Kids, read books. Play sports. Join the band or ASB. Get involved. Be on time. Speak clearly. Make eye contact. Shake hands. Be polite. Go to class. Do your homework. Stay off TikTok. Stop scrolling. Show up daily. Be accountable. Set goals. Accept feedback. Keep improving. Master the basics. Build good habits. Be consistent. In this generation, doing the simple things well will put you miles ahead. The bar isn’t nearly as high as you think.

Grown men with phones or Meta glasses recording themselves berating kids. Imagine being an adult and thinking this is a good idea. You hit record. Not to teach or correct behavior, but to make the moment about yourself. The kid is still developing emotional intelligence and maturity. What’s the adult’s excuse? #AnythingForClicks

Sad men talk down on middle school kids. Grown men tearing down children to make themselves feel bigger. Says everything about the man, nothing about the kid.

One of the craziest comebacks I’ve witnessed live! Jesters down 13 with 3 min left. • Brennan INT • Loya → Volkoff TD • Onside kick → Loya to Brennan 60-yd TD • Loya → Volkoff 2PT 1:15 left, HB drives to the 2-yard line. Jesters get a 4th-down goal-line stop! JESTERS WIN!

I read. I study. I ask questions. I seek help. I consciously and continually reinvent myself. The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know. That’s why I relentlessly pursue more knowledge. Why? Because I work with young, impressionable minds. The responsibility goes far beyond basketball. I NEED TO GET IT RIGHT!

I read. I study. I ask questions. I seek help. I know there’s so much more I need to learn. Why? Because I work with young, impressionable minds. I NEED TO GET IT RIGHT!

We live in the strangest time in youth sports. People who have never played, coached, worked with college coaches, or been involved in high school programs somehow convince families to trust them with their kids’ development. Mind-boggling. But don’t ever say opportunities don’t exist. Some people are building entire businesses with confidence and a sales pitch alone.

I’ve never been led by a logo. I’ve always followed the leader. Don’t let the logo blind you. Pay attention to the people behind it. A logo represents an organization, but leadership defines its culture, establishes its standards, and reveals its character. Follow the leadership, not the lettering. LEADERS > LOGOS.

There are alot of of teams you aspire to be on; 1st Team All Conference 2nd Team All Defense Team Etc. 1st Team All Band Band Aid isn’t one of them. (Seemingly always hurt) Take care of your body!

I’ve been asked more than once recently, “Why don’t you put your name on the club or brand?” Simple. It’s not about me. I don’t believe my name should be attached to the identity of aspiring athletes. My job is to teach them, challenge them, develop them and eventually get out of their way. It’s just a personal choice.

Athletes who don’t do chores at home often struggle to understand what it means to do their job on a team.

Players and parents are sometimes shocked when they receive their first true evaluation. Skill set. Basketball IQ. Motor. Athleticism. Decision-making. Competitiveness. It can feel harsh. I understand why. For years, many players have attended “camps,” clinics, and evaluations designed to make everyone feel good. Others have been evaluated by people who simply don’t have the experience or knowledge to accurately identify where a player really is. So when someone finally gives them an honest assessment, truth can feel like criticism. But an evaluation isn’t supposed to tell you how good you are. It’s supposed to tell you where you are. Because we can’t build a legitimate development plan around an inaccurate starting point. Honest evaluation isn’t negativity. It’s the beginning of development.

90% of what makes a program work is what you never see. But it determines 100% of what you eventually see.

PROFESSIONALISM IS NOW AN OUTLIER. Speak professionally. Dress professionally. Act professionally. Do those three things… And you’ll stand out like a sore thumb in the hoop world.

I’m done hearing adults complain about “these kids these days.” Youth basketball isn’t suffering because of the kids. It’s suffering because too many adults lack the experience, maturity and knowledge to coach them. Then we blame the kids for problems adults created. If you can teach, mentor and hold young athletes accountable, get back in the gym. Coach the 10-year-olds. Coach the 12-year-olds. Coach middle school. Our athletes need more of the right adults—more teachers, mentors, standards and accountability. Coaching children is a responsibility, not a branding opportunity. Step up. Get in the gym. Help develop the next generation.

Your impact isn’t measured by who has to show up. It’s measured by who chooses to keep showing up.