🏈 Behind every great athlete is a parent who figured it out as they went. Alisha Jordan did exactly that — and now her 6'7" son CJ is a Tight End from Walton High School and commit to NC State. In this episode, she pulls back the curtain on what it actually took: the process, the decisions, and the conversations most parents never have. If your child is making the leap from middle school to high school — or high school to college — this one is for you.

About TAP Podcast

The TAP Podcast offers a powerful look into the fast-changing landscape of youth sports through the lens of those who shape it. Each episode spotlights the voices that make up the student-athlete ecosystem—parents, coaches, trainers, mental health professionals, videographers, financial advisors, and NIL agents—capturing how they guide, support, and influence today’s athletes. Through insightful conversations and real stories, TAP examines how student athletes are navigating the pressures of recruiting, the rise of social media, and the expanding opportunities within the NIL era. The show goes beyond the game, exploring the mental, emotional, and practical tools needed to help student athletes thrive on and off the field. Our Mission To deliver the essential playbook for student athlete success—in the classroom, in competition, and throughout life.

The Birth of The Transition

Since 2008, the mission has been to help players become better people, but is that all? Times have changed over the years. Now there are plenty of personal trainers and skill development coaches eager to teach and help this generation of athletes, BUT WHO IS TAKING THE TIME TO

HELP THE TEACHERS?!

This is the dilemma that I realized in 2018 as I began traveling the world and served as a professional coach overseas. There was no blueprint or roadmap for how to improve and grow as a coach. The “student of the game” found himself in a new state of “transition”.

1. How do I grow my basketball IQ as a coach to better serve my players?
2. How do I approach player development so that my players can get consistent results?
3. How do I eventually build my own personal coaching philosophy?
4. How do navigate the business side of basketball as a trainer?
5. How do I become a better assistant coach?
6. What does it take to become a successful head coach?

After 16 years of struggling, studying, learning from mentors, and serving in numerous roles, I have put together a comprehensive curriculum that will allow you to skip the painful failures

and hard lessons that so many experience because of ignorance and make a larger impact on your players!

What does it really take to help a student athlete thrive — not just on the field, but in life? In this episode, we sit down with Danielle, a mental health professional who gets it from the inside out. As a former student athlete herself — competing in both lacrosse and hockey — Danielle brings a level of understanding to her clients that's rare in the field. She knows the pressure, the identity, the grind. Her work speaks for itself: Danielle has worked with Olympic gold medalist hockey player Hayley Scamurra, helping elite athletes navigate the mental side of performance and life beyond the sport. In this conversation, we get into: What student athletes are really struggling with mentally How to build resilience and identity beyond your sport The transition out of athletics — and why so many athletes hit a wall What parents, coaches, and athletes can do right now to set up for long-term success Whether you're a student athlete, a parent, a coach, or just someone who loves the mindset conversation — this one's for you.

About Danielle Vallas and DG Wellness Consulting

The premier choice for corporations, schools, and athletic teams seeking training and professional development on a variety of wellness topics. We provide information and tools to inspire long-lasting change in the office, at school, and at home. As mental health counselors, we offer compassionate care and counseling for kids, teens, and adults. Our team is growing and we are accepting new clients for in-person or virtual sessions.

https://www.amazon.com/Mental-Health-Journal-Performance-Sports/dp/B0GP9N2CS8?ref_=ast_author_mpb

https://www.dgwellnessconsulting.com/

https://www.buffalobelieves.com/

About TAP Podcast The TAP Podcast offers a powerful look into the fast-changing landscape of youth sports through the lens of those who shape it. Each episode spotlights the voices that make up the student-athlete ecosystem—parents, coaches, trainers, mental health professionals, videographers, financial advisors, and NIL agents—capturing how they guide, support, and influence today’s athletes. Through insightful conversations and real stories, TAP examines how student athletes are navigating the pressures of recruiting, the rise of social media, and the expanding opportunities within the NIL era. The show goes beyond the game, exploring the mental, emotional, and practical tools needed to help student athletes thrive on and off the field. Our Mission To deliver the essential playbook for student athlete success—in the classroom, in competition, and throughout life.

Sosuke “SOS” Watanabe brings experience across media production, event operations, and marketing, building a career centered around helping athletes and organizations grow through competition and storytelling. His work at the intersection of sports, entrepreneurship, and media has given him a strong understanding of how to build platforms that elevate athletes and strengthen basketball communities.

A former collegiate athlete, Sosuke understands firsthand the dedication and opportunities that shape a player’s journey. That experience fuels his passion for grassroots basketball and his commitment to helping young athletes pursue their dreams both on and off the court.

Now serving as a Regional Director for Phenom Hoops, Sosuke focuses on organizing high-level tournament events that create meaningful exposure and competitive opportunities for players. He is dedicated to building strong relationships with coaches, programs, and families while creating environments where athletes can develop, compete, and believe in the possibilities ahead of them.

Quote

“I’m incredibly grateful for Phenom Hoops and the Lewis Family for trusting me to join the Phenom family as we expand the brand across the Southeast. I’m excited to get to work creating a safe and competitive space for grassroots basketball while helping young athletes chase their dreams”

Michael "Duke" Williams (born October 15, 1990) is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack, and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. Williams has also played for the Indianapolis Colts.

Williams attended Hug High School in Reno, Nevada, and played high school football for the Hug Hawks. He was a three-sport standout who earned 12 varsity letters in his career in football, basketball and track and field. He played both ways as a quarterback and defensive back, and was the Northern Nevada Player of the Year as a senior and a three-time all-state selection as a safety.

Duke was also an accomplished athlete, he competed for the school's track & field team as a jumper and sprinter. He won the 100 meters at the 2009 Northwest Invite, setting a career-best time of 11.34 seconds.[1] He won the triple jump at the 2009 Fallon Elks Invitational, with a personal-best jump of 15.20 meters, that ranked in the top 10 in the nation that year.[2] He was also a member of the 4 × 100-meter relay team that broke the state record with a time of 41.34 seconds.

Champ Barlow is the founder of 3P Athletics. Champ has always had a passion for a healthy and active lifestyle. He played college basketball at Pepperdine University where he earned his Bachelors Degree in Advertising. After his college career, he spent several years traveling around the world playing professional basketball.

Since he began his personal training career, he has earned his NASM-Certified Personal Training Certificate, NASM- Performance Enhancement Specialist Certificate, Insanity Master Instructor, and AAAI/ISM Certified Personal training Certificate. He has worked with numerous clients of all ages, abilities and backgrounds, helping them set and achieve their goals through Practice, Preparation and Performance! He enjoys training, inspiring, and supporting his clients achieve their goals.

In the nine seasons of coaching, Coach Slone has helped 36 players go on to play college basketball on scholarship and five to play professionally. He has seven years coaching at the high school level and two years coaching at the Division I level. In the last three years, Coach Slone has coached 16 players who went on to commit or receive Division I offers, and that list is growing. Another nine have went on to commit to the Division II level.