Felix Uadiale Byron Terry interview on his San Jose title

In the Felix Uadiale Byron Terry interview, the San Jose player told the BJT Show host why he returned to Peru for a second professional season after playing in Malta. Uadiale also recalled scoring 17 straight points in the deciding game of his first overseas championship, earning playoff MVP and learning to take more responsibility on the court.

How did Felix Uadiale's family and Eagles Landing Christian Academy shape his basketball career?

Felix Uadiale grew up in an athletic family and chose basketball after being surrounded by several sports. His last two high school seasons at Eagles Landing Christian Academy then showed him the work ethic he would need for college basketball, even though his team fell short in its state championship game.

Sports in the family

Uadiale said his grandfather played for the Raiders in the 1970s, his mother played Division I basketball at Boise State University and Arizona State University, and an uncle played at the University of Houston. He also grew up around football and Soccer: another uncle played football, while his father played Soccer. Basketball was the sport he chose and stayed with.

Two seasons at Eagles Landing Christian Academy

After transferring from Hampton High School, Uadiale played his junior and senior years at Eagles Landing Christian Academy. He remembered playing for coach Mason alongside KJ Jones and other teammates, and said the experience opened his eyes to higher levels of competition and the work required to reach them.

The team reached the final four in his first year and the state championship game in his senior year, losing on both occasions. Uadiale said he enjoyed the journey and remains in contact with former teammates.

Why did Felix Uadiale choose Maryville College during recruitment?

Felix Uadiale chose Maryville College, a Division III school in Tennessee, for its financial aid, academics and successful basketball program. He said recruiters had often seen him as an undersized big because he played with his back to the basket in high school, which affected the opportunities available to him.

That role did not reflect every way he wanted to play, but he felt Maryville was a good choice. During recruitment, a coach explained what he expected from Uadiale and how he could contribute among players with similar qualities already in the program.

Uadiale arrived as part of a class of 13 freshmen. He described the transition as smooth, though it came with responsibilities such as communicating with teammates and making sure people were on time. Before the COVID period, he was named conference Rookie of the Year in his freshman season. The team did not win the conference championship it had sought.

Why did Felix Uadiale return to San Jose to play basketball in Peru?

Felix Uadiale returned to San Jose in Peru because he valued his relationship with the club and the support it provided on and off the court. After his first overseas stint there, he played in Malta from January to April, explored his options and chose San Jose for his second professional season.

Support from San Jose

In his first stint, Uadiale joined San Jose for the second part of a season divided into summer and fall competitions. He said the team had won the first part without imported players and won the second after bringing them in. His move abroad also brought practical adjustments, including working on his Spanish.

The club's help away from basketball mattered to him. He described its people and fans as supportive and said the relationship felt like a family: he respected where he was, and they respected him in return.

Food and daily life in Peru

Asked what he enjoyed most about living in Peru, Uadiale picked the food. He singled out ceviche and anticucho, including the cow-heart dish, and praised the variety of potatoes and influences he encountered in Peruvian cooking. He said he was still working on his Spanish.

What did Felix Uadiale say about his game, LeBron James and the Lakers?

Felix Uadiale considers effort on both ends of the floor the strongest part of his game. He looks to LeBron James for leadership and all-around impact, and admired Russell Westbrook's energy growing up. A Lakers fan born in Los Angeles, he also remembers following the team's rivalry with Boston while living in Georgia.

Effort and NBA influences

Uadiale described himself as a two-way player who tries to contribute whether he is on the wing, in the post or in transition. On defense, his aim is to make the offensive player work. Beyond LeBron's scoring, he values his rebounding, passing and vocal leadership; in Westbrook, he admired a player who kept pushing through setbacks.

Following the Lakers from Georgia

Born in Los Angeles, Uadiale moved to Georgia and remained a Lakers fan. He recalled debating a friend from Boston at Rocky Creek Elementary School in Hampton and calling him during the 2010 Lakers-Celtics series. He also said LeBron moved ahead of Kobe Bryant in his personal ranking after coming back from a 3-1 deficit, though he remains a Kobe fan.

Asked about a Lakers team without LeBron, Uadiale said other players would need to step up. He had not yet had a chance to watch because of practice and said he planned to tune in. Among his current NBA picks, he named LeBron, Luka Dončić, Victor Wembanyama, Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

What happened in Felix Uadiale's championship win with San Jose?

Felix Uadiale called winning the championship with San Jose his favorite professional basketball moment. In the deciding game of a three-game series, teammates told him he had scored 17 straight points early on. He said he had not noticed the run while it was happening; he was focused on winning.

San Jose won the first game of the series, lost the second and came back for the third. Uadiale recalled teammates pointing out his scoring run in the first quarter. He was trying to do whatever the team needed rather than count his points.

Uadiale put his focus this way:

I was just locked in on the task at hand

It was his first stint playing outside the country, and he was named playoff MVP. He said he thinks about returning to that level of success while working toward higher-level leagues.

What habits and lessons does Felix Uadiale carry into professional basketball?

Felix Uadiale keeps notes on practices and game film, makes time for yoga and stretching, and tries to learn from mistakes without dwelling on them. He also said professional players must manage more of their own preparation than they may have needed to in college, while continuing to produce consistently.

Notes and physical preparation

His journal records small moments that went well and others he can improve. Uadiale said noticing those details helps him build discipline through repeated work. He does about 10 to 15 minutes of yoga in the morning and roughly 10 minutes of stretching at night, habits he connected to caring for his body after minor strains.

Confidence and relationships

Uadiale said he used to defer to others too often when making decisions on the court. College coaches pushed him to trust the work he had put in and take charge when the team needed it. He also tries to show gratitude to teammates, staff and fans. He remembered Shawnee State University coach Delano Thomas turning to clap for the crowd as an example.

For players seeking a professional career, his advice was to prepare to take care of their bodies and games without assuming a full college staff or familiar facilities will be available. Getting a position is not enough, he said; a player has to stay disciplined and keep performing once there.

Which music, food and travel picks did Felix Uadiale share?

Felix Uadiale picked Kendrick Lamar as his favorite musical artist, a sandwich shop in Peru for his preferred pregame meal and Tokyo as a place he would like to visit. His other choices ranged from a television drama to basketball shoes, with LeBron James the athlete he would choose for dinner.

He named The Sopranos as his favorite television show and the GT Cut 3 as his favorite shoe to play basketball in. For everyday wear, he preferred comfortable New Balance shoes, though he could not recall the model number.

Those choices sit alongside the parts of Peru he enjoys away from the court. Food was his clearest answer about life there, while the support around San Jose was the reason he gave for returning to play.