More Than a Coach — I Build Cultures That Help Athletes Win in Life

I’ve been around the game my entire life — as a hooper, a leader, a mentor, and a builder.
From the parks of New Jersey to college programs all over the country… from late-night runs in Oakland, outdoor courts of San Ramon to packed gyms in Tucson, Phoenix and Denver… from battling on the court to beating throat cancer off it — I’ve lived this game.

And for the last 13+ years, I’ve been pouring all of that into the next generation.

I Coach the Culture

From the Parks of New Jersey to Basketball Gyms and Courts Across the Country

My Basketball Life Was a Journey — Literally

The Game Gave Me Everything — Then Almost Took It

My journey started on the blacktops of New Jersey in the early '80s.
I was just a kid following my older cousins from park to park — the designated point guard who wasn’t allowed to shoot unless it was a layup. If I wanted a spot in the game, I had to grind on the side hoops, getting up thousands of shots to earn my place.

In high school at South Brunswick, I started gaining traction through camps and summer leagues. But back then, exposure was earned face-to-face — there was no internet or mixtapes. If you didn’t show out in person, you didn’t exist.

After a rough first semester in college, I returned to Oakland — and everything changed.
I evolved into a power forward with point guard skills — and became a problem in every gym I stepped into.

I played at every level: Division I, II, III, and JUCO — from New Jersey to California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.
I played because I loved it… and yeah, sometimes for the check. I was part of the generation that forced the NCAA to tighten transfer rules.

I played semi-pro, pro-am, and international until I was 28.
I never reached the NBA — but I earned everything else.
I collected wins, wisdom, war stories, and life lessons that shape how I coach today.

After basketball, I moved to Atlanta, started an IT career, and stepped back from the game.
Then in 2014, I was diagnosed with throat cancer — and I had to fight for my life.

When I survived, I made myself a promise:
If I got another shot at life, I’d give back to the game that gave me everything.

That’s when I launched TeachThemYoungER, a nonprofit focused on helping youth athletes grow through sports, life skills, and mentorship.

Since then, I’ve:

• Trained and mentored hundreds of athletes

• Built programs that mix fun, accountability, and competitive fire

• Supported college recruiting through my work with AAU National Basketball

I’m a builder — of players, of programs, of people.
And over the last 13+ years, I’ve turned my experiences into something bigger.

• I’ve run multi-team AAU programs with squads competing in different cities at the same time

• I’ve coached public, charter, and private school teams, adapting to every kind of athlete

• I’ve led weekly group training through TeachThemYoungER — balancing skill work, confidence, and real joy for the game

• I’ve developed college-level athletes and community leaders

I’m not just here to teach a crossover or yell from the sideline.
I build full programs — real ones.
I create cultures of accountability, confidence, and growth.

Every session includes:

• 💬 Real talk

• 📈 Clear structure

• 🧠 Mindset work

• 🏀 Game-specific development

Why I Coach Student-Athletes — Not Just Hoopers

I’ve seen what happens when talent goes uncoached — I’ve lived it.

I was that kid — gifted on the court, but lost off it. No structure. No guidance. Just raw ability and the streets as my classroom.

I’ve seen players crash out, not because they couldn’t hoop — but because no one taught them how to be coachable, accountable, or prepared for life.

That’s why I don’t just train hoopers. I coach student-athletes.

My program puts the student first — because the court won’t matter if the rest of your life is falling apart.

My players learn how to:

• ✅ Stay coachable

• ✅ Handle adversity

• ✅ Move with discipline

• ✅ Lead their team — and their life

That’s the real game. And that’s where the M.E.R.I.T.S. Standard comes in:
Mindfulness. Exceptionalism. Responsibility. Integrity. Teamwork. Sportsmanship.
These aren’t buzzwords — they’re how we live, train, and grow.

Because when you build the person first, the player levels up automatically.