Troy Biglow Emma Nwofor interview on training and basketball

The Troy Biglow Emma Nwofor interview on The Check-Ins covered Biglow’s plan to become a personal trainer, the underdog national championship he won with ULACD and the food he hands out each December. The North Hollywood basketball player also discussed a torn meniscus, his faith and his goal of returning to one-on-one games on YouTube.

How did Troy Biglow get into basketball and choose his colleges?

Troy Biglow began playing after his father bought him a basketball hoop at age three, and he fell in love with the game in elementary school. His goal was to reach the NBA, with Louisiana State University as his dream college, but he started his college basketball path at El Camino College before moving to ULACD.

A growth spurt changed his position

Biglow, who is from North Hollywood, California, said he initially played point guard because he was short. In 10th grade, he grew from about 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-3 and began trying other positions, including forward. The growth happened over a summer when he was attending summer school and practice. He recalled taking a two- or three-hour nap most days and said the adjustment was easy for him.

Outside basketball, he described himself as a movie fan. His three picks were Friday, Chip Mockingbird and Above the Rail. He also said he listens to audiobooks while working out, walking or playing a game.

From El Camino College to ULACD

Several junior colleges recruited Biglow. El Camino College contacted him by email, sent coaches to watch some of his games and spoke with him about its program. He liked what the coaches had to say and chose to go there. Comparing junior college with a four-year school, he said the latter demanded more focus to perform.

After leaving El Camino, Biglow looked for another place to play. A coach from ULACD reached out and told him about the school’s Christian identity, the teams it played and an annual tournament in Missouri. Biglow was also impressed by the fundamental development he had seen in previous players. He said his teammates became close friends whom he still misses.

What did Troy Biglow say about winning a national championship with ULACD?

Troy Biglow called ULACD’s national championship his favorite college basketball memory because his team entered as an underdog against much bigger opponents. He credited its fundamentally sound play, the closeness of the group and his own preparation for how the team performed when the tournament reached its decisive moments.

An undersized team in Missouri

Biglow said he was about 6-foot-3 and among the tallest players on the team; by his account, nobody on the roster was taller than 6-foot-4. They faced seven-footers and bigger, stronger players. He recalled that nobody expected ULACD to win, making the championship a memory he expects to keep for life.

The coach’s demanding work throughout the season brought the players closer, Biglow said. Before the tournament, he watched film on their opponents, rested, ate carefully and went to bed early. He also encouraged teammates to communicate and made sure they were focused on the same goal.

Faith was part of the team’s routine. The players prayed before games and studied the Bible at their Christian school. Biglow remembered Reverend Baker, who was close to the team, as someone who helped the players keep their heads on straight.

How did Troy Biglow deal with his torn meniscus?

Troy Biglow said he hurt his meniscus after a hard fall during a basketball game in 2025. He finished playing, but the next morning he fell when he tried to get out of bed and could not put weight on his leg. The injury kept him from doing much for roughly one to two months.

At first, Biglow did not think the fall was serious. He had previously twisted or sprained ankles, but he said he had never dealt with an injury of this extent. Being unable to do much put him in a difficult place mentally.

He eventually began rehabbing his leg and used pool sessions to help build its strength. Biglow did not give a date for a return to full competition, though he said he wants to get back to the one-on-one basketball games he has played on YouTube series.

What are Troy Biglow’s plans for becoming a personal trainer?

Troy Biglow wants to earn his personal training certificate and have at least five clients by the end of the year. He said he had an upcoming exam after not passing his first attempt. His training interests include athletes, especially younger developing players, but he is willing to work with people of other ages and fitness goals.

Learning to enjoy the weight room

The move toward training grew out of his own experience. Biglow said workout equipment was available where he played basketball, but he rarely used it until a friend introduced him to lifting. In college, he disliked weights even though he was comfortable with practice, running and other conditioning. As he became more familiar with fitness work, he began to enjoy it.

He does not see coaching and playing as sharply separate roles. He wants to train athletes, but said older people and anyone who wants to get fit would also be welcome, provided they are ready to work.

Biglow Fitness as a community

Biglow wants his fitness page to be a place where people exchange information and young basketball players find workouts they can apply to their own development. He also hopes to visit other gyms, meet fitness creators and collaborate so they can learn from one another. He identified his Instagram fitness page as Biglow Fitness.

What did Troy Biglow recommend in North Hollywood?

Troy Biglow described the North Hollywood area as diverse, with good weather and heavy traffic. For a visitor looking for food, his recommendation was Annie’s, an independent soul-food restaurant. His order would be fried catfish with lemon pepper, mac and cheese, greens, cornbread and one of the restaurant’s specialty sodas.

He pushed back on the idea that every part of California looks like a peaceful beach scene lined with palm trees. What he values is the range of people someone might meet simply by walking down the street. Traffic, he added, is a less appealing part of living there.

For dessert, Biglow chose Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, particularly sweet cream cookies alongside a graham cracker flavor. His sweet tooth also extends to sour candy: he named Sour Patch Kids and sour straws, as well as Butterfinger and Twix.

How do Troy Biglow’s faith and food handouts shape his plans?

Troy Biglow said faith guides his decisions, and he plans to hand out food to unhoused people again in December. His grandmother raised him in the church, and he now tries to begin each day with prayer and the Bible. He has organized food handouts for the past three years and wants to continue giving back.

Prayer in difficult times and good ones

Biglow said he turns to God when life is difficult but believes prayer matters when things are going well, too. He described asking for help with decisions as part of how he navigates daily life. He was also glad to see other Christians sharing their work and beliefs on social media.

Preparing sandwiches and finding a new location

In previous years, Biglow has prepared sandwiches himself and invited others to help distribute them in his North Hollywood neighborhood. He said he usually hands out about 200 to 220 sandwiches and meals, with chips and drinks. After one handout left him with roughly 50 to 70 meals, he drove around to distribute the rest.

That experience has him looking for a different location for December. He would like to offer hot meals in the future, but said his handouts so far have centered on sandwiches. Biglow summed up why he keeps doing the work:

i'm not doing it to gain any recognition i'm just going to help people

Who is Troy Biglow?

Troy Biglow is a basketball player from North Hollywood, California, whose fitness work focuses on personal training, performance coaching, strength, conditioning and injury rehabilitation. He wants to build a training community while continuing to play basketball and organize food handouts.