Each year, Gatorade recognizes high school student-athletes, for excelling both academically and athletically, in the form of a Player of the Year award. Last week we told you that Lisa Leslie presented the Girls National Basketball Player of the Year award to this year’s winner, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis. This week it was time for the Boys National Basketball Player of the Year to be announced and in typical Gatorade fashion, a former recipient surprised this year’s winner. NBA great, Alonzo Mourning who won this very award back in 1988, was in St. Louis this week to present the award to Bradley Beal of Chaminade College Preparatory. Next year, Bradley will take his 6’4″, 205 lb. frame to Gainesville and play shooting guard for Billy Donovan at Florida. Just minutes after the presentation, The Hoop Doctors had the chance to catch up with Zo.
Kevin Burke: Hey Zo, Kevin Burke from The Hoop Doctors here. How are you?
Alonzo Mourning: I’m doing fine, thanks. How about yourself?
Kevin Burke: I’m not doing as well as Bradley Beal. I know that you just surprised him with this years award for Gatorade Boys Player of the Year for basketball. Last week, Lisa Leslie surprised the girls winner and she told me how she went about surprising her. So how exactly did you go about surprising Bradley and was he truly shocked?
Alonzo Mourning: Oh yeah, he was definitely shocked. The way it happened was, I was acting as if was going to be a guest speaker in his Global Issues class. So when his teacher introduced me, I was supposed to talk about how the NBA has transcended globally and how that relates to the lessons being taught in that class. So I did that for a while, then I eventually said that I’m also here to present Bradley with the Gatorade Player of the Year award and everyone went crazy. Bradley was surprised, but also seemed somewhat confident. Almost as if maybe he was expecting it when he first saw me. But it was a great scene.
Kevin Burke: From what you know about him, what type of kid is he?
Alonzo Mourning: Oh, he’s a great kid. Very humble, extremely well-spoken. He’s active in community service, which I admire. He’s also church going and comes from a great family where both of his parents played basketball as well, ironically enough. On top of all of that he’s an outstanding student and a perfect kid to represent Gatorade, which stands for excellence and high quality, and Bradley is a good representation of that. I’m very proud of him.
Kevin Burke: About a year ago, I spoke to you for the very same reason. You were surprising Brandon Knight with this same award. Brandon’s Kentucky team was eliminated in the Final Four last weekend but how would you rate his performance in his freshman season and specifically in the tournament given the fact that he replaced the most talked about player last year, John Wall?
Alonzo Mourning: I think he had an excellent season. As the Point Guard, he was able to stretch it and get other teammates involved. He had a tremendous impact on his team this year. He exemplified leadership and made some big shots for them, and even carried them for a stretch in the tournament. I actually see some similar leadership qualities in Bradley who will be going to Florida next year. I also expect him to step in next year and make an immediate impact for them as well.
Kevin Burke: Do you think Brandon’s game is ready for the NBA or would returning to school help?
Alonzo Mourning: Going back to school would help him. Knight has parents who instill the value of education so I know they’re most focused on school first and basketball second. That’s very important today. From what I know so far, Bradley parents have similar views too, but it would be nice to see Brandon back at Kentucky next year.
Kevin Burke: Zo, let’s shoot over to the NBA now and talk about the team in which you won a championship with and are most closely associated with: the Miami Heat. With the addition of the players that they acquired, they came under much scrutiny this year. Do you think it was justified?
Alonzo Mourning: (Laughs) I think alot had to do with the media because you guys have a tendency to sensationalize things.
Kevin Burke: (Interjects, laughing) Oh, come on. I never said a bad word about them.
Alonzo Mourning: But, many teams benefited from free agent acquisitions and Miami was just one team that did. Even though they’re one of the best teams in the league, I guess they didn’t live up to expectations of some so that adds to the scrutiny as well. But the best is yet to come. It takes time to truly develop chemistry as a unit but even so, they’ve accomplished alot already because they’re one of the best teams in the league. I think if they can stay together they have the talent to win multiple championships.
Kevin Burke: (Interjects) Do you think they can do it this year?
Alonzo Mourning: I think this year’s certainly a possibility. With those three guys (Wade, Bosh and James) fully healthy, you can’t count them out or eliminate them from the conversation.
Kevin Burke: If the playoffs began today, the Heat and Knicks would play in the first round, which of course makes me think of the old Knicks-Heat rivalries from back in the mid-90’s. Why were those battles so intense?
Alonzo Mourning: (Laughs) Pat Riley. Plain and simple, Pat Riley. He created the mentality for both teams. He was the architect for both. He instilled the defensive mentality in both teams and we were cut from the same mold. We knew each others plays and tendencies all because of Pat Riley. He created the culture for both teams that mirrored one another so much that we clashed as a result of that. But those were certainly fun times to relive as a player.
Kevin Burke: (Laughs) The most memorable moment to me from those days was Jeff Van Gundy clinging to your leg during that altercation with Larry Johnson. Do you see Jeff often and if so do you guys talk about that?
Alonzo Mourning: (Laughs) Every time, man. Every time we see one another we laugh about that and Jeff has been a good sport about the whole thing. It’s something I’ll never forget.
Kevin Burke: What went through your mind when he was on your leg?
Alonzo Mourning: (Laughs) At first I didn’t even realize he was there. Then, when I looked down and saw him, I was just trying to get him off of me because I had no idea what was going on.
Kevin Burke: Zo, the playoffs begin in less than two weeks. Who’s going to be the NBA Champion?
Alzono Mourning: Well, I’m kind of biased so I’m going to have to go with us (the Heat). Again, those 3 players together is something special, and great players always elevate their play in the postseason and that’s what I expect to happen.
Kevin Burke: Good enough. Zo, it was a pleasure as always. This now makes two years in a row chatting with you about the Gatorade Player of the Year. Hopefully we’ll catch up again same time next year. Thanks for your time. Have a good one.
Alonzo Mourning: Sounds good. Take care.
If you’re looking for your everyday, predictable basketball talk, then go somewhere else, because Kevin Burke of The Kevin Burke Project brings provocative, thought provoking content about basketball as only he can. Kevin also hosts The Hoop Doctors weekly podcast show, which you can subscribe to for free on iTunes. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Facebook
