The ninth episode of Mental Buckets featured a one-of-a-kind talent on and off the court in Ky Bowman. His conversation with Packie and Mike touched on his journey from North Carolina to the NBA, with stops at Boston College, and the Santa Cruz and Golden State Warriors along the way. But, basketball was only part of the story; this podcast touched on so much more than that, and specifically the adversity that Bowman has overcome to the best version of himself.

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.

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.

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.

Justin Anderson was considered a top recruit coming out of the D.C. metro area starting in eighth grade, and was considered a top 50 prospect coming out of Montrose High School. With offers from Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Texas, it’s easy to assume he was bound for greatness immediately out of his high school, but in fact, it was his preparation and diligence on and off the court that made him able to have a successful professional basketball career.

Brandon Ashley steps into the UPB gym, and his energy radiates across the court. If Brandon is there, you feel it with each step, each dribble, each bounce. He works hard, talks loud, and plays big. Any trainer around him is probably smiling, laughing, chatting. But, make no mistake, Ashley, commonly called “Bash” by those who know him, wasn't always brimming with positivity.

Despite Omari Spellman being a nationally sought after recruit coming into college from Cleveland, his path to pro hoops was certainly not simple. Spellman talks about the toolkit he needed to make the journey possible in his appearance on Mental Buckets in which he attributes much of his success to taking on a team-first attitude.

UPB is proud to have two additions to our on-court staff in Ashley Hawkins and Asha Thomas, both working as coaches at the UPB team. Both bring a myriad of experiences on-the-court and in around the game of basketball, and we know they will be assets in helping the next generation grow their skills.

Yash Maheshwaran stepped onto the Amador Valley High School football field for what he figured to be a routine volunteering opportunity. Little did he know, on this day, his involvement with Special Olympics would begin to become not only a hobby, but an integral part of his life. Yash spent much of a day with a young girl and her guardian, and his outlook on the day remains, even three years later.

Not only getting into coaching, but finding a role as a head coach in the NBA G-League just 10 years out of college is almost unheard of. But, George Galanopoulos or “Coach G” has made that dream a reality. On the seventh episode of Mental Buckets, Coach G spoke about his path from University of Indiana basketball manager to head coach of the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks’ G-League team. His path has taken him from being a young and naive ball boy for Derrick Rose to working in basketball operations for the Bakersfield Jam, coaching the Uganda National Team, and then working as a video coordinator for the Mavericks.

This past December marked the 2nd annual Hoopin' with Santa event at UPB in partnership with The Boys and Girls Club of The Peninsula (BGCP) and The Big Homie Project.

By every “traditional” measurement of success, Russ Smith should be on an NBA roster right now. He led the Louisville Cardinal to a national championship in 2013, and averaged 18 points per game. He became the highest leading scorer in NBA Summer League one summer, and in 2016, he hit a new G-League record with 65 points in one game. In fact, in a season for the 76ers G-League affiliate he averaged nearly 30 points, and eight assists per game. Russ Smith has proven himself at every single step of the way, even when counted out.

Grant Williams is truly a renaissance man. He was named a two-time SEC Player of the Year while at Tennessee, a trivia-buff with decades of sports statistics memorized, a Chipotle fiend, a reader, and a student of the game. With so many talents, it’s hard to imagine how Williams has found a way on so many talented squads from Chris Paul’s AAU team to Tennessee and now the Celtics, and been able to thrive. However, just as Williams stands out for his variety of skills, he’s also a sponge and able to make the most of any environment he’s in. While chatting with Packie and Mike for Mental Buckets, Williams detailed the skills needed to adapt to a variety of teams and systems.

In Graham Betchart’s garage, there sits a wooden box just big enough to fit a person. Outside, it is covered with photos of Graham, and all the people he’s worked with as a mental performance coach. The list includes Aaron Gordon, Karl Anthony-Towns, Andrew Wiggins, USA Basketball and the team at Facebook. Betchart has worked with the best-of-the-best, the most talented people in the world of basketball, and those at Fortune 500 companies, and he advises them on how to live in the present and sharpen their mental framework.

Last season, Ivan Rabb was on another level for the Westchester Knicks. He averaged 16.5 points and 12.1 rebounds and received the Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award for his dominance on the court, and dedication to local communities off-the-court. But getting to that point wasn’t necessarily smooth sailing. On Episode 5 of Mental Buckets, Rabb talks to Packie and Mike about the steps he needed to take to realize his full potential in the NBA.

Five years ago, Jordan Jimenez picked up a point-and-shoot camera out of his mother’s closet. His track and field career had ended due to injury, he wasn’t playing basketball like he used to, and a bout of depression had dominated his early high school years. This week, he’s taking photos of Steph Curry, and is the mastermind behind all the Instagram photos in the UPB feed.

Sabrina Ionescu may be remembered for her accolades, like being the NCAA’s triple-double leader, the first pick in the WNBA draft, and a once-in-a-generation style basketball player. However, these capstone moments don’t tell the whole story.

The numbers only tell half the story. Haley Jones' mental toughness is what truly defines her.

Our third Mental Buckets episode features Dallas Mavericks Director of Mental Skills, Don Kalkstein. He is one of the first ever to break into the “mental training,” or sports psychology world of basketball, and utilize his knowledge to help athletes on and off the court. Kalkstein came to UPB via his co-worker Mike Franco, who is the lead mental skills trainer for the Mavericks’ G-League affiliate in the Texas Legends, and we can’t think of a better veteran in the industry than Kalkstein.

Many could hear such a comment and assume it’s just positivity coming from one of the best coaches in the NBA trying to motivate his players. However, Poole really did go the extra mile this offseason, and was a staple getting up shots in the UPB gym. He’s the first one to admit that improving his shooting stroke will take relentless work, and lots of time.