Interview With 1250's Mike "Big Time" McGivern

 Quick facts:

• Name: Mike McGivern
• Basketball History: Coached for 33 years including 15 in high school
• Where you may know him from: Host of 1250 WSSP's Varsity Blitz

I am honored to have had the chance to interview someone with as much high school basketball knowledge as Mike McGivern. Getting an interview with him was actually pretty simple considering he is also my father. But I realized I have never really sat down and just listened to his insights on the game of high school basketball. So this was actually a lot of fun.

I really wanted to get to the heart of high school and what makes it special, along with just reader's digest version of what to expect right now if you are new to the WI high school basketball arena. 

1) My Question: What makes high school basketball worth celebrating in your eyes?

1."I love the fact that these kids play for the love of the game. 99% of these kids play high school sports to represent their school, their family, and community. 

2.Players have to start to understand the term student/athlete and teamwork and all that goes a long way in their life. 

3.Lastly, the importance of learning how to win or lose with grace and dignity are such valuable lessons learned as young adults."

2) What do high school players need to know if they hope to one day play somewhere in college?

1."First and most important is that they have to take care of business in the classroom beginning in their freshman year. They cannot think that they can wait until their junior year to start focusing on their grades. 

2.As far as playing in college, I think that kids have to understand that on the college level, everyone was the star on their team at the HS level and they need to understand how much work they have to put into it to be able to compete."

3)  What are the greatest attributes a high school player needs to have if he wants to maximize his talents?     

      "Most importantly he needs to have strong drive, a passion for the game, and a humble spirit to accept direction."

4) What high school players in Wisconsin do fans need to know about? 

  

    1. "Three of the top players that most people are already talking about include Zak Showalter from Germantown, JP Tokoto from Menomonee Falls, and Sam Dekker from Sheboygan Lutheran."  

·         #3 Zak Showalter 6'3 Senior- 21.8 ppg (Germantown 20-0)

·         #10 Jean-Pierre Tokoto 6'6 Senior- 24.7 ppg (Menomonee Falls 11-8) 

·         #1 Sam Dekker 6'8 Senior- 31.2 ppg(Sheboygan Lutheran 15-4)

   

  2. "Another player is Diamond Stone from Dominican who is one of the best freshman players I have seen in a long time. I also really like Peter Drummond from Racine Lutheran. I love this kid's game but no one seems to talk about him as much as they should." 

·         #33 Diamond Stone 6'9 Fresman- 12.7 ppg (Dominican 18-1)

·         #21 Peter Drummond 5'11 Senior- 14.6 ppg (Racine Lutheran 16-2)

5) Which teams have positively surprised you this year?         

             "The teams that have surprised me with the success they've had this year are:

                           1.        West Allis Central (This Season 14-4, Last Season 8-16 ) 

                            2.     Milwaukee King (This Season16-1, Last Season 22-3)

                            3.       Milwaukee Vincent (This Season: 15-4, Last Season: 6-16)

                            4.       Watertown High School (This Season: 13-7, Last Season: 15-8)

        I really enjoyed this interview and I am sure you will be 
hearing from Mike McGivern again on this blog as we head into 
the State tournament.  

             BUT

    Just in case you can’t wait that long check out about Mike’s Wendy’s Varsity Blitz: 
            Basketball Edition 
oAnd the 1250 WSSP website at:

                           http://www.sportsradio1250.com/pages/10686868.php
      Or listen to his show directly 10am till Noon on Saturdays, only on AM 1250 WSSP.