Taking away two players from each team calls for an adjustment in order to succeed. Johnson outlined the differences that come with playing 3v3, which includes having more room on the court allowing for more opportunity to make the right reads or a faster pace which encourages strategic thinking under pressure

“I love seeing how excited the girls get for each other, especially when a girl makes a basket. They create such a positive environment and always cheer one another on! It’s always nice to see all the girls smiling and laughing throughout the clinic,” Coach V said.

“The earlier you start mental training, the easier it is to mold your brain into a mindset built on good habits. It’s easier to train your brain because the older you are the more cemented you are in your beliefs and habits but there’s always room to learn and grow” 

If there’s one lesson that basketball has taught Coach Elijah Duque, it’s that life is full of unexpected curveballs whether they are good or bad–but the mindset that you embody to approach those moments are what matter the most.

 “If [Coach Dylan] had never encouraged me to try out for the AAU team again, I wouldn’t be on the team. UPB is a really supportive environment and is a positive community that makes me love basketball even more,” Gotelli said.

Anticipation is building as we are all excited to see how these players perform and interact with each other on the court for the 74th All-Star weekend. The stage is set for a weekend of competition and fun, it’s only a matter of time before the action unfolds!

Tehada emphasizes UPB’s commitment to ensuring that every player and family feels welcome. He gained inspiration from seeing firsthand how much power a supportive and determined organization can do for someone no matter what level they’re at with basketball and in life.

“Being part of the LMU program has impacted me to be a better teammate and want to be better for my team. It has helped me put others before my own needs, and that’s something that we have fought for and is important for our team dynamic,” Hernandez said.

“Doing well in school is important to your collegiate career because it helps to build habits that you will need later on in your life. Being able to multitask and succeed in areas that are pretty different from each other help to be successful in your career later,” Hernandez stated.

Basketball has evolved immensely over the years. One of the key hoop trends has been a focus on shooting the ball from all areas of the court. Whether it be shooting the three ball, a midrange fadeaway, or finishing at the rim off a drive, athletes more than ever are developing their shot no matter where they are on the court and no matter what position or role they play on their team. Shooting, just like any other basketball skill, can be honed and developed over time. By simply focusing on a few drills and practicing these skills consistently and intentionally, athletes can take their offensive game to the next level.

“I feel like to be a good teammate you're sharing the ball, you're encouraging people, you're supporting people…You need everybody to be together and to be a team, so I think impact wise, I want to kind of preach being good teammates, encouraging others, and constantly communicating because I think that's what makes athletes really stand out,” Stonebarger stated.

“When female athletes are surrounded by other athletes who are just like them, and they see these young women as role models, we hope that just encourages them to stay in the game that much longer. What we see from the young women coaching girls in particular is that they just tune in to who they are and their experience as kids in a different way,” Baker stated.

“My personal highlight and favorite part of the year was our one year anniversary event at the new gym. It was a great turnout and we had so many people come join us for group training, food trucks and raffle tickets,” said UPB’s Operations Manager, Madisen Carter. “Our community is what makes us us, so it was a great experience to give back to them. We truly appreciate their continuous support.”

“I'm looking forward to helping [the athletes at UPB] as much as I can. Make sure they are having fun and loving the game because you want to do something you love. That's the main thing, why I still want to stay in basketball because even though I'm not playing, I still love the game,” Udenyi said.

The holidays are right around the corner and to celebrate this time of year, UPB will be hosting its annual Holiday Camps! This year will feature two 3rd-7th camps: one is a single day that takes place on December 23rd from 9am-3pm led by Coach Garrett, and the other is a two-day camp on December 30th and 31st from 9am-12pm led by Coach Hannah. Coach Packie Turner is excited to be a part of the one-day camp and is looking forward to seeing the athletes better their game and improve on their skills.

“[The similarity between basketball and the holidays] is the team aspect of both. You're on a team, you're competing for something, you're working together for a certain goal and that brings people together to bond,” Eck said.

“From personal experience, when my handle my dribbling skills feel good, I feel like I can get to any spot. If you can get to any spot, then it's just a matter of making that shot and how comfortable you feel with that,” Vazquez said. “It's very important to handle partly because it builds confidence, and it also gives [athletes] the opportunity to make plays for themselves and others.”

“I don't take it for granted that my coach is trusting me to be in a leadership role. I definitely take that very seriously and I know our team can only be as good as our team culture, so that's really important to me. I know that no matter how many minutes I'm getting I can always help the team by leading them,” Somvichian stated.

“Technology like the Home Court app that tracks shot charts and each rep the players take is very beneficial. A [player development coach] can see in real time where an athlete is getting better at and where they’re struggling at, and over time, looking back at these data will help player development coaches create a point of attack [for their athletes.]” Tuliyagijja said.

The 2024-2025 NBA season is among us! After a long offseason, all 30 teams will be looking forward to a clean slate as they strive to find success during this upcoming season. Players themselves will also be looking forward to showcasing their own development and growth to their organization after spending months in the offseason training and elevating their game. In fact, a select few of these NBA players put in work this offseason right here at the UPBasketball Training Facility during the UPB Mini Camp over the summer. We are excited to see these athletes’ seasons unfold and cannot wait for all the highlights, memories, and milestones that lie ahead.