'I get asked a lot how this basketball program has become so competitive over the last eight years,' Pearl said. 'But for me, I believe it was God's plan to give us this success, success beyond what we deserve. To give us this platform. To give us an opportunity to start this conference briefly and remind the world that Edan Alexander is still held hostage in Gaza right now. An American held hostage and not enough people in this country know his name.'

Asked later what made him want to talk about the hostage situation and the Israel-Hamas war, Pearl - an outspoken supporter of president Donald Trump - referenced his faith and family's migration to the U.S.

'October 7 was the worst day since the Holocaust for the Jewish people, and they say they want to do it again and again and again. We have American hostages in Gaza right now, and it's unacceptable,' he said.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5698562&forum_id=2#48774601)