Making the Team

Utah's Head Coach Alex Jensen on Recruiting, Culture & Restoring Runnin' Utes Basketball

Alex Jensen sits down to talk about his journey from Viewmont High School standout and Utah's Mr. Basketball to the 17th head coach of the University of Utah Runnin' Utes men's basketball program. Coach Jensen opens up about getting recruited by the legendary Rick Majerus, starring on Utah's 1998 Final Four team, winning the first-ever Mountain West Conference Player of the Year award, and playing professionally overseas. He also shares what he looks for in recruits now that he's back on the other side of the table, the coaching philosophies shaped by nearly two decades in the NBA — including 10 seasons with the Utah Jazz and two with the Dallas Mavericks — and why this upcoming season at Utah has him more excited than ever. Whether you're a Utes fan, a Big 12 basketball follower, or a hoops junkie who loves a great homecoming story, this one is for you. RELATED VIDEO: Coach Judkins Interview: https://youtu.be/L-UV2WCvwS8 🔔 Subscribe for more exclusive interviews with top basketball coaches and players. ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 Our First Meeting 0:30 Alex Jensen Moments 1:34 Elite Defender 3:27 Most Difficult to Guard 4:41 Andre Miller 5:10 Getting Recruited to the U 7:20 Role of Assistants during Majerus 8:19 Coach Judkins Memories 9:55 Why Majerus Yelled at Alex 10:37 What the U offers Recruits now 12:07 Picking Coach Jensen's Staff 12:58 Recruiting HS vs Portal vs Europe 14:26 What Really Matters to a College Coach 15:40 Biggest Jump From HS to College 17:20 NBA Experience 19:27 Best Way to Practice 21:22 Feel vs Teach vs Enforce 23:29 Utah "Style" 25:04 Size of Recruiting Pool 26:34 Parent Involvement vs Agents 27:18 Relationship with AAU Ball 27:53 Looking Forward to This Season 28:43 Making Practice Plans 30:05 College Basketball Schedule 31:13 Two Halves in College. Why? 31:40 Last Season Pros and Cons 32:42 Has it all been worth it? 34:12 Staying Present 📲 Follow us here on YouTube as well as: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/making_the_team/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@making.the.team

From 2 Wins to Mr. Basketball - How Tre Smith Rebuilt Cyprus High Hoops

Cyprus High School head basketball coach Tre Smith sits down to talk about his 12-year journey rebuilding the Pirates basketball program from the ground up. A former Cyprus star and University of Utah basketball player, Coach Smith returned to West Valley to transform a program that had won just 2 games the season before he took over. In this interview, we dive into his coaching philosophy, how he builds confidence in young players, the culture shift that turned Cyprus into a competitive program, and what it takes to develop talent at the high school level. Coach Smith also shares stories about his players, what drives his approach to the game, and why coaching at his alma mater means everything to him. 🏀 Topics covered: 00:00 Introduction 00:13 Dress Standards 01:03 Basketball Character 2:50 Building a Program 4:31 You Can Beat Anybody 6:07 Turning Point in Career 7:38 Mr Basketball - Q Meza 9:37 New Cyprus/Old Cyprus 10:32 Coaching Style 12:26 Playing Influence on Coaching Style 13:15 Offense/Defense Philosophies 15:40 Coaching Staff Ideas 19:00 Tryout Expectations 20:30 Practices 21:02 Details Matter 23:56 Picking Captains 25:06 Play Sets 28:13 Scouting Opponents 30:35 Coachisms 31:19 "Try Hards" 35:47 Youth Programs 37:05 Keeping Players at Cyprus 38:32 Parents 41:29 Fundraising Efforts 42:55 Spousal Support 46:22 Relationship with Officials 47:24 Game Day Traditions 48:36 Rivalries 49:38 Team Dress Rules 51:08 Bigger than Basketball 52:54 Questions From The Internet 56:01 Advice for Younger Self 57:43 Self Worth vs Team Record 59:04 Hate Losing 1:00:09 Coach's Impact on Game 1:01:50 Parting Message 📌 Follow Cyprus Basketball: https://www.instagram.com/cyprus_hoops/ 📌 Follow Coach Tre Here: https://www.instagram.com/3tre_dayyy3/ If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and leave a comment — it helps us reach more basketball coaches and fans! #CyprusBasketball #TreSmith #HighSchoolBasketball #UtahBasketball #CoachInterview #BasketballCoaching #CyprusPirates

Coach Andre Ashton's First Season at Mountain Ridge

Mountain Ridge Sentinel Boys Basketball head coach Andre Ashton sits down to talk all things basketball after completing a historic first season at the helm. Coach Ashton and his players led the Sentinels to the winningest record in school history, capping off the remarkable year with a run to the state quarterfinals. In this conversation, he reflects on building a winning culture, the key moments that defined the season, and what's ahead for Mountain Ridge basketball. Whether you're a Sentinels fan, a high school hoops enthusiast, or someone who loves a great coaching story, this one's for you. Follow Mountain Ridge Basketball Here: https://www.instagram.com/mountainridgebasketball/ Follow Coach Ashton Here: https://www.instagram.com/dre_15/ Subscribe to Making the Team for interviews with players, coaches, and experts about what it really takes to succeed in basketball. https://www.instagram.com/making_the_team/ https://www.tiktok.com/@making.the.team

Utah 6A Coach of the Year: Kyle Straatman on Building a Winning Team

What does it take to build a championship-level high school basketball team? In this episode of Making the Team, we sit down with Kyle Straatman, head coach of the Bingham Miners and Utah 6A Coach of the Year, to talk about Bingham’s incredible season that ended with a state runner-up finish. Coach Straatman shares insights into building team culture, developing players, leading a competitive program, and what it takes to compete at the highest level of high school basketball.This conversation is valuable for players, parents, and coaches who want to better understand the mindset, preparation, and leadership behind a successful basketball program. In this interview we discuss: Bingham High School’s run to the state finals What it takes to build a successful basketball program Leadership and culture in high school sports Player development and team chemistry Lessons from a Utah 6A Coach of the Year Subscribe for more interviews with basketball players, coaches, and experts about what it really takes to succeed in high school basketball. Time Codes: 0:00 Winning Coach of the Year 0:50 Memories of This Year 2:28 Tournament Run 4:08 Bingham Style 7:23 Defensive Philosophy 9:03 Style Dependent on Athletes 11:38 Teaching Reads 15:33 Tryouts & Conditioning 19:43 Cultural Expectations 24:28 Communicating with Players 26:22 Accountability and Care 28:25 Picking Captains 30:33 Seniors 32:05 Multisport Athletes 35:45 Referees 41:32 Effort Expectations 43:42 Building Roles 48:47 Youth Programs 50:56 Game Day Traditions 54:20 Home Court Advantage: The Pit 56:06 Coaching Staff 1:00:04 Questions from the Internet 1:14:00 Advice to 1st Year Coach #basketball #binghambasketball #kylestraatman #makingtheteam #highschoolbasketball

The Rise of Luke West | Bingham Basketball Standout

What does it take to succeed as a high school basketball player?In this episode of Making the Team, we sit down with Luke West, standout guard from Bingham Miners, to talk about his basketball journey and what it takes to compete at a high level. Luke shares insights into the work behind the scenes — the training, mindset, discipline, and sacrifices required to succeed in competitive high school basketball. If you’re a basketball player, coach, or parent of a young athlete, this interview provides valuable insight into how players develop and what separates good players from great ones. Subscribe for more interviews with players, coaches, and experts about what it really takes to succeed in basketball. Time Codes: 0:00 Intro 0:37 Luke's Amazing Playoff Run 4:10 All Time Scoring Record 6:03 Signature Move 7:49 Scorer's Mentality 9:24 Scoring at all 3 levels 10:27 Workout Schedule 11:48 Scouting Reports 12:34 Defense and Transition 13:20 Getting in Shape 15:06 Recruitment Process 17:50 Game Day 20:15 Playing for Coach Straatman 21:47 Questions from the Internet 27:48 Final Advice #basketball #makingtheteam #lukewest #binghambasketball