Camp Instructors

Adam Hepker

Coach Adam Hepker was the starting point guard for Coach Lamar at MidAmerica Nazarene from 2004 - 2008. They qualified for the national tournament in each of his four years, advancing to the Final Four three times and winning the National Championship in 2007. Hepker earned All-American honors his sophomore, junior, and senior year, and was MVP of the National Tournament in 2007. 

Some of Coach Adam Hepker's credentials include:

  • Currently, Adam is is the Lead Assistant at Ottawa University in Arizona
  • Coach Hepker was the Lead Assistant at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa for the last two years
  • Three years with MoKan, the top AAU program in the Midwest 

  • Coached 16U Select and now 15 Elite's the last two years

  • Hepker has coached multiple D1, D2 and NAIA guys in those three years

  • At MNU he coached two All Americans himself but was part of a program that has had 28 total

  • Adam worked at Rocky Lamar's Fundamentally Driven Basketball Camp for 5 seasons, in that time working with over 3000 campers

  • Hepker has worked for a coach that has won over 650 games

  • Adam was named the HAAC Player of the Year in 2007 & 2008

  • He has been named a Champion of Character Award winner, and was a two-time NAIA-Daktroncis Scholar-Athlete

  • He was elected to into the MidAmerica Nazarene's Hall of Fame in 2013

  • Played professionally in Germany for a year and a half season in the ABA in Kansas City


Adam Short


  • Coach Adam Short is currently the Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri along with coaching for MOKAN where he has coached & mentored over 20 college players ranging from Division 1 to JUCO. Coach Short has also helped MOKAN win several national and regional tournaments. He also helps lead the youth side for MOKAN
  • Previously, he was the Assistant Men's Coach at Missouri State - West Plains and defeated two top ten teams in the country, and helped coach four all region players
  • Adam played his collegiate basketball at Avila University where he was team captain and a 1,000 point scorer.  Additional credentials while playing were team MVP, 2nd team all conference, and honorable mention all conference honors
  • Coach Short has been working Breakthrough Basketball camps for the last three years and has been receiving GREAT reviews from parents & campers


Alexander Wright


Alexander "POPS" Wright Jr. was born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Coach Wright played four years of college basketball and graduated with a degree in business administration at Edward Waters College located in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Alexander played professional basketball in the United States and abroad for 11 years with The Harlem Globetrotters, Jacksonville Giants, Neu-Ulm Raptors (Germany) and The Harlem Ambassadors.

He is a certified Personal Trainer, Basketball Skill Development Trainer, Youth Mentor and has his USA Basketball Coaching License.  







Anthony Gordon



Anthony Gordon is currently an Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development at Kentucky Christian University 

He is the owner & skills trainer at The Next Level Athlete 

Gordon has 18 years of coaching experience, including 10 years varsity basketball experience , 6 years  of youth and middle school experience, 15 years of skills training and player development 


Arin Wade

Arin Wade was born and raised in Annapolis, MD where he attended South River High school, playing on the school basketball team (2007-2010)

Wade was invited to the USA 365 Sports Jr. Olympic team in Switzerland (2009).  Upon graduation in 2010, Arin played 4 years of college basketball for Mount Aloysius College and graduated with a bachelors in Professional Studies, minoring in Sports Management.

Following his college career, Arin became the Mount Aloysius Women's Assistant Coach (2016-2017) followed by the Mount Aloysius Men's Assistant Coach (2017-2019) and
Penn State Altoona Men’s Assistant Coach and head coach for the JV team (2019-present).

Outside of coaching, Arin is a Skill Developer, working with players of all ages. 3 out of the his 4 years of coaching college basketball, Arin has had a player on his team that he's worked with win the Newcomer of the Year award in the conference.


Ashlee Trebilcock

Ashlee Trebilcock has over 15 years experience professionally coaching individual athletes, directing group sessions, and team camps.


College Career:

Ashlee received a full-ride basketball scholarship to The Ohio State University and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Strategic Communications. As a starting shooting guard for the Buckeyes, the team;

-      Won four Big Ten Conference Championships

-      Two Big Ten Tournament Championships

-      Four NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16

 

College Coaching Experience:  

Ashlee cultivated her passion for coaching at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. As first assistant at Denison, the team accomplished feats including:

-      The first undefeated regular season  (28-0)

-      Highest national ranking in team history

-      #1 in assist to turnover ratio nationally


From 2012-2015, while overseas Ashlee was:

-      Awarded an athletic scholarship to Southampton Solent University (UK) and completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with a focus on leadership in elite athletics 

-      Awarded Division 1 WEBL regional MVP

-      Played professionally for the Smithton Saints Basketball Club in Tasmania, Australia

-      Head coach of the Smithton Saints and ran multiple youth camps and private sessions with the Tasmanian club’s youth teams


Asia Malone


Coach Malone brings high-level basketball experience, having played professionally in Europe for 3 seasons (Hungary, Germany and England). Before going to Europe, she played D-I basketball at the University of Arkansas, graduating in 2015.

She understands the skills, determination and mentality required to make your game stand out, and she has a passion for passing this on to up-and-coming players.

Coach Malone is currently the Head Girls Varsity Basketball Coach for East High School in West Bend, WI, as well as the Owner of YoungStarzz player development and AAU organization in Wisconsin.


Aundrey Wright

Coach Wright has over 23 years of experience including stints at 7 different colleges; man of high integrity; dedicated professional; demonstrated leader; a tireless worker and effective communicator; determined to motivate students.
  • Served an integral role in leading University of Indianapolis to 6 straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2010 – 2016)
  • Instrumental is helping Univ. of Indianapolis climb to as high at #1 in the nation during the 2014-2015 season
  • Developed three All-American guards as an assistant at the University of Indianapolis
  • At Southern Illinois, instrumental is helping team secure an NIT bid and advance to the second round
  • At California University of PA, instrumental is earning co-champs of the PSAC and #16 nationally ranking
  • At St. Louis CC – Meramec, developed All-American Mike Branson and advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament
  • Additional camp coaching experience includes:  University of Kansas, University of Illinois, University of Oklahoma, St. Louis University, St. Mary’s College, Southwest Missouri State, Stephen Bardo Camp, Ballstar, Rich Falk Basketball Camp, Shoot 4 The Stars, and a variety of Breakthrough Basketball Camps


BJ Watson

Coach Watson is in his third season as Assistant Coach for Park University where he graduated in 2017 after playing three years for the school.

Park University Men's Basketball Accomplishments: 
  • Participated in The National Tournament (2016 & 2017)
  • 3rd Team All-AMC Conference (2016)
  • 1st Team All-AMC Conference (2017)
  • Honorable Mention All-American (2017)
Other credentials:
  • BJ has been a demonstrator for multiple skill development videos for Breakthrough Basketball
  • Coach Watson was a 9th & 11th grade coach for Warrior Hoops where he organized and implemented practice plans, plays, along with team and parent meetings
  • During his college playing career he was a camp instructor for K - 8th grade groups to teach the essential fundamental skills on the court, as well as the importance of being a good person off


Brett McFall


Brett has been the Head Coach at Shawnee Mission South HS (Overland Park, KS) for the last 10 years

Coach McFall has won over 150 games including an undefeated 5A State Championship in 2013 (25-0)

He has coached 62 Division 1 players over the past 15 years including one NBA Player (Willie Cauley-Stein of the Sacramento Kings) and 7 European Professionals

Brett has worked with over 1,300 kids in clinics around the Kansas City area over the past 15 years


Brice Searles

  • Coach Searles is a Breakthrough Basketball veteran, having been with us for the last 5 years! Brice is currently working for the Durango 9R School District in Durango, Colorado . He works at both Park Elementary and Florida Mesa Elementary Schools as a special education paraprofessional. Brice has worked in Special Education for over 22 years. He finds serving students and others with special needs very rewarding and fulfilling.  He also coaches at St. Columba Catholic School. 
  • Coach Searles does basketball clinics with Durango Parks and Recreation in Colorado
  • Brice spent 6 years with the Los Angeles Lakers Summer Youth Camps, 2 years at the Michael Jordan Flight School, Snow Valley Basketball School and University Of Colorado Summer Basketball Camps.
As a player, he attended Cabrillo Senior High School in Lompoc, California where he was the Northern Scoring Champion, 2nd Team All-C.I.F. and went on a scholarship to Gonzaga University back in 1977. 

He then transferred to Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado for 1 year. He won the R.M.A.C. Scoring Championship at 25.0 pts. per game, was an All-District 7 1st Team leading that region in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots. He was an All-American Honorable Mention in 1985.

Brice then went on to play in the Denver Pro Am league before playing professionally in Quito, Ecuador for 3 years with LaSalle and Liga Deportiva.  Coach Searles won the Ecuadorian League Scoring Title there averaging 39.5 points per game and has 3 international scoring records of 60 points twice and 72 points in a game. His team went on to win the Ecuadorian Championship and represented Ecuador in the South American Championship in Caracas, Venezuela.

Coach Searles has a lot of valued experience that he is willing to share with your campers.


Bryson Davis-Johnson

Bryson Davis-Johnson is in this third season with the UIndy men’s basketball team.  His responsibilities for the Greyhounds include assisting the coaching staff with on-court activities, on-campus recruiting, advanced scouting and planning for travel and meals.

In his second year as a member of the UIndy coaching staff, Davis-Johnson guided five all-conference players, including all-defensive member Ajay Lawton. Along with second-team members Eric Davidson, Jesse Kempson, and Jimmy King, Davis-Johnson also mentored freshman Tate Hall to the conference's award for top rookie. The Greyhounds went 16-12 on the season, but a 12-6 record earned the team the five-seed in the conference tournament, which led the team to the second before succumbing to Wisconsin-Parkside. 

 
Davis-Johnson played one year of Division III basketball at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois (2009-10). He began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Charleston High School in Charleston, Ill., while still in undergrad.  During his student teaching he was an assistant coach at Danville High School in Danville, Illinois. He taught physical education at the elementary and middle school levels as well as coached high school basketball at The High School of St. Thomas More in Champaign, Ill., for two years following graduation.
 
A native of Champaign, Davis-Johnson played four years at Centennial High School. As a high school senior, Davis-Johnson was the co-captain of a Centennial team that went on to win the IHSA class 3A state championship (’09) and was named to the News-Gazette all-area honorable mention list.
 


Carl Scales

Coach Scales has been working Breakthrough Basketball camps for the past three years. Carl brings many years of experience including:

  • Girls’ Varsity Assistant (2000-2005) - Hopkins High School, Hopkins MN.  Helped them to 4 consecutive state tournaments, including their first state championship in 2004
  • Boys’ Varsity Assistant (2006-2012) - Eastview High School, Apple Valley MN.  Helped them to 4 section final games and 2 state tournament berths, 2010 and 2012
  • 15 years of AAU/TRAVEL Basketball Head Coach:  Girls - MN Metro Stars & MN Fury.  Boys - MN Magic, Richfield Select
  • Director of Summer Camps and Clinics for the Richfield Boys Basketball Association

Carl has coached with and trained numerous players who have gone on to play college basketball from the D1 level to NAIA.  He prides himself in providing sound instruction, his ability to communicate and convey the intricacies of the game, and create an energetic and challenging environment for basketball players to thrive and improve.



Charlie Miller

• 1990 – 1994: Lettered all 4 years for varsity basketball team at South Miami 
H.S. Leading scorer in the state of Florida senior year averaging 32 points per game.

• 1994: Selected as a McDonald’s All-American. In the same year selected to play in 
Magic Johnson’s Roundball Classic, a national high school all-star game.

• 1994: Florida’s Gatorade Player of the Year. The player chosen for this award is 
evaluated and selected on the basis of outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of 
academic achievement and exemplary personal character demonstrated within and 
beyond competitive athletics.

• 1995: Represented the United States in basketball at the Junior Olympics in Athens, 
Greece.

• 1994 – 1998: Accepted Scholarship to play at Indiana University at Bloomington under 
legendary Coach Robert Montgomery Knight. Played all 4 years and graduated with a 
B.S. degree.

• 1998 – 2004: Played basketball professionally across Europe and in the U.S.


Chris Hamilton

 
Chris Hamilton is in his second year as an assistant coach at Nebraska Wesleyan.

Hamilton comes to NWU from Randolph Macon College, a NCAA III school in Virginia, where he was an assistant for his alma mater the past two seasons.  In the 2017-18 season, Randolph Macon went 18-8 and won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference regular season championship.  
 
During his days as a player at RMC, Hamilton helped the Yellow Jackets post a record of 90-27 (.769) over his four-year career from 2011-15. RMC won a pair of ODAC regular-season titles, captured two ODAC Tournament crowns and earned four consecutive bids to the NCAA Tournament. The Yellow Jackets reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2013 and the Elite Eight in 2015.
 
One of the top long-range shooters in program history, Hamilton made 171 career three-pointers and shot .435 from behind the arc.
 
During the 2014-15 season, Hamilton was second on the team with 11.1 points per game. An All-ODAC selection, Hamilton and the Yellow Jackets posted a 28-3 mark. RMC won a school-record 25 consecutive games and was ranked No. 1 in the nation for multiple weeks. The Yellow Jackets became the first team in the ODAC to go undefeated during the regular season (16-0) and win the ODAC Tournament in the same season. RMC received one of two first-round byes in the NCAA Tournament and recorded a pair of home tourney victories before falling in the national quarterfinals.
 
During the 2015-16 season, Hamilton was a graduate assistant at NCAA Division I Mount St. Mary’s in Maryland. The Mountaineers were 15-15 overall and 11-7 in the Northeast Conference a season ago. Hamilton is working toward a Master of Science degree in Sports Management from The Mount.
 
A native of Bellbrook, Ohio, and a graduate of Bellbrook High School, Hamilton was a two-time ODAC All-Academic selection. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business/Economics from RMC in 2015. Hamilton was also Vice President of RMC’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).


Chris Oliver


Chris has 23 years of university coaching experience. At the University of Windsor he compiled a .750 winning percentage. His teams were nationally ranked seven of the last eight seasons. 

His teams won three conference league championships and made two trips to the elite eight. He has coached against top-level NCAA programs like Kentucky, Ohio State, Virginia Tech, St Louis and many others. His players have developed to play professionally in Europe and for the National Program.


Coach Oliver now resides in Palm Desert, California and is the CEO of Basketball Immersion.


He has a Master's in Education, a Bachelor of Education and a Degree in Kinesiology. Chris currently resides in Windsor, Ontario but travels world-wide teaching the game of basketball. To learn more about Chris, visit his twitter @Chris__Oliver


Corey Laster

  • Laster has been a collegiate coach for the last 16 years, dating back to 2000 where he started his career at his alma mater, Taylor University (NAIA) in Indiana. Laster ran a successful program at Taylor from 00'-03' (51-31). After Taylor University, Corey moved up to the NCAA DII level where he became an assistant coach for Saint Michaels College in Vermont from 03'-05'. Coach Laster was then able to take over his own program in the NCAA DIII level at Defiance College in Ohio from 05'-07'.

    From 07'-10' Corey Laster took the assistant coaching position at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, a NCAA DI level university. Wanting to become a head coach once again, Laster claimed the UCCS Women's Basketball program from 10'-14'. Coach Laster was a part of the RMAC for four years building a strong program for the Mountain Lions. His experience in this conference, and knowing what it takes to be a successful team is valuable for Colorado Christian.

    Basketball Career
    • Four-year member of Taylor Universities Men's Basketball program
    • One of TU's all-time leading scorers and rebounders
    • Taylor University Athletics Hall of Fame member since 2010
    • Taylor Universities Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2008


Courtney Boyd

Courtney Boyd enters her third season as Head Women's Coach at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Clarke broke the program record for wins in a season in the '18-'19 season, finishing 23-12, and made its first-ever NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Championship appearance.  The Pride advanced to the Quarterfinal Round after posting wins over No. 1 seed and third-ranked Columbia (Mo.) and No. 4 seed and fourteenth-ranked Shawnee State.  Boyd's team was recognized with three Heart of America Athletic Conference All-Conference selection and one NAIA second-team All-American.  The Pride boasted a 3.32 team grade point average.

A native of Keokuk, Iowa, Boyd came to Clarke from UW-Parkside, where she spent two years as associate head women’s basketball coach and was involved in all phases of the program.

Boyd received the WBCA Thirty Under 30 award at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season. The WBCA Thirty Under 30 presented by Marriott Rewards® program was created to recognize 30 up-and-coming women’s basketball coaches age 30 and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.

 
Boyd started her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, helping the Vikings to a Midwest Collegiate Conference Championship and a trip to the NAIA Elite Eight, finishing the season 30-6 overall.
 
As a player, Boyd spent two seasons at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, leading the Eagles to a runner-up finish at the NJCAA Championships in 2006 before hoisting the national title in 2007. She finished her Kirkwood career with a 67-4 record before continuing her playing career at Division II Dixie State University in Saint George, Utah. At Dixie State, Boyd was named Newcomer of the Year and Honorable Mention All-Pacific West Conference in 2008 while setting a school record for most three-pointers in a game and landing second-team All-Pac West accolades in 2009.
 
Boyd received her bachelor's degree in elementary education with an ESL endorsement from Dixie State and her master of education degree from Augusta University.


Damion Byrd

Coach Damion Byrd is a retired Air Force officer with more than 20 years of coaching experience at all ages.

His coaching versatility has allowed him to train players 5-6 year old all the way thru MS, HS, college, Euro & G- Leagues. He was a camp coach at Mercer University in 2013, the summer before they beat powerhouse Duke in the 2nd round of the 2014 NCAA tournament.

Byrd was named head coach of the All Air Men’s basketball team in 2013 and coached base-level adults for more than 10 years at 3 separate military installations with great success.

He is adept at all levels and positions of the game but specializes in ball handling, passing, court vision, & defensive footwork and agility: all of the traits that lead to a dynamic point guard and floor general. Byrd places great emphasis on mastering the details and being accountable to the things you can control as a player such as your preparation, energy and effort!


Darnell Ford

Coach Ford has been working Breakthrough Basketball camps for the last four years.  Darnell brings many years of experience including:
  • 4 years Assistant Women’s Varsity Basketball Coach where he was the head of development and helped them to conference and district championships.
  • 10+ years AAU/TRAVEL Basketball Head Coach for multiple teams, 4th - 12th grade boys & girls.
  • 10+ years Skill Development Coach where he coached over 1,000 student athletes, 3 McDonald All - American nominees, and ten 1,000+ scorers.  Coach Ford has had over 30 players go on to play at various levels of collegiate basketball.
  • 4+ years Point 3 Basketball Alpha Trainer.  This is an exclusive group as there are only 27 Alpha Trainers in the world.
  • 8+ years Tournament, Camp, & Clinic Director


David Baker


-David Baker played high school ball in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. His senior year he averaged 18 ppg and 8 rpg in the state tournament, leading his team to a 3rd place finish and earning All-State honors in the process.

-After high school David played for 2 years at NAIA Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, before moving to Montana to pursue his education degree.

-David has coached high school ball for 5 years at the freshman, JV, and assistant varsity levels, coaching several college basketball players and division 1 athletes. His first year coaching high school ball he led his team to a 17-2 record. David currently coaches for West Valley School in Kalispell, MT.


David Bishop


Coach Bishop has been working Breakthrough Basketball Camps for 7 years, having experience with all of our different camp offerings.  He has worked along side Don Kelbick, Jim Huber, Chris Oliver, among others.

David has 8 years of Varsity Boys Head Coaching Experience

Won over 150 games and 4 straight state championship game appearances

Has coached 8 -1000 point scorers (2 - 2000, 3 - 1500, 3 - 1000+)

Team averages 70+ points per game with 10 players making 100+ three pointers in a season

Records include:  Most made 3's, most wins, highest scoring average, and highest scoring game

Individual Awards: Career points, career assists, career threes and career rebounds


Dexter Lyons

Here are some of Coach Dexter Lyons Achievements & Experience:
  • 2000-2002 Played at Daytona Beach Community College
  • 2002-2004:  Played D1 at the University of Central Florida
  • 2001-02: Conference Defensive Player of the Year 
  • 2003-04: NBA Summer League (Orlando Magic) 
  • Conference Defensive Player of the Year (A-Sun), First Team All-Conference (A- Sun), NCAA Tournament Participant 
  • 2004-05 NBA Summer League (Boston Celtics), First Team All-League, First Team All-Imports, Team MVP 
  • 2006-07: 3rd Round 33rd Overall Pick in 2006
  • NBA Development League Draft (Idaho Stampede) 
  • 2007-08: League Champion, League Cup Finalist 2009-10: Spain LEB Silver League Champion
  • 2011-12: Player of Week (Miyazaki)
  • 2012-13: 2 time MVP of the Week (Takamatsu)
Camp Experience:
  • 2003-2006 was a Camp Coach/Counselor at the Kirk Speraw Camp at USF
  • Held leading role as camp advisor for summer basketball program by providing direct supervision and fundamental basketball instruction to children ages 9 to 13
  • Assisted the Head Coach in scheduling events, and contribute to the development of plans for the basketball camp and game responsibilities
  • Served as Camp Coach and positive role model for children attending basketball camp by displaying enthusiasm, sense of humor and patience
  • Assisted daily with coaching teams, officiating games, and scorekeeping while distributing game play time equally amongst all campers
  • Responsible for coordinating the overall practice
  • Coach Dexter has been working Breakthrough Basketball camps for the last two years, mostly working around the Southeast part of the country and based in Atlanta, Georgia


Don Kelbick

Some of Don Kelbick's credentials include:

  • Over 35 years of basketball coaching experience at the high school, division I college, and professional levels.

  • Has provided individual training for more than 14 different NBA players, 50 European and professional players, and hundreds of college basketball players.

  • Developed dozens of basketball DVDs and books.

  • Has scouted for NBA teams and served as a general manager in the USBL.
  
  • Traveled to over 20 different countries training players and teaching basketball.

  • Conducted over 1000 basketball clinics and camps training players of all age levels.

Don Kelbick is a long time contributor to Breakthrough Basketball developing dozens of articles, products, and providing ongoing consultation for the site. He also runs the Attack and Counter Skill Development Camps which are offered nationwide.

Don currently lives in Miami Florida training players and running the Drillz N Skillz Basketball Academy He has worked with a variety of great players including Raja Bell, Carlos Arroyo, Rasual Butler, and many other college and NBA players.


Eddie Robinson

A native of Flint, Michigan known for his freakish athleticism, ability to score the basketball and jaw dropping vertical, Eddie Robinson, better known in basketball circles as “E-Rob”, began his collegiate career at Trinity Valley in Athens, Texas. After his freshman year, Robinson transferred to Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kansas, where he averaged 22.7 points per game, earning him first team All-American. Robinson would complete his collegiate career at the University of Central Oklahoma where he totaled 28 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. In 2017, Robinson was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame.
 
Upon completion of his collegiate career, Robinson caught the attention of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets where he played from 1999-2001. After an impressive playoff performance with the Hornets in 2001, Robinson inked a five-year $32 million contract with the Chicago Bulls. 



Since his NBA career, Robinson’s love of the game has kept him active in the basketball community, suiting up for the NBA’s G League, the National Basketball League of Canada, and most recently, Ice Cube’s Big3 league which features former NBA stars. In addition to playing, Robinson has operated an elite basketball training business for several years, with his young clients across North America experiencing unprecedented results. Robinson has also served as a coach at many high school developmental camps and has been active in several charity initiatives for underprivileged children and victims of bullying.

 
Robinson lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia with his wife Jillian and their infant son Louie, and often travels to his second home in Houston, Texas to spend time with his other three children, Jaalen, Santana and Giselle.



Fatih Akser


Coach Fatih joined the University of Calgary Dinos in 2019 from the University of Regina where he spent three seasons with the Cougars, helping them capture a Canada West title, two silver medals, and three trips to the U SPORTS Final 8. Coach Fatih brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge to the position with high-level experience across the board. He played professional basketball in Turkey and Cyprus before he started his first coaching job at Fenerbahce Ulker Professional Basketball Club in Turkey. Since 2004, he has coached almost every level in Canada from CCAA to U SPORTS and club basketball with the Ontario Basketball, Basketball Saskatchewan to stints with provincial and national teams.

Coach Fatih completed the National Coaching Institute's (NCI Ontario) "Advanced Coaching Diploma" program in Toronto and is certified as a NCCP Level 4 basketball coach. He is also graduated from the FIBA Europe Coaching Certification program and is also a registered FIBA certified coach. He is a trained NCCP learning facilitator and learning evaluator for Canada Basketball.  

For the Elite Youth Development programs, he served as a head coach of Ontario Basketball’s U17 team which won three gold medals and a silver, including winning the 2013 Canada Summer Games in Quebec. In addition to that, he also worked as a head coach at Performance Enhancement Program (PEP), Centre for Performance (CP) in Toronto and Canada Basketball’s Targeted Athlete Strategy (TAS) youth development programs from 2006 to 2013.

At the national team level, Coach Fatih worked as a video coordinator for the Canadian senior men's team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship and 2011 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifiers as well as for the U18 men's national team at the 2010 FIBA America Qualifiers, where they took home a bronze medal.

Previously serving as an assistant coach for University of Waterloo, Ryerson University, University of Toronto and Brock University, he was the head coach for George Brown College's women's basketball team before joining University of Regina


Harley Story


Harley Story has developed and coached players of all ages and skill sets ranging from 5 years old to NBA level players all over the country.

Coach Story builds from the mantra, “Progress, not perfection”.

Some of Coach Harley Story’s credentials include:

· Over 10 years of basketball coaching experience at the youth, high school, college and NBA level.

· Worked with several professional players that include NBA, overseas and G-League players.

· Founder and CEO of Hall of Fame Sports Organization in Southern IL, he is currently the middle school coach at Meridian Junior High School (IL).

· Coach Story demands energy and confidence from all players that allows them to leave the gym eager to continue their development, on and off the court.


Hudson Welty


-Currently as Assistant Coach at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana

Started 4 years for Hall of Fame Coach Rocky Lamar at MidAmerica Nazarene University 

-Captain of team that reached the 2016 NAIA Fab 4

-Played (2011-2013) and coached (2017-2018) with prestigious Nike program MoKan Elite 

-Served as an assistant coach at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia in 2018-2019 helping the Scots to their best regular season in school history


-Former Breakthrough Basketball Camper!


Italo Araujo

  • Coach Araujo is currently an Assistant coach at  Ottawa University in Arizona. 
  • Prior to his current position at OU, Italo served as a graduate assistant coach at University of Central Missouri. He also coached at St. James Academy outside Kansas City where he helped lead the Thunder to a 14-8 record in 2016-17 while working for head coach Stan Dohm
  • Coach Italo played for Western Wyoming Community College in 2011 for two years before transferring to MidAmerica Nazarene University where he played another two years for legendary coach, Rocky Lamar.  Italo was part of a Final Four team his Junior year at MNU
  • Italo has been a part of the Breakthrough Basketball team since 2013, helping coach our Attack & Counter, BDT, Elite Guard, and Youth Basketball Camps
  • Additionally, Italo has coached for MoKan Basketball for two years, and was a Varsity assistant coach for Immaculata High School in Leavenworth, Kansas


Jamal Edwards

Coach Jamal Edwards has had the opportunity to learn the BDT concepts from our very own Coach Chris Oliver who has put on over 300 BDT Camps throughout the United States. Jamal's road to how he got to this point in his life is outlined below.

  • During a basketball course in his senior year of college, Coach Edwards had an assignment to teach one offensive drill and one defensive drill to a group of classmates.  His group consisted of international students with no experience in basketball and English was their 2nd language.  He felt at ease instructing his group through the drills, and it was from that experience he realized his true calling, “coaching”.
  • Coach Edwards was invited back to be an assistant coach at his alma mater (University of Windsor) and wasted no time in making an immediate impact.  Under the guidance of current Head Basketball Coach Chris Oliver, Coach Edwards mastered the key components of Oliver's Basketball Decision Training (BDT) and was responsible for player development and recruiting.

  • Having a desire to give back to those who gave so much to him, Coach Edwards started the Taylor Made Basketball Academy (2005) in efforts to give the kids from his hometown the same instruction he was exposed to.
  • After executing many successful events through the Taylor Made Basketball Academy, Coach Edwards realized teaching fundamentals and discipline needed far longer than a 3-5 day camp to make a lasting impact in the lives of youth.  Now he's offering programs targeting underserved communities (inner city, rural, international and military youth), through Taylor Made Prep in Phoenix, AZ (2014). 
  • He has played at Alpena Community College, University of Minnesota- Crookston, the University of Windsor, and in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria
  • Coach Edwards has worked camps throughout Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa (Breakthrough Basketball), Kentucky, Arizona, and Ontario, Canada. 
  • In addition to coaching at multiple levels (College Basketball, AAU, Nike Elite Training Programs), Coach Edwards has trained and developed multiple Division I student athletes.
  • Coach Edwards has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Windsor and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Sports Management at American Public University.


Jarod Kelly

  • Coach Kelly is currently the Head Coach at Bunker in Missouri where he has compiled a 49-15 record
  • Previously, Coach Kelly was the JV coach under Mike Wilson who has 4 Final Four appearances at Strafford High School.  
  • During Jarod's playing career at North Central Missouri College, he set school record for 3 point percentage, which still stands at 48%.  
  • Coach Kelly has been working Breakthrough Basketball camps for the last two years and has been trained under the wing of our Elite Skill Development Coach, Jim Huber who has worked with some of the best players in the world!


Jason Holzer

  • Coach Holzer is currently the Middle School Basketball Coach and Coordinator of Basketball Operations at St. Therese North School in Kansas City.
  • Coach Holzer has been doing Breakthrough Basketball camps for 4 years, learning under the wing of our Elite Skill Development Coach, Jim Huber who has worked with some of the best players in the world!
  • Holzer started the basketball program at Alta Vista High School and is the former assistant coach at Shawnee Mission West, a 6A school in Kansas.  Jason also coaches with MoKan, which is a Nike sponsored AAU program out of Kansas City
  • His best season as a coach was his Freshman A team going 17-3 at Shawnee Mission West
  • Coach Holzer has also worked for Pro Camps with Bill Self


Jason Kent

For nearly 21 years, Jason Kent has coached and trained student athletes at all levels of competition as a head coach and assistant men’s basketball coach in the NCAA, NAIA, AAU basketball and boys’ high school basketball.  More than 20 of his former student athletes have moved on to play professional basketball.

Coach Kent specializes in recruitment, player development, mentoring, and strength & conditioning.  By instilling hard work ethic, determination and discipline in his coaching and training technique, Jason is known for his ability to maximize abilities and propel students to their full athletic potential. Coach Kent is a Gold license USA Basketball Coach and is partnered with the Jr. NBA. "My goal is to ensure that the athletes who decide to train with Next LEVEL 24 are developed into players who make an impact on their teams." Says Coach Kent. 

Jason serves as the head coach for Next Level 24’s AAU boys’ basketball team and the NextLEVEL 24 International Team.  Jason and his wife Anna have two children; Jayson and Janae.


Jeff Haarlow


  • Owner of Haarlow's Hoops Academy...skills & team training 
  • Played 2 years of college basketball and golf at Berry College, Rome, GA
  • 19+ years of college coaching experience
  • 12 years college head basketball coach (Berry College and Tennessee Temple University)
  • Over 150 career wins, NCCAA Regional Coach of Year ’13-‘14
  • Coached over 20 All-Americans and 6 professional athlete
  • Worked numerous Breakthrough Basketball camps since summer of ‘15


Jeff Stapleton


Coach Stapleton has been a part of the Breakthrough Basketball team since 2012, leading and assisting in our Attack & Counter, Shooting, Post Man, Elite Guard, and Youth Basketball Camps, as well as coaching in our small group academy in Kansas City.

Jeff has been coaching and training in basketball for the past 20 years at all levels, from youth, to AAU, to high school. His focus is helping kids learn what it takes to make it to the next level. His coaching style is to “Train up” without fear of failure, as well as teaching the “little things” that make that big difference between an ordinary player, and an extraordinary player.

Jeff was a multi-sport athlete in college. Full scholarship playing basketball and baseball at Avila University. Selected team captain and team MVP (Jr. and Sr. year in basketball). Team captain for the baseball team Sr. year.  


Jim Huber

Jim Huber

Jim Huber has developed and coached some of the best players in the world including current NBA players and elite players that attended some of the best college programs in the nation such as Duke and Kentucky.

Some of Coach Jim Huber's coaching credentials include:

  • Over 20 years of basketball coaching experience at the youth, high school, and college levels.

  • Coached a team to a 1st place finish at the 2013 Nike Global Challenge.

  • Coached at the Nike Elite 100 Camp which selects the top 100 high school players.

  • #1 Team Defense at 2013 Nike EYBL which has the top 40 Nike High School teams from North America and consists of 18 regular season games. Qualified for 2013 Nike Peach Jam.

  • A head coach for Mokan Basketball. Mokan is a direct Nike sponsor program. In 2012 when Coach Huber was Director of Basketball Operations, Mokan reached the Final Four at the Peach Jam, which only selects the top 24 teams from the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).

  • 45 Championships, 13 Runner-up Finishes, and 26 Final Four Finishes at regional and national tournaments since 2004.

  • 42 Collegiate players and 22 at Division 1 level.


Joel Hueser


Coach Joel Hueser earned his degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. He was also a member of the Loper Basketball team (1984-'88). Coach Hueser started his career in Kansas. He was the boys' head varsity and junior high coach at Mankato High School.

One year later he returned to Nebraska and became the boys' head varsity coach at McCook High School for 13 years. During his tenure at McCook, his teams qualified for the state tournament 5 times, finishing as the runner up in 2000.  

In 2003 he was hired by Papillion-LaVista South High School and has been the boys' head varsity coach ever since.  His teams have qualified for the state tournament 3 out of the last 5 years.  He also teaches in the Physical Education department and also serves as an assistant track coach.


Jonathan Bluitt

Jonathan Bluitt a 4 time high school state basketball champion from OKC McGuinness from 1998 to 2001. Bluitt also played for Athletes First and was the main catalyst for leading Athletes First to its 1st Nike Super Showcase in Orlando, Florida. From there Bluitt took his savvy skills and leadership abilities to Bridgton Academy, being one of the 1st guys out of Oklahoma City to explore the postgraduate experience. 

As a collegiate player, Bluitt was a three-year starter and four-year letter winner from 2002 to 2006. Bluitt helped guide Oral Roberts University to a pair of Mid-Continent Conference regular-season Titles, a Mid-Continent Tournament Championship, NIT appearance and the 2006 NCAA Tournament. 

Bluitt led the Mid- Continent in assist 3 out of the 4 seasons he played also ranks 2nd as the all time assist leader at Oral Roberts University.

Some of Coach Jonathan Bluitt's coaching credentials include:

  • Two years as a graduate assistant under Scott Sutton at Oral Roberts University, where he assisted the coaching staff with player development as well as helping with scouting reports for the opposing team.

  • Two years as a JUCO men's assistant at Western Texas College. During his two years at Western Texas College, Jonathan helped coach the team to their first conference tournament in 21 years, since the NolanRichardson era.

  • Bluitt has helped with the coaching duties of Athletes first; which is one of the nation’s top AAU elite programs in the country. As well as assistant coaching duties with the Oklahoma Storm (home school) leading the Storm to a Gold Ball Championship and Tulsa Noah.

  • Bluitt has worked multiple basketball camps such as the Harlem Globetrotter camp, Kansas University, Oklahoma State University, Oral Roberts University and Oklahoma Christian University.

  • He has developed and trained a number of pros as well as some of the top prep basketball players throughout the country.

  • Jonathan is a specialist in developing basketball players and inspiring each individual to improve in dribbling, shooting, creating space from the defender and much much more!!!


Joshua Collins


Joshua Collins was a 5 year starter at the University of Windsor from 2009 - 2014 under our very own, Coach Chris Oliver.  He graduated tied for most wins in school history as well as became the All-time leader in assists and steals at Windsor. We was named to the conference All-rookie team and a conference All-Star his last three years.  

He played in the NBL of Canada where he won a Championship with the Windsor express, and later returned to Windsor to be an Assistant Coach under Coach Chris Oliver (2016 - 2018).  Josh is very familiar with the BDT method, first as a player in it's early stages and later as a coach. 

He is currently working abroad in Abu Dhabi as the Director and Head coach of basketball at Jump Sports Academies, as well as a skills Coach at New York University Abu Dhabi.


Justin Bowen


Coach Bowen is currently the Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Kenwood Academy High School in Chicago

Justin Bowen has an outstanding background as a professional basketball player and over 5 years of coaching and training experience.

Coach Bowen just recently won the 2017 4A Boys State Championship as Associate Head Coach for the Whitney Young Dolphins and hope to repeat that in 2018!

Justin is the Founder & CEO of GOAT Sports Academy in Chicago.

Coaching & training different AAU Teams throughout Chicago as well as the Whitney Dolphins, Justin has helped more than 25 players received scholarships offers from Division 1 schools.  His mantra, "If it doesn't challenge you, It doesn't change you" is something he frequently uses to drive his players to excellence on the basketball court and through life. 

Coach Bowen played his college ball at University of Illinois at Chicago and spent time with both the San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls after graduation. 

Justin has also played professionally abroad and hosted camps in countries such as Switzerland, Australia, Japan, China, and Korea. Coach Bowen has really benefited from experiences and his dedication and attention to detail will make you a better person and player.


Karson Arrenholz


Coach Arrenholz is a Graduate Assistant at Minnesota State University, Mankato. After graduating high school with one junior college offer he worked his way to Minnesota State University, Mankato on a full scholarship after his junior college career.


Accolades include:

  • Captain three out his four years in college
  • First Team All-Region IV NJCAA
  • First Team All-Conference Arrowhead NJCAA
  • Sauk Valley Community College team MVP
  • NSIC All-Academic Team
  • Reserve for MSU for two NCAA DII Tournament appearances

 

Coach Arrenholz is a hungry young coach with a real passion for helping others through the game of basketball.


Kendrick Bryson


Coach Bryson played his college ball at Howard College (‘07-‘09) under Coach Mark Adams & finished out at West Texas A&M University under Coach Rick Cooper (‘09-‘11)

After leaving West Texas A&M his coaching career started with Next Level Basketball and started his own program, the Amarillo Elite Basketball Program

His Eli7e basketball program is going on 12 years and Bryson has trained Professional athletes such as Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks), Justin Johnson (International Italy) Jordan Brangers (International Germany), Michael Cobbins (Oklahoma Thunder/Blue and International Greece) , Loryn Goodwin (Dallas Wings/ International Egypt)


Kenton Tennal


A love for the game of basketball along with a tremendous work ethic, enthusiasm and intensity give Kenton Tennal all the right ingredients to be one of the top young basketball camp coaches in the Midwest. 

Tennal has coached a high school basketball team into the State Tournament in three different states…Kansas, Nebraska and most recently Iowa. 


Coach Tennal’s career record as a head high school coach is 101-33 (75%.) His teams have consistently been near the top of offensive statistical categories such as points per game, and 3’s made per game. In 5 seasons, Tennal has coached 14 1st/2nd team all conference players. 

While in high school he led his team to the state tournament three consecutive years from the point guard position. Coach Tennal spent much of his youth in the gym as both his mother and father are Hall of Fame coaches in Kansas.  


Tennal has been working youth basketball camps since he was just 15 years old.  He and his sister took over their fathers T’s Skills and Drills Basketball Camp right out of high school, and they have been running that camp in Centralia, Kansas every summer for the past 15 years.  Since moving to Iowa Kenton started doing his own camps keeping the T’s Skills and Drills name while helping hundreds of young players to not only develop their basketball skills, but learn to love the game, as he does.


Kermit Holmes


Playing Experience:

-Okmulgee High School-State Champion 1987 where he was named part of the Super 5 Team by The Daily Oklahoma

-Organized Kermit Holmes Boys/Girls Basketball Camp 1995-2005

-Played at The University of Oklahoma 1987-1991

-Big 12 Select Team 1990-Barcelona,Spain 1990

Professional Basketball Experiences:

- Overseas and CBA 1991-2000

- CBA Team Champion-Oklahoma City 1997-Quad City 1998

Played  Professionally in Spain,Turkey,Canada and France.

-Member Team U.S.A 1997 & 1999

-Gold Medalist 1997 Mens' Tournament of America-Uruguay

-Silver Medalist 1999 Pan American Games-Winnipeg,Canada

-USA Basketball Youth and Cadet Committee 2001-2013

Coaching Experience:

-Midwest City High Boys Asst Coach 2000-2005

-Head Coach Athletes First-Nike Basketball 2000-2005

-Lamar University Mens Asst. Coach 2005-2014

-IEA Mentoring Program 2014-2017

-PWP Select Red 17U Under Armour 2017

-Norman High School Boys Asst. Coach 2017-Present


Kevin Tucker



Kevin walked on at NCAA DII, Carson-Newman University for the 2016-2017 season.  Recognized for always "giving more than expected" at the end of the season and was presented with the team's leadership award.

Tucker stayed on at Carson-Newman as a graduate-assistant coach for the 2017-2018 season.

Coach Tucker is currently in his 2nd year as a high school Head Coach at First Baptist Academy in Knoxville TN

Coached with various basketball camps since 2010.  Entering 3rd year with Breakthrough Basketball.


Kristina Danella

  • Kristina Danella is currently in her second season as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Keystone College in La Plume, Pennsylvania. Danella also is the advisor of the Keystone College SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee). Danella’s career coaching record is 104-66 after six seasons.  
  • Danella comes to Keystone after coaching at Division II San Francisco State in 2017-18. Prior to leading the Gators, Danella was the head coach at Division II Caldwell in New Jersey from 2014-17, going 65-26 with a 48-9 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference mark. 
  • Additionally at Caldwell, Danella served as the Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator, where she served on the Gender and Equity Committee for the Central Atlanta Athletic Conference, and oversaw Caldwell's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, helping fundraise for charities such as Make-A-Wish.
  • The Manalapan, N.J. native starred at Red Bank Catholic High School, graduating as the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder with 1,773 points and 1,156 rebounds. A three-time All-State First Team selection, she was a two-time Shore Conference Player of the Year and the 2007 Asbury Park Press Player of the Year.


Kyle Miller


Coach Miller is currently the Head Men's Varsity Coach at Piketon High School in Piketon, OH

Coach Miller played at Notre Dame College & Shawnee State University from 2005-2009 where he was a 4 time All-American Mideast Conference member.  He was an American Mideast Conference champion (North Division) in the 2007 - 2008 season

Kyle played professionally in the Central Australian Basketball League for 3 seasons (2012-14)

Coach Miller has helped worked at Breakthrough Basketball camps since 2017

Other notable accomplishments: 

- 3 time CABL All-Star 5 member (2012, 2013, 2014)

- 2 time CABL leader in assists (2013, 2014)

- 2 time Central District Basketball Club Most Valuable Player (2012, 2014)

- Finished top 5 (in the CABL) in scoring 2 times (2012, 2014)

- Finished top 3 in the Woollacott Medal (CABL MVP) voting (2014)

- Helped lead the Lions to back to back playoff appearances after a stretch of 21 years of not qualifying (2013, 2014)

Western High School (Boys’ varsity coach): 3 seasons (2014-2017)

- Led the Indians to their 1st winning season in 6 seasons (2nd place finish in the Southern Ohio Conference) – 2014-15

- Led the Indians to Sectional and District championships (2015-16)

- Led the Indians to their first Regional (sweet 16) appearance in Ohio’s state tournament in 8 seasons (2015-16)

- Led the Indians to their best regular season win total in 8 seasons (2016-17)

- Experienced back to back to back winning seasons (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17)


Loretta Martin


Loretta Martin, a native of Kenner, La, entered the Dillard University family in 2005 as a member of the Lady Bleu Devils basketball team with an athletic scholarship.  After graduating from Bonnabel High School in 2002, Ms. Martin received a basketball scholarship to Copiah Lincoln Community College, where she played basketball ball for two years.

Coach Martin received an Associate degree in Kinesiology in 2005 from Copiah Lincoln Community College.  She then moved on to join the Dillard family where she played two seasons under the direction of Coach Kiki Barnes.  After completing her eligibility in basketball, Ms. Martin received a Bachelor's degree in Educational Studies in May 2010 from Dillard University.

Ms. Martin is currently staffed in the athletic department at Dillard University where she is assistant women's basketball coach for the Lady Bleu Devils.


Marcus Hall


Marcus Hall is the Branch Director of the Kalona YMCA, where he founded Hardwood Academy, a basketball training program which runs every summer June through August. 

He was Head Boys Basketball Coach at Highland High school from 2011 - 2018 where he led the team to its' first conference title, district title and sub-state birth in over 25 years, and was named Golden Triangle Coach of the Year & SEISC coach of the year.

Marcus privately trains players of all age & skill levels, middle-school through college, in both individual and group settings.  


Martin Apodaca


Coach Martin Apodaca has been coaching youth and high school sports for over 10 years.

In that time, he has made his way from coaching 8th girls to head JV and Varsity assistant. He is currently the head JV girls’ basketball coach at V. Sue Cleveland home of the Storm in Rio Rancho, NM.

Coach Apodaca is also the Director of Basketball Operations at the McDermott Athletic Center aka The Mac.

He is currently studying secondary education at Grand Canyon University.


Matt Keeley

Coach Matt Keeley started coaching as an Assistant at MidAmerica Nazarene University during the 2009-2010 season. A 2004 graduate of MNU, Keeley spent the two seasons prior as a full time assistant at Washburn University. Before Washburn, he taught and coached at Manhattan High School.

Some of Coach Matt Keeley's credentials include:

  • Coach Keeley is now the Head Men's Coach at Ottawa University in Arizona
  • Keeley has recruited and coached 3 All Americans and 2 Conference Players of the Year and 13 All Conference Players

  • Matt Keeley has coached for 7 college seasons and in over 225 games

  • He is currently in his 5th season to have coached with Nike EYBL program, MoKan Elite

  • In 4 completed seasons Coach Keeley has directly coached over 25 players earning college scholarships including players in the SEC, Big10, Missouri Valley, Big East and Mountain West conferences

  • Matt has been the Camp Director at Rocky Lamar's Fundamentally Driven Basketball Camp for the past 5 seasons in that time working with over 3000 campers

  • Starting point guard for MNU 2000-2004

  • During his playing career at MNU, his team advanced to the Elite Eight three times

  • Keeley earned All-American honors his junior and senior seasons, leading the NAIA in assists as a senior

  • Matt was named the HAAC Player of the Year in 2004, a Champion of Character Award winner and was an Academic All-American

  • Along with conducting Breakthrough Basketball camps, Keeley is in charge of recruiting as well as help with scheduling, travel, and on-floor coaching duties at MidAmerica Nazarene


Matthew Dickman

Matthew Dickman joined the Buena Vista men’s basketball coaching staff in the summer of 2018 after spending the 2017-18 as an assistant coach at Indiana University East.

In his one season with at IU East, the Red Wolves went 34-3 and advanced into the NAIA Division II National Championship semifinal game.  The team also had an All-American and led all of NAIA DII in overall wins.

Dickman arrived at IU East after serving as a graduate assistant at Central Methodist University, an NAIA school in Fayette, Mo. He also spent time as assistant coach at Brown Mackie College in Salina, Kan. Dickman has been part of programs that have earned regular Top 25 rankings and has coached a total of three All-Americans.

Dickman is a Tucson, Ariz., native and played college basketball at Kansas Wesleyan University. He was a two-time all-conference performer and is a member of Kansas Wesleyan's 1,000 points club.

He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from Kansas Wesleyan and holds a master's degree in education/athletic administration focus from Central Methodist.


Mike Rocca


Mike Rocca graduated from Windsor University after 5 seasons playing for Coach Chris Oliver

Mike has trained and worked with Coach Oliver and his innovative Basketball Decision Training (BDT) and zero seconds training systems for the past 6 years.

Rocca was a 2 time conference All Star and was the only player in his conference to finish top 10 in points, assists, and rebounds while standing at 5'9.

3x Academic All Canadian and in his final year was presented with the prestigious Ken Shields Award for Community Involvement, Academic, and Athletic excellence.

Mike has been presented with the Captain’s Trophy for outstanding leadership both on and off the court while also making a significant contribution to the overall success of the team.


Natalie Knight


Coaching Credentials:

  • Currently, an Assistant Women's Coach for MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS
  • University of Kansas (KU) Women’s basketball staff (2 years)
  • Lawrence Freestate High School Assistant Varsity Coach (1 year)
  • Private Lessons and Personal Training Experience
  • Master Degree in Sports Management


Player Credentials:

  • Played in two Division 1 NCAA sweet Sixteens for the University of Kansas
  • Logged 114 career starts after recovering from ACL injury
  • 28th Jayhawk to reach over 1,000 career points
  • All big-12 Honorable mention for two years
  • Voted Co-captain for two years
  • 38.2% three point field goal percentage, is second best all time in KU record book
  • Named Kansas Gatorade player of the year in high school in 2011
  • DiRenna award winner for two consecutive years
  • State championship in 2010

  • McDonald's All-American nominee


Nate Bowie

Coach Nate Bowie is currently the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Mt. Hood Community College outside Portland, Oregon.  Coach Bowie has been involved with Breakthrough Basketball for the last three years, assisting at camps around the Kansas City area, as well in Portland.

Coach Bowie played eight years of professional basketball in Africa, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. He played in NBA D-League, Canada, NBA Summer League, Morocco, Slovenia, Spain, Portugal, Qatar, The Republic of Georgia, Ukraine, Turkey, Greece and Kosovo (Balkan League).

Nate was named 1st Team All-Metro, 1st Team All-State and was the 5A Sub-State Champion in Kansas in 2004 before finishing fourth at the state championships. 

During the 2004 season, Bowie scored 42 points in a game to break the single game record held previously by NBA veteran Earl Watson. 

After high school, Bowie attended Colby Community College (CCC) where he led the conference in scoring and was second in the region with 20.8 points per game. While at CCC, he received NJCAA First Team All Jayhawk Conference, All-Region and was an All-American nominee. From 2004-2006 Bowie attended Central Arkansas University. As a senior, he averaged 17.5 points per game and 20.3 points in Southland Conference action earning the conference scoring title. On February 2, 2008, he scored 39 points in a win against Nicholls State, surpassing Scottie Pippen for the most points scored in a conference game. Bowie earned NCAA D-1 All Southland Conference 2nd Team honors and was an NCAA All-American. At the end of his college career, Rand Chappell described Bowie's career as "solid, and sometimes spectacular."

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Colby Community College/Jayhawk Conference in 2016.


Nick Smith

Coach Nicholas Smith is in his fourth season as assistant coach for Southwest Minnesota State Men's Basketball.

In 2016-17, SMSU had one of its best seasons in school history, tying a school record with 28 victories, while capturing the NSIC South Division and NSIC Tournament championships. SMSU also advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in school history, before losing to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State in the region championship.

Prior to joining the coaching staff, Smith completed a standout four-year playing career at SMSU (2010-14) and ranks as one of the best players in program history. Smith closed his career appearing in 117 games with 101 starts and was a member of SMSU’s 2012 NSIC tournament championship team and NCAA tournament team. His name is all over the program record book, as he ranks first in career blocked shots (174), fourth in field goal pct. (54.4), fifth in rebounds (712), ninth in field goals made (481) and 10th in points (1,192).

Smith, a two-time All-NSIC second team honoree, he was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2014 and twice was named the SMSU Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
Smith is a 2014 graduate of SMSU with a degree in sports management and finance. He is pursuing his master’s degree at SMSU.

This will be Coach Smith's second year with Breakthrough Basketball


O.D. Anosike


OD Anosike is a current professional basketball player with several years of playing experience in Europe, Mexico & South Korea. He’s competed against some of the best talent in the world in countries like Italy, France, Greece and Spain, along with competing for the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets in the NBA Summer League.

A graduate of Siena College ‘13, Anosike enjoyed a decorated collegiate career, leading the NCAA in rebounding for his junior and senior seasons. He concluded his career with over 1000 points and 1000 rebounds and second all-time in school history in rebounds.

Anosike hopes to pursue a coaching career at the conclusion of his playing career. He has been involved with several camps and AAU programs in the northeast region and enjoys sharing his international basketball experiences with the youth.


Paris Davis

Coach Paris has over 11 years of basketball experience and extensive experience as a Breakthrough Basketball Skills Coach.

  • Paris is a CoachUp Captain, has completed over 1,000 basketball training sessions, and is ranked #1 in the state of Illinois for basketball training on CoachUp.com

    Paris is the Creator of Fitness and Beyond Programs which helps basketball athletes Get Better on and off the court.

    He played varsity basketball for the legendary coach, Gene Pingatore  (2002-2005)

    -Ranked top 100 in the state of Illinois  (2005)

    -Named East Suburban Catholic Conference All-Star (2005)

    Received academic and basketball scholarship to Saint Xavier University (2005)

    -Second leading scorer at Saint Xavier University (2006-2007)

    -Helped lead team to the NAIA National Tournament (2007-2008)

    -CCAC Honorable Mention Player of the Week at Saint Xavier University (2009)

    Other coaching achievements include, but not limited to...

    -Christ the King Girls HS Basketball Tournament Champions (2014-2015)

    -Christ the King Girls HS Basketball Conference Champions (2014-2015)

    -District 89 Boys Basketball Holiday Tournament Champions (2010)


  • Paris is the Creator and Author of the High Five Basketball Training Guide. 



Quentin Mitchell

Quentin Mitchell has coached 40 college players, 23 of which have played at the Div 1 level.  6 professional players  (one of which was an NBA pick) and has coached over 1,000 kids at various camps and clinics

Quentin was all conference in high school and a McDonald's All-American nominee. 

He went on to play at Western Illinois University where he holds the records still today for for most 3 point field goals in a game (9), most consecutive games with a 3 point field goal (6), and highest 3 point field goal percentage in a game going 9/11 for 82%. 

Quentin has played all over the world professionally, helping his teams make the playoffs and win championships.

Some of Coach Quentin Mitchell's coaching credentials include:

  • Assistant varsity coach at Redford Covenant High School in Detroit, Michigan. Responsibilities included practice planning, organizing game plans, scouting and team development.

  • Head JV Coach at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri. Team records were as follows: 18-6 (2012-2013), 18-4 (2011-2012), 14-2 (2010-2011), 17-1 (2009-2010)

  • Assistant Coach at MOKAN, in Kansas City, Missouri from 2009-2012 and their record was as follows: 36-5 (2012), 50-9 (2011), 56-9 (2010), 57-9 (2009)

  • Most recently, along with working with Breakthrough Basketball, he was the head coach for Tilton Elementary School in Chicago where they finished 8-1 and made the Chicago league playoffs for the first time in 4 years


Rob Southall


Hired in the fall of 2013, Rob Southall is now in his sixth season as head coach of the men's basketball program and assistant director of athletics at Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts. 

Coach Southall’s philosophy of player development have made their mark on the record books at Elms College. His offensive system allowed several student athletes to reach their potential, he has developed four out of the eight thousand point scorers in school history. He has developed back to back NECC Defensive Player of the Year 2017 and NECC Player of the Year 2016, in addition to eight student-athlete have earned All-Conference honors. Not only limited to the success on the court, he has had 10 student athletes on NECC All Academic honors. During Coach Southall tenure the team has four out of five NECC Tournament including the Championship game in 2014-2015.

Coach Southall took the reins of the Blazers’ men’s basketball team after an eight-year stint as a full time assistant coach at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). During his time at WPI, the Engineers enjoyed tremendous success with Coach Southall on the bench compiling a 178-44 record with six New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) regular season championships as well as the 2005-06 and 2012-13 NEWMAC tournament championships, six appearances in the NCAA Division III Championship and the 2011-12 ECAC Division III New England Championship title. WPI also notched 20 or more wins in each of Coach Southall’s eight seasons on staff under head coach Chris Bartley.

Prior to his time at WPI, Coach Southall spent a season assisting Joe Reilly at Bates College and helped guide the team to one of its best seasons in school history (19-8). Bates reached the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championship tournament final before falling to Amherst College.

A 2002 graduate of Springfield College, Coach Southall played basketball for two seasons and was a graduate assistant coach for the Pride under head coach Charlie Brock for two years. At Springfield, he was also the head junior varsity basketball coach and was heavily involved in recruiting and game preparation. Coach Southall also obtained a master’s degree from Springfield in 2004.


Roi Madu


Coach Madu is in his second year at Breakthrough Basketball.  He is based in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Roi played his college ball at Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama.  Upon completion of his playing career at Miles, he played overseas in Nigeria.  

Coach Madu currently trains NBA players such as Dwight Howard, Derrick Favors, Wendell Carter, and Iman Shumpert.

Roi also works with USA Basketball and is currently the Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at Norcross High School


Romeo Lagmay


Romeo Lagmay, Jr. came to Dawson Community College with a successful career in various divisions.  His experience spans over 22 years of coaching middle school, high school, college and professional basketball.  Coach Lagmay “Lug-My” prides himself building his foundation of fundamentals from middle school in 1996 to winning a college national championship in 2010. 

Coach Lagmay plans on continuing his success at the junior college level.  After his first season in Glendive, Lagmay improved the win total to double digit figures. On a national level, DCC led the country in scoring and rebounding early on in the 2015-16 season.  Academically, the women’s program seen 9 student-athletes named to the Mon-Dak All-Conference.  This led to being nationally ranked #3 in the WBCA with the highest team GPA.  The Lady Buccaneers also were ranked #16 nationally in the NJCAA out of 407 institutions.  The team’s highest GPA is the highest honor and best in school history.  

Prior to becoming the Head Coach at Dawson CC, Lagmay was coaching collegiately, as well as professionally.  In 2006, Coach Lagmay was introduced as the head men’s basketball coach and general manager of the West Virginia Wild of the International Basketball League (IBL).  He also coached in the National Basketball Association (NBA) Summer Professional League from 2004-2008 as both an assistant and head coach in the free agent division.  As an assistant coach, Lagmay was in charge of player and bench control.  As a head coach, he was responsible for practice sessions and team and player development.  He also participated as one of the lead instructors in tryout sessions, conducting different stations of skill development and team play.  In 2008, Coach Lagmay won the free agent summer division league championship.


Rustin Dowd


Rustin Dowd had the opportunity to start all four years while attending MidAmerica Nazarene University. There he gained a lot of knowledge from two of our very own Breakthrough Instructors Adam Hepker and Coach Keeley.

Rustin became a great player while at MidAmerica and says he owes a lot of that to Coach Hepker, Coach Keeley, Coach Fleming and Hall of Fame Coach Rocky Lamar.  

Some of Rustin Dowd’s credentials include:

  •  2 Time NAIA DI All-American
  •  Heart of America Conference Player of the Year
  •  Helped his team win Conference Title and Conference tournament Title
  • Scored over 2000 points in his college career
  •  Named Champion of Character Award winner
  •  Played Professionally in Australia
  •  Averaged 19 points per game while playing professionally in Australia
  • Was awarded Golden Hands Award for the Werribee Devils
  • Had the opportunity to run his own camps in Werribee, Australia.


Ryan Bhalla

Coach Ryan Bhalla coaches athletes at the university and grassroots levels. He is currently a Graduate Assistant Coach with the University of Alberta Golden Bears.

Ryan is also a Director at GOOD Hoops Club coaching at the youth/AAU level, helping athletes develop and explore opportunities through basketball.

Coach Bhalla was an Assistant coach with MacEwan University (2018-20) and is currently pursuing his Master in Coaching at the University of Alberta.

He is level 3 trained through the Coaching Association of Canada.

As a player, Ryan played in the Alberta Summer Games and played on the senior varsity teams throughout his high school and junior high playing career.

Coach Bhalla has been around the game as a player or coach his whole life and is someone who believes in developing holistic student-athletes with sound fundamentals, and high character.”


Ryan Thomas

After a strong high school basketball career, Ryan earned a scholarship to play college basketball at Concordia University where he played for 2 years before transferring to finish his college basketball career at Central Michigan University.

Coach Thomas has over 15 years of experience coaching at multiple levels (youth, AAU, YBOA, and High School). Through his dedication, leadership, innovation and tireless work ethic Thomas has become a sought after skills trainer. As a skills trainer he has helped mold thousands of young people around the country developing their game.

Here is a brief overview of Coach Thomas' coaching credentials:

  • Owner of HoopGrind Basketball - Basketball Development Program 
  • Athletic Director & Associate Head Basketball Coach at Impact Christian Academy
  • Trained and developed many college and professional players
  • Currently trains players from youth to professional level
  • 2016-Present Associate Head Coach / Athletic Director Impact Christian Academy
  • 2011-2015 Assistant coach at Edward H. White High School - Jacksonville Florida (6A)
  • Multiple top 5 FHSAA state rankings
  • Multiple District Championships
  • 1 FHSAA Final Four appearance


Sarah Hopkins-Chery

Sarah Hopkins-Chery enters her fifth season as the head coach for the University of California, Merced women's basketball team. She begins the 2019-20 campaign with an all-time coaching record of 79-45, 38-12 in California Pacific Conference play.  

Hopkins-Chery’s 79 wins are good for second among any other active head coach in the conference.


A native of Essex, England, Hopkins-Chery brings both playing and coaching experience to UC Merced.  In England, Hopkins-Chery attended Greensward College and attributes much of her stardom in the game of basketball to the Swifts Basketball Club along with Greensward.  While with Swifts and Greensward, both teams were yearly national championship contenders, while she was a player and a coach. 

She first earned international playing experience with the Under 16 and Under 20 England teams and eventually England’s senior women’s nation team in 2002.

Hopkins-Chery attended and played basketball at Jefferson College where she was an NJCAA Academic All-American Scholar-Athlete in 2005, All-Region Academic Team member in 2005 and a two-time MCCAC Academic All-Conference honoree.  Additionally, the Vikings were conference champions in 2004 and 2005 while she was a part of the program.

After two years at Jefferson she transferred to Park University where she became a standout on the women’s basketball team.  As a player at Park she helped lead a Pirates squad to the programs first-ever appearance in the NAIA National Tournament in 2005-06 after winning a conference title in the Association of Independent Institutions (AII).  Hopkins-Chery was also honored as an AII-Academic All-Conference member and an NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete in 2006 (the first of three times she received this honor).


Shawn Good


Shawn Good played basketball at Virginia Tech from 1992-1996. He was a 1,000-point scorer for his career and holds the school record for minutes played in a season. 

Named NIT All Tournament Team 1995

Named NCAA Player of the Game in 1996

Has coached at the youth and high school level for more than 17 years. 

Head Varsity Basketball coach for 15 years.

2012 Virginia High School League 4A state champion. 

Former Director of Basketball for Spectrum Sports Academy in Roanoke, Virginia, where he has coached and developed more than 50 collegiate basketball players. 

Coached Independent travel basketball teams for the past 17 years. 
Won more than 30 tournament championships at national, regional and local levels. 
His teams competed against the Adidas, Nike and Under Armour circuits teams. 

 


Tasheba Butler

2007-2011:  Lander University
  • 2007: Scored 40 points in one game my freshman year, and missed breaking the school record by only 2 points
  • 2010: Surpassed 1,000 point milestone, finishing career with 1,191 points 

2015-2016:  Texas Cyclones Semi-Pro Team (WUBA)
  • Defensive Player of the Year
  • Western Conference Player of the Year
  • All-rookie 1st Team

2016-2017:  Platges de Mataro (Pro Team in Barcelona)
  • Made it to the Copa Catalunya Final 4
  • Averaged 15 PPG, 8 RPG, 5 APG


Torie Murillo


Coach Murillo is currently the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Avila University in Kansas City, Missouri where she was previously an assistant for three years

Murillo, earned her bachelor's degree from Avila in May of 2014 and  her master's degree in May of 2016

Torie played for Avila from 2008 - 2012.  She was the team's starting point guard, and one of the best defenders in the nation, earning Heart Defensive Player of the Year honors in both her junior and senior seasons.

Murillo led the nation in steals in each of her final two seasons for Avila, finishing with 164 as a junior and 132 as a senior. She finished with a school record 430 steals in her career to go along with 912 points, 650 rebounds and 540 assists.


Tramel Barnes


Coach Tramel Barnes is in his fifth season as assistant coach for Southwest Minnesota State Men's Basketball.

In 2016-17, SMSU had one of its best seasons in school history, tying a school record with 28 victories, while capturing the NSIC South Division and NSIC Tournament championships. SMSU also advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in school history, before losing to eventual national champion Northwest Missouri State in the region championship.

SMSU has recorded 72 victories during his four seasons as assistant coach, which included a 19-win season and an appearance in the NSIC tournament semifinals in 2013-14.

Prior to joining the SMSU staff, Barnes completed a five-year collegiate playing career at a pair of NSIC schools. He started his career at Northern State University (2008-10), appearing in 48 games with eight starts in two seasons, before transferring to SMSU in 2010.

Following a red shirt season in 2010-11, Barnes played in 60 career games for the Mustangs scoring 351 points and grabbing 231 rebounds, while dishing out 159 assists. He finished his SMSU career shooting 82.8 percent from the free throw line ranking sixth in program history. As a senior in 2012-13, he averaged 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and ranked second on the squad with 85 assists.

Barnes is a 2013 graduate of SMSU with a degree in sports management. He earned his master’s degree at SMSU in physical education.

This will be coach Barnes' second season with Breakthrough Basketball.


Troy Slavin



Troy Slavin graduated from Northeast High School where he was selected First Team All CNC League and All Tournament Team at the Riverton Invitational while averaging 19 points a game, with a CNC season high game of 35 pts. An athletic six foot guard known for his leaping ability, Troy once shattered a backboard and led the CNC in dunks his senior year.

Troy accepted a basketball scholarship to Fort Scott Community College but injuries soon ended his college career. He went on to graduate with a Bachelors degree in Radio and TV Production from Kent State University, and began a career in professional broadcasting for some of the nation's premiere radio stations. At 35, he was nominated for radio's highest honor, the Marconi Award, as the nation's best Large Market Personality. At 37, he was awarded the Butterfly Award, the highest honor given by the Children's Cancer Research Fund, for his work in raising over six million dollars to find a cure.

During his radio career Troy stayed connected to basketball and kids, coaching at St. John the Baptist in Minnesota and playing in exhibition games against the University of Kentucky and Deion Sanders' Dallas Cowboy All Stars. His career took him inside Minnesota Timberwolves practice with Kevin McHale and Sam Mitchell, and on the court to learn a few tricks from the legendary Harlem Globetrotters.

His expertise teaching shooting helped his son, Nic Slavin become the Sunflower Player of the Year in Kansas and First Team All State, In a record breaking Senior Year, Nic recorded 4 of the top 5 scoring games in school history and ended his career with the highest career and season averages in Olathe South history. His 44 points broke a 20 year old record held by fellow Breakthrough Coach and Wyoming Alum, Brett McFall. 


Wayman Strickland


Wayman Strickland was named the sixth women's basketball head coach for Cal State Stanislaus on July 27, 2012 and began his post on Aug. 1.
In 2013-14, he led the Warriors to one of the best turn-around seasons in program history, going from 2-25 to 13-13 and just missing out on the CCAA tournament.

The women's basketball program has reached the CCAA Championship tournament in each of the last two seasons. In February of 2017, the Warriors posted their first postseason victory since 1990 and advanced to the CCAA semifinals.


“Throughout the search (process) one thing that stood out was Wayman's character and ability to motivate young people in a positive manner,” added Matoso. ”He has close ties to the Central Valley and is very excited about recruiting local talent to play at Cal State Stanislaus. I am very confident that he will build a very successful program here.”

Strickland spent nine years as a professional player in Europe and Asia.  His accolades include being named the top point guard in the Asian Basketball Championships three times (1996-98). He was the most valuable player of the 1997 Asian Basketball Championships.

Strickland was a four-year starter at the University of San Diego from 1988 to 1992, when he amassed 1,040 career points. Currently, he still holds the third spot in the USD record book with 408 assists.

As a prep player, Strickland was a standout at San Francisco's Archbishop Riordan High School, where he was the 1988 San Francisco Bay Area player of the year.


Willie Williams


  • Willie Williams is the new Head Mens Basketball Coach at Piedmont International University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • Former Head coach and AD at Nebraska Christian College where he also played.
  • Played at Nebraska Christian College and Grace University (National Christian College Athletic Association)
  • Coached at Papillion South High School (Class A), Grace University (NCCAA), and currently at Nebraska Christian College (NCCAA transitioning to NAIA).
  • 4-year starter. 2x Captain. (Player)
  • First-Team All-Conference MCCC. Second-Team All-Region NCCAA. Scholar-Athlete All-American (Player)
  • MCCC Conference Champion. NCCAA Central Regional Champion. NCCAA National Champion. (Player)
  • 3x NCCAA Central Region Champion. 3x-NCCAA Central Region Coach of the Year. 3-NCCAA National Tournament Appearances. (Coach)
  • Multiple NCCAA Scholar-Athletes, Players of the Week, Honorable Mention All-Region, Second-Team All-Region, Central Region Player of the Year, All-American Honorable Mentions, and All-American First-Team. (Coach)


Zach Giesbrecht


Zach was the head coach of the 16U Manitoba Provincial Team which competed at the Western Canada Summer Games this past summer and is currently involved in the Targeted Athlete Program with Basketball Manitoba. 

Zach brings his university playing experience with the Manitoba Bisons and his time with the Manitoba Provincial Team of four years as an athlete which included winning a National Championship with the 17U male team in 2014.

Additionally, as a high school athlete for John Taylor Collegiate, his team was undefeated and won the AAAA provincial championship in his senior season (2016).

Zach’s other coaching experience includes assistant coaching at John Taylor Collegiate, coaching with his brother Jon Giesbrecht in 2017 as the 15U male provincial assistant coach, and working with Junior Bison Girls’ basketball program.  Zach has also developed a passion for player development – working School 4 Hoops, JG camps and taking on clients for individual training.