1-on-1 with DP – 93.7 The Ticket KNTK - Evric Gray (part 3):June 28th, 10:00am

Episode Date: June 28, 2025

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Time to go one-on-one with D.P. Coming at you live from the heart of Lincoln America, a 93-7-a-ticket and the ticketfm.com. Here is your host, Derek Pearson, brought to by Canopy Street Market. Boom. Hour two, one-on-one in your face. Appreciate you hanging out with us on a Saturday. the sort of text line 402, 46464,

5685, you want to be a part of what we're doing? Hit us with a what's up. And we will bring you into the show. You can follow on all the live video streams, Facebook, YouTube, X, Allo, Channel, 961 cable. You could follow on Amazon Prime and then the ticket app as well. It is my

honor and pleasure to bring back. Our number two, the running rebel himself, Everick Gray. F, first of all, thank you for making time on a Saturday, bro. I appreciate you. bunch of you know that yeah no problem no problem um here's here's where i want to start in this this this hour two segment because a couple of things before we get to the jazz and ace bailey

i i want to ask you for your athletes the pecking order and priority for how they make their college like where they're going to be who's going to recruit them where they're going to go what the value systems in place what's important for today's high school senior what do they want know from a program in order to be recruited? So here's a deal, DP. High school recruiting is tough at this point. I tell all of our kids in my club and even at Corner Canyon that if you have any types of offers and you're going into your senior year, take it.

Let me explain why. So I go around a country, you know, I have friends coach everywhere. Some dudes I roll big wheels with and bites and 10 speeds. I'm dating myself. I said a 10 speed. Don't even judge. Yes, sir. And their head coaches now,

are they either assistant coaches? I go around the country, just go to their practice. D.P., there's only one or two freshmen, true freshman on a team. Everybody else is from the portal. So everybody's path. Now with this new law with the Jukal situation, where your clock doesn't start until you hit the four year,

it's actually a good thing for kids. so you can get your body right and you're not sitting there and being unhappy because you're not going to play unless you a five-star kid a McDonald's kid, those kids are going to play. If you anything over 40 or 50 in the country, you may redshirt.

So it's hard for these kids now. So I tell these kids, and if you have an offer, you better take it. If not, just go to Juko route. And it's in, Get your body right. Get ahead of school. And then your clock starts when you get to two to four years.

So that's my advice for kids. If anyone's listening or a parent, if you have an offer, if you have a D1 offer and you don't have anything else going on, take the offer. And then go from there. I mean, in the space that we're talking about, we're talking about productive young people and the fact that your program is now becoming known. people trust you with with and that's a big part trust matters right that hey if i get a kid

from corner cany i know what i'm getting i know what i'm getting right and it's that important but the conversations that you're having with the young people how much do they listen to you when you say hey if you have an offer from utah taking if you have an offer from southern utah take it are they listening or are there other voices telling them something else well they 95% of the time they listen to me. There's always one, maybe two that think they're smarter than me. And then when they don't listen,

they circle back to me. I'm like, oh, you did what you did. You listen to your dad. That's a computer dude. So you listen to him because you never done it before. So I've never done it before. So you might as well listen to him. But we rarely have those kids.

But we always have maybe one DP that just decided to go rogue. and then they want me to clean it up. I'm like, no, I'm not cleaning anything up. That's your myth. So all of my kids usually, a majority of them listen to them, listen to me. And I'm glad you brought that up, D.P., because for these kids to hire an agent, it's the dumbest thing ever, GP.

It's the dumbest thing ever because some of these agents are getting 20%. And so I have one guy who was like, well, I'll take 30%. I was like, dude, do you know what are you talking to? you're talking to the wrong person. So to piggy, to go off course a little bit, I was my kid's agent in the portal. I did all that for free. It's ridiculous.

And the thing is that the way I did it is, and that's why a lot of coaches like dealing with me because I don't want anything. Like, D.P., it's getting a little shady because of the dudes, the agents, wants money from the kids and the schools, and they're actually getting it some, in some cases. So I negotiated about five of my kids were in the portal.

I negotiated about, I can honestly tell you, I'm going to tell you the kid, but it was the kids, it was about up to about $4 million. I negotiated for five kids. Granted, two of those kids were million. I made them millionaires six months, I mean like three months ago. And it's great to see these kids life change overnight. and they kids can't believe that you know how did how did you do it I'm like you know how many contracts I had to go through I wasn't just sitting there looking at my agent doing I was looking at my contracts and figuring this out and

and so it was it was it was cool for my my kids and D.P. I didn't take one cent from my kid or the school now I can actually tell you DP people offer me money but I'm like no I do this I'm old school man and I'm still like kind of crazy like when I got my one kid up to a two or one point one in a car and a house and all this stuff I was like and I got back to I want to what I would have made if I was in these kids shoes at this time but I'm happy for all our kids and like you said our kids are going to play the right way they're going to be able to be coached hard and and I'm truly happy it was like I said it was one kid decided to hire an agent and guess what deep it didn't work out so now he's

had to go back to a D-2. This is the part, though, that even if the first selection doesn't work, here's what I know about you and your program in the way you handle it, that your players will circle back and say, okay, this wasn't it. Now what should we do? And then you're still connected to the process. I don't think most listeners, fans understand how important the first recruiting part is. because when it fails in the first choice,

the second choice, whoever treated the high school coach, the parents, and the young person, the right way is immediately the next phone call. Right, yeah. So the thing with recruiting, I think what you want me to, I'm hitting towards is when you're, These kids are getting recruited.

Some of them get recruited by lower D1s or even D2s, D2s, DP, and they're only sophomores. I tell them, hey, enjoy the process because in a year or six months from now, you don't know where that coach is going to be. There's so much movement in coaching too. And those coaches remember, because that happened with one of my kids. I can tell you, that's the one of the bigger kid, the 610, 611 kid that I tried to get to Nebraska.

He ended up going to Clemson. and he's a really good player. I tried to get him over, you know, you and I talked a couple years ago. He ended up going to Irvine first, and he end up transferring to UVU for a year after his mission, and now he's at Clemson, and he's one of those kids, DP,

that he has a chance at the next level. I come on your show a lot over the year since you've been there, and I would love to get one of my kids to Nebraska. I reached out to someone because I had a 6-9 kid that just, he ended up going to Oakland University, but he had Florida State. He had some big, he had some heavy hitters,

and he's a 6-9-3. But, you know, it is what it is. You recruit whoever you quit. I got another, I'm going to tell you, I got another 610 kid that was at Sanford last year. He transferred to USC, and you already know what he's making. Yep.

He's at USC. I tried to give him, Because your D.P., I think you've seen him play. He, Mobile Big, Jaden Brownell. I tried, but there's so much I can do. I mean, that's why I got to get the mayor out here because there's very good players. And dealing with me is not going to be a headache.

So there's some really good players in Utah, and this portal thing is crazy. But these kids are making it. And the crazy part, D.P., I didn't really have to negotiate. that much they would just beading against each other yeah yeah so here's in we know that I'll be back out there um and I'll get in front of those young people but a part of I try to explain to block my frustration sometimes in that watching local programs have needs that I literally could have made

the phone call and said hey I got a guy that fits the need and then nothing's done and then I I bang my head against the table I know I know that they're pockets of this country that I'm connected in that can bring these people. And I'm only going to refer people from people that I trust. Like, I'm not going to bring in somebody that I don't think fits. And I think it's important. There's also a thing that this, the Ace Bailey thing in the draft leads to several questions. One, one, that if he's a freshman and he is a lottery town, So it was obvious early that he was a lottery town. But as a freshman, do they understand that their value,

they have to make a decision between whether they want option and an input? Because once you go to the league, you give up input. You give up control. He could have run to any program in the country made anywhere between four, and $7 million and still worked on his craft in his game instead of putting himself in a space where people will talk negatively about him because he didn't want to play in Utah. Do young people understand that in this new day and age,

that option matters, right? That choice matters. Right. So, no, the thing is that with him, first of all, let's just, I'm sorry, D.P. The coach from Rutgers, I don't understand. You have two top five picks and don't make the tournament. We ain't going to even talk about that. That's for another one-on-one.

Look, we always know when we talk to you, there's no way we can cover everything. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, D.P., but that dude, if I had those two players, I would have went to my AD and the president said if I don't make the tournament, fire me. I would have put the pressure on myself. Anyway, but Ace Bailey, he's got bad intel.

The thing is that you got to realize you can win anywhere at this point. SGA and Oklahoma City just won an NBA championship. And you can do it in small markets. And it sounds like Utah is where this kid needs to be. Now, selfishly, D.P., I love little drama because Utah don't have no damn drama. I love it. Right. Like the Ains family has come and taken it over.

You've got an owner with big pockets and an endless credit card. I wish I had, I don't know if you ever seen that meme with Mace and Cameron and he's eating popcorn. That's me right now. But me personally, you know he already missed his first flight. He's supposed to be in Utah yesterday. He was supposed to be in this morning. No, no, no, no, no, D.P., yesterday. He's supposed to be in.

They did a big thing yesterday. He didn't show up. Now, I don't even know if he's going to show up today. But I've got my popcorn watching. He said he was. Anyway. That's the lyric for every great breakup song in history. He said he wouldn't.

The thing is that with him, he's just getting bad intel. And I don't meet personally, D.P., there's a little bit in me saying that he might get traded. They might have to trade him. And he's going to have that stigma. I mean, I see people, you know, control their narrative. I think Stevie Franchise did it. I know the Manning brother did it. Eli did it with San Diego.

But who said that Eli couldn't win a championship in San Diego? Who said Stevie couldn't win it in Vancouver? I believe he got drafted by Vancouver or whoever tried to, you know, control their destiny. But you can win anywhere at this point, especially in its landscape and the NBA. But that kid had bad intel. That's what I was told last night. It's his agent and his handler's part all in the videos like Puffy. and he's going to have a hard time.

And if he does play in Utah, I think they're going to have to have someone watch him because the NBA do that, D.P., you know that. They have babysitters sometimes. And it sounds like it's not going to be his agent because his agent is terrible. Well, we were talking,

I was talking to Tony Jones, of course, athletic, and he's all over the place with this thing and his intel with Utah. And I kept saying, saying that it seemed like Washington and Utah were in each other's playbooks and in each other's pockets because they were choosing. I kept waiting for the train for all picks from Washington and Utah. Like it made way too much sense to me that that happened and it didn't happen. Okay, so fine. So, but you're there in Utah. You've been around the Utah Jazz. You've been around

the NBA. You know the people and players involved. What does a player not understand about what happens when you come to Salt Lake City. It's very similar to coming here and being a Husker. Once you're set for life. Once you go to the Utah Jazz, you are set for life, bro. I don't understand why people don't get that message out. Well, the thing is, I like Utah. I mean, if you're a professional athlete here,

you are the guy in a state of Utah. And the thing is that if you win, if you get to the playoffs, if you can get to the finals, you start having dealerships. It would be to Derek Pearson's Toyota. Like, you know, you still, you know, we got cars. Look, man, we, we, come. Come on, come.

Remote's on Saturday. We do it from Stockton Malone's car dealership. Just make it to the finals. Just get that team to the finals, and you got a car dealership, and you're taking care of for the rest of your life. But the thing is that it's, it's not a bad place to live. And you only live in here for six months,

seven months out of the year, eight, and then you own, you own the first thing smoking. A lot of those kids do that now. As soon as he sees them, go with D.B. You're on the first thing, smoke it. You're out. But the thing is, I think he's hurting himself. But here's the other one I heard last night.

DB through some sources. Pay attention to Jalen Brown with this whole situation. Remember, Danny drafted Jaylen and all the front office people came with Danny to Utah, majority of them. And pay attention to that. Jalen going to Utah, because they're blowing it up in Boston. Don't be surprised they send Bailey in the pick or maybe how desperate it gets

if the kid can control his trade value. He can control this narrative. Maybe Utah can get something out of it with Jalen, another player with it, but pay attention to that. Yeah, and the type of person, and notice that's the type of person rather than the type of player matters to you. Utah.

It matters Utah. There's a certain type of brother that they like in Utah. And that has to matter. I'm not sure Ace has his, his, no. He's done to do. Like, let's just put it this way, dude. Say that the honest guy was in the draft and he got draft,

he got picked by Utah. He's from Europe. He doesn't mind living in Utah. Utah got a, they got a land of good, very good European player that doesn't mind being in Utah and just want to win. And not worrying about all the stuff that a foreign, foreign players don't worry about the same stuff that these,

these, US players wear about. If you can score a really good yokeage, Yonis, Dirk, you know, those guys didn't leave. And they just, they don't care, they don't care. They're from Europe. They just want to win, make a good living and get out, get in and get out.

And that's what Utah needs. and that's why I was surprised that they took the kid because he told them I didn't want to work out with them. But maybe, you know, Danny is a gambler, so maybe he knew that and he did it on purpose to get what he wants. That's why pay attention to Dayland, Jalen Brown, DP. That's his dude.

And you're right, you're dead on. And that's been the hot whisperer actually thought it would be the thing that stunned draft day conversation was that the imploding Boston Celtics, even on a positive, they're being proactive and imploding it. And the fact that they put out there that, you know what, we're listening to conversation.

The Yonis to Utah conversation was interesting and intriguing. But this is kind of the time and place for it, for everybody around the league to reconsider. Oklahoma City has changed the conversation by winning the title. Because Oklahoma City is still not one of those franchise cities that we think about. And the way they built it, the guy who was a throw-in to the trade is now the best player in the NBA,

and I think that's important to have. Here's what we're going to do. My next trip to Salt Lake, I'm coming through. I'm going to see your boys. I need to meet your guys, and we'll take some video, because I need to bring it back to Nebraska

so they understand what we're talking about, bro. There's a lot. You are appreciated, and I know that, I have to be the bridge between you and the mayor because you have some talent. And these are Nebraska-type kids and players. These are Nebraska. What you're producing is tailor-made for this program and this culture.

As a matter of fact, you hope taking the next step up. Because if you haven't won an NCAA game, something. So, Ev, appreciate your man. Have a great weekend this weekend. And what you're doing. We'll do it again real soon. All right, man. I appreciate you.

I'll talk to you. Yes, sir, Everett Gray, UNLV, NBA, Corner Canyon in Salt Lake City, Utah. And Bach, you and I have talked about this. It drives me crazy to know that there are people that want to help Nebraska and some reason that that door doesn't open. And it's frustrating. Can you imagine having an end to one of the top ten. And one of those programs that ESPN always features in its early season high school football and high school basketball and have those players looking at Nebraska in full.

And I try not to be intrusive. I try not to step on toes. But you just heard some of the names. And you've heard, listen, Africa and I have had those conversations along with other coaches from Salt Lake City and around Utah and around the country, as a matter of fact, trying to help. and they won't let you help. I always feel like Jerry McGuire. Help me. Help you.

Frustrating. We'll throw the break. Bach when we come back, it's a big day in the WW. It's a big night in WWU last night and tonight. So Bob, Night of Champions. Let's get into it, bro.

Let's talk about it here on one-on-one. Watch live on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch. You're listening to One-on-One-on-One with DP. On 93-7, the ticket in the ticket, com.