, like, she's firepower. So it's really an interesting game. I think this is going to be. We set it up debate. That'll be more of like an alumni thing, maybe like a Team Canada. Hopefully they're all on Team Canada at the Olympics, you know, 2032 or something like that. And we can have like a practice pickup. [00:40:56] Speaker B: Okay. Okay. [00:40:57] Speaker A: Or something. But we. We got a couple of things in the works. So I think this. This team coming up. Could be. Could rival that team if some things fall in line. [00:41:05] Speaker B: Okay. [00:41:06] Speaker A: With, you know, the vision. [00:41:08] Speaker B: Yeah. How would you describe yourself, though? Like, as a coach? [00:41:13] Speaker A: I would say competitive confidence has kind of been the thing that I try to lean on. I think it's important, especially coaching female basketball. Like, the confidence piece and, like, you'll. You'll see it over the years in terms of, like, who the leaders are of our programs. Like, they have to exude confidence, and they have to, you know, be comfortable understanding that at times that might rub some people the wrong way. But, you know, you got. You got a job to do, you got a team to lead, and they got to believe in you, even when things are grim. And I try to. To. To model that. So, like, the confidence that. That I carry into every game, like, I want them to carry that. When we're down 20, I still believe we can come back and win. We're up 20. I want to win by 50. Like, so our competitive confidence has been something I think that has helped us to grow. And for me, with the individuals, like, I want these kids to leave Crestwood really feeling like they're seven feet tall, like, they're giants. They're. They're invincible, and they can do anything, you know, just believing in hard work. So I think those would be the things that I strive for most as a coach. So I know when you see me on the sideline yelling and all that good stuff, half of the time it's like, more like confidence. Like, go, score, go. Like, that's a mismatch. You got to attack it, and that's on both sides of the ball, like, not just offensively. So as you can see over the years, if you think about, like, especially our leaders, like I said, Toby thinks she's the world. Cheyenne, Aaliyah's agats, you know, I mean, so on and so forth down the line, like, that's something that they have to. To embody because I want them again when they get to college in the states and they're beside Ms. Basketball Florida, Ms. Basketball Georgia, whoever, that they're. They have a level of confidence in that room that they're able to. To represent Canada and themselves and their families, no matter who. Who's around them. So that's something I definitely take pride in. Our athletes leaving Crestwood with. [00:43:06] Speaker B: Yeah, I want to get Back to the FIBA U19 talk. What can we expect from this team? And a style that you coach at and, like, sort of try to mesh all together, because a lot of stars. [00:43:16] Speaker A: On this team yeah, the main thing I think for us would be our passing. Like, I think I want us to be the best passing team in the tournament. Obviously with our firepower, that's going to be our weapon. And shooting. I think we have a lot of, a lot of talents, talented scorers, but also shooting as well, from literally almost one to five. Like our fours could equally be some of our better shooters, like Cece Sierra Parchman at Illinois. She's about six' three and shoots the lights out. Nitty. She was all tournament team for us last year in Columbia and she was one of our leading scorers and rebounders. And that's not me mentioning the Silas and Jasmine who just had historic freshman seasons for Canada and you know, got mercure. Like she's going to be in that mix. She's at South Carolina right now, you know. Thanks Don. Getting her, getting her ready for camp. So I think our, our ability to score the ball is going to be important, but I think if we defend at the level that we, we, we want to, with the offensive firepower that we possess, I think we'll be special in that way. But our passing will be the, the main component to, to who we are and what we do offensively and defensively. It's just going to be, I would say, high level chemistry is what I want our defense to look like. So when you look at us play defense, you know, everybody's on the same page. Everybody is competing at a high level and every possession matters to that group. [00:44:41] Speaker B: Yeah, you mentioned just like some of the players I'd be playing and I see a lot of stars. [00:44:46] Speaker A: Right. [00:44:46] Speaker B: And you talked about passing and I don't feel like there's egos on this team. But how do you mesh like a bunch of players that could also like run their own team? Right. Like we're talking about got going to South Carolina. Silo, what she did at Michigan, Jasmine, what she did, Villanova, like all these players that could be their own, like they can run their own team. How do you like manage that and like get them to like buy into this collective? I think they already, they have that. They, they like, they're not selfish players. Yeah, but how do you get that buy in where everyone's like, hey, let's look for the right shot, this kind of stuff? [00:45:20] Speaker A: Honestly, I think, like I said, I think the, the leadership of Canada basketball, I think Mike Bartlett, Steve particular, like, they've, they've set a tone within Canada basketball that I think has trickled down to coaches, to the players, etc. So the leadership from there, we're going to carry that down. But these athletes, like you said, they're already relatively selfless people. And, and the gift of being at the U19 level is majority of them have already played for Canada, so they understand what it really means to compete at this level and what it means to not win a gold medal at this level. Like, I think that's what's going to be our weapon, is that we know and feel just as confident as you mentioned, but we haven't won a gold medal. So now getting that group to know that it's going to take a lot of sacrifice from a lot of different people in a lot of different ways in order for us to achieve our ultimate goal. And it's a goal that we've all fell short of before. So let's all collectively now do whatever it takes to get to that ultimate goal, because we all have been here before fell short and understood that it was never the I that was going to make it a gold medal summer for us. And it's always going to be the we. So I think we all go in with that mindset and us as coaches, we set that tone and we're able to maximize every day. And once we do that, we continue to stack them together and, you know, if the result is what we think it's going to be, we'll be happy. But at the same time, if we don't get the result, we'll be happy with ourselves walking away because we know we did everything that we're supposed to do and we're moving basketball forward in our country, that the next time there's a U19 team on the floor that they're one step closer to achieving that ultimate goal. [00:47:00] Speaker B: I don't want to put pressure on you, but obviously, like, we're hyping up this team, right? You're coaching it. Do you feel like this is like, the best chance Canada's had, potentially win gold with this U19 team? I feel like I'm putting pressure on you because, you know. [00:47:19] Speaker A: I have to go back and do my research because I do think that U19 team that we had in Spain, like, was. Was. Was really good too. With Toby, it was Toby, Sila Delaney, Jasmine Prosper Mira. So it was. Was a lot there. [00:47:32] Speaker B: But you feel like you're right there, right? [00:47:34] Speaker A: Yeah. Like, I. I think this is arguably, I would say one or two of the better teams that we put on the floor in a while. And I think who our kids are now is also what I think is shifting so before, like I think years past, Canadian kids would just play Division 1 and be on national team and they were good. Now our kids are going Division 1 and are the best players on their teams and that looks very different. So now when they come home, they've been a star for the last 10 months. Verse. So now that confidence piece and that expectation and willingness and, and comfort to impacting a game and winning a game, they're, they're constantly doing that where I think 10, 15 years ago it would be. They're the eighth man at college. Then they come back to Canada and we're like, we need you to be the men. And they're like, well, I've just been sending screens for the last three years, you know, or whatever the timeline is. So I do think that is, is helping us as a country grow. So now when you, you know, Delaney's Big 12 freshman of the year, Silas all freshman team, Jasmine's all freshman team, they're all playing 30 plus minutes a game. So their position and where they're coming from I think is different than any other team that we've brought in at the U19 level. So that I think is an advantage for us in terms of our ability to be successful this upcoming worlds. [00:48:52] Speaker B: You just talked about it. I feel like we just had a historic class in freshmen, Jasmine Avelanova, Avery now going to Washington. Delaney, Toby, Sila, like I could go on, you know, like, what are your thoughts on just this class that we just had and just like the rise in talent just in college basketball? [00:49:11] Speaker A: Like you said that. Yeah, that class definitely is a special class and it's, it's cool to see it happening for them because for most of us that's been around, you kind of saw them develop. Like, we saw Delaney go from the girl from Alberta to like, oh, wow. We saw Toby go from the girl that can dunk to wow. We saw Sila go from oh, they're at Llewellyn to McDonald's All American, you know what I mean? We saw Avery go from just a shooter to man juju went down and she really stepped her game up for her team. We saw Jasmine take college basketball by storm, you know what I mean? So we know that our talent is there. And that same feel that Canada talks about with the Vince Carter effect and Kawhi winning a championship and you know, people getting drafted and Shea and like that, I think there's little things happening simultaneously on the women's side that's pushing the game forward, pushing the game forward. And that class is an example of that. So I think now with our 25 class, I think there's some expectation on them and then the 26 and so on and so forth. So those guys definitely are. Are moving the. The needle for what's to come following their class. [00:50:23] Speaker B: Yeah, we talked about Silo obviously headlining this team, played at the Olympics with Canada, youngest to do it. What does that type of experience bring to your team? [00:50:31] Speaker A: Man, Sila is. Is different, like in. In every. In every sense of the word. Like, if you have a conversation with her, you'll be like, oh, okay, I see. It makes sense. We had it. [00:50:40] Speaker B: We had her on. [00:50:41] Speaker A: So you know what I mean? Like, she. She's. She is who she is and in every facet of it. So think about, like I said, a conversation. So imagine her in practice, Imagine her in film, Imagine her in shoot around. So she's gonna make sure our team is operating at a frequency that is second to none. And the cool part about it is there's others on the team that think like her, that feel like her, that move like her. So when we go back to your question about the buy in, like, if, if, if. If the leaders of your team are not just buying in, but they're setting a standard for themselves and for our team that's probably even higher than what is set by us as coaches. Then, you know, you know you're sitting in a good space. So the experience that she's had over the last few years with the senior team, like, I'm. I'm excited to see that from a player's lens. I was fortunate enough last week to be with the senior staff, so I was able to see coach Nell, Chrissy, Carly, Coach Paige, and just seeing what they're doing and how they're preparing. And it was exciting for me to just learn so much. And Silo was there for a few days and just watching her and her level of comfort in that space, so it literally just had me smiling ear to ear because I'm able to just get a glimpse of what she's able to do at the senior level and how profound she'll be able to impact us at the U19 level. [00:51:55] Speaker B: I know you're there, but we got to get you on a senior level next. [00:51:58] Speaker A: Hopefully that's. That's the goal. [00:51:59] Speaker B: Steve, if you're listening to this man, hey, Marlo, get him on a senior level. [00:52:02] Speaker A: I'm trying, I'm trying. The. The staff was. Was really cool. They're really welcoming. Honestly, I learned. I learned so much, and it was it was really great to. To just see how. Whether it be how they communicated with the athletes, how they communicated with each other, how they prepared for things. And you know, Coach Nell, her experience and her resume, like everybody talks about, is through the roof, but also just how down to earth they were, how diligent they were in terms of making sure that every athlete was getting whatever they needed to be the best versions of themself. And Coach Nell giving the coaches all a space to be themself. Because like I talked about earlier with just the staff being the ones to set the tone. And I think she did a really good job with this being her first camp and just seeing how comfortable everybody became in like 24 hours. So that's something I also want to take back to my camp. So to your previous question of the excitement, it's like things like that. [00:52:53] Speaker B: I was going to ask your reaction when you heard Nell was a new head coach. And I was at camp just talking with her. She seems like very. She talked about just like a different style, fast style play for the senior team and taking her time, like obviously getting to know the players, that kind of stuff too. But what was your reaction when you her now was going to be first. [00:53:11] Speaker A: First thing was Google. But then I realized like her and I actually we've been on like zooms and stuff. I think might have been like Toby or Filipina, like recruitment when she was at Georgia Tech. So we kind of knew each other and it's like, oh, but it was really great because I think that was something that Canada needed. I think obviously we were stuck in between America and Europe. Obviously our proximity to America, our athletes and our coaches kind of lean towards that. But then how we play in terms of like we play FIBA rules and how are games efficient, how are games taught? There's that international feel. So it's almost like we're the hybrid of international basketball with American athletes. So when I got to. When I got the news about her, it was like, okay, this is almost perfect because it's what we deal with every day in terms of our athletes being Division 1 players, professional players. Like Coach Christie was a WNBA coach. She coached the Fever last year. So I think the combination of everybody was really great. And Nell, with her experience of winning Olympics and doing different things of that nature, she brings a level of leadership, poise, composure, experience to not just the staff, but to the athletes and Canada basketball as we try to, you know, take a step in the right direction moving forward. [00:54:30] Speaker B: Yeah, I got talking about her reuniting with her again. She kind of tipped me off that you're going to be head coach when I was in Portland. I'm really excited to reunite with my losing you 19, what's it going to be like reuniting with her? [00:54:44] Speaker A: Seeing everything she just accomplished, man, it's exciting because like she was one of the players that I tell everyone. I think like her and I like, I think emotionally we were like aligned. Like I think we were both cycles in the same way. We were both like loving in the same way. We were both hard working in the same way and we had the same expectations of her. So I expect her to be great. She thinks she's great, but she want like we have 6am practices. Her and Liv would literally be like, can you come at five so we can get up extra shots? I was like, all right, well I'll be there at 4:30. Like she raised that bar for, for Crestwood. Like now we call it Mamba mornings. And like everybody knows like the six ams now you see Brooke and some of the athletes now they're like early five o'. Clock. So like I could never do that. I know, but shout to them. Like I told them, they won't outwork me. [00:55:36] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:55:37] Speaker A: So that's when we talk about the Crestwood culture. Like, you want to come at 6? I'll be there at 5:30. And she was a pillar of, of that. So for me just coaching her, it was almost like she would do things that like I would want her to do but I wouldn't have to tell her to do it because her instincts was already there or her feel was already there. So something as simple as like a heat check where there's kids, where I have to be like, you just made three in a row. Shoot it again. Like, you know what I mean? Where she's making one and is like, yeah, heat check. You know what I mean? Like she always thinks she's hot and I respect that and that's the confidence that we talk about. But her work ethic allows her to be as confident as she is as a basketball player. So it's definitely going to be fun to get back out there on the floor with her and having her having a year at Monver to just get bigger, faster, stronger and just, you know, get better. It's really just going to be a fun opportunity to get back out there with her and go to war. [00:56:33] Speaker B: Jasmine, you mentioned last time she didn't get to play in the finals, the Browns medal game because of concussion. [00:56:37] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:56:38] Speaker B: How excited she just from conversations you. [00:56:40] Speaker A: Had with her, man, I don't know how excited she is. I'm excited. That was two years ago and I know that one was killing her, but she was a baby that she was a double underager. So last year when we went to Columbia, like, that was an opportunity for her to be the leader of our team. And I thought she was, she was everything for us. And that was kind of where I think America saw the steamroll coming of like, oh, we might have messed up a little bit in terms of like recruitment and stuff. No shot of Villanova. Villanova was great, but a bunch of power fives. They were all kind of like, wait, we didn't know she was this good. And it was like, no, she was always this good. You guys weren't paying attention. So she put a lot of people on notice there. And she's another one, like, I think emotionally, like, we're aligned. Like, she is. She's one of us, as we would say. And her, her killer instinct and her desire to win is like different. She is a winner wherever she plays basketball. Villanova moving forward, like winning is the priority and if she needs to grab 50 rebounds at 5 foot, nothing to do it, she's going to do that. So back to like the leadership questions of, of Sila and Agats and her like, who they are as people is what's going to make our team special because they're all driven in the same way and they're all goal orientated people. So I'm super, super excited to, to get back on the court with Jasmine after her having such a phenomenal season, but just continuing to just carry that over to representing Canada, which I know is something that's really important to her and her family. [00:58:07] Speaker B: And I can tell, like, this roster is really close because Skylah told me she, her and Jasmine text all the time. So it seems like this team, chemistry wise is not going to be an issue. It's just getting over the hump. Us, obviously, is always the competition. How do you scout for that team? Like, obviously still early on group stage is not in your group, I think. But how do you scout for them looking long term? Do you even, like, pay attention to them at all in the tournament? [00:58:31] Speaker A: Yeah, definitely, Definitely. I mean, they are who we are or they are and we never again. Like, it's about honest conversation. So we're not going to shy away from the US being who they are and we're not going to act like they're not who they are. But again, our confidence, like we know who they are, but you know who we are, too. There's nobody over there that doesn't know who Silas Swords is. There's nobody over there that's not terrified of Agama Cure. There's nobody over there that's not terrified of Jasmine Bosco. So we're not looking at them in any type of awe that they're not looking at us with. And if they're not looking at us like that, that's cool. But when you see us, we'll see how things shake up. But end of the day, the rim is still 10 foot high and the ball still bounces, and we're confident in who we are and our preparation as a country. [00:59:16] Speaker B: Yeah. How much tape have you watched already? Portugal, first matchup, group stage. Have you watched any tape yet? Are you preparing? What's that like? [00:59:23] Speaker A: Yeah. So our coaching staff, we've already been watching Portugal, Nigeria, China. Like, that's our pool, so 11, our 12, 13 and 15. So we're gearing up for them. And, you know, like, no disrespect to those programs, but again, our goal is our goal, and we're just looking at them as just a speed bump in the road that we just got to go over and just continue to get to our goals. So we're, we're. We're diligent in terms of our preparation for them. So it's not in a way that we're disrespecting them as, as. As a country. It's more just our drive. Like, we want our. Our team to. To feel like a moving train. And it's one of those things where it's just get out of the way like they're coming and that's the energy that we're going to have. And it's going to start from camp until the last day. [01:00:02] Speaker B: Yeah. How long you been with camp basketball? It's been first time. When was the first time I ever called you? [01:00:07] Speaker A: First time was 2020, and then Covid hit, so then we kind of were on ice for that year. So 2021 was my first year in Hungary, So we went with Faye, McKenzie, Tamaritatum, Isabelle. We were on that staff. And then I've been with them ever since. So I've been fortunate enough to have different head coaches, I think three or four. So I was able to just see how different everyone was, but how great everyone was. And truthfully, those are experiences that helped me. Like, me being successful at Crestwood is really a combination of a lot of different things. Like, my first year was Fade McKenzie. I had another year where Steve Bauer was the head coach and I was one of his assistants. Then there was another year where Carly was the head coach, I was her assistant. But I also got the opportunity to coach in the CEBL under Vic Razzo, and she was the GM at the time that I went over there. But Vic is an amazing, amazing, amazing coach. And I definitely. I would love to see him in our national program on the men's side very, very soon. I think his love for the game, his passion for the game, his mind is something special. And being with him for three summers, I was able to just learn different ways, whether it be to articulate a message or to game plan. And I saw him lose. We've lost semifinals and had to come back and redo it again. And we lost and had to redo it again. So last year, winning the championship, I saw how diligent he was about making sure that every T was crossed and every I was dotted to make sure that we were prepared as best as possible every day. And that after those summers, I would go back to Crestwood and be better, and then I would go back and be better and go back and be better. And I thought Canada basketball also provided me with that. So coupling those two together really helped me a lot as a coach to just learn and grow and just be around so many different basketball minds. So all those things encompassing, I do hold a lot of that in high regard in terms of the individual success I've attained as a coach. [01:02:10] Speaker B: Shout out to Victor. I feel like people don't give him as much love. I feel like he deserves it, man. [01:02:16] Speaker A: He just won the ospa, you know what I mean? And no disrespect to any of the programs on the men's side, but he doesn't have, you know, the. The perennial stars, McDonald's, all Americans. I do think Caleb should be. I think he was snubbed. That was ridiculous. [01:02:31] Speaker B: All Canadian, man. [01:02:31] Speaker A: That was ridiculous. We're not gonna go down that rabbit. I think that's. [01:02:35] Speaker B: We gotta put you on the committee, man. [01:02:37] Speaker A: I say what I want to say, so I don't know if I'm gonna be right for that, but I think he's doing a phenomenal, phenomenal job. He's coaching his kids and. And Ridley. They're. They're doing really good things. And I do think, like, those are the people that I think we should be, you know, championing throughout the game. And not just him. There's a lot of really great coaches. I think Mike DiGiorgio, like, at Royal crown is. Is. Is special. You know what I mean? So there. There's a lot of great, great coaches in our country. And I think we as a country have to start to value our work and our people a bit more. And I know, I guess to the conversation earlier about the men's side, I do think there is an advantage on the men's side of going to the States. But I do think if we valued what we were doing here a little bit more, I think that would alleviate some of the necessity to go to the States on the boys side, because I think we have the great training, I think we have the great coaches, I think we have some great infrastructures. Like we talked about, Fort Erie and different programs. I think there's a lot of good things happening, but I think we are one or two steps away from it being a real space where guys and families can feel comfortable knowing my kid's an NBA player. They can. They can graduate from a Canadian high school, be prepared for college or the NBA, you know, because it's been done with Jamal Murray and Lou Dortz and, you know, a bunch of different guys. But I also see the other side of it as well. So not negating it, but I do think there's a lot of great things happening in our country, basketball wise, on both sides of the ball, men's and women's. [01:04:06] Speaker B: Perfectly said. 10 years at Crestwood for you. How would you describe your journey as a coach and just at that program? [01:04:14] Speaker A: And, man, I owe it all to the people. I genuinely owe it all to the people and the kids. Like I said those first few years, man, I was trying my best. I generally was trying my best. And those kids and their families and the school, they let me learn, they made mistakes with me, they gave me grace, they supported me, they pushed me, they challenged me, whatever it was like, that my soul needed at that time, whether it be as a person or as a coach, somebody, something, you know, was there to keep me in line and push me. So like I said from the players, like, you know what I mean? Like, I knew my practices needed to be on point because if I drop the ball, Aaliyah is going to look at me and be like, hey, what's next? What are we doing? You know what I mean? Or Cheyenne's gonna just, like, I'm gonna just get some shots. You know what I mean? So I had to make sure I was. I was on point with what I was doing there. From a school perspective, like my ad, Lisa Newton, like, she. She's through the roof. Kim Williams. Like, when I first got to Crestwood, Kim was a mom to me. Like, she literally one of our teachers. She used to literally tie my tie for me every morning because I didn't know how to tie a tie. So, like, that's where I'm coming from with Crestwood. It's not just basketball, you know what I mean? And I think when kids and families come into the building, they feel that those are the type of things that most people don't know about. Crestfood is the family culture, the family atmosphere, and what they're doing. For me, they do 10 times more for the student athletes in the building. So for. For me to be there this long, I think I'm lucky, if anything. And those kids. I remember telling Arise Borgoneo, like, she probably doesn't remember this, but I told her that I hate the fact that, like, when I'm gonna be at my best, she's gonna be gone. And that's something that I feel every year now. You know what I mean? Cause I think every year I'm trying to get better, and there's something to be taken away from every year to make me better next year that the people that I learned it from won't be able to reap. So it's, you know, it's a pay it forward type of mentality. And again, our culture is comfortable with that because I don't ask anything of them that I don't ask of myself. So if I'm asking them to get better all summer, then I got to do the same. So, again, Canada basketball helped out, and I went to Seattle Storm training camp, so I was able to learn a lot from Coach Noel and her staff there as well. And, you know, the expectation of greatness and consistent drive, like, I have to, like I said, embody that. So when I tell my kids, hey, I'm going to a coach's clinic, they're like, okay, he's walking the talk. So you know what I mean? They're motivated to. To continue on their strive for greatness as well. Because when it's all said and done, like, I want to be the best. I want to be the best coach to ever come out of Canada. I want to be a senior team head coach one day and win an Olympic gold medal. I want to be an NCAA coach one day and win a national championship. I want to be a WNBA coach and win a WNBA championships. I want to be an NBA coach. Like, wherever the Cards takes me, I want to be there to and be present there and be great there. And I know that that's going to be something that I have to strive for consistently every day. And I think the athletes have their similar goals of college and pros and wherever it takes them, being great there. So I try my best to model that, strive for greatness every day. [01:07:34] Speaker B: I was going to ask what's next? You mentioned you want to do all this kind of stuff, man, I see it. I definitely see it, man. We got to tap you with my guy. Travis Charles, Dallas Wings. [01:07:43] Speaker A: Yeah, I've actually met him a few years back, Toronto guy. But honestly, right now, for me, I'm just trying to be as present as possible, getting ready for this upcoming season. Like I said, I think some things line up. We'll have a really, really special group that would rival, you know, some of those teams. So I want to just be as present as I can for those groups. But wherever. Wherever the game takes me, like, I am open to it. But if I spend another 10 years at Crestwood, I will be. My heart will be justice filled because I'm constantly around great people. So if I'm around great people, great kids and great families every day, whether that's at the high school level, college, pro school, basketball, teaching, whatever the case may be, I'm at peace with that. And I'm very, very happy, you know, I mean, where life has me right now and I'm excited for where the future will take me. [01:08:33] Speaker B: Yeah. Excited to watch this FIBA U19 team. You guys go into the Czech, right? [01:08:37] Speaker A: Yeah, we're going to Portugal first for a few exhibition games and then we go to check and get to it. [01:08:42] Speaker B: Are you. Any food are you excited for? And in the Czech, have you Europe, have you traveled that much? [01:08:47] Speaker A: No, that. I'm the Instagram guy that eats chicken tenders everywhere he goes. [01:08:53] Speaker B: Hey, we are the same page. [01:08:55] Speaker A: Okay, thank you. [01:08:56] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm looking for a McDonald's. I'm looking for like a Burger King. [01:08:59] Speaker A: Or you know what I mean? [01:09:00] Speaker B: Like, looking for a spot like that. [01:09:01] Speaker A: But like, no, like, we'll go like a steakhouse. And I was like, I'll order tenders. And everybody looks at it crazy. [01:09:05] Speaker B: Okay, that's different. [01:09:06] Speaker A: I know, I know. I know that. So I. [01:09:08] Speaker B: Have you had chicken parm? [01:09:09] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, I'm good there. It's more of like, they get stuff like, I don't eat pork. Like, I don't really eat beef other than brother man, come on. You know, I mean. But I'm curious. I think this trip I'm going to really try to be more outgoing and really be more present in the moment. [01:09:30] Speaker B: So, yeah, why not? [01:09:31] Speaker A: You know, I don't want the kids to make fun of me, but I'm going to be taking pictures all the time, different videos, and really just try to capture the moment from my lens. But in terms of food, I am gonna try a few different things while I'm out there just to, you know, show some love to their culture. And, you know, obviously basketball is a special thing. Cause this round ball is moving us all around the world and, you know, giving us opportunity to see and meet different people and try new foods and different things of that nature. So, you know, why not? [01:10:01] Speaker B: I'm gonna text you while you're out there, be like, yo, yeah, send me. [01:10:04] Speaker A: Some food that you hold me accountable. See? Hold me accountable. [01:10:08] Speaker B: I will. My guy, Marlo. I can't thank. You know, FIBA U19 from July 12th to the 20th. Really excited to watch this group, man, and go for gold. [01:10:16] Speaker A: That's. That's the plan, man. Once we. Once we get on that plane, not even once camp starts, like, the beacon for us is a gold medal. And for everybody that's, you know, in the city, like, definitely the games are all on YouTube. So check us out, obviously, support us as best you can. And then, you know, we get back. It's Global Jam in August. So I really, really want to see Global Jam, like, go through the roof. And this is my public service announcement to Canada. I think Canada as a country, Toronto in particular as a city, we have to do a better job of supporting basketball here, whether it's for us or not. Like, it's. We have AJ the bands are playing at Pan Am, like, and that's not sold out. Yeah, like, we got to do better. Like, we had. [01:11:01] Speaker B: That was the craziest game I see. [01:11:02] Speaker A: You know, I mean, like, in Fort Erie, beat them. Like, the gym should be, like, standing room only. We're bringing up Texas on the women's side. I'm not sure who's here on the men's side, but, you know, like, for example, like, Silas Swords playing, like, young girls should be seeing Silas Swords play. So for the youth coaches, like, you should be bringing out your U12 teams and. And parents, like bringing out your 13, 14 year old sons and daughters and, you know what I mean, really seeing what's happening in our country, but also seeing what's happening in other countries and just, you know, watching some. Some quality basketball at home throughout the summer and supporting our athletes. Because I'll say this, like, you go to America, like, a state championship is at the NBA facility. Like, the Minnesota high school championship is at the Target center, and they're selling it out or it's. You know what I mean, it's thousands of people. So I really want us to get back to that type of feel for our city basketball where, you know, it's Devoe Joseph hitting a game winner at afsa, like, and you see them rushing the courts and. And, you know, I mean, I'm getting nostalgic right now, but you know what I mean? Like, we're trying to get that. That feeling back to the city when it was denim brown and. You know what I mean? And Big Shane and Antwee and these guys, like, people are. Communities are traveling behind these guys to go watch them play. So I really want to see our city get that. That joy back and that juice behind just what's happening in the city. But, you know, it's coming because these young kids, like Isaiah Hamilton, oh, he's a sight. Like, he's at Crestwood. Yeah, but the kid. The kid's special, man. And, you know, there's a lot of other kids the kid praise. I'm seeing him nasty, you know what I mean? Like, there's so many young kids out there, and it's just we gotta, you know, rally behind them and show them that love here. So, like, when they do go to the States, that they. They know that Canada has their back and they're playing with a sense of pride and. And they're representing Canada. Even when they're not playing for Canada, they are representing Canada and they're doing it at an elite, elite level. So that's, you know, something I think we can start with is. Is Global Jam. So, you know, for everybody, like, definitely come out and see the city at Global Jam. [01:13:03] Speaker B: August 13th to the 17th. I believe you can get your tickets on Global Jam. Ca. Global Jam. And that's Global Jam without the A and Global. So, yeah, go get your tickets, man. I'm gonna be there. The rosters were revealed, man, at least the invite list, and it's stacked. [01:13:19] Speaker A: You know what I mean? Like, this is. We have to go, go, go see these guys and make it happen. [01:13:24] Speaker B: And what you mentioned, like, basketball not being the same anymore. I blame prep school scenes, man. I bring. I blame the prep schools. Crestwood, you're doing. You're doing a good job. I still consider you guys part of the city, so, like, still far. But you know what? Like, I blame everyone, like, for Erie doing a great job, but that's all the Way in, like, Buffalo. [01:13:41] Speaker A: I know. I'm with. I'm not gonna front. I'm with you. Like, I do think prep schools because the. The pride isn't the same. [01:13:50] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:13:51] Speaker A: With a high school. [01:13:52] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:13:53] Speaker A: Like, back in my days, a while. [01:13:56] Speaker B: Back, they used to conference. Yeah. [01:13:58] Speaker A: Basketball was geographical. [01:13:59] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:14:00] Speaker A: So, like, you went to MT because you're from Scarborough. Like, you live in Malvern. Like, you went to Eastern because you live downtown. You're probably from region. Like, you went to Henry Carr, blah, blah, blah. So there's a different level of pride that you're playing because you're representing something bigger than just your school, so your community's behind you. Like, when Eastern and Oakwood are playing the whole history, everybody's coming. You know what I mean? Where? Like you said, like, if Fort Erie's playing Crestwood, even though we're rivals, Fort Erie's fan base shout out to them because they travel. [01:14:29] Speaker B: They travel. [01:14:29] Speaker A: Yeah. But the average fan base is not driving two hours to watch a high school game like they would back in not two hours, but they would travel to watch their teams play. So I agree with you in terms of, like, the proximity of some of the schools, but I still think, like, it's so good. There's. There's so much talent in our. In our city and our country. [01:14:48] Speaker B: Whenever I watch for versus Royal Crown, man, I'm like, I got to be there. [01:14:51] Speaker A: That's. [01:14:51] Speaker B: That's primetime television. [01:14:52] Speaker A: But, like, I think that game should be, like, at TMU because the high school can't fill it. Like, that's the type of, like, vision I would have if I was, you know, let's just say the commissioner of OSBA or something like that. The goal is, like, we have certain games that are just that barking and that much demand that we have to, you know what I mean, have them at a university or a college to really, you know, shed some light on that. [01:15:16] Speaker B: Yeah. Marlo, I can't thank you enough for jumping on the podcast. It's a fun chat with your journey. I feel like this is probably even talking about the. The basketball scene in Toronto. I feel like it's. And I feel like this space, the show, I kind of wanna. Like, you mentioned Isaiah Hamilton's of the world. Those guys coming up. I feel like we wait too long to know who these guys are until they enter the NBA, and everyone's like, oh, this guy's Canadian. Let's. Let's do something on him. [01:15:39] Speaker A: Yes. [01:15:39] Speaker B: And that's kind of why I wanted to create the space where we're following, we're tracking, we're following the U19 team and we're watching this talent develop before our eyes and shining a spotlight on it. So I can't thank you enough. One of the best up and coming coaches. Any last words? [01:15:54] Speaker A: No, Just to kind of piggyback what you're saying. We, we do have like a plethora of talent and like you said, we, you know, continue to support our own. Like, these are avenues that we need. You know what I mean? Like podcasts where we're celebrating our young, we're celebrating our coaches, we're celebrating our older, we're celebrating our vets. You guys do a really good job of, you know, I mean, tapping into just so many different avenues of basketball that's influential in what's happened, what's currently happening, what's going to happen in the near future. So, you know, kudos to you guys for having that vision that's beyond just what's right in front of you and that it's starting to show. So, you know, I wanted to say thank you guys for having me and, you know, taking the time to get to know me and talk a bit about Crestwood and Canada, basketball and some of the things that I've been fortunate enough to be a part of. [01:16:40] Speaker B: Everyone should know Marlo Davis. If you. I feel like everyone, a local scene, like grassroots, you know who you are. But those that don't get to know him, you're going to be seeing a lot of Marlo Davis leading Canada, FIBA Unity United at the World Cup. Good luck, brother. [01:16:53] Speaker A: Thank you. Thank you, man. Much appreciated. [01:16:55] Speaker B: Yeah. This has been the Canadian Basketball show. Your go to spot for the latest news, stories and analysis. My guy Marleau, the band, we out.