Andrew Wiener of West Central United on AAU and Playing the "Right Way"

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In this episode of the Splash City Basketball Podcast, Steve Hartman covers everything from AAU, a look back at the 90s and early 2000s for inspiration and the college basketball transfer portal Featured Interview: Andrew Wiener & West Central United Our main segment features a deep dive into youth basketball with Andrew Wiener, Director of the West Central United AAU program based in Alexandria. Andrew pulls back the curtain on the "mystery" of AAU basketball, explaining how the circuit has evolved from an exclusive club for elite players into an inclusive environment for any player looking to improve their game. We discuss the unique logistical challenges of operating in Greater Minnesota, including how the program utilizes midpoint practice locations like Perham and Fergus Falls to support families traveling from across the northern part of the state. Andrew also shares his coaching philosophy of playing "the right way"—a ball-movement-heavy style inspired by the early 2000s San Antonio Spurs—and reflects on how the "Steph Curry effect" has led to a dramatic increase in shooting skill and athleticism among today's high school players. Timberwolves Game 5 Breakdown Before the interview, host Steve Hartman breaks down the Timberwolves' tough Game 5 loss in Denver. We analyze the 25 turnovers that stifled the Wolves' rhythm and discuss the dominance of Nikola Jokic, whose 16 assists allowed the Nuggets' role players to find their stride in transition. Transfer Portal & Local D1 News To close out the show, we look at the latest roster moves for the Minnesota Gophers and St. Thomas Tommies. Steve discusses the Gophers' high level of continuity with five returning players, including Isaac Osma and Bobby Durkin, and breaks down the potential impact of key portal additions like Winters Grady and Nolan Groves. Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2tGpTAUseXH9tVsUr3ekFz], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/splash-city-basketball-podcast/id1840441062]or YouTube [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8I0TibcyogP9f6eDJ5sFM36EdBEIHRD&si=RtwH8GHmXT9T2GJT]. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/splashcitypodcast], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@splashcitybasketb?_r=1&_t=ZP-9809lVGU8ha], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/people/Splash-City-Basketball-Podcast/61582133618619/] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/splashcitypodcast.bsky.social].

Bringing the City Back: St. Paul Central’s Cam Jones on his 1st year with the Minutemen

Fresh off an incredible 25-4 debut season that brought packed stands back to the St. Paul community, St. Paul Central Head Coach Cam Jones joins the podcast. As the reigning St. Paul City Conference Coach of the Year, Jones pulls back the curtain on what made last season's team so special and what he learned to help prepare this year's team with summer workouts starting. We trace his relentless journey from volunteer AAU circles to the collegiate ranks at Bethel University, and how those foundational experiences shaped his high-level, detail-oriented approach at Central. Inside the Episode: * The Power of Trust: How long-term player relationships and having a "floor general" like Eli Moseman fueled a championship run. * The College Blueprint: The lessons Jones learned coaching at Bethel and how those defined his coaching staff roles at the high school level. * Offseason Reality Checks: Navigating year two with a young roster, moving past a historic 11-senior class, and why "comparison is the thief of joy" when measuring program success. * Brutal Recruiting Truths: What college coaches are actually looking for on the circuit, and the body language habits that will get a player crossed off a recruiting list instantly. * Lightning Round: The toughest road environments in the St. Paul City Conference (shoutout to Johnson and Highland), a surprising take on the LA vs. Twin Cities food scene, and the ultimate non-negotiable of his program: "dying to yourself" for the team. Host Steve Hartman also kicks off the show with a look at the latest headlines: the newly confirmed Gophers/St. Thomas home-and-home series, the Lynx’s dominant run and star rookie Olivia Miles, and the Knicks finally snapping their 53-year title drought. Connect with the Show & Guest: * Follow the Pod on Socials: @SplashCityPodcast on Instagram, Bluesky and Facebook * Website: SplashCityBasketball.com [http://splashcitybasketball.com/] * Read Steve’s Latest Blog: Check out the Gophers vs. St. Thomas breakdown at HittingTheHardwood.com [https://www.google.com/search?q=http://hittingthehardwood.com] * Follow Coach Cam Jones: @coach_camjones If you love the breakdown, make sure to hit that subscribe button, leave us a 5-star review, and share the show with a fellow hoops fan. Your support makes it all possible! Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2tGpTAUseXH9tVsUr3ekFz], Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/splash-city-basketball-podcast/id1840441062]or YouTube [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD8I0TibcyogP9f6eDJ5sFM36EdBEIHRD&si=RtwH8GHmXT9T2GJT]. Follow Splash City Basketball Podcast on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/splashcitypodcast], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@splashcitybasketb?_r=1&_t=ZP-9809lVGU8ha], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/people/Splash-City-Basketball-Podcast/61582133618619/] and Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/splashcitypodcast.bsky.social].

15. juni 202650 min

Andrew Wiener of West Central United on AAU and Playing the "Right Way"

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