Yesterday, we’ve proposed you an interview of Ryan Currie in french. I’ve proposed him to publish it in english for his Hoopmixtape’s fans. So basketball fans of all around the world, welcome to Basketball Backstage, and please discover who’s hiding behind some of Hoopmixtape cameras !!
Hello Ryan, can you introduce yourself for the ones who don’t already know you ?
Hi, my name is Ryan Currie, I’m from Deerfield Beach, FL and I work for Hoopmixtape. I travel the country filming basketball and create mixtapes of the top players in the USA. Its a very cool job, I get to watch and meet great basketball players all the time. Its also alot of work but I really enjoy it.
Why did you decide to leave Ball is Life to join HoopMixTape ?
Well it was a tough decision for me, I just feel like Hoopmixtape was a better fit for me and a better opportunity for me. It was nothing personal I still wish ballislife the best of luck and I am excited to be part of Hoopmixtape now!
What are you going to offer us on HoopMixTape this season ?
We are going to offer you the most footage of the best talent from around the USA and we also some more things in the works coming real soon that I cant mention at this time, so be on the look out!
Did you take some rest ? after a busy summer, High School Basketball season is starting
We really don’t get much time to rest, we are always traveling or working on something, there is always something going on in the basketball world but actually right now I am back home for a couple day before I catch a flight to Dallas tomorrow, just enjoying being with my friends and family and enjoying having time to actually play basketball.
What do you think about the event “Elite 24”, can you present it for us, its still unknown in France. Have you ever covered it ?
Yes, the Elite 24 is one of my favorite events to cover. This year they had it at Venice Beach in California. The event features the top 24 players in the country and they play outside on legendary streetball courts (the first couple years it was held at the Rucker in NY) and the days leading up to the game they have a couple practices and scrimmages, on the first night it was really cool because they got to play against NBA players such as Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings and John Wall. I had a real good time out there this year and I’m already looking forward to next years game!
What kind of relationship you have with Austin Rivers ?
Me and Austin are cool, I am going to be covering him alot this year and hopefully next year as well. But Austin is a great kid, he knows what he has to do to succeed and has a great future ahead of him.
Why is Austin Rivers considered as the best High School of Class 2011 ?
Man Austin can do it all, he is hands down the best scorer and all-around player in his class, he is a very smart player and a unselfish player that gets his teammates good shots, which is rare because most great scorers are known to be selfish and he is also very good defender which often overlooked at times because of how great his offensive game is. Also what alot people don’t know is that he is a very hard worker, he puts in so much work in to get better. He will be one and done player at Duke.
Do you think that Duke is the best choice for him to go to College ?
It was definitely the best fit for him to come in and lead a team to a national championship, he will have alot of pieces around him regardless if Kyrie Irving leaves early, he has other top recruits Quinn Cook (a unselfish pass first point guard) who is tearing it up at Oak Hill right now, Michael Gbinije who was also the Elite 24 and let his team to a EYBL Championship this summer and the other Plumlee brother Marshall Plumlee. Duke will give him a chance to do his thing, I know alot players that go to Duke stay for 3-4 years but he will be one and done.
He could have been in Florida with Brad Beal. Do you think that duo could have played well together ?
I think they would have been able to make it work, Austins not a selfish player but then theres also Kenny Boynton that might be there another year and thats just to many scorers at one position and Austin wants to win and Duke will have a squad that can win games and hopefully a national championship.
What is your opinion about the common choice of Quincy Miller and Deuce Bello to stick together and attend Baylor next year ?
Quincy and Deuce are real good friends, they will do real good at Baylor next year, Quincy is another one and done type player and is often compared to his favorite player Kevin Durant, the other night he just had a triple double in the categories of Points, Rebounds and Blocks. Then Deuce is a freak athlete who went between the legs already in his first game this year, that is crazy because that dunk would win a dunk contest and hes done it in 3 games in the past 2 years. He has also improved his overall game alot.
Have you ever seen Miller play live ? Some people compare him to Kevin Durant, do you agree with them ?
Yea I definitely agree with that they are very similar players, Quincy at 6’9 already has the perimeter skills that Kevin has and Yes, I have seen Quincy alot already this year, he invited us to Westchesters open gyms before the season and I have already been to his first 4 high school games.
What do you think about the NBA rule that forbids High School players to go directly to the NBA ?
I don’t really like it that much, its great for college basketball and everything but some players are ready to go straight to the league and it takes some hype away from high school players. Like right now there would be NBA scouts checking out Austin Rivers, Quincy Miller and Michael Gilchrist and they would be lottery picks. But now they have to wait a year and it might or might not hurt there stock in the draft.
What is your opinion about Brandon Jennings and Jeremy Tyler decision to go overseas to avoid College ?
Its a gamble, it turned out great for Brandon even though he wasnt putting up great numbers but for Jeremy Tyler it was a huge mistake.
Do you think Austin would have been ready to go directly to NBA next season if he was allowed to ?
Yes, I think he’s that good and he would have to work on getting stronger tho but he has proven he can already play with the best when he was doing work against the pros at the Elite 24 scrimmage.
Which is the best high school player that you’ve seen play live those past years ?
I would have to say Tyreke Evans, he was just killing everyone, at 6’6 with his handle, moves and scoring ability. Tyreke was a monster he was definitely the most NBA ready player in his class in my opinion.
Which one of your videos had the most views ?
Not sure I think its the Austin Rivers Mixtape.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnZbeYUjJhs
Have you seen Kevin Couliau video : Heart and Soul of New York City ?
Yes I have, it was a very well done video.
Have you ever been contacted by a French media before Basketball Backstage ?
Nope, you are the first one!
Have you seen foreign players in High School games you filmed ?
Yes, I was at the Hoop Summit last year in Portland, OR when Enes Kanter from Turkey put on a record setting performance against the USA. The game featured top players from all over world as they took on the top players from the USA.
Don’t you think there is too much Hype around High School Players ? They are just 17 years old teenagers at the end …
Well that is true, they are kids but they have a special talent and will be pros one day but I dont think any of them let it get to them, I think they enjoy it more than anything.
Do you have any interest for the NBA ?
Yes, hopefully one day I will be covering the NBA as well.
As a Floridian, are you a fan of the Magic or the Heat ?
Miami Heat! I live in South Florida.
How could you explain the bad season start of Miami ?
Injuries have hurt us, we havent got the chemistry we need yet and I think Wade and LeBron are being to unselfish, there two of the best in the game, they just need to go out there and play there games. Maybe Pat Riley needs to step in like he did in 2006, once we get it all figured out I still believe we will be unstoppable come playoff time and be the 2011 NBA Champs!
This weekend, you are going to Dallas, what are you going to film ?
I’m going to Dallas for a thanksgiving tournament, it features top players LeBryan Nash, Keaton Miles, Ricardo Gathers, Isaiah Austin and Julius Randle to name a few.
Why is HoopMixTape the best website for basketball videos ?
Well I feel Hoopmixtape is the best, I feel we work hard to deliver the best, just look at the numbers and our fan base compared to the other ones and you will see.
Thank you for answering our questions Ryan, do you have any last words ?
Thanks for the interview, I just want to give a shoutout to everyone in Broward County, my family, the whole Hoopmixtape team, all the fans and all the players that continue to show love! Oh and shoutout to my man Bruno from Basketball Backstage!