This week, Cory sits down with Hanno Möttölä—Finland’s first NBA player, University of Utah Hall of Famer, and current assistant coach for the Finnish national team. Hanno’s journey spans from dominating youth basketball in Europe to starring for Utah in the NCAA championship game, breaking into the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, and later shaping European and Finnish basketball as a coach. In this episode, Hanno delivers practical, no-nonsense advice for families navigating the prep school and college basketball pipeline. He breaks down what truly separates future pros: the will and skill to practice, finding the right fit (not just the biggest name), and the importance of honest coaching over empty promises. Hanno also tackles the impact of NIL and transfer rules, why immediate playing time matters more than program prestige, and how European development models differ from the U.S. system.

💡Key Topics:

📌 What separates future NBA players: skill, will, and the right environment (basketball development, player mentality)
📌 Honest recruiting and finding the right college fit (prep school basketball, recruitment, player placement)
📌 NIL and transfer portal realities for international and U.S. athletes (college basketball, NIL, transfer rules)
📌 European vs. U.S. player development models (EuroLeague, NCAA, player pathways)
📌 Coaching Lauri Markkanen and the importance of self-driven improvement (NBA development, coaching insights)
📌 Balancing national team commitments with U.S. college basketball (academic-athletic balance, international players)

🏀 About Hanno Möttölä:

Hanno Möttölä is a trailblazer in Finnish basketball, the first player from Finland to reach the NBA, and a University of Utah Hall of Famer. After starring for Utah and playing in the 1998 NCAA championship game, he was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks, later enjoying a standout career in Europe’s top leagues. As a coach, Hanno has developed elite talent at Helsinki Basketball Academy and serves as assistant coach for the Finnish national team, shaping the next generation of international players.

🔗 Connect with Hanno Möttölä:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/hannomottola/?hl=en
Twitter | https://x.com/hannomottola
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanno-m%C3%B6tt%C3%B6l%C3%A4-aa336077/

🔗 Connect with Cory:

Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep.athletics/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

🔖 Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:

iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
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