Truth in the Trenches
Hosted by Kevin Howell, Founder of The One-Eyed Scout
Truth in the Trenches is a coach-driven series focused on the real dynamics of basketball programs: trust, roles, habits, development, and what actually wins games over time. It’s evaluator-first, scheme-aware, and built for coaches who care about execution more than optics. No fan talk. No highlight bias. Just reality from inside the gym.
Audience: College & serious high-school coaches
Tone: Direct, analytical, uncomfortable when necessary
Lane: Program truth + evaluation logic
Episodes
32 episodes
The Hidden Truth About Defense: What Coaches See in the First 5 Minutes
DESCRIPTION: Defense gets talked about like it’s steals and blocked shots. The truth is deeper. In this episode, we break down why modern teams use defense as their first evaluation filter — long before scoring even ente...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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6:18
The Mental Edge: Confidence Built on Evidence, Not Fantasy
DESCRIPTION: This episode breaks down the quiet war inside every human mind: the razor-thin line between real confidence and full-blown delusion.We explore why true confidence is grounded in evidence, feedback, and self-awaren...
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7:33
Why Families Spend $15,000 on Recruiting — and Still Don’t Know the Truth
Families routinely spend $10,000–$15,000 on recruiting guidance — AAU fees, camps, trainers, showcases, and “services” — yet still walk away without one critical answer:What level does my kid actually fit?In this epi...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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6:39
Coach’s Corner | Mike Peck on Defense, Recruiting, and What Actually Translates
Peck has coached at every level—elite prep, the NBA G-League, and Division I—and now brings that experience to Detroit Mercy Titans under head coach Mark Montgomery.This episode covers:• What real defense looks like on film• Non...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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32:01
Being Coachable Is a Skill: Why Adjustment Matters More Than Listening
Being coachable isn’t about hearing feedback—it’s about adjusting in real time. This episode breaks down why coaches remember players who apply corrections quickly, how adjustment builds trust, and why responsiveness matters more than goo...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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7:35
Glue Guys Get Calls Back: Why Coaches Trust Role Players Over Flashy Scorers
Flash gets attention, but glue guys get callbacks. This episode breaks down why coaches trust players who communicate, rotate, defend, and rebound, and how role players build long-term value that keeps them on recruiting boards.
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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7:00
Most Players Post Too Early: Why Consistency Matters More Than Highlights
Chasing validation too early can hurt long-term credibility. This episode explains why posting highlights before earning consistency backfires with coaches and recruiters, and how evaluators judge patterns, reliability, and trust over vir...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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6:56
Why Defense Gets You on the Board: Staying Recruitable When Shots Don’t Fall
Scoring comes and goes, but defense keeps players recruitable. Learn why coaches value defense when shots aren’t falling, how evaluators use defense to judge trust and reliability, and why defending well keeps your name on the board at ev...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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7:48
Body Language Is a Stat: What Coaches See After Misses and Missed Minutes
Body language doesn’t show up in the box score—but coaches track it. Learn what your reactions after missed shots, bad calls, and missed minutes signal to evaluators, and why body language often determines trust, roles, and playing time.&...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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7:50
Effort Is the Entry Fee: Why Effort Matters More Than Skill
Effort isn’t a skill—it’s the minimum requirement. Learn why coaches evaluate effort first, how effort changes across levels, and why effort only earns you the right to be evaluated.
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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8:09
You’re Not Underrated — You’re Underprepared | The Truth About Being “Slept On” in Basketball
In today’s basketball culture, feeling “underrated” has become a comfortable excuse. Social media, highlight clips, rankings, and the AAU circuit have distorted how talent is perceived. Popularity now masquerades as production. Hype replaces ha...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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7:49
The Rebound Test: How Effort, Anticipation, and Contact Courage Beat Vertical
Forget wingspan and vertical — rebounding starts in the mind. In this episode, The One-Eyed Scout breaks down how anticipation, positioning, and contact courage turn ordinary players into possession-winners.From film-ro...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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7:53
Truth Serum at Fifteen Feet: Why Free Throws Expose Real Players
The free throw should be automatic — no defense, fixed distance, same ball. So why do even pros miss? In this episode, The One-Eyed Scout breaks down the biomechanics, fatigue, and mental breakdowns that turn the “easy shot” i...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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7:54
What It Takes to Be a College-Level Point Guard
Learn what separates good guards from great ones. The One-Eyed Scout reveals what it truly takes to play point guard at the college level.
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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7:32
Skill Work vs. Show Work: The Truth About Basketball Training in the Social Media Era
Basketball training has hit a crossroads. In the social-media era, the line between real skill work and show work is fading fast.In this episode of The One-Eyed Scout Show, we expose how attention-driven workouts...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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7:57
What Athletes Should Know Before Reclassifying
Reclassing has become one of the most talked-about moves in high school basketball — but few people truly understand what it means. In this episode, The One-Eyed Scout breaks down the real story behind reclassifying: what it is, how it a...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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7:41
Revenue Sharing in College Basketball: A Guide for Players and Families
Discover how NCAA revenue sharing and NIL deals are reshaping college basketball. Learn what this means for athletes, parents, and families in recruiting, scholarships, and the future of the game. NCAA Revenue Shari...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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8:04
Character Wins: Why Coaches Say ‘Damn, I Need That Kid’
In this episode of Truth in the Trenches, we break down how character separates good players from must-have recruits. From overcoming adversity to showing unselfish leadership in the heat of competition, these are the traits that...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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7:21
How High School Players Get Recruited | Basketball Development & Exposure Tips
Looking to get recruited for college basketball? In this episode, we break down what scouts are really looking for, how high school athletes can stand out, and the role parents and coaches play in the recruiting process. From fundamentals and b...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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5:41
The Hard Wood Heist
High school basketball is in the middle of a seismic shift. The High School Hardwood Heist dives deep into the new NIL (Name, Image & Likeness) and revenue-sharing era that’s reshaping grassroots hoops, college recruiting, an...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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5:37
Parents & College Recruiting | Truth in the Trenches with Kevin Howell
You’re locked in to Truth in the Trenches—where we don’t talk around it… we talk straight through it.I’m Kevin Howell, founder of The One-Eyed Scout, and in this episode we’re tackling one of the most overlooked to...
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7:42
How to Build a Basketball Highlight Video That Gets You Recruited | Truth in the Trenches ft. Greg The Sports Guy
You’re locked in to Truth in the Trenches—where we don’t talk around it, we talk straight through it.Hosted by Kevin Howell, founder of The One-Eyed Scout, this episode features Greg The Sports Guy, a grassr...
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12:01
Hidden Crisis Youth Sports Injuries
You’re locked in to Truth in the Trenches—where we don’t talk around it… we talk straight through it.I’m Kevin Howell, founder of The One-Eyed Scout, and today we’re diving into one of the toughest con...
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8:43
Social Media & College Recruiting | Truth in the Trenches with Kevin Howell
You’re locked in to Truth in the Trenches—where we don’t talk around it… we talk straight through it.I’m Kevin Howell, founder of The One-Eyed Scout, and in this episode we dive into one of the most game-changing topics i...
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Season 1
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8:05
JUCO Basketball Reality Check | Truth in the Trenches with Coach Bissell & The One-Eyed Scout
You’re locked into Truth in the Trenches—where we don’t talk around it, we talk straight through it.In this episode, Kevin Howell (Founder of The One-Eyed Scout) sits down with Coach Bissell to break down the raw, unfilte...
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Season 1
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11:14