Former Rutgers captain Geo Baker joins The Basketballists to talk about his journey beyond the court. He helped end Rutgers' 30-year NCAA Tournament drought, co-led the #NotNCAAProperty movement for NIL rights, and now gives back through GB Go Beyond, his foundation for New Jersey youth, and the GB Blue Devils AAU program.

We cover AAU basketball, player development, NIL, sports media, and where the game is headed. It's an honest conversation about building opportunities, giving back, and navigating the business of basketball in a new era.

Follow @thebasketballists on Instagram, TikTok, and X. Hosts: Steven Johnston (@stevenjnodat), Jordan Pettway (@shakehoops) and Ralph Manigat (@tooreelralph).

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We're back after a short break, and this one gets real. Prep school, NIL money, and the transfer portal can reward smart planning, or punish families who trust blindly. We talk about how players get stuck in bad prep situations and when it's time to leave. We get into international kids being routed through agents into pop-up programs, the warning signs that a school isn't run like a real business, and what super academies and early paydays mean for teenagers.

Then we get into money and movement. Why adults need to set guardrails around teenage money, and the financial literacy basics every athlete needs before an NIL check hits. We look at why the men's portal feels more chaotic than the women's, weigh fit against a bigger offer in a portal hypothetical, and talk about how your reputation follows you from school to school. We close with what high school players should be locked in on this September.

Keep liking, keep subscribing, keep commenting, keep running it up. 🏀🎧

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Mustapha Heron pulls up for one of the deepest guest episodes we've done. He walks us through the whole journey — Waterbury to 5-star, USA Basketball, Auburn, St. John's, and overseas. Growing up under a military father built the "no days off" mentality early. From Stamford Peace to Gauchos to Rens, reclassing in 8th grade, and the prep school grind at Wilbraham & Munson — Staph breaks down what actually shaped him. He also gets real on being from CT and having to go harder than everyone else. The Gatorade POTY snub. The McDonald's All-American miss. The media agendas that decide who gets the shine (Pangos MVP — but Lonzo got the post). Plus, why watching Abdou go through the same process now hits different.

The second half goes even deeper. Breaking Auburn's freshman scoring record. The transfer to St. John's after his mom's health concerns. Playing his senior year on a broken ankle the med staff lied about. Then the pro journey — from working a liquor store post-COVID, to England, the G League, and overseas ball. Staph opens up on imposter syndrome, finding an identity outside of basketball, and the real side of being an American import. He closes with real gems for Abdou. If you're a hooper, parent, or coach — this one is essential. 🏀🎧

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Jordan

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