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SportsPrep Live is an engaging podcast hosted by Graydon Prescott, a talented 15-year-old with a passion for sports. Despite his young age, Graydon brings a wealth of experience to the table, having started his podcasting journey at the age of 9. With a focus on excellence in athletics, SportsPrep Live promises captivating interviews with a diverse range of athletes, offering valuable insights and inspiring stories to its listeners.
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You're listening to locally produced programming created in
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KU NV studios on public radio K, u and v 91.5. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 Jazz and more the University of Nevada Las Vegas or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education.
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Hey everybody, and welcome to another episode of sports prep live or prep live, where we unbox the mic and talk excellent and athletic.
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Hey everybody, and welcome to the inaugural episode of sports prep live on 91.5k u and v HD two radio where we will unbox the mic and talk excellence in athletics. From high school hot shots to collegiate game changers and beyond. We're connecting you with the people and personalities on the quest to becoming Tomorrow's Champions. I'm your host, Greg and Prescott. And today we have in Studio One of the most dynamic and accomplished high school athletes in the nation. Jackson Richardson. Welcome to the show. Jackson, it's great to have you. Thank you is great having me on the show. It's great. It's great to have you on the show. Appreciate it. It's been a minute since we last saw each other man I believe it was the last day of school. It has been a minute. I know it's been a busy summer for you a lot of camps, a lot of traveling and definitely a lot of basketball. So tell us what you've been up to this summer. This summer. I've just been to a few camps including top 100 In USA and just I've been learning from other people, other players trying to improve my game. Nice, nice.
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So let me take it back a little bit. When did you start playing basketball and what inspired you to pursue this? I started playing basketball around seven, eight years ago. And what inspired me was just watching my brother and my dad playing because they've always loved the game growing up. And I really think it just impacted me and I decided to play basketball. Okay, and that sounds similar to how my brother started playing. The story of how I started playing is man
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is different than I have I ever told you this one. No, yeah, tell me. Okay, so when I was in first grade, I think it was five or six years old. I started playing basketball at recess. And there was this girl named Julia. She had been playing for a while and she busted me up. I'm talking 11 to one it was bad. And then she kicked me off the court and told everybody not to pick me for the rest of the year. So I came home to my dad. I said, Dad, I need to start practicing. And he got me in the gym. I was in the gym every day when I was five or six years old. And I came back the next year ready to get my revenge on Julia. And she had switched schools. Oh, wow. So I didn't see her until I was in fifth grade at a tournament in Nebraska. And she was on a girls team that had won three consecutive national championships.
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And they played that tournament, they won. And in three years, they only lost four games. And their team was so good. They had to play against boys. And all four games, they lost war against my little brother. So that really came full circle for me. But yeah, that's that's my origin story.
Unknown Speaker 3:14
So when you were younger, did you start out as a camp kid? Or did your interest in the sport grow without going to basketball? I think my interest is grew without going to camps just kind of watching my family because everyone in my family has played basketball. So it's just been around me for like my whole entire life. So I think it just grew watching them play. So I didn't really attend a mini camp when I was younger. Okay, so yeah, just watched. So that's just been something that you did as you've gotten older. Yes, sir. Okay, so let's talk about other sports. Did you grow up playing just basketball? Or did you play multiple sports? And if so, what were those sports and how long did you participate in them? Um, I used to play lacrosse when I was younger I played from
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for six years from first to sixth grade. And really helped me just in general with like, stamina and everything, because lacrosse requires a lot of running like a lot of back and forth. And so that really helped my stamina for basketball. So that's why I played it for so long. What got you into lacrosse? Um, I just like a random storyline. Like, the coaches approached me cuz I'm like, I was like, tall. I'm taller than most kids. Yeah. And he like just wants to come play lacrosse and I was like, just thought about him. Like, why not? Because it can help with basketball also. So I just started playing it. And it became a fun thing that I did. So how do you think lacrosse helped you with basketball? This stamina and like learning like defense also too, because I had to play defense and lacrosse so I had to guard someone. So that helped like my like, like sliding because we had a slide when we guard as a person. So that helped with defense and just stamina. Okay.
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I'm great impressed got here on Sports prep live on 91.5k u and v HD two and I'm here with high school basketball phenom.
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Man, Jackson Richardson. Now, for those of you who don't know, Jackson is the son of 14 year NBA veteran and to time dunk contest champion, Mr. Jason Richardson. Against that backdrop, what are some of the most memorable lessons you've learned from your father, both as a young athlete, and as a young student, learned, all always work hard no matter what, like even if your shots are falling, or you're not having a good, good day, always work hard and be coachable. On and off the core. So respect everyone, and take everything as a challenge.
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Now, I know you are both a serious athlete and a serious student. Do you think your father had any influence on your
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life as a student as well? Taking your grades seriously? And all of that? Yes, he would help me on my homework sometimes. Yeah, like history, he really enjoys history. So he would help me with my history homework. So that helped. And he always told me, you have to be both, you can't just be one of the other right, because college is looking at your grades and how good you are. So you got to perform on and off the court. Yeah. And I think that's a hallmark of all great fathers, they tell in their sons or daughters, you know, being an athlete is one thing, but to really make it in life, you have to value your education. Now, speaking of your education, you had an incredible first year at Bishop Gorman, can you tell me about the transition from playing elite AAU level basketball, to high school basketball and how you handle that change that are some of those differences. Honestly, it was difficult at first because an AAU you really just kind of play dudes that are like, like one year older than you or your age, where like in high school I had to play against like seniors like Isaiah Collier and DJ Wagner and all them. So that was pretty tough, making that adjustment to like higher level basketball. But I think it helped me because I got to see like, where I need to be three years from now, right? And like just what the future looking like.
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So in your first year at Gorman, you played the role of six man for the gales. However, from the outside, looking in, many of us, myself included, felt that you deserve to be in the starting lineup as a competitor, do you feel that, that tension of knowing that you've earned an opportunity for one reason or another, that's not being provided to you? Um, I feel like you're really like, I did feel great, because, like an opportunity to have that position on a good team felt good, because it just I got to play with other group players like John, Chris and my brother. So it was, it was like, pretty cool to be able to play with them on a national level, and just learn from them, and take bits and pieces of their game and try to apply it to mine. Okay, do you think some of that tension between players feeling like they should be in the starting lineup versus coming off the bench? Do you think that tension contributes to a lot of the player movement that we see in high school sports? Um, I mean, I don't really pay attention to that, because I kind of it's not really who starts the game? Who finishes it? Right? So like, I didn't really think much of starting just like knowing that'd be in sometimes when we finish the game. So that's all that really mattered to me, and just play my hardest to try to earn that spot, though. But you would think if you're finishing the game, you know, you hit two game winners this season. Yes, sir. You would think if you're finishing the game, you should be starting the game, especially if the coach instills that trust in you to be in at the end. I feel like you, me at least I would have the feeling if I'm in the end, I should be in the starting getting. Right. So did you have any of that feeling? Or was that just something you didn't really think about? Something I really didn't think about? Because sometimes we'd have different rotations depending on who you're playing. So I would start some games. And some days, I wouldn't, I didn't really think much of it just when I went out there just play my hardest and something that I can do.
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So being a student athlete, and an elite one at that is a very difficult challenge. Can you describe how you manage your time and priorities to excel both on the court and in the classroom, I'm in the classroom, I tried to always get my work done when I can, because I don't really have a lot of time after school because practice and workouts and everything. So I tried to manage that and make sure I do my schoolwork before all my trainings and practices. So that I don't have to come home and do it at one in the morning. So that's kind of trying to manage that. I mean, it did happen sometimes I had to do it early in the morning, but I tried my best well, it didn't happen.
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So do you think that being able to manage your time contributes to your ability to focus when you're on the court just like knowing that? Oh, well, you know, I've got my work done. And I don't have to worry about you know, doing this homework assignment at one in the morning. I'm getting my stuff done early, so that that can help me when I'm on the court. You know, just playing worryfree Yes, like um, so there wasn't as much pressure because sometimes like at the beginning, I was struggling a little bit trying to keep up because new schedule first time in high school, just kind of the practice schedule. So I would be stressing like, what do I have time from
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Homework, but all my practice was to focus on practice. So I'd be a little stressed out. But then I, my brother helped me out with that, and I started to manage it and it became better. Okay. You've experienced the worlds of both basketball, a sport where African Americans are very well represented, and also lacrosse, where traditionally we see less minority participation. Do you think the exposure to the less traditional sports such as tennis, lacrosse and golf can be important in the athletic and social development of minority athletes? Um, I think it is because they can they can help for sure, you know, to kind of get a different taste for like, different cultures and stuff.
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Like,
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I'd say like, if you like it hosts are gonna think about this is a tough question.
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I say yeah, for sure help, though. Because, like, just kind of getting to know different people. And like, different situations can help you grow as an athlete and a person kind of learning, like different backgrounds is where they come from, and how like,
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the success level is different in the different sports. Now here, here's why I asked one of the things that I've wanted to do starting this podcast is create a an exposure and a platform where those less traditional sports can shine. So you know, you get your tennis, lacrosse, golf, something like fencing or rowing their athletes and those endeavors to and I want to use this platform to grow the, you know, awareness and following of some of those less popular sports because of course, we see you turn on ESPN, they're generally they're talking about basketball, football, or baseball. And then lacrosse or not lacrosse, soccer is one of the most popular sports on the planet, maybe not as much in America, but throughout the world. Sure, soccer is one of the more popular sports so I'm using this platform, you know, of course, I'll get my basketball players and my football players, baseball players, but I want to use this platform to grow the awareness of some of the less common sports. So that's why I asked that question. Now, as a basketball player who did play lacrosse, do you think that Lacrosse has influenced your basketball career?
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I say it has because
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I got me some pretty cool people playing lacrosse and just hand eye coordination for sure lacrosse that that was hard. It was hard to pick up at first like cradling this thing while running like alright even know how I figured that out. That was tough. But for sure it helped
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my reaction time faster because that the ball was flying on that
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fast. So yeah, the reaction time really helped in this overall influence my stamina and eye coordination, my defense so it was
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more for someone close to me plays lacrosse and I've been to a couple of the games and bro that
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that's, that's no joke, man. I've seen you know, some of the bruises that you can get from that ball. It's like, wow, you know, I don't even know if I would participate in the sport like that. But
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I've also tried to do the, you know, golfing and get some experience and some of those less traditional sports because I feel like if I do those sports, I could probably find a new passion. Something like Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, they get into the golf thing.
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As for you and your family. Do you have any golfers in your family? Oh, yeah, for sure. My dad, my dad golf. See he wakes up at six in the morning to go golf. Ali. He's always
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I know he does he be golfing for like six hours. You try to teach me my brother how to golf. I mean, we. Yeah, it's hard.
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That sport is hard. I don't know how people do it. And that's crazy. Yeah, well, it just comes with practice, man in audit practice. The same thing with basketball. Same thing with any other player. We got to practice and eventually you'll get pretty prolific at it. Yeah. All right. Let's shift our focus back to basketball.
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This offseason, what have you been working on in your game to develop going into next season? Oh, for sure. My shooting dribbling I needed to work on that for years. I've been behind because I mean, I've always played basketball. But I'd never started taking this seriously until like the past two years. I used to be into like, God, dinosaurs. I was really I wasn't a basketball guy for that long. So that's why two years ago, so I did a lot of catching up to do. So you really didn't start taking basketball seriously. At like, eighth grade and you're already the number one ranked player in the state. Yeah, I love it.
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Wow, man, I would not have thought that.
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Wow. So obviously you've managed to make a great name for yourself in basketball.
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And in doing so, what are a few of the things that you find challenging about being a high profile athlete? And what do you do to manage those challenges? To make sure you keep working on your game, that is one thing that is hard to do. Because when people tell you, you're really good, you kind of like people will get big headed. So you always have to keep working and never stop until you make it to where you want to go. Okay, I like that mentality that, um, to never be satisfied, right?
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Was there ever a moment for you where you realized, um, I'm good at this basketball thing. And if there was, you know, walk me through what happened. I mean, I wouldn't say that so far. I just kind of just keep working. But I mean, it was pretty cool. Till I hit game winners, I felt good. I felt like I could do more part. But I got to keep working, get to where I want to get to. And hopefully I can get that moment later in my career.
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So you've obviously completed your freshman season. Do you think there were any moments during your freshman season that are really going to help you going forward throughout the course of your basketball career, like
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moments where, oh, this is something that I need to work on, or this is something that I need to change about my game? To make it to the next level? I would definitely say being more offensively minded because sometimes I just shy away from the ball. So I get a little nervous in the games, but I'm starting to work on that. And I think I've gotten better on it. So I'm gonna try to become more active on the offensive end. When you say you were nervous during the games, would you like to shy away from the ball shy away from contact? I mean, not content, I would shy away from the ball like offensively, I'd kind of just sit in the corner. Dunker spot, most time get a bunch of dunks. But I feel like I could do more of a bigger role on the offense offensive end. Towards the end of the season. Did you start to come into your own a little bit more offensively? Or were you still playing a little bit less, still playing a little bit less, but I was getting more into the groove of it. And I think I've done a better job over the summer going all in these camps improving on that. So that's it. Oh, I'm here. Great. And Prescott from sports prep live on 91.5k u one, V HD two and I'm here discussing athletic excellence with sophomore basketball standout Jackson Richardson. Okay, Jackson, I'm from New York. And every out in New York, everyone aspires to play up play against people who are older than them. However, when I moved to Las Vegas, it seemed like the inverse was true. Everyone's getting held back and you see people who are 17 years old playing freshman basketball, as someone who has played true to their age, and this season played people much older than them. How do you feel about people getting held back and playing against kids who are much younger than them? I think it's gonna hurt them, because they're playing kids that are younger than them. And then when they go back up to play against kids around their age, the speed and the level of basketball is gonna be different. So they don't have to adjust back to that.
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Or because reclassifying is just kind of to make you feel better, maybe about yourself, because you didn't feel comfortable in this situation. You were in the class, you were playing this those top players. So they try to come down and play younger kids so they could feel more skilled. But I mean, I don't really have a problem with it just just got a beat. I'm trying to play my hardest and beat him. But it's tough. But yeah, do you see that as them just trying to get ahead of the pack and saying, Well, if we get to the NBA, they're going to be people who are 15 years separated? Or do you think that is a less wise move in terms of? Well, if you're 17 years old, playing against someone who was 14 years old steel sharpens steel, so you would want to play someone who was your age, your size, your skill level, instead of moving back to someone who was a few years younger than you and
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you can be more dominant player, but do you think that's good for them in the long run? No, because they'll never get a chance to work on their game. Because if they're dominating kids like that,
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they the only time they'll get to refine their game is learning skills or practice. So like when they're in the game conference, winning the competitions, they won't get any better, because they're just using the same moves and the kid just can't guard them because you're bigger and just faster than them. Okay? And also hurts if you're trying to go pro, and you're already like two years older, so you're 22 anyway for the draft and you're 20 you're already losing two years off, which you can do an MBA, so that's gonna hurt them too. Yeah. And you see in the draft a lot. There can be players who are hyper skilled, but you know, they're 2122 23 years old, their draft stock is going to fall plumbing, right. Yeah. You saw of Player of the Year finalist go 57 in the draft this year, because he's, you know, fourth year in college. He's 22 years old.
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My younger brother
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their pen is super young for his grade, he just turned 14, I think five days ago, and he'll be going into his freshman year.
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So for him, he's like you, he'll be playing against people who are much older than him. And he tries to have the same mindset as you were, I don't care who I'm playing against, I'm just gonna try to go out here and do my thing. But at the same time, you know, from a, from the perspective of an older brother or a parent, you could see how there would be some concern if he's running against someone who is 234, sometimes years older than him, even though they're playing in the same grade, as I did find that crazy man, like, these kids really up to you to reclass down to play your own grade now. So that's pretty crazy. But
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he has the advantage that I've given he has the advantage, yeah, disadvantage, but advantage because he gets to play his older kids, which I mean, they're probably gonna be faster and stronger, but I don't just help his game, help his game get better. And he's young. So he's on the younger end, like very younger and so that's way better for him. Yeah, I agree with that. Now, sports are just one part of your life, but away from sports. What are some of the academic or personal achievements that you were the most proud of? I probably say when I won a national piano recital, really? Yeah. Wow. I would say that's one moment I'm proud of, or like, just kind of just, I don't even know. Wait, timeout time. You want a national piano recital? Yeah. Wow, man. I don't even know how I did that. I love the piano. I used to play that for I mean, I stopped playing it. I played it for seven, eight years. Yeah. I've I've never played an instrument. I almost joined a band. When I was in fifth grade.
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To learn how to play clarinet, I believe it was but dude, I haven't heard of a basketball player who's been in. I haven't heard of a basketball player who plays the piano, let alone winning national piano recitals. All you know how I did that. When When did you start playing piano?
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Right when I started playing basketball, I actually the first I think I played piano longer than I played basketball. I started piano in first grade and I didn't really take a basketball to like in the first grade. Okay, so yes, I think piano has been a part of my life because my mom used to play the piano. So I just kind of took after her. Okay, that's pretty cool.
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Have you been playing the piano as much recently? Or have you been focused more on basketball? I like because when I started taking basketball serious, like school, piano and basketball, I didn't know if I can manage all three. So I had to drop the piano sadly.
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Are you hoping to get back to that? Eventually? Eventually, yeah, I enjoyed playing the piano. It was fun, man. You're gonna have to give me some lessons. I gotcha.
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Wow. So how old were you when you won this piano recital? I think I was going into my seventh grade year. So I was in sixth grade. Okay, so you were 12? Yeah. Wow. You want a piano recital when you were 12 years old? Man. That's crazy. I was crazy. I've I've never met someone who has been a prolific piano player, let alone national piano titles. So you are let me get this straight. You're a excellent student in school. You are elite 100 camp. Good getting invited to USA basketball camps and all that and you're winning national titles.
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Jackson
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can play golf.
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Man, what are some of your hobbies or interests that help you? You know, unwind from the demands of being an athlete? Um, yeah, video games video games for sure. I'm to K but I mean it's still basketball. Every everything I do is basketball. Now every game I have basketball, basketball, I say basketball for sure swimming I really enjoy swimming Okay, I just take my mind off things
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basketball actually helps me relax I'm or why would I go back in my backyard just shoot around Okay, takes away the stress.
Unknown Speaker 24:09
And I'll also just say hanging out with my family and just take my mind off things that's what helps Yeah, I can definitely relate to a lot of that especially the
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Ag sometimes we'd like to go out to the park shoot some free throws just clear my mind and then of course the video games Yeah, we got to get on some Oh no, we do for sure.
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Well, builder you run away right now. Our build macrolide three level it's like a two way three level score.
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All right. So one thing I like to implement. Towards the end of my shows is a rapid fire session. I'm going to ask you a series of questions looking for quick answers and possibly some hot takes. Okay, you ready to go? I'm ready. Most points you've scored in the game. Oh my.
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Almost say like 40.
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You sure? Yeah.
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because you've told me it was a higher number, or
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not. Oh, any any gaming game? Oh, oh yeah, it was like school basketball I 52 or something like that. High topper low cut shoes. Low okay for sure. longest amount of time you've gone without touching the basketball in the last year last year.
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I'm gonna say
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a week. Okay, toughest opponent you faced in your life. My life
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probably like a real game probably my dad. Okay, sure. I feel like that's a cop out answer. It probably is. I can't lie to you. I need a real answer from like, like we're talking about high school. I'm gonna say this season high school AAU, whatever. hardest person I regarded. Probably say Isaiah Collier. Okay, he was tough. Who was your favorite player of all time outside your dad, favorite player? Who I'm gonna say Yanis are Tracy McGrady. Okay, that's a good answer. pregame hype song. Priya Hi, I'm sorry. I'm Michael I
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feel that fire by metal room? Yes, sir. I love that song. If you could play one on one against any player ever, who would it be and why? Definitely say
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Kyrie for sure. Because Kyrie is lethal on the offensive end so I get to work on my defense. So you went in? No, no.
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Kyrie is gonna do some crazy thing, man. Most shots you've ever taken in a day in a day? When that gun Oh my God, why?
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Probably 1000 Okay, I think I got the same number. favorite video game 2k Come on. Yeah, no question. All right, this is a tough one start bench cut. Oh, yeah, Gil just Alexander Jama rant Kyrie Irving are talking about in their problems right now right now.
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Michael I mean their problems would still be tough because if you look at the numbers Yeah, I'm a Loki
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just kind of unpredictable right now. Start che i was gonna say started Shea
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carry I don't want to cook carried let's say aside from the John Moran drama. We don't have any family friendly show. Yeah, we don't need to get into that. jaw. It's been just tough. It's always tough. It's tough. Michael I might take Joel recovery right now. Really? I don't know man. That's tough. My blessing him if I say that because he loves carry. Man.
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I would say start Shea yesterday started starting. I would bench Kyrie and I would cut but it's close. I would say it's close. Only difference for me is the skill set. I feel like Kyrie can do more. He's a better finisher. Aside from dunks he's a better ball handler for sure. He's a better more skilled shooter we crafty alterable. And then I think Shay is probably the craftiest player in the NBA right now. He stays crazy. I can't lie. Alright, finally, as you look towards the future, what are your goals both short term and long term for your basketball career? Long term is definitely to try to make the NBA spin a dream and short term just to get better. Repeat every day. Pick up more college offers and just go to a division one school that fits me. Okay, sounds good, man. Well, thank you for joining me today. Thank you for having me. Of course of course. Had a great time with Jackson here today. Thank you guys for tuning in to sports prep live on K u and v HD, two radio. I'm Greg and Prescott. And don't forget to catch all of our episodes on Apple Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to follow us on Instagram or Twitter at sports prep live. Thank you for joining us today. And as always have a great day you too.
Unknown Speaker 28:50
Thank you for tuning in to this episode of sports prep live. I'm grading Prescott and don't forget to catch all of our episodes on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and be sure to follow us on Instagram or Twitter at sports rep law. Thank you
Transcribed by https://otter.ai