At UPB, we are committed to being a part of the change to always support and empower female ballers. In February, we hosted an 100% free clinic for local girls and were met with a full gym and 30+ attendees.

UPB partners with The Boys and Girls Club of The Peninsula, Stanford Basketball, others to create a community event in December.

The clinic at UPB was made available to girls of all ages, from Kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as boys. Appearances at the October She Hoops included countless college and pro basketball players include current Stanford superstar and high school player of the year, Haley Jones, former Santa Clara guard Iman Scott as well as the most beloved photographer in the NBA, Cassy Athena. She currently has over 200k followers on Instagram and has shot the likes of LeBron James and Steph Curry. Beyond being an overwhelming hit, She Hoops was also for a worthy cause because 10% of camp proceeds ultimately supported breast cancer research and awareness.

At UPB, there’s an intention behind every step taken with an athlete, regardless of age or level. Whether rolling with a tennis ball, using a resistance band while shooting jumpers, or even practicing on the Vertimax, various basketball as well as physical and mental health professionals weigh in on every decision made. Every athlete we have will be pushed, but a distinction is made between being challenged and overworked.

Ezra Manjon: Manjon will most certainly be a candidate for Big West Rookie of the Year next year as he starts his collegiate career at UC-Davis. Manjon averaged 15.8 points and five assists as a senior at Heritage High School, and concluded his season with a 33 point outburst in the NorCal Regionals. Off the court, Manjon lists Raising Canes and Chick-Fil-A as two of his go-to restaurants. 

During spring workouts with our staff, Hayes worked on improving his soft touch, footwork and the ability to make reads. Off the court, he is a self-proclaimed “Momma’s Boy” and has the swagger of a champion (look no further than his Simpsons themed necklace at the draft). Looking forward to seeing the 1-2 punch with Zion in New Orleans now that Hayes has explored the West Coast and seen his favorite animal, a giraffe, live with Packie.

For the past few months, the most commonly asked question at the UPB training facility has been “where’s Coach Packie?” For those still wondering, an opportunity fell into his hands to prepare draft prospects and facilitate a pro day for BDA Sports Management. To properly prepare these players for the NBA draft, BDA had Packie and their clients stationed in Santa Barbara to work with the renowned Peak Performance Project (P3) training facility who also call Santa Barbara home. The players and coaches visited P3 six days a week for athletic training off the court.

That’s why I named this blog The Difference, I’m a firm believer everybody’s journey will be different. So when you are able to understand that you can achieve your goals your way. Not my way, not the top pick in the draft, or NBA/oversea superstars. Or even your friends/teammates/peers on the school teams way. It’s always going to be different and be ready to accept that at all levels of basketball along with life. If you take anything from this blog, always remember to set your goals high. And everyday just look for improvements on getting close to your goals. Rome was not built in a day, but a brick was laid every 24 hours. I’m going to continue to lay bricks on and off the court daily.