I wholeheartedly believe I was ordained to write this story. It’s a massive part of my legacy. It was certainly purpose-driven as well as fulfilling. 

Marquez Price – 25 September 2025

The Back Flap

In The Backcourt, bestselling author Marquez Price delivers an unforgettable sports biography that transcends the game of basketball to explore the deep bonds of friendship and the perseverance of the human spirit.

Delano Price and Hoegie Simmons were high school basketball prodigies whose dynamic chemistry electrified their Tucson community. Dubbed the ultimate backcourt duo, their story was destined for greatness—until life’s unexpected turns separated them. Now in their seventies, the two men find themselves confronting their past, piecing together the events that defined their journey, and rediscovering the power of purpose.

With vivid storytelling and rich historical context, The Backcourt examines the tribulations and triumphs of two men navigating identity and the lasting echoes of their youth. This compelling narrative captures the essence of a bygone era while shedding light on universal themes of family with the enduring bonds of community.

Perfect for fans of sports history and human-interest stories, The Backcourt is an inspiring testament to second chances and the legacy of our actions.

About the book

What is the book about?

The Backcourt is a powerful story about two high school basketball legends from Tucson, Arizona, Delano Price and Hoegie Simmons, who took their team to a state championship in 1969 and won the title. They both became ballyhooed high school All-Americans. They were known throughout Arizona by standout high school, college, and professional basketball players for their skills and uncanny chemistry on the court. After high school, their lives moved in divergent directions. One became an educator and worked to build up his community, while the other faced struggles in the streets and got caught up in the harsh realities of that world. Their paths show how talent and friendship can be tested by life’s challenges and choices. Set against moments in American history like the Great Migration, the rise of college basketball, the crack epidemic of the 80s, the proliferation of gang propaganda by the media in the 90s, and the prison industrial complex; the book goes deeper than basketball to explore community, family, and the systems that shape our lives through social commentary. For me, this project is personal. Growing up hearing stories about these men, including my own father, Delano, inspired me to tell a story that honors where they came from and what they stood for. The Backcourt is about legacy, brotherhood, and what happens when a bond built on the court must withstand the realities of the world.

When did you start writing the book?

The answer to this question is much deeper than the surface. Unbeknownst to me, the inception of this book was seeded in my subconscious as a kid accompanying my father and his counterpart Hoegie Simmons to dank and dimly lit gyms several times a week for an inordinate amount of time. I watched them play and patterned my own game after them after countless hours of pick-up basketball viewership and eventual participation as I became an adolescent. Their elders, peers, and generations after downloading legendary stories into my psyche which became the backbone of the material for this book. As a man, I went back and interviewed many of these people and dug into the archives of scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and grainy footage. After crafting an outline in 2022, I finally sat down to write the book in 2023.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took me a year and a half to write the book. For some reason, I felt most comfortable writing the book at night into the wee hours of the morning. When I’d finish a chapter, I’d email it to my father. After he’d read a chapter, I’d proceed to the next once I knew the chronological order and accuracy of the story was corroborated by him.

Where did you get the idea from?

I wholeheartedly believe I was ordained to write this story. It’s a massive part of my legacy. It was certainly purpose-driven as well as fulfilling. I always knew that I’d deliver this story at some point. What galvanized the idea was in 2023 while at work on lunch, I watched a documentary on Raymond Lewis, a name synonymous with basketball in Los Angeles, California from the 1970s and 1980s, who has an ongoing reputation as one of the best streetball players in California. Ever. I was utterly enthralled as it was reminiscent of my father and Hoegie Simmons. I immediately started the outline of the book the following day.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The fluidity of the story coming from uniquely positioned to tell the story superseded any potential struggle. The most difficult part of the book was tracking down the many former high school, college, and professional basketball players to interview for the book. Finding time to allow a consistent stream of consciousness flow was somewhat difficult at first, but like I said earlier, once I found that late night to wee hours of the morning sweet spot, I sailed through more tranquil currents.

What came easily?

Once I got into a groove, writing it was easy because it’s a story that hits home with immense affinity.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

For this book, the characters are real world people that I know. In other genres, I have borrowed from real world people I know to create characters. I see every person and experience I encounter as a potential character or storyline. That allows my imagination to be abundant.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

For me, reading is less about study and more about soulwork. The authors who shaped me helped me figure out how to tell the truth without flinching, how to carry memory like a map, how to honor rhythm and restraint.

James Baldwin taught me to write with fire and clarity. He showed me how to challenge the world while also holding a mirror to it. His work gave me permission to name what hurts and what heals, to speak from the wound without letting it define me.

From Ta-Nehisi Coates, I learned how to braid history and personal experience into something both intimate and sweeping. He has a way of stretching a sentence to hold generations inside it. Reading him, I understood that every sentence is a thread, and the way you pull it determines what unravels or gets stitched together.

Gabriel García Márquez brought wonder into the everyday. He made magic feel natural. He showed me that time can bend in a story, that memory can blur into prophecy, and that people, especially our people, live in layers. His influence gave me the courage to let myth and realism dance together.

Maya Angelou taught me dignity. She taught me music. She taught me that the page is sacred and that our stories, especially the ones born from struggle, deserve to be told with elegance. Her words hum with the kind of grace that can’t be taught in school. She reminded me that survival is a poem in itself.

Ernest Hemingway gave me restraint. The discipline to say more with less. The courage to stop writing when the sentence is strong enough to stand on its own. From him, I learned how to hold back and let silence speak just as loudly.

And then there’s Nas. His pen is surgical. He paints with precision. Listening to his debut album “Illmatic” was tantamount to stepping into a novel except the pages were beats and the ink was pain, politics, and pride. Nas taught me to stretch vocabulary without losing clarity, to dig into the detail and still flow like water. His rhymes are books. His verses walk with history. Every time I write, I try to match that balance of depth without confusion, beauty without fluff.

So, when I write, I’m pulling from all of them. Baldwin’s fire, Coates’ reflection, Márquez’s magic, Angelou’s grace, Hemingway’s edge, and Nas’ sharpness. They gave me the blueprint, and I just keep building on it.

Do you have a target reader?

My target audience is anyone who breathes. I believe that all inhabitants of the planet can find something in my work that resonates whether it’s a feeling, a memory, a truth they’ve lived but never had the words to express. I write from a specific place, but emotions; love, loss, growth, redemption, are universal. If you’re human, there’s something for you on the pages. My goal is to connect through the shared threads of our experience, regardless of where someone comes from or what they’ve been through. I believe the beauty of storytelling should serve as a bridge and not a gate.

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Yes, I definitely have a writing process, though I’ll be the first to say that it’s unconventional. I don’t really turn it on or off. I’m always writing, whether I’m physically at a desk or not. If I’m in conversation with someone, I’m mentally building dialogue for a character. If I witness something, whether I live it or observe it, I immediately start seeing story arcs, emotional turns, climaxes. I take notes constantly, drawing from whatever sparks my imagination. My girlfriend calls it the “imagination station,” because there’s really no moment when I’m not there. My mind stays busy connecting dots, layering meaning, or capturing a phrase I heard that felt like poetry.

When I do sit down to write, which I do daily, the words usually stream. I’m an avid reader, and I love words; how they sound, what they carry, how they bend. That fuels everything. Writer’s block isn’t something I struggle with often. For me, writing is about tuning into a frequency I’m already living on. I do take breaks, but only once I’ve completed a project. Even then, the pause is brief, because the next idea is usually already formed. For me, writing is a way of being. It’s constant, alive, and always evolving.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

I comb meticulously through drafts as I write them and double back after I finish.

Did you hire a professional editor?

After getting an LLC and creating my own publishing company, Teach One Publishing, I started to hire from within. My girlfriend, Fiona Fenix who is an artist and now an editor, edited this book as well as my last book, Return of the Observer, a book of essays that became an Amazon bestseller.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

I usually like to write in complete silence but when I do listen to music, it’s either classical or A Love Supreme by John Coltrane.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents? What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

No, I didn’t submit to agents. From early on, I realized I wanted full creative and business control over my work. After my first two poetry books, My Train Is On Schedule and From the Observer to the Observed, became Amazon bestsellers within the same year, I saw firsthand that readers were responding directly to my voice, without any gatekeeping. That was the spark. Then I took things a step further with my third release, The Algorithm of a Culture. I didn’t use Amazon or Barnes & Noble at all. I wrote, edited, packaged, distributed, and shipped 100 exclusive copies myself, selling each one for $100. All 100 copies sold in exactly 30 days. That moment showed me what kind of leverage comes with independence when you control your product, your pricing, your timeline, and your audience relationship. That success gave me the clarity and confidence to make it official. I formed an LLC and launched my own imprint, Teach One Publishing. Since then, I’ve not only published my own books, but I’ve helped over 30 authors bring their work into the world, from the U.S. to Canada to Ghana, through workshops, publishing consultations, and my coursebook, Authorpreneurship 101. Going independent was a decision grounded in freedom, ownership, and long-term vision. I believe indie publishing offers unprecedented leverage for authors who understand how to move with strategy, integrity, and consistency.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

I had my book cover professionally done by Nick Arcade, who is an artist and producer as well as founder/owner of “Black Broccoli” (boutique & workshop) based in Tucson, Arizona.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

No, I’m definitely not winging it. I have a full business and marketing plan in place for The Backcourt. From the start, I approached this book not only as an author but as a publisher and strategist. The book was released in February 2025 on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and it became a bestseller right out of the gate. But I didn’t stop there as I also sell the book directly through my publishing company, Teach One Publishing, which allows for more personalized engagement and better profit margins. Leading up to the release, I wrote and directed several promotional videos and a cinematic trailer. I collaborated with videographers to capture the tone and emotion of the story, then shared that content across my social media platforms, on my website www.mpricebooks.com, and on my YouTube channel. That helped build serious momentum and anticipation for the release. Since then, the campaign hasn’t slowed down. I’ve continued to engage readers online and in person, and I’ve got more planned. By October 2025, we’re expanding the vision with a full documentary and original soundtrack based on the book. I wrote and directed the documentary, which is being produced by Damian Diovanti of ObsidianLensMedia, a company focused on empowering BIPOC voices through visual storytelling. The soundtrack features Arizona hip-hop artists Cash Lansky and Tommy Will, with Tommy also producing the project. I’ll be featured as well, performing a spoken word piece on one of the tracks. So yes, this is all part of a carefully planned and continually evolving campaign.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Tucson, Arizona.

Where do you live now?

I’m based between Arizona and California.

What would you like readers to know about you?

I’m a work in progress and am still learning. Both will never end as I’ll make sure of it.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a romance novel entitled Blue Serendipity. It will be out in 2026.

End of Interview:

Get your copy of The Backcourt from Amazon US or Amazon UK.