Meeting Michael Turner

6-foot-5 Michael Turner fashioned a collection of positives during his three-year varsity tenure at Marin Catholic High, averaging 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists his senior season in 2004-05. Playing for Coach Rick Winter, he earned third team all-state status and was named San Francisco Chronicle North Bay Player of the Year. Turner is Marin Catholic's all-time leader in points (1,423) and rebounds (968).

He then spent a successful year at West Valley College in 2005-06 as the Vikings amassed an extraordinary 33-4 overall record and advanced to the California State Championship finals before falling to undefeated Fullerton College.

After that freshman season, Turner signed with the University of Hartford, a D1 program back in Connecticut, and in his initial 29 games and 24 starts, he averaged 5.7 points and 5.2 rebounds while distributing 62 assists and nabbing 43 steals.

As a junior in 2007-08, he posted averages of 8.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists, shooting 48% from the floor and earning a spot on the America East All-Defensive Team. Turner became the first player in Hartford’s Division I history to finish with more than 200 points, 150 rebounds, 100 assists and 50 steals in a season. His 72 steals both led the conference and broke the school record.

In his senior season, Turner upped his averages to 11.2 points and 6.2 boards and later played overseas in Germany for a couple of years.

He now works as an Associate Director/Director of Player Development at the North Bay Basketball Academy, an entity established and operated by Rick Winter and now including his son Brock to prepare Marin and Sonoma County youth in basketball skills and fundamentals.

We talked with Turner recently in a lively conversation that covered a variety of subjects.

"I wish I had a prep year back in my time," Turner said, "even though my experience at West Valley College was great. He played for well-regarded West Valley College Head Coach Danny Yoshikawa (who formerly assisted at St. Mary's) and assistant Julius Hicks who also played at West Valley and then Oregon, and later assisted at  West Valley College, Cal State Fullerton, UC Irvine, Cal State Northridge, Stanford and Pepperdine. A prep year would have allowed Turner to retain four years of eligibility, thus increasing his recruiting attractiveness.

Exodus

Turner claims no any credit for a greater number of Marin, Sonoma and Nor Cal talents heading back East after he broke the ice but it is a fact. "There was Morgan Sabia (out of Drake High) who came to Hartford, Oliver McNally (out of The Branson School) who spent four years at Harvard, Drake U'u (out of Rio Americano High ) who played at Hartford and then Cal Poly and Christian Cavanaugh (out of Tamalpais High) who went a bit north to Maine and then later Montana State. "I wasn't the reason for the change but perceptions of Marin County prospects became altered and recruiting budgets also got larger."

Regarding his present role with the North Bay Basketball Academy, Turner explained, "our goal is to see that Marin County players succeed. So many kids now are way more skilled than me because they had early access to basketball skills training and physical training. I didn't hear the phrase 'hit the weights' until I entered college."

He continued, "social media is both a blessing and a curse. It's an advantage if used the right way because coaching staffs can look at kids all over the country but forget the notion that highlight films get players scholarships. That doesn't happen."

About both recruiting and transferring to another school, Turner said, "you can't get mad when players transfer. It's a business where each party (coach, player, family) has to make a decision on what's best. The NIL changes the landscape but at least the money involved with that is above board. My biggest fear is the ranking of young children, like second graders, something I came across the other day."

Adjustments

As for himself, Turner explained, "My biggest adjustment in college is I took on a different role once I got to Hartford. I learned quickly that getting closer to the basket doesn't necessarily make for an easier shot. It's just part of the process of adapting. You have to have patience and focus on doing what is going to keep you on the floor."

Turner admittedly, "got out of my comfort zone" in heading to the Nutmeg State. "I got to experience New York and Boston and what attending the Belmont Stakes is like. I even found my wife out there."  Comfort zone residence is ultimately idiosyncratic as some players take to the challenge or it becomes too much for others who feel it is enough to deal with the elements of attending college and playing basketball at the new and more competitive level without being 3,000 miles away from home and often also experiencing a different culture.

To his prospects, Turner stresses using basketball to better oneself and the critical need to have an inner conversation about what situation is best: going to school X and the possibility of playing 5-10 minutes any given year in one location or choosing school Y and playing 15-20 in another?

Another must-do task, according to Turner, is "getting the right people into your corner giving you good advice. Having an inner circle that has your best interests foremost is critical to success."

Rather than blame a head coach or the entire coaching staff when things don't go right or as planned for a player, Turner understands that "it's a tough balance between winning and player development for a coach." His measuring stick is "you can trust a coach if he holds you accountable and has your back."

Although there are many factors to consider when in a position to sign on with a four-year college coach, Turner stresses one of the most essential factors to determine is how many years are left on his contract. "I always perform my due diligence on that one," Turner explained.
 
Anyone who doesn't seek answers during recruiting is flying blindly through the process. It's enough of a roll of the dice to be an active participant and attempting to control the often controllable. Turner offers valuable advice, a blueprint of sorts for those seeking answers.