Is basketball really just a game? For Brant Minor, who currently lives in Tigard, Oregon, with his wife and two kids, basketball is more than just a game.
His parents are Steve and Donna. His mom was a teacher and his dad retired from the Army as a Major. Brant’s brother, Joe, who is almost five years older, was a three-sport athlete and valedictorian at Grants Pass High School. Joe went on to graduate from USMA (United States Military Academy) in West Point, NY. He is currently a Colonel.
Brant is married to Nicole, who is an elementary-school principal. The couple have a five-year-old daughter, Maggie, and a toddler son, Jack. They have settled in a nice community in the outskirts of Portland, Oregon.
Brant said, “I was blessed with a mom and a dad that loved me and cared for me. I feel truly blessed to have parents that provided for me and supported me so much. And I married well, my wife is the best, I love her so much. We’ve been through some challenging times.”
Brant Minor - photo provider by Max Hoops.
As a youth, Brant attended Highland Elementary School and North Middle School in Grants Pass, Oregon. He grew up in the country about ten miles outside of town. Brant and his brother Joe would play a lot of basketball on the driveway. They would also create their own outdoor games to play. There weren't any other kids around because of the country life. He attended all of Joe’s games. This inspired him to want to get better and to follow his brother’s footsteps.
Brant said, “I started playing basketball back as far as I can remember. I grew up playing with my brother and his friends. I went to all of his games. Also, my grandma was a phenom. She was the leading scorer for her team.”
Brant’s grandmother, Gladys Minney (later married to Brant’s grandfather, Tom Minor), was an all-star in women’s basketball back in 1928 when she started playing varsity basketball as a 7th grader. The women played 3-on-3 half court – six on a team (12 total players on the court). They had to pass the ball to the opposite half court of 3-on-3 players. There were guards and forwards at both ends. Forwards were on offense and shot the ball, but the guards were only allowed to play defense.
Minney grew up as a country girl in Lane County outside of Eugene. It was normal for her to score 32 or 50 points in a game. She was 5’ 11” and had a relentless work ethic. In one game versus Santa Clara, she scored 104 points! According to the Eugene Register Guard, “The star forward sinks baskets faster than most girls can burn biscuits.” Minney received one of the highest honors in women’s basketball. She received the honor of woman Athlete of the First Half Century for Lane County – 1900-1950.
Brant seemed to have basketball run in his family blood. He speaks highly of his grandma. Gladys Minney was Gladys Minor when she passed. Brant was four years old. He continued to hear and read about the amazing and miraculous games she played during her time.
Brant Minor attended Grants Pass High School where he played three sports, soccer, basketball, and baseball. His first love was basketball – he found much success on the basketball court.
Just to give you an idea of how well this kid shot the ball, he once scored 26 points going 12 for 13 from the field versus the North Medford Black Tornado. Brant also served as class president all four years at his high school – he carried a 3.9 GPA.
In his sophomore year he was selected 1st Team All-Southern Conference and his team won the league title. In his junior year, he led the Grants Pass Cavemen to the state tournament in Portland, Oregon. They defeated Jesuit on a buzzer-beater in the quarterfinals before being knocked off in the semifinals in overtime by the eventual state champions, Churchill Lancers. The third-place game was against Jefferson and it didn’t go well. That was the year that Aaron Miles and Michael Lee played for the Democrats. They both went on to play for the University of Kansas.
Brant said, “My senior year we finished second behind South Medford in the Southern Oregon Conference. We were seeded 14th and who was picked 3rd for us to match up with? The Jefferson Democrats who defeated us my junior year.”
In 2002, Brant helped the Grants Pass Cavemen upset highly ranked Jefferson, 82 -68, at the OSAA State Tournament. No one really thought that the Cavemen had a chance against a talented squad like Jefferson.
Brant said, “That was a great memory, it was incredible! I remember telling my teammates before the game, ‘We might not beat them every time if we faced off ten times … but I know we’d get at least one, this one!’ And we actually did. Then we lost to Tigard by 3. Then we defeated Thurston. For 4th-place we matched up, again, against Jordan Kent’s Churchill squad. We got our revenge from my junior year’s defeat to the Lancers.”
In his senior year, Brant was selected 1st Team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-State. It was a rewarding way to end his high-school career.
Brant had visited the University of Portland and could only dream of playing for a Division I college. Playing high-school basketball was tough enough. At that level most coaches want the best players on the floor to hopefully win games. At college levels like NAIA, NCAA Division II, or NCAA Division I, the intensity is at a much higher level. The players are bigger, quicker, taller, and stronger. Few athletes that come out of high school can reach that dream.
Warner Pacific University, an NAIA college, was recruiting Brant. Tal Wold was an assistant coach at Warner PAC. He talked to his brother, Rich Wold, who was an assistant at the University of Portland. Rich decided to go watch Brant play at the state tournament.
Rich liked what he saw. A few days later, the University of Portland gave Brant a call and offered him a walk-on position on the basketball team.
Brant said, “I know that I would have played more at an NAIA or Division II college, but I really wanted to join the University of Portland. I really loved the environment and the place. I thanked Warner PAC for showing an interest in me. I was excited to start my college career.”
Brant played college basketball at the University of Portland. Photo provided by Max Hoops.
Walk-on athletes at Division I schools have no margin for errors. If they get a chance to step onto the court during a game, they must be at their A game. Coaches want players that can contribute to their team – they want that advantage. This was a challenge for Brant and he fought hard to hang in there with the best, whether at practice or in games. He often guarded Pooh Jeter in practice. Pooh spelled backwards is Hoop. Jeter played for the NBA’s Sacramento Kings in 2010 and currently plays in the NBA G League Ignite.
Brant played in 21 games during his two years with the Portland Pilots. He received more playing time in some games. He recalls playing against Gonzaga. He only played three seconds, however, his name will always be in that box score. He also played 13 minutes against the Oregon Ducks at the old MAC Court. Of course now it’s called Matthew Knight Arena.
Brant said, “Despite the fact that I love basketball, I knew that I wasn’t going to receive a check through playing basketball, so I made a decision to focus on other things the last two years at the University of Portland.”
He received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree at the University of Portland. In 2014 he earned his Masters of Business Administration Degree at Southern Oregon University.
During his college-senior year at Portland, he helped coach the women’s basketball team. Then Brant coached at Warner Pacific University for one year. After that, he landed a coaching position at Southern Oregon University with Brian McDermott. This part of his life was about to change his drive in a way that would help many young athletes. In his five years (2009-2014) coaching at SOU, he helped the Raiders rebuild and they eventually made it back to the national tournament in Branson, Missouri.
Brant said, “I was given an opportunity to work with Coach Mac. We had more wins each year I was there. Most of my last year at SOU we were ranked number 2 in the country. I had the opportunity to travel to Branson, Missouri where the national tournament was held. It was such a fun and rewarding experience.”.
While coaching at SOU, Brant Minor founded Max Hoops. He started setting up camps in hopes of giving some of the kids in the Southern Oregon area more chances to get recruited by college coaches.
Brant said, “Max Hoops started up at SOU where I was coaching at the time.The idea was to help young basketball players that had ambition to play college ball. I always felt that I was under-recruited when I played at Grants Pass. Maybe I thought I was better than what I was. Anyway, I wanted to give kids the opportunity to get recruited. With Max Hoops camps we started giving kids opportunities that they never had. Determined athletes received a chance to get recruited. Brian McDermott was a huge supporter of Max Hoops. We hired coaches from the NAIA, NCAA Division III, and NWACC to help the campers develop skill sets and more. This would build a player-coach connection and a possible future recruitment. The young athletes got to meet college coaches, guest speakers, and we strongly focused on academics. We also worked at building good character.”
Max Hoops Showcase - Brant Minor talks to the campers. Photo provided by Max Hoops.
A person that influenced Brant was Coach Brian McDermott. Brian served as one of his best mentors throughout his coaching days at SOU.
Brant said, “Coach Mac was the best. Him and his wife, Jan, are amazing people. I learned so much from him and will always be thankful. He invited me to stay in his house a couple of times a week to help me with travel costs. Coach Mac is one of the smartest guys I know. He is a better man than a coach … and he’s a heck of a coach! He treated me super great. He gave me responsibilities. He gave me opportunities that I would not have gotten elsewhere – I'll always remember that. I consider him an influential person in my life.”
Max Hoops has grown over the years. Every summer the showcases are taking place in many parts of the country. Brant spends about 5 to 10 hours a week planning and scheduling while holding a day job at Pacific University – admissions counselor. The last seven years he has been broadcasting high-school games for CC Media (former CCTV) - a local Salem Station.
John Piper and Brant Minor broadcasting for CC Media at the state tournament. Photo by Max Hoops
Basketball has given Brant an opportunity to meet some big-time legends. In the summer of 2008 he spent three weeks at Duke University with Mike Krzyzewski. He then spent two weeks with Pat Summitt (1098 wins in career) at her youth camp. At Tennessee, he spent time with Bruce Pearl (now at Auburn - coach of the year in 2006). Coach K. went to West Point like his brother, Joe. A connection was made and that’s how he met Coach K. He worked for these coaches at boys’ youth camps - eight summers before COVID hit.
Brant with Coach K. at Duke University. Photo provided by Max Hoops.
Brant said, “It was so much fun networking and learning from them. In my opinion, Pat Summitt is the best women’s coach ever, and Coach K. is the best men’s coach ever. They sustained a level of excellence for many years. In 40 years, Coach K. won 1200 games – wow! I’ve traveled to 13 countries and 49 states. It’s only North Dakota that I’ve missed. I’ve driven across the country three times. Basketball has given me so many opportunities.”
While staying busy and juggling many things, Brant puts his family at priority over anything. His daughter, Maggie, has been diagnosed with a Syndrome Without A Name (SWAN). They aren’t sure what her developmental issue is. Special needs are required and both Brant and Nicole display nothing but love to their little girl.
Brant and daughter Maggie at the University of Portland. Photo provided by Max Hoops.
Brant said, “There have been sleepless nights, doctor’s appointments, physical-therapy sessions, and speech-therapy sessions. You want your kids to have the best opportunities. We love our little Maggie, we’ll be there for her. I don’t want to be defined as just a basketball guy. Basketball is good, but not God. I’d rather be a good husband and father. My family is more important – they are my priority.”
Though he has a passion for basketball, Brant doesn’t want people to think that he's only about basketball. As an admissions counselor at Pacific University, he gets the pleasure of building relationships with all students and their families. That is also important in his life.
Brant, what is your short-term goal?
Slowly progress. Think like a crock-pot instead of a microwave – growth-mindset. I want to continuously improve in my craft. My job is to recruit and build relationships – I want to do that better. I want to teach my kids all kinds of things that young kids need at their young age. To continue to love my kids. I love my parents and basketball, but not like I love my kids, it’s different.
What’s your long-term goal?
To provide for my family and to take care of my family. To provide my kids with opportunities. I don’t know if Jack will like basketball. I don’t know what he’ll want to do when he gets to high school. Maybe it will be soccer, his mom played soccer in high school. I hope I can be the type of dad my dad was to me. He was strong with me when he needed to be, but showed much compassion at the same time.
Maggie, Brant, and Jack. Photo provided by Max Hoops.
Highlight of your career?
I’d say I enjoyed the friendships and relationships. I really enjoyed beating Jesuit in a buzzer-beater and beating Jefferson at the state tournament. It was like a dream come true playing against Gonzaga – bus rides to games – telling jokes with the team.
What kind of advice would you give an athlete that wants to play college ball?
Get your grades up first of all. If you want to play college basketball, stay out of trouble. You don’t want to be a risk for a coach. Find the passion and put in the time. If your actions don’t line up with your goals, change your actions or change your goals. Try to get yourself closer to that goal. You're either going to get better or you’re going to get worse – it’s up to you.
For more information on Max Hoops, go to www.maxhoops.com