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Russ’s Confessional Single ‘April 7’ Is A Passionate Love Letter
Aaron Williams
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A little over two weeks after he announced the impending release of his upcoming album, Wild, Russ has shared the music video for its sensual single, “April 7.” A confessional, passionate love letter to his life partner, “April 7” details the ways in which the former Uproxx cover star shows his affection for her.

“When you with me, leave your wallet at home, when you be callin’ my phone, I still light up,” he raps in the second verse. “Every time I take you shoppin’, I’m blowin’ a couple thousand or more, and the clothes pile up.”

Shortly after revealing the title of Wild, Russ shared a longer post on Twitter (never calling it “X,” get serious), explaining the album’s name. “The title ‘W!ld’ represents my evolved perspective on life’s inherent unpredictability and the transitional phase between resisting life’s challenges and embracing them,” he wrote. “After I got external success, my focus naturally shifted inward, realizing that there was a whole world I hadn’t explored yet. My internal one. At this point of my journey I’m really interested in navigating the ‘wild’ of my internal landscape so that I can engage with my external experiences with a renewed, healthier and more grounded mindset.”

Russ certainly has seen plenty of that ol’ external success, collaborating with rap icon Will Smith, appearing in M. Night Shyamalan’s latest thriller, and “finally” being acknowledged by PopCrave in the past year. He’s still just getting started.

Watch Russ’s “April 7” video above.

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Our monthly series looks at the top releases from the best brands in athletic footwear. Whether you’re an avid sneakerhead or just looking for the perfect pair to complement your style, navigating the vast world of sneakers can be overwhelming. From understanding where to buy to decoding the latest trends, consider this your road map to finding the perfect pair.

With April comes longer days and warmer weather, which is perfect for outdoor activities during the day, then transitioning to hanging with friends in the evening. The sneaker world embraces the changes in the forecast by offering a wide selection of colorful, expressive footwear options. Nike takes a creative swing at baseball, while Adidas gives us something for the tennis courts. As far as catching up with friends? Streetwear brand Corteiz, WNBA star Breanna Stewart, and others have you covered.

Asics delivers a ‘Fairly Odd’ pack

A particular generation will see the latest Gel-1130 from Asics dressed in a seafoam volt and vibrant pink colorways and immediately think of Nickelodeon’s Fairly Odd Parents. As with most Asics, the mesh is the star of the show, as both shoes use silver and black caging around the mesh to highlight the mesh used. Both shoes feature a white midsole that helps make things pop even more. Don’t be shocked if you see these in the gym, on the trails, or casually being worn during this spring season.

Release date: April 4

Retail: $110

Breanna Stewart wins again with Stewie 4

After a successful inaugural season of the new 3-on-3 league, Unrivaled, Breanna Stewart looks to continue her success. With WNBA season right around the corner, Stewart and Puma deliver the fourth edition of the longest-running women’s hoop shoe. Dressed in an iridescent colored upper with a blue and pink prism-styled pattern, these shoes will immediately grab attention, much like Stewart has done on and off the court over the years.

Release date: April 4

Retail: $120

BAPE and Adidas celebrate the Superstar

Adidas’ iconic Superstar model is celebrating its 55th anniversary this year. We’ve already seen one special edition, and now BAPE is entering to deliver its take. Dressed in a blue leather upper with an aged white midsole and shell toe, the shoe features co-branding in the form of both BAPE’s BAPE STA logo and Adidas’ Three Stripes are featured on the medial and lateral, respectively, on the right shoe, while the left shoe has them flipped. Completing the package is BAPE’s iconic camo embossed into the shoe’s upper.

Release date: April 5

Retail: $160

Jordan Brand crafts ‘Rare Air’

Pulling inspiration from design samples and early prototypes. The men’s version is an early “What The” prototype of sorts. Featuring mismatched Wings logos, a black Swoosh that gives way to red underneath, and other pieces from various Jordan 1s. The women’s pair takes a more subdued approach but still fits in the “What The” mold. Notably, the Wings logo features “Air Jordan” and “Nike Air” on the shoes. If you’re a fan of Jordan 1s or Jordan history, these are a must-have.

Release date: April 5

Retail: $180

Nike hits a home run

The late Kobe Bryant was a huge fan and supporter of the Los Angeles Dodgers, often seen at Dodgers games. After being teased almost two years ago, the “Dodgers” colorway gets a proper release. The Kobe 6 arrives dressed primarily in royal blue with a white midsole. The red stitching on the shoe’s tongue mimics the stitching on a baseball, completing the baseball tie-in. Additional baseball-related gear and items complete the theme.

Release date: April 13

Retail: $175

Nike takes the SB Dunk to the ‘Rodeo’

Long before Beyonce had everybody tapping into their cowboy side, Black cowboys were once a crucial part of the culture. The latest SB Dunk is the perfect homage to those days and people that history has tried to forget. The colors of a tourmaline stone serve as the canvas for Nike to highlight key parts of the day-to-day lives of Black cowboys. From lasso-inspired laces to cowboy boot accents to a cowboy riding a horse on the insoles, this shoe is a beautiful homage to an era that history has tried to erase.

Release date: April 17

Retail: $135

The Air Max 95 “Neon” returns

The term “goat” gets overused to the point where we have herds of so-called great things, ultimately diluting what it takes to warrant the lofty distinction. But make no mistake – if there’s a sneaker hall of fame, the Air Max 95 “Neon” is a unanimous, first-ballot entry, as it has remained a staple for sneakerheads for three decades. After the last release in 2020, former Nike designer Sergio Lozano’s greatest hit returns with an important change – the brand used the “Big Bubble” to pay homage to the original design, which featured a bigger Air unit. While small, it’s the type of minutiae sneaker enthusiasts go wild for.

Release date: April 18

Retail: $180

Brain Dead revives the Forest Hills

The last time we featured Brain Dead, it was the return of their Converse collab. This time, the LA-based collective digs into Adidas’ vault to bring back the tennis classic Forest Hills silhouette. Across four unique takes, fuzzy suede uppers, textured tongues and frizzled laces add extra depth to the shoe’s look. Suede immediately evokes the feeling of the grass tennis courts that were once home to the Forest Hills model. Completing the package is the use of Brain Dead’s logo in multiple places.

Release date: April 25

Retail: $120

A Ma Maniere does it ‘For the Love’

Frequent Nike collaborator A Ma Maniére delivers a new but simple take on the classic Air Force One silhouette as part of their “For the Love” collection. Things are kept simple as the shoe is covered in a black leather upper with hints of white on the trim around the swoosh and the A Ma Maniere branding on the heel. The true focus is the craftsmanship and materials used, such as buttery tumbled leather to construct the upper. The last touch of craftsmanship is the embossed A Ma Maniere “A” on the heel tab.

Release date: March 29

Retail: $150

Corteiz’s “Honey Blacks” finally arrive

After months of teases on social media, we finally have confirmation that the long-awaited fourth installment in London-based streetwear brand Corteiz’s Air Max 95 series will arrive this month. Like many Air Max 95s, this version follows the “layered” upper approach, with the top layer featuring a netted layer to contrast the solid black layers beneath it. Continuing the subtle deviations is Corteiz’s use of tour yellow to highlight the branding on the toe, heel, and tongue.

Release date: March 24

Retail: $190

DiJonai Carrington is the latest WNBA player to join the Reebok Basketball roster.

The Dallas Wings guard signed a multiyear deal with the Boston-based company that will establish her as a brand ambassador for performance and lifestyle apparel, starting with the Engine A basketball sneaker.

Carrington’s signing is part of a long-term effort for Reebok to re-establish itself as a basketball brand. The Engine A, which Carrington wore during Unrivaled’s inaugural season, is their first new basketball sneaker since 2015’s ZPump Rise.

“I’m excited to continue the family legacy and join the Reebok Basketball roster,” said Carrington. Her father, former NFL safety Darren Carrington, also endorsed Reebok during his career. “Reebok Basketball is officially back, and I can’t wait to bring the energy on court in the new Engine A.”

Carrington was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2024 and garnered First Team All-Defense honors as well. The San Diego native had a career year, averaging almost 13 points, 5 rebounds, and a shade under 2 steals per game. She was recently traded from the Connecticut Sun to the Wings as part of a four-team deal.

Carrington joins a Reebok Basketball WNBA lineup that includes Angel Reese and Lexie Brown.

The Basketball Africa League plans to honor late African basketball and NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo throughout its upcoming fifth season.

The BAL announced Thursday that it will honor the Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer with a “DM55” jersey patch on all players jerseys worn this season. Mutombo, who died from brain cancer on Sept. 30, 2024, wore No. 55 and his number was retired by the Denver Nuggets and the Atlanta Hawks. The late BAL ambassador and investor will also be honored with a moment of silence before the league’s group play begins in Rabat, Morocco; Dakar, Senegal; and Kigali, Rwanda. The BAL season opener is Saturday night between Mali Stade Malien and Nigeria River Hoopers in Rabat.

Mutombo, who was a regular at BAL games, played for the Nuggets, Hawks, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets during an 18-year NBA career that landed him in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2015. The 7-foot-2 center was a three-time All-NBA selection and was second in NBA history in blocked shots with 3,289. The former Georgetown University star was also a two-time NBA J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award winner for outstanding service and dedication to the community.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver unveiled the NBA Africa Dikembe Mutombo Humanitarian Award on Feb. 15 in San Francisco at the 10th annual NBA Africa All-Star Luncheon. The NBA described the award as “a new annual honor that will recognize a person or an organization that works to advance health, education or economic opportunity across the continent of Africa.”

Following his retirement from the league in 2009, the Democratic Republic of Congo native was the NBA’s first global ambassador, as appointed by late NBA commissioner David Stern.

Crazy Way To Go: In An Attempt To Stop An Armed Robber, Good Samaritan Gets Killed!

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Crazy Way To Go: In An Attempt To Stop An Armed Robber, Good Samaritan Gets Killed!

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SNX: The Week’s Best Sneakers, Featuring The Action Bronson New Balance 990v6, BAPE Adidas SSTR V & More
Daneriveralpc
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Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. All of the best sneaker releases this week are coming once the weekend hits, so if this upcoming Friday is a pay day for you, kiss a chunk of that sweet check goodbye. We’re guessing the reason all the hyped releases hit on Friday and Saturday is because of April Fool’s Day. We get it, it’s hard to trust a sneaker release so close to a day known for its pranks.

Despite this being a strong week — with anticipated collaborations between Action Bronson and New Balance, Adidas and BAPE, and a few gems from Nike — it’s another short one, with just six sneakers we think absolutely need to be on your radar. It seems that if this year in sneakers is anything so far, it is prioritizing quality over quantity. So long as we keep getting dope collabs, we don’t have a problem with that.

Let’s dive into this week’s best sneakers, and where to find them.

Action Bronson x New Balance 990v6 Untitled

Price: $220

This week, Action Bronson surprised announced his latest from New Balance and it has everyone scrambling! This is the hot sneaker to get this week, and as longtime fans of Action Bronson x New Balance linkups, we couldn’t be more psyched.

The sneaker, dubbed “Untitled,” features a mesh and leather upper, a chunky twisted midsole, and seven color design that includes two shades of red, white, pink, navy blue, charcoal, and sail, with Bronson’s Baklava branding and a premium Made in USA build.

While the design sports a lot of different colors, each tone is used very tastefully so it never feels like an absolute mess. Bronson continues to quietly dish out the best sneaker-rapper collabs. Take that Travis Scott.

The Action Bronson x New Balance 990v6 Untitled is set to drop on April 4th for a retail price of $220. Pick up a pair at Specializinginlife, select retailers, or your favorite aftermarket site.

Adidas SSTR V Bape

Price: $160

BAPE is a consistent and reliable partner of Adidas, and while so many collaborations between the brands risks diluting the impact of each subsequent release, when they look this good it’s hard not to be hyped.

The SSTR V BAPE sneakers feature a design inspired by the Adidas Superstar Vintage and the OG ’00s Bapesta, sporting a leather upper with BAPE’s iconic camo pattern embossed into the leather, asymmetrical graphics, and gold metallic accents and dual branding. In place of the three stripes are BAPE’s shooting star icon, with “A Bathing Ape,” in gold foil lettering underneath.

The Adidas SSTR V BAPE is set to drop on Saturday April 5th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Nike Women’s Air Jordan 1 High OG Rare Air

Price: $180

The AJ-1 Rare Air is an interesting concept. The design takes cues from the imperfect and discarded AJ1 samples, including different seams, alternate logo placements, and altered label construction. Basically, it kind of resembles a AJ-1 bootleg, but in the best way possible.

The Rare Air features a leather and suede build with blue NIKE AIR woven labels, a wings logo on the inside collar, and a suede Swoosh.

The Nike Women’s Air Jordan 1 High OG Rare Air is set to drop on April 5th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Nike SB Dunk Low x Yuto Matcha

Price: $135

Japanese pro skater Yuto Horigome is back with his second signature Dunk collaboration with Nike. The Yuto Matcha features a suede and leather build with a mix of Light Khaki, Asparagus and Legion Green colors, giving the sneaker a sort of powdery green color reminiscent of — as the name would suggest — matcha tea.

Rounding out the design is Yuto’s family crest on the lateral heel, plush skate-ready padding, and a heel equipped with. Nike’s Air Zoom unit for enhanced impact cushioning. We love to see this balance of style and function! Another winner from Horigome.

The Nike SB Dunk Low x Yuto Matcha is set to drop on April 5th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $135. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Nike Air Jordan 1 High OG Rare Air

Price: $180

If you were looking at the women’s exclusive Rare Air AJ-1 and feeling left out, don’t worry, because people with big feet are getting a version too. While we like the overall design and colorway on the women’s exclusive a bit more, you still get that remixed Rare Air design here, and a more classic colorway that’ll probably have a wider appeal.

This version of the Rare-Air features a mix of white, royal blue, and sail, with black accents, and the same one-off details on the women’s exclusive, which includes blue woven labels, an inner collar Nike Air Wings logo, and a brush-off Swoosh.

The Nike Air Jordan 1 High OG Rare Air is set to drop on April 5th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.

Adidas Harden Volume 9 Core Black

Price: $160

This week brings a new stealthy take on the Adidas Harden Volume 9. Featuring a Core Black colorway with Lucid Red accents, the Vol. 9 sports a lightweight synthetic and textile upper, a BOOST midsole, and Lightstrike cushioning. This is very much a sneaker designed for performance, but given James Harden’s impeccable sense of style, it also looks great at the same time.

Adidas continues to kill it with their signature basketball sneakers.

The Adidas Harden Volume 9 Core Black is set to drop on April 5th at 12:00 AM PST for a retail price of $160. Pick up a pair via the Adidas CONFIRMED app or aftermarket sites like GOAT and Flight Club.

Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.

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With only a few weeks before the WNBA Draft, Skechers and Kiki Iriafen announced a new partnership today. The former University of Southern California forward will be Skechers’ first-ever collegiate athlete signing. Iriafen will be a brand ambassador for the Los Angeles-based company and will appear in the performance brand’s global marketing campaigns as she starts her professional career. 

“This partnership is about more than just basketball. Skechers understands who I am on and off the court and what I need to be at my best,” Iriafen said in a press release. “I love that the brand is based in L.A. and has the global reach to help me inspire and impact more female athletes worldwide to pursue their dreams. Skechers does comfort better than any other brand I’ve experienced, which gives me confidence to have them as my teammate as I enter into this next chapter of my life.”

Iriafen is the second woman to join the Skechers team as an endorser, following in the footsteps of Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson. In the upcoming season, she will wear the Skechers basketball model, the SKX Nexus. The basketball sneaker’s new hot pink colorway will be available for purchase on April 15, 2025 on the company’s site and select Skechers retail stores.

Iriafen averaged 18.6 PPG and 8.5 RPG for the Trojans this season, powering them to the number one seed in this year’s NCAA women’s basketball tournament. She was recently named first-team All-Big Ten for the 2024-25 season and is seen as a top prospect in this year’s WNBA Draft. 

Iriafen joins a list of Skechers athletes that also includes Joel Embid, Julius Randle, Clayton Kershaw, Aaron Nola, Norman Powell, Jabari Walker, Josh Green, and Terrance Mann. 

ORLANDO – While giving a tour of the Orlando Magic’s practice facility on March 29, forward Paolo Banchero stopped by head coach Jamahl Mosley’s second floor office overlooking two basketball courts. Before Banchero walked out, Mosley offered some mammoth words of respect and confidence to his star forward who has been playing at an elite level of late that proved worthy of an NBA honor.

“There is not much that needs to be said that he is not doing right now,” Mosley said. “He is showing out. Showing what he needs to be doing. Showing what class he belongs in. He is special not just on the dang court, but off the court as well. That is who he is. That is what he represents.

“He is going to be doing it for a long dang time in this league. A problem. I don’t know if I can say it early on, but he is going to be an MVP candidate sooner [rather than] later, I promise you that.”

After walking around the office with nervous energy as Mosley sang his praises, Banchero replied, “Real talk.”

Banchero was named the NBA’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday for the period ending Mar. 30, 2025. During four games last week, the 2024 NBA All-Star averaged 30.3 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 blocks in 35.6 minutes per game while leading the Magic to a 3-1 record. He has scored 20 or more points in 17 consecutive games, as well as 30 or more points in five straight outings from Mar. 19-27, tied for the fourth-longest streak of 30-plus point games in franchise history.

Even so, the Magic’s playoff hopes appear to be riding on success during the play-in tournament. Orlando (37-40) made the postseason last season, but key injuries all season long, being thin at point guard and being the NBA’s worst 3-point shooting team have derailed the possibility of clinching a playoff berth as one of the East’s top six teams. The Magic entered Wednesday as the East’s eighth-seeded team with six games left.

“It’s really getting close to the end. The position we’re in, every game matters to put ourselves in the best position possible for the postseason,” Banchero said. “So, some teams that are at the top or the bottom [of the standings] are resting guys. But we’re the opposite. We’re trying to get every game, doing whatever we can right now.

“I would say the pressure is high. A couple losses, you can be in the 10 [seed]. A couple wins, you can be in seven, maybe six. So, it’s a lot of pressure, but honestly it’s the fun part of the season. Towards the end, you get to start playing for something, which I don’t think anyone on the team is taking for granted. So, everyone’s looking forward to the opportunity.”

During the 2024-25 NBA season, Banchero is sharing insight into his life with the Magic in his monthly diary on Andscape. Draymond Green, Vince Carter, Trae Young, CJ McCollum, Fred VanVleet, De’Aaron Fox, Cade Cunningham, James Wiseman, Josh Jackson and, most recently, Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal, have participated in diaries.

Below is Banchero’s sixth diary of the season, with the latest taking place at the Magic’s practice facility after practice on March 28. In the latest edition, the former Duke star talks about the Magic’s possible play-in positioning and potentially playing the Cleveland Cavaliers or Boston Celtics in the first round, projected 2025 No. 1 NBA draft pick Cooper Flagg and Duke in the Final Four, his younger brother and Seattle O’Dea High School star wide receiver Giulio Banchero’s college football recruiting, Seattle Mariners centerfielder Julio Rodriguez and much more.

My mind is kind of moving towards the play-in. Obviously, that’s not where you want to be, but that’s our reality. So, we will likely end up there, but who knows? But if we do end up there, I’ll be excited, ready to play, ready to get a win. So, it’s not something I’m scared of, or really not ready for, or not wanting to do. If it ends up that way, I’ll be excited, ready to go compete.

The Atlanta Hawks, that is a team myself and my teammates would say we’re very familiar with. We play them four times a year, always have had close games with them since I first got to the league. So, I kind of know what they’re about and just the challenge that they present. At the end of the [regular] season, it’s going to be a little bit of a mini-series with us playing them twice to finish the year out and then us likely seeing them in the play-in. It’s going to be [possibly] three tough games that both teams are going to be trying to win. So, I’m excited for it because it’s a unique challenge playing against them, just the way they play…

With the position we’re in and the season starting to near its end, you start peeping the standards and looking at where you’re at. You’re looking at who you may match up with in the postseason. And with us being the seven-eight [seed] between there, hopefully staying there, it’s either going to be Boston or Cleveland [in the first round of the playoffs]. Those are the top two seeds and neither one of them will be caught by the end of the [regular] season. So, those are pretty much locked in.

So, you play out both scenarios in your head of what that matchup would look like. Either a rematch with Cleveland, who we saw last year [in the playoffs], or see us in Boston, the defending champs. However it ends up, I’ll be excited for the challenge, and soon we’ll find out. So, I’m just getting mentally ready for whatever it is, whatever happens — being mentally prepared, physically ready, just for the series because both of those teams present a great challenge — one being the defending champs and then the other one being probably the best team in the NBA this year in the regular season.

(Note: Banchero played for Duke during the 2022 NCAA Final Four. No. 2 seed Duke lost to its rival No. 8 seed North Carolina 81-77 in the national semifinals. It was also the last game for legendary Duke head coach Mike “Coach K” Krzyzewski.)

When I watch the NCAA tournament [now], I just remember the excitement of being in the tournament, ‘Selection Sunday,’ to the first weekend, then advancing from there. It was just such a great spectacle with all the different teams, especially that first weekend. You got so many different teams and fan bases in that one spot, in that one arena. And it’s just a unique thing. It’s kind of like an AAU tournament almost, but in college.

So, it’s pretty dope just seeing the atmosphere. I remember watching the games before and after ours [at Duke] and just really enjoying it and taking it all in, and watching it on TV, it always gives me the same feeling. Ever since I was a kid, I always loved watching the tournament. I feel like I don’t get to catch as much college ball as much now playing in the NBA, having such a busy schedule, but I’ve definitely been locked in for this NCAA tournament and it’s been pretty entertaining so far.

The [2022] Final Four, for me, it was a little bittersweet. But at the end of the day, it was a once in a lifetime experience. Playing in front of 75,000 people was something that I honestly never thought would happen. I got to go to a Final Four in 2019. I was sitting way up in the 300 level. Just sitting there watching that Final Four, I remember thinking if I would ever get here and just wanting to be there and wondering what it felt like to be on that court in front of all those people. For me to get to experience that and get to play in one of the biggest games in college basketball history, it was an awesome experience I’ll never forget.

It was a huge game. Obviously we didn’t win, so that sucks. I remember just the atmosphere of the game. How intense it was. Just the momentum swings in that game. Everything feels so heavy in a game like that. And it’s just the most-high pressure situations. Every single possession is high pressure and it means something. And I just remember really getting lost in the game and just really enjoying it. Obviously, didn’t win, But we really had a chance. We really should have won, in my opinion. But it just didn’t go our way. But I’m still, thankful I got to experience it. That was a dream that I had that I actually got to live out, so I was awesome.

I would just tell whoever was asking [about playing in the Final Four], you got to just get lost in the game. There’s going to be a lot of butterflies before just everything building up to it. The open practice. The media, All the before stuff. You got to do cameras and intro videos and all that. It is all an experience and it’s all fun to do with your teammates and experience it. But once the game comes, that’s when it sets in. You run out there for warmups, the court is all elevated super high up. You got to take the stairs and get on the court. So, it’s just got a different feeling to it…

I remember ‘Coach K’ told us, ‘When you get out there, at some point, everyone take 30 seconds to a minute to just take in and look at the whole crowd.’ So, I remember during warmups just doing a 360 and looking at all the people that was there. And it was amazing. Couldn’t even see. It looked like little dots. People was all over the place. And so, it was amazing.

I got to present Cooper with his [2024] Gatorade National Player of the Year award, which was a cool experience for me. Just Gatorade allowing me to do that and get to go up there to Montverde [Academy] and it was a little bit of a surprise. We walked in after one of their practices and his whole family was there and everything. So, that was really cool just to deliver that to him.

And he’s a cool kid, man. I remember meeting his family. And his mom was very adamant about me telling him what he needs to do in college and to take the next step. And I just remember telling him, ‘As soon as you get to campus, just go be the best player. Go assert yourself as the best player on the team. Go assert yourself as the leader of the team and the guys will follow.’ And he’s clearly done that…

Duke’s going to win the whole thing because they have the best player in the tournament and they have the best overall team as well. Obviously, Cooper is by far the best player, but their team is also amazing. They have nine to 10 guys that they can put out there and get productive minutes from, which is unheard of in college, and a lot of them are freshmen. I’ve been watching them and I’ve really been impressed with just some of the supporting guys on the team, how well they play together, and how well [Duke head coach Jon] Scheyer has guys bought in to play in their role and running his stuff. I feel like they’re really together this year.

I received the [2025] Rich and Helen DeVos Community Assist Award. And that was just great to be recognized for some of the stuff I’ve done just with the kids and the youth in the communities in Seattle and Orlando. And I really didn’t expect to win it. But I was honored when I did just because that was my first time being recognized for something other than basketball — being recognized for doing good in the community, helping the kids. It’s something that I definitely don’t take lightly.

My little brother, he’s receiver at (Seattle) O’Dea High School and he just finished junior season. They won state championship for the first time since I won a state championship in 2017. He is his own being. I’m sure he’s handling [college football recruiting] with great care. I just talk to him about other stuff, but from what I do know, his recruiting process is going pretty well right now. He is just hearing from schools. He’s working hard. He still got another year of high school. So, in football usually you don’t start getting looked at unless you’re a five-, four-star guy, which he’s not yet. You don’t start getting offers and stuff until your senior year.

So, for him to be able to get a couple offers, a couple looks in his junior season, it’s only just going to help him build his momentum and only get better and get more notoriety for his senior year. So, I’m excited about it just because I always loved football, and it makes me happy that I have a sibling that’s trying to pursue football at a high level because I love the sport. He’s a natural. He didn’t really play growing up. So, when he got to high school and started playing, I hadn’t really seen him play, so, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t really know what it would look like. And I’ll say that I’ve been impressed with some of the stuff he’s been able to do in his high school career. I definitely can say he has natural talent and ability, which doesn’t surprise me, honestly. It did at first, but it kind of makes sense.

I’m super proud of Lio and everything he’s been able to do. Honestly, him picking football up so late in his life and just kind of taking off, it’s impressive. I don’t know if I could have done something like that, not having played for my whole life in early years and then just kind of becoming good at it, which is a big testament to him and how hard he’s worked in the last few years. And I’m one of his biggest fans. I don’t come to a lot of games. I went to the first game of the year of his junior year and the first offensive possession he had a 70-yard touchdown. So, he’s got some stuff to him.

I was watching his state semifinal game where he caught the game-winning Hail Mary. I was in New York watching that on my phone and I literally couldn’t stop yelling for five minutes. I was running around; I get super excited. I wish I could come to more games and be there yelling, talking mess for him. I can’t come to a lot, but I’ll for sure be there start of the senior season. I’ll be at those first couple games and when he goes to college.

I’m not going to put that much expectations on them guys, but the Seattle Mariners, as you can see, I got the [Mariners] shirt on. Opening Day was [March 26]. We got the W against the [San Diego] Padres. I’ve been paying more attention to the Mariners. Honestly, they weren’t very good when I was growing up. They never made the playoffs when I was growing up, so I didn’t pay much attention. But I would say three years ago when they drafted Julio Rodriguez and then they made the playoffs that next season, I really started to pay attention.

I got to meet Julio a couple years ago. [My career and his] are kind of on the same line in terms of years we started and me being a Rookie of the Year, him being a Rookie of the Year. So, he’s a guy that I talk to frequently. He’s come to a couple games in Orlando to watch me play. And then I always try to go to a bunch of Mariners games in the summertime. He’s really embraced Seattle. He’s become cool with not just me, but a few other notable guys around the city, hoopers and stuff like that.

He’s really embraced the city, which is dope to see a star like that embrace the city of Seattle. I’ve been keeping up with him this year. [The Mariners] are going to get back to the playoffs; Julio, he’s going to have another breakout season and lead us to the playoffs. So, I’m excited to watch the guys and I’m excited to come to some games down there at T-Mobile Park in the summertime.

I wasn’t a star in baseball because I was a star in track and field. So, I had three sports that I was a star at. And I was like, ‘You know what? If I’m a star at four, then they really going to hate me.’ So, I had to be bad at something. Baseball I really wasn’t the best at. But I think the more I watch it as I get older, the more I like it. One of the most entertaining things for me to watch in sports is playoff baseball. Playoff baseball is some of the best TV you can get. So, I’ve kind of grown to like baseball even though that wasn’t my thing. I did play for a few years, but it wasn’t my main sport for sure.

The NCAA Women’s Final Four has arrived and isn’t short of star power.

From Paige Bueckers with UConn to Dawn Staley at South Carolina, the field in Tampa is set for a weekend of compelling games and storylines. Andscape senior writer Sean Hurd, columnist William C. Rhoden and digital lead Erik Horne discuss what they’re looking forward to this weekend, Staley’s legacy and coaching job this season, the blow of women’s basketball missing JuJu Watkins in Tampa, Notre Dame’s Olivia Miles entering the transfer portal, the outstanding play of UConn’s Sarah Strong and more.