Chad Groth and D. Wade
Description coming soon. More »
Northern Arizona Spring Showcase 2012 Highlights
Click here for highlights from the Northern Arizona Spring Showcase 2012. More »
Ben Howland UCLA
Herb Sendek
Brian Peabody knows Tucson Basketball
Tucson, AZ – Brian Peabody has been in basketball for years, as a matter of fact coaching for 30 years, head coach for 19 years. Born and raised in Tucson, AZ. Peabody is now running camps, clinics and tournaments during the summer and runs the largest club program in Tucson known as the Tucson Heat, under that he also has Just Hoops and Tucson Pump n Run, running a program of over 100 youth in Tucson, AZ.
First, he believes I asked Peabody what he looks for in a college prospect as he has coached in college, he said. “First and foremost his attitude, how hard he competes, is he a good teammate, and does he make his teammates better”, said Peabody.
“I only take home championships, nothing less”, said Peabody. The Tucson Heat won the ELITE 8 in the Desert 16U division in 2011 in Glendale, AZ.
Peabody puts on several events in Tucson and one being the Tucson vs Phoenix Showcase which featured 32 of the top club teams in Arizona, this year it may take place in August. Peabody also runs exposure camps with Area Codes Basketball and Hoops Report giving the youth a chance to get ranked and national attention at an early age.
We asked Peabody some questions and this weekend the biggest high school tournament of the summer takes place in Mesa, AZ. It’s the Just Hoops Tournament. For more information and the schedule of games visit www.justhoops.org
Mike Perez (Nevada) and Peabody in Tucson, AZ
AC: Name some of your players you mentored?
Peabody: Matt Korcheck (Arizona), Terrell Stoglin (Maryland), Ajak Maggot (Cochise College), Mike Perez (Nevada), Brandon Burnett (Indiana State), Talbott Denny (Lipscomb), Billy Morrison (Army), Shakir Smith (Wyoming), Jan Mahlen (Pepperdine), Jessie Myrmus (played and coached with me is now a bench coach with Denver Nuggets), Brian Smith ( professor at Grand Canyon University and started a program there for Jerry Colangelo, he just invited me to Olympic trials in Las Vegas. He was a very good player at Univ. of New Mexico for Fran Fascilla) John Ash played at U of AZ . won a National Championship in 97 under Lute Olson.
AC: What are your goals in basketball?
Peabody: To give kids an opportunity to achieve their goals and dreams by using the game of basketball as a venue to get there.
Talbott Denny name 16U division MVP of ELITE 8 in the Desert in 2011
AC: How can we improve the game of basketball and how do you work to improve the sport?
Peabody: I love my camps. It is easy to get out of bed to do camps. I’ve been doing them for 18 years and I do 4 weeks every summer and average about 100 kids per session. It is awesome to watch kids at every skill level get better daily. Next weekend I’m hosting the Just hoop tournament in Mesa. It has been running for the last 15 years. This year we have 56 teams and the host sights are Dobson, Mesa , and Mesa Mt. View. I also started doing tournaments for grades 3-8. I do 4 or 5 of those per year.
AC: How would you make camps and coaches better?
Peabody: I would like the NCAA to get involved and run camps instead of tournaments and hire quality coaches.
Tucson Heat won the 2011 ELITE 8 in the Desert 16U division Championship
AC: Let’s talk about the poor play and fundamentals of basketball?
Peabody: I think basketball at every level is the worst I’ve ever seen it. Kids don’t spend enough time on fundamentals and learning the game. Not enough players can make other players better. They are very selfish and only think of themselves.
AC: Where can people get more information about your programs?
Peabody: Website is www.justhoops.org
AC: Anything you would like to add?
Peabody: I love coaching and feel very fortunate to be in the position Iam in today . I want to thank the thousands of kids that played for me and did things the right way.
