In this episode of The Gametime Guru, I interview Anthony Tucker, the founder of Hoop Habits and former professional basketball player who competed overseas and in the Big Ten.

From winning a high school state championship to building a training facility focused on mindset, recovery, and development, Anthony shares powerful insights on how to navigate the transition from athlete to entrepreneur.

TOPICS COVERED:

The mindset required for professional basketball

Overcoming being cut and bouncing back stronger

How AAU basketball has changed (and where it’s headed)

Building a youth basketball training business from the ground up

The role of nutrition, recovery, and sports psychology in long-term athletic success

Life after sports: translating athletic skills into the business world

RESOURCES & LINKS:

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✅ Learn more about Anthony’s elite training program: https://www.hoophabits.com
✅ Follow Hoop Habits on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoophabitstraining
✅ AAU Info: https://www.hoophabitselite.com
📩 Contact: info@hoophabits.com

Whether you're an aspiring college athlete, basketball parent, or someone looking to build mental toughness in life or sport, this interview delivers value-packed takeaways that apply on and off the court.

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CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS:
00:00 – Intro to Anthony Tucker
03:00 – Playing in the Big Ten & Overseas
07:00 – AAU Basketball Evolution
10:00 – Mental Health & Performance Pressure
15:00 – Life Lessons from College Hoops
22:00 – Professional Basketball Realities
30:00 – Starting Hoop Habits
38:00 – Business Challenges in Sports Training
44:00 – Nutrition, Recovery & Mindset for Young Athletes
50:00 – Final Thoughts on Goals & Grit

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Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a comment, and share this episode with a fellow hooper or sports parent!

#BasketballPodcast #AthleteMindset #HoopHabits #AAUBasketball #YouthDevelopment #MentalToughness #BasketballTraining #AnthonyTucker #GametimeGuru

The last time I spoke with Colby Blaine, was back in 2020, and we were able to hear about what he was building over at College of Idaho for their men's basketball program. Since that time SO MUCH has happened, which is exactly why I needed to circle back with the man to hear the updates.

The Yotes basketball program won the national championship in 2023 and 2025 with some big runs into the Elite 8 and the Fab 4 of the NAIA National Tournament in the past few years. He's also finished with an NABC NAIA Coach of the Year award in 2023 and 2025.

According to Wikipedia "The NABC Coach of the Year is an award given annually by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) to recognize the top head coach in men's college basketball across the four largest college athletic associations in the United States."

To say Coach Blaine has achieved success at this program, would be a massive understatement. And it's due in large part to his amazing leadership qualities! His ability to get his players to rally behind him is incredible.

We'll learn from him about many aspects of coaching, recruiting, growth mindset, personal development and more!

If you're looking to be a better leader in your life, this is one you're going to need to tap into!

Thanks for tuning into the show and for showing your support! Please make sure to hit that SUBSCRIBE button here on YouTube so you can catch all the new interviews as they come out :)

#CollegeofIdaho #LegacyDriven #CoachOfTheYear

In this powerful and insightful interview on The Gametime Guru Podcast, I’m joined by former NFL offensive lineman Matt Skura, best known for his time with the Baltimore Ravens. We dive deep into Matt's football journey—from his college days at Duke University, to the brutal grind of the NFL trenches, and the personal battles he's faced off the field.

Matt shares:

• What it was like to play college football at Duke and his favorite on-field memories

• The biggest transitions he faced entering the NFL and the moment he realized he had made it

• His most physically demanding experiences in the league and how he learned to adapt

• How he used technique and football IQ to compete, even when he wasn’t the most athletic guy on the field

• The moment he knew it was time to hang up the cleats and transition into life after football

• A vulnerable and inspiring conversation about mental health, the loss of his father to suicide, and why he now advocates for mental and emotional well-being

• The importance of preparing yourself mentally and physically to succeed on and off the field

Matt’s story is one of grit, intelligence, and purpose—a must-listen for any athlete, coach, or parent who wants to understand the game of football beyond the scoreboard.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Timberline Digital Marketing – the go-to team for all your SEO, content, paid ads, and digital growth strategies. Visit www.timberlinedigitalmarketing.com to level up your online presence.

Subscribe to The Gametime Guru Podcast and don’t forget to share this episode with someone who needs to hear Matt’s inspiring message.

Matt's Newsletter is one you'll want to subscribe to: https://mattskura.substack.com/

Please checkout Matt's story here: https://mhaofcc.org/news/mens-mental-health-we-see-you