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▶️ Show Notes
What NBA teams look for goes beyond talent. Former Denver Nugget Bill Hanzlik joins PREP Athletics to talk about player potential, work ethic, character, and why he chose a prep school post-grad year for his son.
Bill shares how defense helped him become a first-round NBA Draft pick, what young players need to understand about making it to the next level, and how NBA teams evaluate more than just scoring. He also explains how he researched prep schools, why New Hampton became the right fit for his son Rob, and what families should consider when looking at the prep school path.
We also talk about Nikola Jokic, what makes him special, Bill’s Denver Nuggets perspective, and Stomp’s basketball traction product after appearing on Shark Tank.
⏱️Timestamps:
00:00 – Bill Hanzlik, Denver Nuggets, Prep School, and Stomp
03:07 – Bill’s NBA Career and Defensive Identity
05:50 – What NBA Teams Look For in Young Players
09:12 – Why Bill Sent His Son to Prep School
12:43 – What Makes Nikola Jokic Special
15:31 – Stomp, Shark Tank, and Basketball Traction
18:22 – Final Advice for Families
💡 Key Topics:
• What NBA teams look for in young basketball players
• Bill Hanzlik’s NBA and Denver Nuggets experience
• Why defense helped Bill become a first-round draft pick
• Work ethic, character, shooting, and being a good teammate
• Why Bill chose prep school for his son Rob
• New Hampton and the post-grad basketball path
• Nikola Jokic’s development and competitiveness
• Stomp basketball traction mats and Shark Tank
🗒️ About Bill Hanzlik:
Bill Hanzlik is a former NBA player, former Denver Nuggets head coach, and longtime Nuggets broadcaster. He played college basketball at Notre Dame, was selected in the first round of the 1980 NBA Draft, and later sent his son Rob to New Hampton for a post-grad prep school year before Rob went on to play Division I basketball.
🔗 Connect with Bill Hanzlik:
Twitter | https://x.com/BillHanzlik?lang=en
🔗 Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166
🔖 Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast
Website | https://prepathletics.com/prep-athletics-podcast/
🏀About Us:
PREP Athletics is your trusted partner in navigating the prep school journey for your family. With over a decade of experience, I’ve successfully placed players in top prep schools, leveraging my own post-grad year experience and deep family ties to the world of prep school and professional basketball. Our mission is to guide you through the decision-making process, ensuring if prep school is the right path for you, we find the perfect fit to achieve your academic and athletic aspirations.
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