Braydon Cordeiro (170-PG) is a 170cm point guard that is currently playing at St. Lawrence College-Kingston (CCAA). He is taking part at the Howard Hoops Pro Combine in Italy. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.

Thanks Braydon for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how is basketball life treating you at the moment?

I’m located in Ontario Canada. Basketball is the greatest thing of my life; it is something I spend most of my time doing. This year I have made great connections trying to get to the next level. I want to get ten times better than I am now, I want to become smarter, more controlled, and effective. With the work that imI’putting in I am learning more, training harder and performing way better than I ever have in my basketball career.

You will be taking part at the Howard Hoops Pro Combine in Italy. How excited are you to come overseas and show your skills?

I am super excited to get the opportunity to come showcase my abilities in Italy, and to perform with other professionals. I have been working really hard for this; doing 2 basketball sessions a day, plus weightlifting. Trying to add new skills plus maximize the ones I already have. Figuring out what I need to do to pursue the one thing I truly love to do.

How did you find the contact to Ronald Howard (181-PG-1984, college: Mayville St.)? Was it more through guys you know of finding information online?

I met Ronald Howard through a friend that plays also. Him giving me his information has changed my outlook on how I can become a professional and how hard I have to work on being there as well.

How thankful are you of having found Ronald Howard? He has been helping guys get jobs overseas for a decade.

I am super thankful for Ron! All it takes is one person to give you a shot, one person to care about your needs, so you can succeed in life, and I truly think Ron has done that for me.

What have you appreciated most about him? He is a guy that lives and breathes basketball and wants to give the underdog a shot:

The thing I appreciate most about Ron is that he wants to see everyone succeed and live their dreams. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, how big you are, nothing and that’s why he’s good at what he does.

You are a special case at the Howard Combine in that your still in school. With what expectations are you coming playing against pro’s?

I am expecting guys to be more physical, to be smarter with their decision making, to be able to control the game. What I am looking to get from this is experience, knowledge, being able to play against bigger, stronger defenders. To learn how to fit myself into a puzzle where I can grow my game beyond.

Let’s talk a big about your game. If you had to describe your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?

I don’t stop moving. I have a really good shot from all levels. A crisp handle. I work super hard on defense. I take an abundance of charges. My greatest strength is my communication skills, talking through everything, telling people where to go, what they should do on screens, where shooters are, who’s a driver, tagging rollers, everything.

Talk a little about your game. What are your main strengths? You’re a short guard. How have you had to deal with your height as a player?

On the offensive end I abuse my shooting abilities, in my college league I’m known as the shooter that will let it fly at any given opportunity; that’s in transition, off screens, kicks, mismatches. I also help my teammates get open and get good looks because I set screens and create confusion with my gravity. But my biggest strength is my defensive effort. I am assigned to guard the best players even if they are way taller than me, to guard the quick guards, the shooters, anything coach needs me to do I can do it because of my effort. One thing I learned about myself this year is how much of a floor general I am on the defensive end, small but very loud. Obviously bigger guys like to post me up but I have had that all my basketball career, I have learned how to do my work early I say, ‘If you’re going to try to post me up, one you’re going to work for it and two you’re not going to want to do it again and again’. I’m scrapy downlow, doing my work early, letting my teammates know that they got to help the lob while I three quarter front or full front.

Are you a pass first or scoring type of player?

Off catch I always look for my shot first but when I put the ball down it is to get into positions to make a pass or a scoring opportunity

What is a hidden strength in your game that isn’t noticed right away on the court?

My determination, my effort, how I’m going to fight every second I have.

On what area’s of your game are you working on most at the moment so you can continue to grow as a player?

Right now I’m working on my vision and being able to attack the rack more consistently. Being known as the shooter people have started to learn how to take part of my game away, so I need to up my ability to drive and be more efficient inside the three-point line. Also working on extending my range to be harder to guard on the perimeter and be able to be a threat from beyond.

Your going into your fifth season at St. Lawrence College-Kingston (CCAA). What kind of an experience has that been? What has been your fondest moment up to date?

My fondest moment with being at St. Lawrence was my fourth year, teams switched up their defensive plans for me so I wasn’t as effective on the offensive end as I should have been. I learned how hard it really is to be a captain. I learned how hard it is to lead a team. I also learned that I need to get better at a lot of aspects of my game. Failing so hard this basketball season truly made me work harder, focus on what I need to do, how I need to get better. This season made me want to become a pro

What has it been like playing for Kevin Smart? How has he been able to help you most with your game?

Having Kevin Smart is one of the best things that has happened to me for basketball. He’s an effort type of guy if you show effort, he’ll play you, if you’re willing to work hard every second you are on the court, he’ll play you. Just knowing that alone makes me work hard. He’s helped with my game, giving me confidence wherever I need it, always telling me to ‘hunt my shots’ to ‘find teammates’. Letting me know that he sees how much effort I put in. Telling me what I need to be doing so we can win.

Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Janahan Yogeshwaran?

Myself

Who was the toughest player you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?

He didn’t reach the NBA but Jaz Bains. Shiftiest guard and with the road he went down his mental game is hard to match with his skill.

Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time?
Tyler Bark
Hassan Majid
Tom Withey
Bradley Richards
Mark Lue-Hue

What is your personal NBA Mount Rushmore of past or present heads?

Kobe, Lebron, Kyrie and Mike

Who is your GOAT and why?

Kobe is my GOAT, because he was very specific and the words, he said were very true. The younger me wouldn’t agree but we all have 24 hours and what you do in that 24 daily is what you’ll become. You can’t half-fast your workouts, you can’t workout 3-4 times a week and expect to get better, you can’t just go to the park and mess around and expect to be better than the guy that’s going hard every rep. The reason he is my Goat is because he made me realize that I have lots of time to get better every single day, that if I put more effort than you that I will be better, don’t matter the size. He has made me become something different that a lot of people claim they have.

Did you see the sequel of the classic Coming To America? Shouldn’t they have left it alone?

I have yet to see the sequel of Coming to America. I am going to watch it tonight and see if it is good or not. The first one was great, it’s hard to make a movie that was good years ago better.

Thanks Braydon for the chat.

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