HOOPS ELITE MAGAZINE
not know in the beginning is that
we have a structure that is strong.
Even a strong wind is not going to
just blow us out of here. It is not so
much where I see us in 5 years as
where I have to take us. Our oldest player is in the 8th grade right
now so I have to start figuring out
how to keep them successful at
the next level. For bitty ball I can
confidently say we offer the best
experience in youth basketball
in Michigan. I need to be able to
say at the start and the end of the
next level that we are still offering
this to our players as well as helping the rest of Michigan get better
and back on the map. That is what
establishing our relationship with
the EBC has been about.
What do you think makes the
EBC standout from other youth
leagues?
From our first conversation with Mr.
Kelly we knew he was the one. It
is hard to find that combination of
sincerity and drive, but when we
heard the plan we wanted to align
ourselves with it. Clearly The EBC
set out to raise the bar and set a
new standard in youth basketball,
we wanted to be a part of that. It
was in line with our mission in running Next Stop Basketball League.
Take the best competition, from the
best places and give them an opportunity to do even better. Make
basketball be about the game and
the players. It sounds so simple but
it is rare. I believe all the success of
the EBC is a reflection of the strong
need in youth basketball for a new
framework where we can organize
together, respect each other, compete and grow.
With the EBC inaugural season
around the corner how do you
feel about the competition and
how you stack up against them?
I think this will be as competitive
as AAU and as our kids get older
I think it will provide an excellent
forum for their continued success.
Our teams are going to have to
33 | Issue 2 - March 2015
bring it every game to be competitive. We will be contenders, as
always we have to play the game.
Lastly, for the people and potential sponsors that are new to the
Express Basketball Club what
can you tell them about your
program?
When my wife and I read this
question we laughed. We didn’t
think much about a sponsor. In
the beginning we did but then we
learned that sponsorships were
not always about helping kids. So
we took a different route; we try to
create our own opportunities. We
figure out how to get our teams
and our organization to the next
step, the next year and remain
successful. When we got tired
of playing in the leagues around
here we started our own league.
Our league is called Next Stop because we wanted the best teams
to come here to prepare for their
real season, where a good game
meant more than winning a game.
We met with a potential sponsor
about a year ago and at the end
of the meeting the person concluded that we had more to gain
by keeping our autonomy than by
what they could offer us. That was
the best compliment ever. I think
more and more our hard work is
paying off. We want to be seen as
leaders. If someone was to see the
opportunities we are providing for
our kids and wanted to help we
would welcome the help, we are
all working hard.