Trey Pinkard Interview | 2027 PG Talks Manila Championship, Growth & Point Guard Leadership

Trey Pinkard is a name college coaches need to know.
In this One-Eyed Watchlist interview, we sit down with 3⭐️ Trey Pinkard, a 2027 point guard out of Grand Oaks High School (Houston, Texas) and LivOn EYBL 16U, to talk about leadership, winning, development, and what separates real point guards from everybody else.
Trey is more than just a stat line. He’s a floor general who understands pace, poise, and control. We also dive into his experience competing in the NBTC International Tournament in Manila, Philippines, where FilAm Nation Select USA won the championship and Trey was named an outstanding performer after averaging 14 points per game on a loaded team.
This is the kind of basketball conversation that helps coaches, parents, and players understand what actually translates.
In this interview, Trey talks about:
His journey as a 2027 basketball prospect
What it means to truly play point guard
His experience winning internationally in Manila, Philippines
Leadership, confidence, and how he approaches the game
What he’s working on to keep growing
What college coaches should know about him now
If you care about basketball recruiting, player development, Texas high school basketball, and finding real prospects before everybody else catches on, this episode is for you.
Subscribe for more One-Eyed Watchlist interviews, player evaluations, and basketball truth.
📍 Player: Trey Pinkard
🏀 School: Grand Oaks High School
📌 Class: 2027
📏 Size: 6’0, 160 lbs
🔥 Club: LivOn EYBL 16U
🌎 Location: Houston, Texas
Follow Trey:
IG: @treypinkard2027
Don’t guess the process — grab The Parent Recruiting Roadmap: https://a.co/d/0chCXmyQ
#TreyPinkard #GrandOaks #LivOnEYBL #HoustonBasketball #2027Basketball #PointGuard #BasketballRecruiting #TexasBasketball #EYBL #HighSchoolBasketball #OneEyedScout #BasketballInterview #PlayerDevelopment #NBTC #FilAmNation

https://youtu.be/SjLU5pWokes

 Shoutout to The Brunch Spot in Converse — great food, great people, and always showing love to the game. This is The One-Eyed Scout Show, and remember — it ain’t for everybody. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:59

Hello everyone. Welcome in. It's the One Eye Scout here today. Very excited. We got a Trey Pinkert, uh, High Point University Commit, fresh off a trip to the Philippines, and just can't wait to really get to know about more about Trey, uh, who he is, uh, what he means to the Grand Oaks community. And hey, Trey, man, thanks for being here today. I really appreciate it. No problem. You know, uh let's set the tone, man. Let's let people know more about you before we move on, right? So for people who may not know you yet, who is trained peaker on and off the court?

SPEAKER_01 1:46

So I'm like any other person. Uh I love to have fun, love to be with my friends, uh but on the court. I love to compete. I'm a leader, uh, love to win, and yeah, just have fun.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

You know, that's that leadership piece, uh that competitive piece, the desire to win also includes a desire uh to prepare. And so with that, man, when did basketball really become serious for you?

SPEAKER_01 2:22

So in the seventh to eighth grade, I played for blue chips. Um we competed everywhere. We went against the top teams, uh, competed against the top players, and we were beating them. So I decided, yeah, I want to take this further and make it my future.

SPEAKER_00 2:41

Man, that's that's awesome, man. Uh, you know, it's do you feel like that kind of prepare you to have a different identity uh with basketball? And the reason I say that, man, is like you're obvious you're already committed with high point university. So that automatically uh puts you in a in the top five percent uh of players getting to play after high school, right? So at what point did you kind of feel like you belonged in that group?

SPEAKER_01 3:14

Uh so it was probably in the eighth grade, yeah, when we was competing against those players, I was I was handling my own and we were just winning. So yeah, I just thought about that, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:27

So and and this question's a little off script, I'm sorry, but I have a question to you. Like, did you because I know Houston area, you know, um were you able to play against older players? Did that help grow your confidence? Or I mean, let's face it, you played all over the world already. So how were you able to maintain and get ahead?

SPEAKER_01 3:54

So my dad, he would always bring me up to these situations like I was like second grade, going against seventh graders, going up to the courts, just competing, having to hold my own, and getting used to doing what's gonna work in the game.

SPEAKER_00 4:12

You know what, man? That's a powerful, powerful tool, man. Too many families are trying to uh do the opposite, you know, and so that that's really to be applauded. Um so let's move on to you know, talking about the position and your mentality. You know, what do you believe your job is before the ball is even tipped off? What's your job?

SPEAKER_01 4:41

So as a point guard, I'm supposed to uh tell the team advantages that we can use during the game, uh pick up their energy, get them ready, and be a leader, leader in their warmups.

SPEAKER_00 4:55

Yeah, you know, because honestly, man, for me as a scout walking in, I'm telling you that I'm watching from the time guys walk in to the game till they walk out, and uh those little nuances, man, they they carry a lot of a lot of a lot of a lot of weight. Um this is one I'm interested for you specifically. Okay? Uh when you're running a team, how do you balance getting your own shot versus making sure everybody else is involved?

SPEAKER_01 5:27

So really it all comes out to winning. Uh as the point guard, uh, I'm gonna make the right play, get everyone involved. But as the game goes on, me making the right play will open up shots for me and help us win.

SPEAKER_00 5:43

Yeah, you know, and you know what's what I've been harping on people is about the right shot. You know, regardless of position, like when the offense turns and it's your and you're in the right shot, if you don't take it, then the offense is messed up. And uh you know, I see where you average 14 points a game season, you got 20 point games. But I'm always interested when I ask that question because you know, so much is asked of a point guard, and now um scoring is is a piece of that. Would you consider yourself pass first or or point or score or defense?

SPEAKER_01 6:26

Really, I'm everything. I could do whatever you want me to do, whenever whenever you want me to do. So if you need me to pass, if you need me to do it, I could do what it wants.

SPEAKER_00 6:37

Yeah, because that's interesting, because as you play with uh elevated teammates, right? You know, I was talking, I was talking with a family the other day that you get put in positions, all of a sudden you're a pass point guard depending upon the people that you play with. You know, and uh I love that answer of whatever it takes to win, you know. So when a coach watches you, okay, on the court, games already started, what do you want them to immediately feel about your presence in that position?

SPEAKER_01 7:15

Well, so when the coach watches me, I went to the field that I'm a leader, I'm competitive, love, love to play defense, um, and just do everything it takes to win and get my team better.

SPEAKER_00 7:28

You know, man, that that's beautiful because I'm a defensive first person, you know. Um I know there's different theories out there, but I believe you gotta be able to shut people down, and that that'll turn into some of your offense. So that's a beautiful answer to my ears, Trey. Uh let's talk a little bit about your your recent experience. Um you went to the Manila, Philippines, you played in an international tournament and won it all. What did that experience teach you or help cement for you?

SPEAKER_01 8:06

Well, so down there, they they were like recklessly competitive, so that just helped me fit uh deal with the physicality more, um, and just yeah, helped me bring it back to America and get better.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

Yeah, that's uh I don't know how many times you've been able to travel. Um, but what's that travel experience? I mean, I know you say guys are reckless, and I agree, when you get to that level, man, that's a different personality uh with th with those guys. But just from the culture aspect, like the being around, so being around all those different basketball players at their such a high level. Um is there kind of an ambiance or a feeling walking through there?

SPEAKER_01 9:00

Uh yeah. Um, so us coming from the United States, all the fans, they knew us, they respected us. Uh they even they took pictures, wanted our autographs. So it just felt good to come out there, show what we have, and play with the best of the Filipinos down there.

SPEAKER_00 9:17

That's awesome, man. It really is. And after coming back from that experience, what do you think is gonna change the most in the way you you see yourself as a player?

SPEAKER_01 9:29

So what's gonna change the well really just competing?

SPEAKER_00 9:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

Go ahead. Yeah, so really just competing. Um down there, we had to uh do things differently. They have new rules down there, they have yeah, different rules than the US. So probably playing more physical and just getting better.

SPEAKER_00 9:52

Um I'm guessing that they play with the FIBA rules.

SPEAKER_01 9:56

Yeah, we play with FIBA rules, feeble ball, fever.

SPEAKER_00 9:59

Man, uh I remember having to do those kind of transitions and it and it drove me nuts. Uh the goaltuning piece was the one that really got me. Um so let's talk about you know, your work, your development, your edge, you know. Um as a as a 2027 guard, what part of your game do you think has grown the most over the last year?

SPEAKER_01 10:26

Definitely my pull-up game. I've implemented a pull-up throughout the season and it's the mid-range throughout the season, and it's worked perfectly.

SPEAKER_00 10:35

Man, I am I am so glad to hear pull-up mid-range, you know, because uh that that is a missing element in that. And uh I think it's gonna be a return. Um, you know, we we listened to Coach Lloyd at Arizona talk about how many points they scored in the paint, you know, versus everyone else. That's pretty uh that's an important part. Um do you remember do you remember Damar DeRozan? Um he's on the tail end of his career, but he spent time with the Spurs, uh, with the Bulls, and uh prior to that, I forget where he was, but man, he made a living in in the mid-range, uh, been there a long time. All right, man. So now what are what are you what does a real good workout look like for you?

SPEAKER_01 11:29

Competing, drenched in sweat, uh having fun, being efficient, yeah, just doing all those things what a real good workout should be.

SPEAKER_00 11:39

Alright, man. So here's here's a critical piece. Shots aren't falling, things aren't going your way. What part of your game still shows up every time?

SPEAKER_01 11:52

Well, as a point guard, you can always make reads, always be a leader, and can always play defense. So doing that every single time will just help your team win, even though, even if your shots are not falling.

SPEAKER_00 12:04

You know, all three of those aspects, man, they travel to any game, any country, any stadium. Um last thing, and then we'll move on to goals. But you know, what separates players who are talented from players who are actually built to keep rising? And I'll clarify that.

SPEAKER_01 12:22

Definitely working hard. Yeah, definitely working hard. Stacking days one after the other, getting better after, even if you're tired, just keep on going.

SPEAKER_00 12:31

Yeah. You know, uh Pierbound, we're talking in uh in relation to Kingston at U of H and uh how he came in and elevated his game, you know, uh, even from what we saw here in San Antonio, never really got the accolades that he deserved, but now he played himself into potentially a lottery pick, built on those types of continue to rise, work habits, dedication pieces. All right, man. So I'm I'm gonna ask you the question that I was curious with earlier. What about Hype Points program or coaching staff made you feel like this was it?

SPEAKER_01 13:23

It's definitely the coach. Instantly understood what what everybody knows now, that he's a very great coach. He's honest, straightforward, and he's definitely my type of coach. I know exactly where he wants, and I'm gonna execute it. But we also chose high point because it it checked all five of my boxes as a player. Um, the coach is the first part. Secondly, their play style fits my strengths as strengths. The third third is the the team is always gonna be good. Like they made March Madness two years in a row now. Um their academic, uh, yeah, their academic is very good there, and just the campus is beautiful itself.

SPEAKER_00 14:06

Yeah, man. I mean, you're up there in basketball country, you know. Um and and and that's awesome. You know what? That's that's good, man. You went in with a plan. You know, you obviously uh family has put together a pretty good plan for you on the recruiting trail, on basketball development, and man, that's huge. That's huge. So accolades to both you and the family. Um, so right now, man, all right, so what are we chasing right now going into our senior year? Uh development, winning, respect, or all of the above?

SPEAKER_01 14:42

We're definitely chasing all the above, just getting better, getting ready for college right now.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

You know, um, we're gonna kind of wrap it around this last little bit, right? And I'm curious, if young a younger guard is watching you right now, what's one thing you tell him about what it really takes to keep leveling up?

SPEAKER_01 15:05

Yeah, like I said earlier, definitely stacking days, getting better, um, working when you don't want to work, and getting your strength conditioning right.

SPEAKER_00 15:15

Man, it's been a it's been a beautiful 15 minutes. I really appreciate your time. And um, you know, hey, give Trey a follow at TreyPinker 2027. Um he's good, it's gonna be a fun season to watch because the beautiful thing, all you're doing is maintaining, and you already got your your platform set. So you just keep developing, man. I'm really proud of you, great, to get to know you, and uh I'll definitely be down there to come walk through and watch the practice sometime soon.

SPEAKER_01 15:49

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_00 15:51

Yes, sir. All right, everyone. High Point University Commit, Trey Pinker. Thank you. Have a good night.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

All right.