Underrated High School Coach! Put Some Respeck On His Name!
December 20th, 2017
A focused, diligent, and conscientious man from White Castle, Louisiana, up comes Coach Hellion “Boog” Knight. Boog was known to play basketball overseas, coach one of the former top high school teams in the US, as well as coach some of the top high school basketball prospects individually. He is known for his genuine care and passion for his players as well as his phenomenal coaching skills. Early, during his season I got to meet up with him and ask a few questions:
Do you remember any childhood experiences, involving basketball, in which impact you today?
Yes, I have many but if I had to choose one it would be winning the National Championship at eleven years old. Young, back against the wall, not expecting to win, counted out I had two of the biggest games in my life which actually led us to winning the National Championship. This helped define me as a player and allowed me to realize what I was made of; that I was different.
What was it like to play overseas?
Definitely not what everybody thinks it is: it has its highs and lows and some countries are better than others. I played in London, Germany, and Cyprus but out of all three I loved Cyprus more than anything because of the amazing food, amazing weather year-round, living on the beach next to the Mediterranean Sea, and the life outside of basketball was great.
What inspired you to become a basketball coach?
I never envisioned myself coaching. I always thought I would be a business owner when I finished playing but I ended up hurt, in a wheelchair. I had an old coach who I played for who wanted to help me get back on my feet so he invited me to come coach with him. One thing led to another, I fell in love with helping young men and I have not looked back since.
Describe a typical practice or day of work.
It is different for me than it is for most. We have 6am practice which involves me getting up at 4:15am, due to the fact that I live in Lancaster and I have an hour worth of driving to pick up players. After driving from Duncanville, Glen Heights, Cedar Hill, then back to Lancaster, we have practice, involving skill work from about 6-8am. We take about an hour break then come back at 9:30 and go until 11. When practice is officially done I load all the guys up, they shower at my place, I feed them, and then we go to school from 12:30-5:30pm working on all their core classes to be academically eligible. After school we go back to the gym and go from about 6-8pm.
What teachers or coaches have been an influence on your life?
Definitely my high school coaches, Coach Johnson and Coach Jones. Without them there would be no Hellion Knight. I was a bad kid, did a lot of things, but I had a lot of talent therefore they did a lot for me both mentally and physically. Also all the coaches I was under, Coach Borne and Coach Cross, that taught me and prepared me, and now to be under Coach Ray I continue to learn that it is a difference from being a player than actually teaching the game.
What are the most important character building qualities to teach your players?
Respect, self-discipline, self-motivation and to go all out and give it your all day in and day out because you never know when everything could end. More so the will to want to be the best at what you do and not accept losing, from there they can build off that.
In your opinion what qualities make a good coach?
A coach who is himself, self-disciplined, tough but loving, goes out of his way for the kids and does not do just what they are asked for, hopefully having the kids take on this same approach with life as well. A good coach would let his players know that it is much more than just basketball and when they understand they are not just basketball players, they respect you differently.
How has coaching affected your life?
Coaching has affected my life greatly. Sometimes it is not always for the best but I feel it has its turn outs to be good either way. As far as my coaching I feel it is my purpose to give back to the youth especially coming up as minorities you don’t always have it figured out so I feel basketball is sometimes a tool that we use. It’s not who we are, it’s just a tool we can use to take us anywhere in life whether its education or making a whole lot of money to take care of your family. I enjoy showing them a different route other than anything typical coming out of certain neighborhoods.
How do you teach your players to balance their game and academics?
Academics first. Without that you can not go anywhere, so I teach them a balance that the same approach you use on the court you have to take in school because they go hand in hand. I teach the more of perfecting their craft and going in daily with the mindset of doing what you need to do. Basketball is a given, but school is mandatory.
I know you treat the players on your team like your own and allow them to reside in your home. What would you want them to get out of this experience?
I want them to learn how to be successful young men. When they step foot out of my door I want them to be equipped to handle the world because the world isn’t always what it portrays to be. I also want them to be able to take care of their family along with themselves and do things other than basketball.
How do you plan on improving as a coach from year to year?
I’m a basketball junkie, all I do is study and watch basketball. I’m always inquisitive, always open to learn new things, I’m never one to think I know it all. From year to year I plan to continue to learn, watch, break down things, teach, and have the same passion. With that same passion I feel I’m open to learn new things: what does work and what doesn’t work and continue to build from there.
What’s next for Coach Boog?
I never really know what’s next. I go day by day, never to predict the future because it’s not my plan, its God’s plan. I usually ask him what he wants me to do and whatever comes up in that conversation between me and him I usually just go with it. I feel no matter what I do it’ll be successful because I know God won’t steer me wrong. I’ve been successful for this long because I have a higher power that I look and pray to. Right now, I don’t know what’s next but I’m just going to enjoy and stay in the moment, make the best of what it’s going to be, and try to bridge over to whatever it is that may come.
After interviewing Coach Knight, I got to converse with one of his players, 6’8 power forward Tyreek Smith about how he felt about his coach allowing him to come stay in his home. Smith's response was, “It felt a bit unusual but I was kind of happy to get out of Baton Rouge. No more hugs from mama, no more playing with my little sister. My life was changing but it made me grow up a little.” It' obvious that Coach Knight is a man that helps change young men's lives forever, only for the better. Although Boog is a great coach, his last year of coaching high school ended in 2017 with the API Bulldogs. Boog is now onto branding himself on the pro side of sports and entertainment in basketball, football, baseball and boxing. He is the head and lead man for Young Money APAA Sports & Entertainment, an agency provided to professional athletes worldwide. Knowing he puts 110% into everything he does, we can't wait to see what more this man is capable of and how much he'll have accomplished.
