From Underdog to 4x State ChampFrom Underdog to 4x State Champ | AJ Braziel

Nothing was handed to AJ Braziel.

AJ is a coach at Sagemont Prep in Weston, a 4-time state champion, founder of OTM (Out The Mud) Training, and a trainer who works with some of the best players in the country.

In Episode 1 of Respect Your Journey, AJ sits down with hosts Jamar Gopie and Enrique Alvarez to talk about the experiences that shaped him as a player, coach, trainer, and leader.

The conversation dives into his underdog journey, what it took to build OTM, coaching at a championship level, developing elite players, the changing culture of basketball, loyalty, parenting young athletes, and what success really looks like.

Everybody sees the success. Few see what it took to get there.

🎙️ Respect Your Journey — Episode 1

Guest: AJ Braziel | OTM Training | Sagemont Prep

Hosts: Jamar Gopie & Enrique Alvarez

Respect the Journey.

#RespectYourJourney #AJBraziel #OTMTraining #SagemontPrep #BasketballPodcast

Subscribe for a new journey every week: https://www.youtube.com/@RespectYourJourney?sub_confirmation=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/respectyourjourney

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:00 What "Out the Mud" means

4:00 Playing up at 17 and redshirting vs. reclassing

7:00 How he started training players

9:00 Training, teaching and coaching at the same time

11:00 The player he's proudest of

14:00 Taking over as head coach

17:00 Four state titles and staying consistent

22:00 Is loyalty disappearing from basketball?

23:00 "Everybody's a trainer"

25:00 Building a winning culture

26:00 Advice for basketball parents

28:00 What success looks like for your child

29:00 The real cost of youth basketball

33:00 Ball handling: the skill every player needs

37:00 Earning respect and the streetball era

41:00 Fatherhood and his daughter's future in sports

45:00 80% genetics, 20% everything else

47:00 LeBron vs. Jordan

50:00 Why he stopped watching the NBA