2 Days with the USC Women’s Basketball Team – Korey Harris

Posted by Angie Diamond at 1:58 pm

As a Pro-Staff trainer for one of the best basketball skill development companies in the world, it can be pretty easy to get “big headed” and fall into the trap of believing that your job is only teaching others and never learning from anyone. Think about it… Us pro-staff trainers have been “hand selected” by Ganon Baker himself and are sought after by thousands of players all over the world every year. Our knowledge is respected by NBA, WNBA, and college programs and many ELITE high school players alike. But, let me give you a little secret… None of that matters to us at GBB!!! We know that if we keep our eyes on the accomplishments of yesterday, we’ll miss the opportunity to grow today and tomorrow! That’s a huge reason why Ganon Baker and all of GBB continue to grow and prosper from year to year.

Recently, I’ve been making trips to Columbia, SC to visit the University of South Carolina to watch their womens’ basketball team practice. I know what you’re thinking… No! I’m not a “fan” of USC, I’m merely a “student of the game”; which is why I would drive 3 hours (round trip) to Columbia, SC once a week! Being a student doesn’t mean that you only stay where you are and learn from things around you! If you want to grow, you’ve gotta get outside your comfort zone and seek new knowledge! That’s true investment!

Here are my notes from my 2 days at practice with Coach Dawn Staley and the USC players/staff:

DAY 1 –

- Attention to details is critical! A hungry team does not allow themselves to remain weak in the same areas! Coach Dawn Staley began practice focused on overcoming the weaknesses that the team experienced in the prior game.

- The entire staff must have energy if the players are expected to remain locked in! During full court drills and skill work, I could barely hear myself think because every member of the coaching staff and team were yelling positive words and instructions to the players! (Even the practice players and trainers…)

- Weakness in any area cannot be tolerated! if one players is working, everyone else should be focused as well! No loafing! Coach Staley cussed out any and everyone who didn’t leave it all on the floor! Even injured players had to give 100% while on the bike or rehabbing!

- Practice is harder than the game! Every possession counts! Missed layups/free throws resulted in running or pushups for the team. You’re lack of attention to detail not only affects you, but your team as well!

DAY 2 –

- A true head coach not only barks out orders expecting his/her players to act like robots, but can break each situation down and give players options and allow them to use their strengths while hiding weaknesses.

- There’s no limit to how many screens you can set on a given play… Too many teams are ignorant to screening and re-screening! USC does a great job of screening multiple times for the ball handler and screening for the screener! I definitely plan on teaching on this concept more often!

- In transition, the dribbler’s job is to push the break as quickly as possible. Sounds cliche… But too many guards get caught dancing with the rock on the break and hurt their teams ability to score quickly! Coach Lisa Boyer, Coach Dawn’s assistant, did a great job of helping the guards to understand that they are at an advantage because they have momentum and can easily “outrun” a defender standing still trying to cut them off.

- Jam the rebounder on every defensive rebound! (Most posts are taught to keep the ball high on a rebound… Coach Staley emphasizes that her posts should apply pressure to the rebounder’s hands and force them to bring the ball back down and attempt to dribble so that they can’t outlet the ball quickly and start a fast break after a defensive rebound.) Great “nugget” from Coach Dawn!

- The players LOVE the game! They LOVE the competition! They know how to have fun and they never stop communicating with each other! A few of the players even came and introduced themselves to me and wanted to know if I would jump in practice with them! Shout out to Charenee Stephens and Imani Sellers! Keep being leaders! You ladies are meant for greatness!

- Lastly, I learned that ELITE players don’t need 1-2 hours of going over plays and sets! The Lady Gamecocks spent 15-20 minutes on NEW plays and the rest of practice was live action getting game shots from game spots in those sets! ELITE players have steel trap minds and only need to be told something once!

This was a great experience for me and I would recommend any coach or trainer to spend time learning from someone else at least once a week! It’ll completely challenge you and keep you from remaining the same! Big shout out to Coach Dawn Staley, Coach Lisa Boyer, Coach Nikki McCray, Coach Freddy Ready and all of the players!

 

Elite Skill Workout

Posted by Angie Diamond at 7:53 am

Elite Skill Workout

a. Dribbling

i. Cross/cross

ii. Between legs cross

iii. Between legs behind back

iv. Same leg – same hand inside out

v. Jab at move

vi. Drag foot under dribble

b. Driving

i. Driving vs secondary/help defenders

ii. Driving with the off hand to “kill boxes”

iii. Splitting 2 defenders

c. Dribble Triple Threat

i. Be able to bounce off to wing with either hand and execute a jab at move and make a jumper at an accuracy of 6-7/10

ii. Be able to bounce off and execute a drag foot under dribble at an accuracy of 6-7/10

Deron Williams Series – Wing Dribble Through (Closed ball protection position)

iii. Be able to dribble to wing with either hand and drive baseline

iv. Spin middle

v. Open up

vi. Open up and create a shot off 2 dribbles stationary

d. Finishing (All at an accuracy of 6-8/10)

i. Be able to execute an off hand hook off 1 and 2 feet

ii. An off hand floater

iii. “Euro-Step” with right and left hand

iv. “Rhondo” outside foot finish with right and left hand and feet

v. “Rhondo” step through counter with right and left hand and feet

e. Shooting (All at an accuracy of 6-8/10)

i. Be able to shoot spot up jumpers from international/college 3pt line

ii. Be able to cut-catch-and shoot jumpers from the international/college 3pt line

iii. Be able to shoot off screens from international/college 3pt line

iv. Be able to shoot off dribble from international/college 3pt line

f. Triple Threat Shooting (All at an accuracy of 6-7/10

i. Be able to execute the “Kobe” cross steps

ii. Be able to execute the drop step/spin

iii. Be able to execute the mello under leg no dribble

iv. Be able to execute the slow “toe taps” to quick move

g. Footwork off Dribble (players must execute footwork 6 times in a row at game speed and make 6-7/10 jumpers)

i. Be able to execute drag foot finish

ii. Step through finish and 2nd pivot

iii. Drop step and fake drop step finish

iv. Hitch coming up on your toes with a shot fake

h. Passing

i. Be able to execute a drop step pivot pass

Passing off Dribble and Move (all with right and left hands)

ii. Be able to execute a over shoulder pass with right and left hand to opposite receivers and receivers behind them

iii. Jump/skip pass with 2 hands

iv. 1 hand air and bounce passes with right and left hands

v. “Nash” flip passes with right and left hands

vi. Behind the back passes air and bounce

vii. Lobs to rim receivers

i. Getting Open, Moving without Ball

i. Be able to execute a walk down-reverse pivot

j. Defensive Skills

i. Use the stunting concept when helping and recovering to your man

ii. Be able to guard a ball screen

1. Use the blitz technique

iii. Be able to execute the side box out techniques for rebounding

k. 2-3 Man Motion

i. Cutting

1. Introduce Duke cuts and corner cuts

2. Cutting off double teams

3. Splitting off the post

4. Flood cuts

ii. Dribbling Entry

1. Weave into Screen the screener action

iii. Penetration and Pass Movement

1. Hit opposite receiver on drive

2. Suns set at free-throw line handoff

iv. Down Screen Action

1. Introduce “Floppy” set with single and doubles

2. Introduce “UCLA” set with handoffs and backscreens

3. Be able to execute “Zipper” downscreens

v. Ball Screen Action

1. Be able to execute a baseline step up ball screen

2. Be able to execute a flat Ball Screen

3. Be able to execute a high ball screen and drag screen

4. Be able to execute a roll and replace action and slide action

5. Be able to execute a horns set

l. Post Play (at an accuracy of 6-7/10)

i. Low Post Moves

1. Be able to execute a no dribble jump hook with off hand

2. Be able to execute a no dribble step through finish with right and left hand

3. Be able to execute a no dribble 1 foot hook with strong hand

4. Be able to execute a 1-2 dribble to midline and baseline dribble drop step move with right and left hand

5. Be able to execute a drop step finish after 1-2 dribbles to midline with right and left hand

6. Be able to execute a “Rhondo” finish

ii. Getting Open Block to Block

1. Be able to spin off defense

2. Be able to execute block to block screening action (not straight but angled up or down)

a. Cut opposite

b. Fake screen and comeback

c. Backscreen ball side post

 

Baker’s Event Draws National Talent – By Adrain Washington Texas Prep Stars

Posted by Angie Diamond at 8:41 am

Ganon Bakers event was without a doubt one of the best in the country this past weekend- October 8-9, 2011.  The 3rd annual ‘Skills Select Nationals’ have quickly become one of the premier events to attend during the high school girls basketball fall (NCAA) viewing period. Texas Prep Stars.com covered the one of a kind and trend setting event held in Atlanta, GA. and TPS can honestly say that Baker has introduced a pro style of training to the grass roots era. With tons of talent from across the nation starting to fill the Westlake High School gym, you could feel the high energy from more than 8 dozen invite only female athletes and many onlookers in the crowd ready to get it on.
Keep Reading…

Hard Work Pays Off – Korey Harris

Posted by Angie Diamond at 9:36 am

By Korey Harris
Keep Reading…

Australia Thunder from Down Under GBB/NPIRE Tour – Sept 23-Oct 6

Posted by Angie Diamond at 10:35 am

When you hear thunder you hear a huge sound, energy is created and people take notice. Well that is what we did in Australia. People recognized!! Before or after Thunder is lightning, and Natalie Porter’s NPIRE (www.npire.com) was my lightning. I had a chance to work out over 660 players and educate over 425 coaches in 2 EXHAUSTING weeks. It was the hardest I have ever worked in my training life with logging 8-9 hrs a day in the gym on my 39 year old body was a challenge! However since “Rocky” is my role model… I did not stop till I heard that “bell.” Amazing what you can do when you carry a sound in your soul!! My sound was passion, love, truth, the Holy Spirit, and innovativeness for the game of basketball and life. We were on a mission to get out the following word to Coaches:

• People and players can change for the better.

• You want to change a basketball culture? You do it one player and one coach at a time.

• The only way to learn is to be uncomfortable.

• You can be comfortable or outstanding, but you can’t be both.

• The only way to a player’s development is to connect with their mind and their heart.

• Coaching and teaching is not about skills and drills, it’s about communicating, motivating and building trust that one day turns into “blind trust.”

• Motivating, communicating, and relationship building is more important than skills and drills. Once you have motivation, communication and blind trust from your players, then the skills and drills will work even BETTER and a coach really sees improvement

• How can you expect your players to learn and get out of their comfort zone when you don’t as a coach

• Once a year you should go somewhere and be in a learning environment where you feel like you are the “stupidest person in the room”

• To break the cycle of the “same old, same old,” stale, monotonous crusty, vanilla, generic, boring, out of date, non motivating, non relating to the “young players generation,” of practice and skill development, you have to change the way you look at things. WHEN you do these things you look at change!!

• A GREAT KEY to relating to players (8-28…..) and motivating them is to have an adult mind but childlike heart and Joy

• Don’t worry about what players or peer coaches will say about your style and technique. Get past uncomfortable and cool. Players want to have fun, players want to be pushed. Players need to be challenged by an intense coach who challenges their mind with questions, the why’s, the when’s’ (basketball IQ)

• Don’t worry about what your coaching peers think when you are sweating with them. Players love and respect that!

• Don’t worry if you are the most passionate, loudest, non-reserved coach in your program. The more high fiving, chest bumping, fist pumping on the court the better! These actions are contagious and FUN comes back to you and your team!!

• The Australian way of coaching has produced winners and winning teams. One of my favorite basketball players and coaching programs I visited is from Australia. I love their structure and their direction towards making players better. The styles and techniques above will only enhance your practices, invigorate you, give you energy to go out there and be even better!

• Any coach can always learn more. There are no absolutes in basketball. If you don’t learn and grow as a coach you are DEAD!

Training beyond the Limits

A. Coaching

• Nothing magical about coaching you just have to have 2 intangibles Passion and Ability to Keep Learning

1. Passion

• Your example is not the main thing in influencing players – IT’S THE ONLY THING!

Examples of Passion

• Claps

• Tone of voice

• Body language

• On hands with players – clay – you are the potter -”Look” the part

o 8 hrs sleep

o Eat right

o Exercise

o Endorphins release a fresh spirit

• Demonstrate with your mind and body

• Sweat with them, run, walk, slide

• Be a story teller – inspire them (film) – NEVER have a Silent gym (hear coach every 6- 8seconds) – You see passion, you feel passion!

2. Ability to Keep Learning

• Be able to change for the better. Never be satisfied personally with good, it’s the enemy of great!

• Sometimes you WANT to feel like you’re the stupidest in the room

• You get an extra 182 hrs a year if you subtract 30mins of TV time a day. You always can find time.

• Have a passion for self improvement. How?

• Clinics, camps, watch other coaches, film, Google, read books, youtube, cold calls/emails

• The key is to take great notes so you can retrieve, review, then reinforce

 

B. Two things Kill your Coaching and your Career: Boredom and Fatgue

1. Boredom

• Coach has to have energy (passion)

• Except for beginner sports, keep score on every drill

• Make every drill competitive – time, number, winner

• Go 10-15 minutes one on none, then go 10 minutes 1 on 1, 2 on 2 etc..

• Music during practice

• Innovative drills – disruptors like cones, tennis balls, paddles, 2 balls

• Find 50 ways to teach same skill. I am a big believer of variety of drills

• Peer coaching – players OWN the drill

• Either before or after practice relate lesson of the day to life – sport is just platform for life

2. Fatigue

• Mind set of

o “You are not allowed to be tired” (Celtics)

o “Get Past Hard” (Patriots)

o Don’t Workout “Blackout”(Kobe)

• Make drills on the clock

• Simulate game conditions to work on game conditioning – don’t just run

• Would you enjoy your practice

• Make it fun (USA today research)

• Rest – more gold medals were lost with over training than under training

• Unless you are working on technique push their bodies past what they would go in the game. Go beyond game speed

 

C. Coaching Is an Investment not an Entitlement, Invest in the: Kids and The Game

1. Kids

• They have to trust you

• You can’t build trust if you don’t have a relationship with them

• How?

• Social media

• Take a walk and talk with your players vs sit behind a desk and be the judge, jury, and executioner

• Lunch, happy meal, ice cream

• Work them out before or after practice – rebound for them – be a time giver not time stealer

• Ask them questions in practice – involve them

• Don’t BS them – tell them the Truth

• They want to be challenged, confronted. Stretch their mind and body to a place where it’s never been Ex- D. Rose story

• Teach them what they don’t know – details – have them keep a notebook.

• Work out with them – make them feel you are with them and not above them

2. The Game – Be a Teacher/ Coach

• We already talked about learning

• Understand teaching

• Teach the skill not the drill

• Why are they doing it, when do they do it

• Emphasize the process over the product

• Mistakes are an education – it’s okay to mess up

• Communication is your asset (tone of voice, delivery passion.. etc..)

• Your tongue can bring life or death

o Ex. Behind back pass or a big shooting 3’s in practice – how do you handle

• I know what you feel but what you say ex. dumbest white boy, diabetic, girl/boy, cerebral palsy

• A person’s greatest emotional need is to be appreciated and loved – catch them doing something right – ANYTIME

Are you a Motivator? Are You Motivated?

• The most important job is the one you have right now. Your dream job won’t actually materialize unless you take care of the one you have now

• It’s not what you know; it’s what you bring – Every single time you are on the field!! Period!

• The more motivated you are the more successful you will be

• Do you give your players a belief wheel

• Thoughts – Words – Judgment – Action – Results – Belief

• A MESSAGE is only a message if it’s received and acted upon

Notes for Bathurst clinic to All Sport Coaches:

To PLAYERS:

• You do not have to have a coach with you to do an “individual” workout by YOURSELF!

• What I said is not “magical,” you have already heard the message from your parents and your rep and state coaches. What are you waiting for? Grab it, seize it, CHANGE your game! Get Better!

• There is no “microwave success.” Change takes 2 weeks to 2 months to 2 years. Put in the time.

• You won’t fail if you don’t quit. Stick to your workouts and listen to your coaches.

• Happiness is a decision you make ahead of time. If you are bored, you create fun, you activate your intensity – it’s not up to the coach all the time!!

• A silent gym is a dead gym! It’s okay if you are the only one clapping and talking in practice and the rest of the team is laughing. It’s okay if you are the ONLY one working out before practice and staying after. It’s okay if your teammates are making fun of you for always sweating before practice starts. Your TEAMMATES won’t laugh for long, they WILL thank you for going to battle with them and making the team better and they WILL start to do these things with you and NO ONE will be laughing. You ALL will be COMPETING and kicking some butt!!

• When no one is guarding you in practice you HAVE to go hard and have PERFECT Reps

• If your shooting form is messed up, change it now while you’re young.

• For every one game you play, have three 45min individuals to balance play and skills

• Try to play 1 on 1 to 5 on 5 every day or every other day with players BETTER than you or faster or stronger or taller than you

• Contact me and I will put you in touch with Alan Stein, our strength coach! He can transform your body!

• Please don’t email me “my coach stinks”– develop a Relationship with them. Listen to them. Ask them a question every day. Tell them what’s on your heart. Respect them. Learn to Love them! High five them. They are YOUR COACH!! You have in life… GOD, FAMILY, and YOUR COACH

• Don’t you dare limit your skills. You work on all aspects of your game!

• Google and you tube your favorite player and learn from them, study them, research them. Try to get what’s in their mind. See what they see in the game

• Learn HOW to be a winner, not just how to win games but how to live like a winner!! What are you learning from winning and losing that will help you in life? That’s your real TROPHY! Your career in Life will last A LOT longer than your career in basketball!! Winning games is important, but Winning in Life is Eternal!

• Always remember; never forget to find the FUN in practice!! It’s a GAME MAN!!

My wife MJ and I visited Bathurst first. I had to do a 3 day coaching seminar to all sport coaches, not only basketball coaches. There were 80 coaches from all over Australia and New Zealand. Netball, hockey, soccer, basketball, football, to name a few were all represented. My theme was “Training beyond the Limits” (see above). It went well and I was asked back next year. We laughed a lot, the Aussies and New Zealanders have such a sense of humor. While we were there I stayed with my good mate Brett Coxsedge. Very good man, he is a very bright and successful young coach. We saw cows in his neighborhood, raced the world famous race track, and even saw a momma KANGAROO and her Joey in the Wild.

See article and Pix below

 

Academy courts top basketball mentor

26 Sep, 2011 05:00 AM

THE Western Region Academy of Sport secured a coup over the weekend as renowned basketball mentor Ganon Baker came to Bathurst to help ‘coach the coaches’ and impart some of his considerable knowledge.

A number of basketball mentors from across the region were subject to plenty of training from Baker, who has plied his trade with some of the world’s greatest players including NBA stars LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Vince Carter.

A former high school, college and professional player, Baker has been in the coaching game for the last decade and has become one of the foremost tutors in the sport in America.

Since meeting WRAS director Brett Coxsedge eight years ago, he has been a regular visitor to Australia and jumped at the chance to make an appearance in Bathurst.

“I train kids from as young as 10 right up to NBA and WNBA level, through clinics, DVDs, coaching certificate classes and motivational talks,” Baker explained. “After playing in high school, college and as a pro, I went back and coached at college for five years as an assistant and I’ve been doing this for about 10 years now.

“The thing about coaching is that the same lessons I give to someone like LeBron James, who is at the top of the sport, are often exactly the same as the lessons a hockey coach might teach his players.”

Baker went on to explain that the only thing that separates some of the world’s greatest players and coaches from the people who he was instructing in Bathurst is the personalities and motivations of his students.

“The lessons don’t change, only the talent level and the personality,” he said.

“The importance of success changes too, for a LeBron James basketball is their job and their livelihood, so their motivation is different to a 12-year-old who just loves playing the sport but it doesn’t mean everything to him if he wins or loses.”

In the time Baker has been coaching, Australia’s presence in the basketball world has grown and he sees a positive future for the sport in this country given the potential available.

“Australian athletes are gritty, and tough and their skills are on the improve,” he said.

“Since I’ve been coming out here Andrew Bogut was a number one NBA draft pick and Patty Mills has been picked up as well, and Lauren Jackson has been named the WNBA most valuable player. The girls regularly finish in the top two at world championships.

“The thing the Aussies are missing though that the USA has is the ability to be playing against great players all the time. You can go to any city in the US and there are great players there. That doesn’t happen in Australia.

“If you took the top young Australian players and planted them in American cities where they were constantly exposed to better competition, they would all be among the top 100 players on the planet.”

BY SAM DEBENHAM

Next we went to Sydney and had a beautiful dinner on the Harbor. Seafood on the water and my wife has never looked more beautiful! I am blessed

We did player workouts for 2 days.

We then went to Brisbane and did a HUGE player workout and coaches clinic. This was the best talent. MJ found some girls to recruit and I found a. JRNSA player to invite ( www.jrnsa.com) We had beautiful weather, it’s Australia’s Spring time now!

We then went back to Sydney for 4 days of workouts and had our First GBB Australian Coaches Certification Class. We had 47 coaches take the course. Man we laughed we got moved, we learned we made lasting friendships!!

We then moved on to Melbourne. Very interesting city! Each of Australia’s cities are all unique and have so much personality. We did 3 days worth of player workouts. One day I was in the gym for 13 hours. We did a 250 coach’s clinic and even had more coaches’ at my clinic than the clinic the NBA had (180 coaches). It gives me great confidence that people appreciate my work and validates that our style of teaching works and is relevant. Thank you Basketball Victoria, this organization has PASSION, for that is why they are called the “Big V”

We are now going to start GBB Australia. We will make 2-3 trips to Australia every year to do camps, player workouts, coaching certification classes, coaching clinics, and school assemblies. Natalie Porter of NPIRE will be our Country Manager. We will have the gbb.com.au website up and running soon. Products and resources will be available soon for sale. Shipping now will be from Australia and not the States, so you can get your products sooner.

Australia is thousands of miles away, but it’s our PASSION, TRUTH and LOVE for the Game and its players that connects our Bridge to SUCCESS!!

 

Ganon Baker

 

Amar’e Stoudemire : Tyler Relph NBA Training – “Training an ALL TIME Great”

Posted by Angie Diamond at 7:55 am

What a GREAT 3 weeks!!! 5 cities in 3 weeks, from the East Coast to Mid West to the West Coast and back to the East Coast. Dallas to Miami to San Antonio to Los Angeles to Atlanta and now back home to Dallas, TX.

Amar’e Stoudemire is an NBA All Star, Top 5 NBA player, Best Pure Power Forward in the NBA, a Future Hall of Famer, and a guy that has the same passion for basketball as I do!!! With all the things Amar’e has accomplished and is going to accomplish in his young career you would think he has an ego and deservedly so!! Not Amar’e!!!

Kids, if you want to be great it takes preparation, commitment, passion, persistence and a willingness to listen and learn. STAT (Standing Tall and Talented) has all these, not only did he LISTEN with his EARS, he listened with his EYES! He was ALL ABOUT getting better, he said he wanted to be better and he backed it up!! Do you back it up as a player or are you just talking about it because its what you should say?  Amar’e backs it up with his passion “What move should I make here?”, “How’s my handle look?” , “ What can I do to perfect this move?”. Then came the answers from me and he listened intently!!! This is why he is GREAT!!

GIFTED – Amar’e is a gifted athlete and a great basketball player (who despite his accomplishments isn’t afraid to admit there is always more to work on) he was willing to get out of his comfort zone, he knew he to in order to get better!! Are you willing to get out of your comfort zone to get better? He was willing to look dumb in order to get better?  ARE YOU?

RELENTLESS – A Turnover meant 10 more dribbles of that same move he turned the ball over doing and he had to start the drill over. He has to get a footwork move, dribble move, or drill until it was perfect, there was no “I CAN’T” with Amar’e. He had to make over 92% of his free throws before we left the gym! PERFECTION

EXCELLENCE – Whatever Amar’e does he wants to be great at it, acting, filming, basketball, commercials, he wants to be the greatest!! Knowledge is Power!! Be Different!!

ATTITUDE -  Amar’e and I played in over 40 Games of reaction 1 on 1 and sometimes it became so competitive we just played 1 on 1 from whatever spot, sometimes it was full court!! He has an attitude that makes him better!! Two Guys who were born in New York, there was a lot of chatter going on in that GYM and we fed off it!!! It was FUN while being extremely competitive!!

TEAM – He wants to win! A championship is the only thing on his mind! He surrounds himself with a TEAM of GREAT people, I spent as much time with his friend Ben as I did with Amare and the conversations were nothing short of incredible!! People who genuinely care about each other can get a lot done!!

Amare Stoudemire is a BETTER PERSON then a basketball player,  he gives everyone respect and he has sure gained mine. He has fun on the court and off the court. A trip to MILLIONS OF MILKSHAKES where he was noticed as an actor not an NBA player had me and him dying going to back to his place in LA, he enjoys life, and makes other people around him better.

Amar’e and I grew up in same Era of Basketball, two kids born in NY with dreams of making a difference in the basketball world. Coming from two different spectrums of the basketball world to spend 3 weeks to learn and get better!! Whether it was 11am or Midnight we both came into the gym with a smile because THE COURT,  it’s where we grew up, it shaped us both into who we are today.

Leaving the last day Amare said to me ” T your the hardest worker I’ve ever seen”  DIDO  Amare!!

***You have to have goals in your workout. You can’t stop until that goal is reached, when it is reached you have gotten better!! Then you make another goal, and keep increasing the intensity and the difficulty of the drills! That’s what WE did and it made us both better.

“Persistence leads to perfection, satisfaction leads to failure”  Are you persistent or are you satisfied?

WE are not Satisfied, WE want to be Better, WE can get Better, and WE will get Better!!

WE are GBB!!!

Tyler Relph

 

Ganon and Tyler’s Combined 5 Week Workout Help Amare in Exhibition Game. Stat said he is in the best shape of his life!

Posted by Angie Diamond at 7:42 am

Read more: http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=8407#ixzz1aUJNNj25

Amare Training: Simplicity in Consistency

Posted by Angie Diamond at 10:48 am

I had the pleasure last week to train a former client Amare Stoudemire. Stat (Standing Tall and Talented) LOVES to work and I love working him out. Not because of the fact he is tall, talented, current All-Star and future Hall of Famer. Not because we were in gorgeous Miami and beautiful LA, but because he is a REAL student of the game and when the student shows up the teacher can go to work! The teacher can help facilitate learning and the teacher can impart knowledge energy and passion into the student! Sometimes the student teaches the teacher- below is what I learned: (I hope young players will read this)

Stat is a REAL Player- no fake wanna be NBA athlete

R- Respect the game

• Oh does he respect the game. He showed up every day at 9am to go thru 1 hour of stretching and flexibility work

• He then had 45mins-1 hour of weights and strength performance work

• We then worked out for an hour to hour and a half on skills and positional moves

• When you respect the game you respect the coaches. He was locked in the ENTIRE TIME, no BS with his approach, “yes coach, I got you G” “How was that” “one more” “push me harder G” was what I got. Amazing and the season has not even started yet and his respect and focus is at a high place right NOW!

• When you respect the game you respect the fans. Almost every fan that came by and asked for an autograph or picture was walking home with a piece of Amare. He accommodated every single person, (even the ones on the road, in the airport, the drunk girl at TGIF’s. ) He was graceful, kind and always respected the fans. He even gave one of my JRNSA players (who I was training in Miami also) some pointers on his game. EJ could not have been more excited to get a piece of time from one of the greatest power forwards in the Game. I was very proud of Amare for his patience and kindness to young EJ. Do you know how many people tug at him, ask him for stuff, and leech on him for things? I lived with him for 3 months and this past week I got irritated at times by ALL the people who wanted a “touch of the big fella”.. It was draining for me man!! You think you want to be at the highest level until you LIVE in their shoes. I love my privacy and somewhat simple life. However he never let them interfere with his workouts!! That is true respect for the game!

E- Enthusiastic Approach

• I would not be blogging about STAT if he were not so passionate! To hire me or one of our staff means you are getting a confrontational coach. I would not let him loose his fire in the workouts. I can honestly say he would not let me loose mine! We were one flame vibing off each other. No music, just his own heart and soul driving his reps. He went hard mentally and physically. Stayed in the Drill till he got IT Right! Was holding himself accountable instead of me holding him accountable! He owned the workout; the workout did not own HIM! I only blog about certain elite players and his passion definitely can’t be matched (only ones that are up to par to his I have seen live and worked out are Kobe, CP3, Mya Moore, Rotnei’ clark, Brandon Knight, to name a few) You can’t get better unless you HAVE IT- EVERY TIME

A-Assimilation by Association (You become what you are around)

• Stat surrounds himself with a TEAM of Good dudes. His business people, his chef (who is world renowned), his Canadian body specialist, his basketball trainers (myself, Tyler, Idan the Hoop), Whisperer ( I hear is outstanding), all add value to him and whether you like it or not you become who you hang around with. He surrounds himself with a good “posse.”

L- Love of the Game – Even When it’s Hard

• He loves to play but more importantly loves to work!! The KNICKS can’t talk to him- so who was getting himself out of bed? Who was driving him to work on his weaknesses? Who pushed him to get better and get the Solutions he needs to win a championship this year? Who picked him up when he did not feel like going Hard? HIM and his Love of the GAME!

• You got the Love ?

So it was a simple workout! Simple things done every day the same consistent way!

That was a REAL Player!

See photos below!

Girls National Skills Academy Player List – Atlanta GA Oct 8 & 9

Posted by Angie Diamond at 9:10 am

SKILLS SELECT -
NATIONAL CAMP SCHEDULE

Saturday, October 8^th

11am-1130am
Group 1 Check-In/Registration

12pm-145pm
Group 1 – Skill Workout

130pm-2pm Group
2 Check-In/Registration

2pm-345pm
Group 2 Skill Workout

4pm-545pm
Group 1 Camp Games

6pm-745pm
Group 2 Games

 

Sunday, October 9^th

9am-1015am
Group 1 Skill Workout

1030am-1145am
Group 2 Skill Workout

12pm-120pm
Group 1 Camp Games

130pm-250pm
Group 2 Camp Games

3pm-340pm
Group 1 Champion Vs Group 2 Champion

345pm – Camp
Ends

Last Name	First Name	Grp	Year	Height	Position	State
Andre	Bianca	2	2013	5’11″	Wing	WV
Baker	Kuaneshia	1	2012	5’10	Wing	LA
Beasley	Brandi	2	2016	5’7	PG	AR
Bell	Chinyere	2	2015	6’0	Forward	NC
Belton	Lynee	1	2014	6’2	Forward	MD
Bevillard	Gabby	1	2013	6’2″	Forward	GA
Black	Kaylee	1	2014	5’10″	Guard	TX
Bossler	Susan	1	2015	5’7″	Combo	PA
Boykin	Tierra	2	2014	5’4	PG	GA
Brown	Nettie	2	2013	5’9	Forward	GA
Brown	Caron	2	2012	6’2	Forward	GA
Brown	Amber	2	2013	5’10″	Guard	GA
Brown	Alexis	1	2013	5’8″	PG	GA
Bunn	Whitney	1	2013	5’7	PG	NC
Butts	Ariel	2	2012	6’3″	Center	GA
Cagle	Sommer	2	2013	6’1″	Forward	SC
Cincore	Jasmine	1	2014	5’9	Combo	TN
Clark	Kyley	2	2013	5’6	Combo	NC
Coats	Alaina	2	2013	6’4″	Center	SC
Cooper	Mia	1	2013	5’8″	Guard	GA
Cooper	Te’a	1	2015	5’6″	PG	Ga
Cranshaw	Shannon	2	2013	5’9	Combo	FL
Cumming	Taja	1	2017	5’2	PG	GA
DeGruy	Macy	2		5’8″	PG	LA
Deshields	Diamond	1	2013	6’1″	Wing	GA
Dickerson	Victoria	2	2014	5’8″	Guard	SC
Dodson	Tayler	1	2014	6’0″	Guard	VA
Dry	Alyssa	1	2015	5’7″	PG	TX
Duckett	Kaydra	2	2014	5’9″	Combo	SC
Favors	Jacoya	1	2015	6’1	Center	GA
Gordon	Taylor	1	2013		Forward	GA
Gordon	Jaylynn	2		5’6″	PG	LA
Griffin	Amy	2	2014	5’10″	Guard	GA
Grimes	Jade	1	2015	6’2	center	GA
Hale	Briana	1	2015	5 6	Guard	VA
Hammaker	Anna	2	2015	5’8	PG	TN
Harper	Sommer	2	2012	5’3	PG	MS
Hicks	Braysia	1	2014	5’10″	Guard	VA
Hollis	Jasmine	1	2015	5’11	Forward	AL
Hoover	M & M	2	2013	5’7	PG	LA
Houppert	Kara	1	2013	5’9	Guard	NY
Hunt	Katie	2		5’8	Guard	GA
Iademarco	Nicole	2	2014	6’0	Guard	TX
Jackson	Maya	2	2014	6’2″	Center	LA
Jackson	Di’Mond	2	2013	5’7	PG	AR
Jackson	Jessica	2	2013	6’2″	Wing	SC
Jacobs	Arianna	2	2013	5’6	PG	NC
Jacobs	mariah	2	2016	5’7	Guard	NC
James	Raven	1	2016	5’4	PG	MD
Jenkins	Patrice	2	2013	5’6″	PG	SC
Johnson	Diona	1	2014	5’9	Combo	NY
Johnson	Karrah	2	2013	6’2″	Center	FL
Johnson	Makayla	2	2014	6’4″	Center	SC
Johnson	Sade	2	2014	5’8″	Wing	SC
Jones	Brogan	1	2016	6’2″	Center	AR
Jones	Mykia	2	2013	5’8″	PG	NC
Joseph	Chelsea	1	2014	5’8″	Guard	SC
Knight	Meoshonti	1	2014	5’9	Guard	LA
Lane	Amber	1	2014	5’6	PG	TX
Lee	Maia	1	2014	6’2″	Center	VA
Leyhue	Kaley	1	2014	5’9	Wing	TN
Mahoney	Kristin	2	2014	5’8″	Guard	TX
Martinez	Diamante (DeDe)	1		6’2″	Center	LA
Matthews	Makayla	2	2013	6’1	Forward	LA
McCaskill	Sydnei	1	2013	5’7″	PG	FL
McDonald	Breanna	2	2012	6’0″	Wing	GA
McDonald	Nikki	2	2015	6’0	Guard	GA
Montgomery	Kayla	2	2012	6’4″	Center	GA
Murray	Qierra	1	2014	5’9	Guard	MD
Murrell	Sade	1		5’9″	Wing	LA
Nicholas	Juwann	2				LA
Oliver	Haley	1	2014	5’10	Guard	MD
Outlaw	Brittany	2	2014	6’3	Center	GA
Palmer	Katie	2	2014	5’9	Combo	KS
Person	Precious	2	2012	6’1″	Wing	GA
Ponder	Cheyenne	1	2015	5’4	Forward	AL
Porter	Kirby	1	2014	6’1	Guard	MD
Powell	Brittany	1	2014	5’5	Combo	NC
Powell	Brianna	2	2014	5’9	Combo	NC
Prince	Alexis	1	2012	6’2″	Wing	FL
Rainey	Latifah	1	2012	6’1	Forward	TX
Ritter	Vondria	1	2014	6’3″	Center	SC
Roberts	Pachiyaanna	2	2012	6’1″	Forward	GA
Robinson	Diamond	2	2014	5’8	Guard	GA
Robinson	Jazmine	1	2014	5’5″	PG	SC
Roper	Jaida	2	2016	5’6	PG	TN
Sanders	Sharon	2	2012	5’8	Guard	AL
Scott	Sunnie	1	2014	5’5	Guard	GA
Spencer	Ebone	2	2012	5’8	Guard	GA
Thomas	Lia	1	2015	5’7	Guard	Ga
Timpton	India	1	2013	6’0″	Forward	NC
Tramble	Amanda	1	2014	5’5	PG	GA
Triggs	Jewel	1	2015	5’11	Guard	LA
Turner	Lauren Ashley	2	2013	5’11	Forward	GA
Turner	Aisha	2	2012	5’7″	Guard	GA
Ungaro	Nicole	1	2016	5’11	Forward	TN
Venson	Mikayla	1	2014	5′ 7″	PG	VA
Welsh	Tariah	2	2012	5’9″	Guard	GA
Wesolek	Erika	1	2013	5’9	Guard	SC
Whitted	Peyton	1	2013	6’1″	Forward	GA
Williams	Ronni	1	2013	6’2″	Forward	GA
Williams	Candice	1	2014	5’6	PG	FL
Wilson	A’ja	1	2014	6’4″	Guard	SC
Wolfe	Shelby	2	2012	5’9	Forward	NC
Young	Clara	2	2013	5’7	PG	GA
Youngblood	Derreyal	1	2012	6’5″	Center	LA

TEXAS SKILLS SELECT BRINGS OUT THE OLD AND THE NEW

Posted by Angie Diamond at 12:28 pm

TEXAS SKILLS SELECT BRINGS OUT THE OLD AND THE NEW

From the old to the new, talent was on full display at the Skills Select-Texas. Skills Select hosted 68 players from five states for a day of skill development, film study, inspiration, motivation and games. We’ll take a look at the top performers of the camp starting with the Class of 2012 top cagers:

Moriah Jefferson/ 5’7 Point Guard (THS) – Jefferson is regarded by many as the top point guard prospect in the country and one of the country’s fieriest competitors. Nothing changed my mind during the camp. Jefferson, a UCONN commit, was the Day 1 standout as she showed great speed and execution during the skill workout and translated those energies and efforts into the five-on five competition. Standing a shade under 5’7, Jefferson was a surprisingly willing rebounder on the interior. Her skills, combined with her speed and willingness to “go hard” all the time, makes her an elite prospect. She was slowed during the second session due to a head injury.

SKILLS (HM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (MM+) +SPEED (HM+)+ INTANGIBLES (HM+)+ UNDERSTANDING (HM) + POTENTIAL (HM) =OVERALL (HM) {P24}

Courtney Williams / 6’1 Guard (Northshore)- C-Will is simply a WOW type of player. Her combination of size, athleticism and skills really goes unmatched in any girls HS basketball camp. At 6’1, Williams is as versatile as any player in America. She has made a verbal pledge to the National Champions – Texas A & M Aggies and figures heavily in their plans for another championships in the coming years. I would like to see her a little more assertive and at times a little more selfish, especially on the offensive end. Her skill work was good, but not great as her effort seem to come and go. The same can be said about her game play, but this is by far one of the most talented and versatile guards in the country in the past six years.

SKILLS (HM-)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (HM+)+ SPEED (HM-)+INTANGIBLES (HM+)+UNDERSTANDING (MM+) + POTENTIAL (HM+)= OVERALL (HM) {P24}

Chloe Pavlech/ 5’9 Guard (Sycamore, OH) – Pavlech, an Ohio native, made the trip down to Texas to show why many consider her one of the top guards in the Buckeye State. A cerebral guard with a strong frame and very good understanding, Pavlech has improved her ball-handling skills and is an improving play maker. A good athlete, she will need to improve her speed and quickness as she prepares for life in the ACC (Maryland commit). Her shooting was inconsistent most of the weekend, but her ability to recognize that is a skill in itself.

SKILLS (MM+)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (HM-)+SPEED (MM) + INTANGIBLES (HM-) +UNDERSTANDING (HM) + POTENTIAL (MM)= OVERALL (MM+)

Anna Strickland/ 6’0 Forward (The Woodlands) – Strickland was in many ways the surprise of the weekend camp among the seniors class participants. She was the centerpiece of a team of hardworking, unselfish, and determined troopers that went undefeated in Group play. Strickland likely projects as a forward at the next level but she’s versatile enough to make her very attractive as a wing. Her quickness to the ball and her ability to score in transition were very noticeable. She doesn’t look the part, but she’s a player; a definite glue style player for any mid-level program.

SKILLS (MM+)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (MM)+SPEED (MM) + INTANGIBLES (HM-) +UNDERSTANDING (MM+) + POTENTIAL (MM)= OVERALL (MM)

Briona Chatman/ 5’10 Forward (Klein Oak)- Chatman was another surprise performer at this year’s Texas camp. Long, wiry and athletic. Chatman was a factor on both ends of the floor. This is a player who could affect the game without scoring a basket, due primarily to her raw athletic abilities. I see her as a first rate defensive minded wing with the ability to guard multiple position. Her offensive skills are lacking the polish to warrant recognition from the Majors- or even some emerging or top-tier Mids, but a college prospect none-the-less.

SKILLS (LM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (MM)+SPEED (MM+) + INTANGIBLES (MM) +UNDERSTANDING (LM+) + POTENTIAL (MM)= OVERALL (MM-)

Kassandra Lopez/ 5’6 Guard (Veterans Memorial) – Lopez is a small guard who primarily played off the ball during the five-on-five competition. She has a nice stroke and performed well during the skills portion of the camp.

SKILLS (MM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (DII)+SPEED (LM) + INTANGIBLES (LM) +UNDERSTANDING (MM) + POTENTIAL (LM)= OVERALL (LM/DII)

LaTifah Rainey /6’1 Forward (John Tyler) – Big Body post; limited mobility; very little elevation.

SKILLS (DII)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (LM+)+SPEED (DII) + INTANGIBLES (DII) +UNDERSTANDING (LM) + POTENTIAL (LM)= OVERALL (DII)

Ebony Easter/ 5’8 Guard/Forward (Sandra Day O’Connor) –A classic tweener type of player, Easter plays an outstanding inside game, but combines it with nice attacking style from the wing and key area. Despite her 5’8 frame she was able to score (regularly) again bigger forwards. Despite her effectiveness, many DI level will shy away because her skills still need some refining. But she’s a player worth some consideration at the DI level for sure.

SKILLS (LM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (LM)+SPEED (MM-) + INTANGIBLES (MM-) +UNDERSTANDING (LM+) + POTENTIAL (MM-)= OVERALL (LM+)

Adriana Dominguez/ 6’1 Forward (Klein Oak) – Dominguez is a long forward with the ability to finish.

SKILLS (LM)+ SIZE FOR POSITION (MM-)+SPEED (MM-) + INTANGIBLES (LM) +UNDERSTANDING (LM+) + POTENTIAL (LM)= OVERALL (LM)

Kelvin Powell is the Director of Player Personnel and the Director of Skills Select Exposure Camps for Ganon Baker Basketball Services. Powell is a member of the McDonald’s All-American Selection Committee, as well as a contributing editor with SLAM Magazine. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the Gatorade National and State Player of the Year Program. He is presently employed at Tallahassee Community College as an Athletics Adminstrator.