Bobbye Hill shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Bobbye, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’m continuing to be called to explore and impact the college basketball landscape. Making the initial steps to commit to embark on this journey was not easy at all, the sacrifices that we made as a family was almost insurmountable to be transparent. Moving away from your family (wife and kids), the business (Lifted Basketball, 17+ years) and everything that I am very familiar with was JUST the beginning of the sacrifice that we hope will pay off in the future. When I look back at my first year as a college coach I truly enjoyed the duties, building young men and advancing student-athletes on their quest for greatness on the hardwood. It was a TRUE learning experience that helped me to create and publish my book.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a proud husband, father and the proud son of Mr. Ray C. Hill and Mrs. Bobbie L. Hill, originally from Tyler, Texas—also known as the Rose Capital of the World. I graduated from John Tyler High School, where I was actively involved in athletics, playing football, basketball, and baseball. Despite receiving multiple opportunities to play college sports, I chose to walk on as an unsigned basketball prospect and enrolled at Tyler Junior College.
The transition from high school to college—both academically and athletically—was a challenge. But through dedication and the support of a strong community, I earned my associate degree and was honored as a JUCO All-American. That recognition led to over 20 full-ride scholarship offers. After prayerful consideration and wise counsel, I chose Austin Peay State University over offers from Washington State, Florida International, Eastern Kentucky, Sam Houston State, and several others.
At Austin Peay, I experienced both academic and athletic success—earning a Bachelor of Arts in Corporate Communication and helping lead our team to an Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Regular Season Co-Championship and an OVC Tournament Championship. These accomplishments secured us an automatic berth to the 2003 NCAA Tournament—known as “The Big Dance.”
From 2003 to 2009, I played professional basketball in the ABA, NBDL, and internationally in South America, Mexico, Venezuela, and Canada. After retiring in 2009, I founded Lifted Basketball. For over 15 years, we’ve helped more than 300 athletes develop their skills and pursue opportunities at the collegiate and professional levels. With training locations in Arlington and Grand Prairie, we are now expanding into the Oklahoma City area.
I recently completed my first year as a college coach at Independence Community College in Independence, Kansas, under the leadership of Coach Jai Steadman. I’m truly grateful to Coach Steadman for the opportunity to join his staff for the 2024–25 season.
What we accomplished in just one year was nothing short of historic. We pulled off a major upset by defeating the No. 13 team in the nation and the reigning 2023–24 NJCAA National Champions—on the road, in overtime. We also swept Hutchinson Community College for the first time in over 30 years and helped both the men’s and women’s teams reach the playoffs—something that hadn’t happened in years.
To top it off, we had multiple players earn scholarships, sign NIL deals, and commit to four-year institutions. It was truly one of the biggest program turnarounds in the country!
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My first truly self-empowering experience came during the summer before my sophomore year at Tyler Junior College. As a freshman, I appeared in only 18 of our 32 games, averaging 8 to 13 minutes per outing. With a roster stacked with skilled and experienced Division I transfers, that was understandable. Still, deep down, I knew I had more to give.
I’ll never forget my end-of-season conversation with Coach Chris Crutchfield. He asked about my offseason and shared the program’s plans moving forward. That exchange was my great awakening — my first real introduction to the business side of basketball (more on that in my upcoming book!).
Truthfully, I was embarrassed. My career wasn’t on track with my vision. But instead of folding, I flipped the switch. That summer, I committed fully. No distractions, no shortcuts. My daily routine included long-distance runs under the scorching Texas sun and countless focused hours on the court. Every single day, I pushed myself past comfort.
By the time preseason workouts arrived, there was nothing my teammates could do that I couldn’t match—or surpass. I earned the starting center spot, led by example, and capped the season as a JUCO All-American with multiple Division I offers from across the country.
The rest is history—and will be fully documented in my next book, From Walk-On to All-American (#AMustHave).
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
One thing I miss that most people don’t know is the time I once spent freely without realizing how valuable it was. In the early stages of my journey, I didn’t fully recognize the importance of those small steps or how much they were shaping me. As I’ve grown and taken on more responsibility, I’ve learned to value time differently. It’s not regret, but a lesson — those moments built the foundation for who I am today, and now I’m much more intentional about how I use my energy and who I share it with.”
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I believe my best friend, Dr. Dantrayl Smith, would describe me as a Christian who adds value to people and to every opportunity I’m blessed to influence. He’d probably also say I’m deeply loyal—someone my father would be proud of at this stage of my life.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The legacy I hope to leave is the ability to cultivate growth in people and to positively impact every environment and situation I’m entrusted with.
Contact Info:
- Website: LiftedSports,com
- Instagram: Coach_B_Hill
- Linkedin: Bobbye Hill
- Twitter: Lifted_Scouting
- Facebook: Beay Hill
- Youtube: TheLiftedSports
