May 07, 2021
Denver Nuggets’ Aaron Gordon is more than a professional athlete. He was a heralded recruit out of the Bay Area, a star at University of Arizona, and the 4th overall pick in the NBA draft. Through a diligent work ethic, mindfulness, and a strong support system he is leaving a remarkable legacy. A steady self-awareness coupled with an eagerness to always get better allows Gordon to continuously push himself in workouts and as an activist. He runs a non-profit, takes on different roles on the court, and started a media company, demonstrating to the next generation everyone's potential is unlimited.
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May 01, 2021
Max Gilberg’s “Scary Hours” video of Jordan Poole in the UPB gym is a dynamic one minute mixtape showcasing the high-flying guard’s latest work on the court. The video runs for about a minute, and has garnered over 12.7k on social media. Gilberg estimates that he put close to eight hours into that video from conception to release, and actually won a video competition from it. But, even the sheer amount of work can’t epitomize just how much Gilberg lives, breathes, and eats content creation. After talking to him for just a few minutes, it’s clear how passionate he is about what he does.
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April 24, 2021
There’s one particular exercise Clair Steele will never forget from UPB. And that’s Packie’s famous five-minute plank that would be thrown in at the end of workouts. Clair Steele used to dread those planks.
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April 08, 2021
Drew Gordon has played for professional basketball teams in Serbia, Italy, Turkey, France, Lithuania, Russia and Poland, not to mention in the NBA and G-League. He’s seen the Eiffel Tower and Milan, and carved out a niche himself in the VTB United League in Russia, in which he’s played here for three years on four different teams. He’s averaging 15.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this year in the league, and is here to explain just the grittiness of play overseas.
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April 01, 2021
Mia Mastrov always grew up playing up. Whether it was battling with older hoopers through Miramontes High School or Cal Stars, boys, girls, or graduating high school early to play at Cal, no challenge is too big for Mastrov. There is no challenge too big for Mastrov and that is evident in her first six games she played in for the Golden Bears while most kids her age would still be frolicking as second semester high school seniors. Mastrov, on the other hand, scored 20 points in her PAC-12 debut against Utah and hit four threes. In March, she scored 12 points against Arizona State and went 4/4 from the line. Even though Mastrov turned 18 today, her goals in the PAC-12 are simple: absolute domination.
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March 19, 2021
When Redwood High School teammates were asked to describe what it was like playing with a dynamic guard like Kylie Horstmeyer, as she enrolled early to play Division I basketball at the University of San Diego, their sentiment was clear: she’s the hardest worker.
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March 05, 2021
Portland State freshman guard Jenna Kilty has seven games this season where she’s scored in double-digits. Now that’s no easy task for any Division I college basketball player, but especially one who is a freshman finding their way in this season which has been riddled by unknown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But, Kilty is no stranger to obstacles in her path.
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February 26, 2021
Five-star recruit out of high school. Number one pick in the NBA Draft. Too quiet to lead. These are all labels that Anthony Bennett has worn through the years. After listening to this episode of Mental Buckets, it will become clear that Bennett is a fighter. He's overcome injury, ignored the doubters, and continuously worked to sustain a pro career in the NBA, the G-League, and internationally. Learn more about the fire that continues to drive Bennett towards basketball success, and the veteran players who've supported him, regardless of what challenges he's faced with.
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February 21, 2021
Behind the creation of UPBYCF lies years of activism for both Turners and a sustained interest in bettering communities in The Bay Area. They know the statistics that six times as many low-income students drop youth sports when compared to those from high-income families because of access (Aspen Institute Project Play Initiative). They also know firsthand the power sports has to build character because “a survey of 400 female corporate executives found 94% played a sport and that 61% say sports contributed to their career success (EY Women Athletes Business Network/espnW, 2014). The launch of UPBYCF is bounded in these statistics and in past experiences both Turners have had with nonprofits such as The Boys and Girls Club, Big Homie Project, and Play MakeHers. Yearly clinics at UPB have focused on women’s empowerment, and tackled issues like access to sports, and hunger.
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