Back to school

The spring semester is underway for 2026! Time to lock in more ways than one.

For student athletes, holiday break still often consists of work. The holidays are a great time for reflection and togetherness, and we hope you all achieved that, from grade schoolers up through college athletes. However, those with goals and dreams of continuous improvement, and even greatness, likely spent some of the break hard at work, improving their game.

Now, school is back in session. Attention is once again split among athletics, academics, and social lives. Not always an easy balance to maintain.

For student athletes, education is paramount. There is a lot to learn from sports as well as character to be built. However, classrooms do their own character-building, and what you learn and your growth in ability to learn are crucial.

So, how to balance everything? You must focus in the classroom, and you need to be a positive part of your community and society, treating others with respect and kindness. So where does hooping come in?

There is almost never enough time to do everything you want or even need to do. But you want to be a starter on your school’s squad, right? Help your team win? Be able to endure longer than your competition and have the skills to make it count? Of course you do.

Those with a strong work ethic find ways to make time for improvement. This is done by maximizing the time you have. Luckily, players around here have the cheat code, if they have what it takes to use it.

The Basketball Movement can turn even a few hours a week into substantial dividends. If you invest your time here, the returns will show almost immediately.

Our results are currently on display in gyms all around the country. Those who are willing to use their limited time to invest in themselves are guaranteed to see results here. The work is hard - we do not hide that fact. But if you are up for it, you. will. improve.

Back to school, back to being busy. But don’t turn your back on basketball. Don’t fall behind your teammates or opponents. Make time and make it count with The Basketball Movement. Our skill development training is unparalleled in this part of the country. If you are up for it, take advantage! Reach out today!

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The Basketball Movement throwbacks

Keeping your eyes on the horizon is important, but do not forget the past.

As always, big things are going down at The Basketball Movement. We are the home of Yanders Law AAU, which is plugging away this summer. We are also continuing to facilitate skill development workouts for players ranging from kids to pros. Sometimes though, it is fun to look back.

There have been many special moments over the years; far too many to share. Part of Rob Yanders’ vision was media exposure for his athletes, so we have plenty of documentation to back up the good moments.

Teammates turned opponents is always a recipe for a good time. Iron sharpens iron and all that.

Another recipe for a good time is an OG catching up with good friends and big-time hoopers…

With legendary events like our Elite Guard camps or The Basketball Movement Invitational, there are plenty of great throwbacks to go around.

The Basketball Movement is excited by where we are headed but also proud of where we have been. The best may very well be yet to come, but the journey so far has been damn good. Rewarding. Fulfilling.

Rob Yanders laid out one hell of a blueprint. Join us as we continue the movement.

We will be posting some more throwbacks in the coming weeks. Follow The Basketball Movement everywhere to appreciate the journey so far and keep up with what comes next.

Elite open runs

Some Yanders Law and We Are United alumni and other gym rats of The Basketball Movement recently had some open runs. Peep these highlights.

The Basketball Movement spontaneously hosted some open runs for college-level players and up. We point out the spontaneity in trying to avoid questions about plans for such events in the future. There are no plans. This was just a combination of program alumni in the area looking to hoop and hitting up guys they knew could stack up.

As usual, our media team was not far off, and we were able to capture some dope footage. Plenty of good stuff to sift through, as the talent level on the court was elite.

The clips are all up on our Twitter (X) and Instagram. We figure this is as good a time as any to remind you to follow us on those pages. We have great clips of familiar faces like these, Yanders Law AAU highlights, and more on those pages.

Follow The Movement, and don’t miss a thing!

SEMO Prep @ We Are United

Join us this Thursday as We Are United Prep takes on visiting SEMO Prep.

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 1st, We Are United Prep will host SEMO Prep at their home court - The Basketball Movement.

For those who do not know, The Basketball Movement is located at 2135 N Sports Complex Lane in Nixa, MO 65714. The game will take place on the East court.

Our We Are United Coaches and staff want to invite you to see what our athletes can do. The players have been working hard, and it may surprise you to witness the level of prep hoops that is going on right here in Southwest MO.

The game will tip off at 6:00 PM; entry is only $3 per person. We hope to fill the seats as we put on a show with one of our highest-flying squads to date. See you tomorrow!

Highlights from the last matchup:

Rob Yanders to be honored at Drury University

Drury University is planning to honor the late Rob Yanders on January 27th.

As many of you know, The Basketball Movement’s Founder, Rob Yanders, played high school ball in Milwaukee before coming to SMSU-West Plain and then SMSU for his college hoops. Following his pro career in Europe, Yanders returned to the Springfield area, profoundly impacting the community through the sport he loved.

He may not have been a Drury Panther, but his tutelage has produced several; the current men’s team is loaded with former Yanders Law AAU players and We Are United post-grad players.

The program, like so many others, has been touched by Rob Yanders’ legacy.

Drury plans to honor that legacy BEFORE their home game against the University of Illinois-Springfield on Saturday, January 27th. Tipoff is at 3:00 pm. Tickets are available at the Drury box office or online here.

The Yanders family would like to invite everyone to come early to the game and catch the special moment. Then, stick around to see a continuation of Yanders’ vision. Catch our guys, Colin Hardrick (WAU), Logan Applegate (YLB/WAU), Elijah Whitley (YLB), and Juok Riak (WAU)!

ICYMI: College signings

The Basketball Movement recently hosted some college commitment signings for several of our guys!

In case you missed it, The Basketball Movement was fortunate to hold collegiate signings for a couple of our favorite gym rats. And just today, one more made his commitment known.

We Are United prep’s Javar Daniel and Yanders Law alumni Hogan Smith put pen to paper and fulfilled their dreams, committing to college hoop programs.

Javar Daniel is a 6’10 forward with plenty of athleticism. He is a clear D1 talent headed to Austin Peay to play for former Missouri State assistant and friend of The Basketball Movement, Coach Corey Gipson. Also committed to the Governers are former Yanders Law standouts Anton Brookshire, Jonathan Dunn, and Isaac Haney giving local fans plenty to cheer for in Tennessee.

Hogan Smith, a versatile 6’5 shooter out of Kickapoo High, is staying local, committing to the Drury Panthers. He will join several We Are United alumni: Logan Applegate, Colin Hardrick, and Juok Riak, as well as Yanders Law alum Elijah Whitley. Yanders Law alum, Brady Nicholson, has committed to DU as well. Another fun squad for local fans to keep track of!

Hogan dealt with injuries throughout his young career, making his perseverance to arrive at this point one of the top stories to come out of our programs in a minute.

Congratulations to both of these guys. Congrats also to these college programs that seem to understand precisely the kind of players we turn out here at The Basketball Movement. Dawgs. On-the-court killers. The fighters and leaders that every program needs.

In addition, Awit Mamer of We Are United prep just announced his commitment to DII Augustana University! A 6’3 guard, Awit’s ceiling is staggering. It will be exciting to see the heights his game can reach at this level.

Stay tuned as we keep an eye on our guys, transform more young men and women into pure ballers, and keep the Yanders dream alive.

We Are United highlights

Check the individual and team highlights as We Are United goes undefeated at the Heartland Prep Invitational.

This past weekend, some of the nation’s best prep programs gathered at Evangel for the Heartland Prep Invitational. The results were as expected - fireworks galore. We Are United turned some heads, though that was expected, at least by those familiar with this year’s squad.

We Are United faced off against Kennedy Prep, Florida Coastal, and finally, Montverde CBD. Battling injuries in addition to elite programs, WAU went undefeated.

The legendary Rob Yanders was a big proponent of getting his players deserved media exposure. His guys are still in place, bringing game highlights and individual media to continue elevating the players beyond what you see with many other programs.

Please follow along on Twitter and especially Instagram and YouTube to continue supporting Rob’s vision for these athletes. We appreciate you!

WAU - Heartland Prep Invitational

We Are United Prep set to take on the nation’s best at Evangel’s Heartland Prep Invitational.

We Are United prep faces fierce competition year-round, but this weekend will be special. Some of the very best teams in the nation are coming together, presenting one of the toughest tests our young program has faced.

The best part? It is right in our own backyard.

The Heartland Prep Invitational is hosted by Evangel University and will run this Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 26-28th. Full schedule below:

The Heartland Prep Invitational will not only be an excellent chance for local hoop-heads to catch We Are United but also some nationally ranked D1 talent.

Come out and support We Are United as we continue to elevate the basketball scene in Springfield and the surrounding area, as well as the Midwest as a whole! We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you there.

The Basketball Movement - Home of We Are United

For everything We Are United, follow along with us at The Basketball Movement.

Like The Basketball Movement, We Are United prep was started by former pro, Rob Yanders as yet another way to elevate the hoops scene in the Midwest. The prep school has quickly been established as a premier destination for hoopers looking to elevate their game post-grad.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to access We Are United prep’s website or Twitter since the tragic passing of Head Coach Rob Yanders. Fortunately, The Basketball Movement can serve as the home base for the program both digitally and physically.

As an elite training facility, The Basketball Movement is the perfect home base for the competitive basketball program and school. The same is true online, as everything you need to know about We Are United can be found through The Basketball Movement.

You can follow us on Twitter for news and other updates, but make sure to follow along with The Basketball Movement on Instagram as the most consistent source of highlights of WAU ballers in action. Those clips feed into our Facebook stories as well if that is more your scene!

The exposure gained through The Basketball Movement mediums has helped numerous athletes gain exposure and be noticed at the collegiate level.

Also, the highlight clips are just dope.

Our social media pages and thebasketballmovement.com are your home for We Are United prep. For any questions about the program or details on how to get involved, please email basketballmovement@yahoo.com and a coach will get back to you.

Thank you for your support. Go We Are United!

Yanders Law alum goes pro

Former Yanders Law standout and AP ACC Player of the Year Tyree Appleby is bound for France.

Continuing his already stellar basketball career, Tyree Appleby is headed to Limoges, France, to play professionally for Limoges CSP.

The Arkansas native played AAU ball with the Yanders Law program in high school, displaying the ability to do it all on the court from the point guard position. App would go on to Cleveland State for his first collegiate seasons before transferring to Florida.

Appleby hit his stride in his final collegiate season, playing at Wake Forest in the ACC. He was named AP ACC Player of the Year, leading the storied ACC Conference in points per game (18.8) and assists per game (6.43). His assist average was 6th in the nation.

Tyree partnered with our friends at Edge Sports International to pursue his pro career. He played for the Chicago Bulls team in the NBA Summer League and had workouts with multiple teams around the Association.

Already a proven scorer and playmaker, Tyree Appleby is a high-ceiling player that will greatly benefit from this exciting new opportunity. He has Rob Yanders in his corner, who is a veteran of European hoops himself.

We will be following along closely as App continues his journey on the court. Follow along with us, as always, by checking back right here at The Basketball Movement!

Anton Brookshire: Committed

Anton Brookshire announces his commitment

Around noon on Tuesday (5/9), formal local star and Yanders Law AAU alumni, Anton Brookshire announced on Twitter and Instagram that he has committed to playing his third year of D1 hoops for Austin Peay.

Brookshire will be joining his former high school and Yanders Law teammate, Isaac Haney playing for Head Coach Corey Gipson.

Gipson was an assistant for Missouri State University while Brookshire and Haney were coming up in the Springfield area. Haney played for Gipson his freshmen season at MSU as well as last season when Gipson was at the helm for an impressive Northwestern State team.

Brookshire played for Cuonzo Martin at Mizzou his freshman season before transferring to Iona last year to play for legendary Head Coach Rick Pitino. The Iona Gaels gave Anton a taste of the NCAA tournament and he is hungry to return.

Brookshire has established himself as a legitimate deep threat and has improved his playmaking profoundly over the last two seasons.

The Basketball Movement, #LawNation, and Kickapoo High basketball are all going to get a chance to see a pair of their best reunited again in Brookshire and Haney. The duo will be part of a dynamic backcourt for the Governors this upcoming season and we cannot wait to see what they can do for their new squad.

Congratulations, Anton on your decision! The Basketball Movement family is proud of the work you have put in and excited to see the latest results on the court. Let it fly!

The Next Brookshire and Haney

The Yanders Law program and The Basketball Movement facility recently bore some of the area’s greatest hoopers. Who’s next?

Coming from Milwaukee to Springfield, Missouri, Anton Brookshire seized an opportunity. His uncle, The Basketball Movement Founder Rob Yanders, was a ready and willing coach, teacher, and mentor. Also, he held the keys to the premier basketball training facility in the Midwest.

Brookshire has natural talent but had to fight for what he has accomplished. Having gym access does not make someone a Division I basketball player. Being a little over six feet tall certainly does not make someone a Division I basketball player.

Isaac Haney was a good athlete from a small town. Unfortunately, good athletes from small towns are usually like a flame in the wind; they burn brightly, gaining recognition from those nearby, but quickly fade. Haney could have easily ridden into that sunset.

Instead, Haney, like Brookshire, seized an opportunity. He uprooted what he knew and aggressively pursued a different path that he knew would lead to where he wanted to go. Of course, it would be a more difficult path, but that is so often what it takes.

Being Yanders Law athletes and absolute gym rats of The Basketball Movement meant that Brookshire and Haney saw quite a bit of each other. First, one of them would become a good shooter. Then, the other would become a great shooter. The constant collision of their improvement honed them both until they were some of the greatest basketball players the area has had.

Then Trevon Brazile grew to be 6’10.

Another Yanders Law alum, Brazile helped to push Brookshire and Haney even further, allowing them to not only have a teammate with NBA potential but also more iron with which to sharpen their own aspirations.

Not every player is going to have a seven-inch growth spurt. But many players out there could be the next Brookshire or Haney.

Life has thrown a lot at Anton Brookshire. Yet, he has shown true steel in overcoming obstacles to focus on his craft and continue his ceaseless journey to be great. Isaac Haney had to drive over an hour and a half several times a week for most of his basketball career to get to work with the best.

Not everyone has what it takes. Many players with more talent than Brookshire or Haney will fade out long before they do. So who has what it takes to seize the mantle of the best hoopers in the area?

As far as we are concerned, we know there are big shoes to fill. So for those players that do not just want to be great but HAVE to be great, you know where to find us.

Rob Yanders and his staff are waiting for the next major players from our area. We have proven what we can do. Now, it is up to you.

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Yanders Law making NCAA waves

Yanders Law Basketball has been on a new level for a few seasons, with alumni continuing to make a splash around NCAA hoops.

The Basketball Movement is affiliated with the Yanders Law AAU basketball program. Rob Yanders established the program in 2010, and it has been steadily elevating in level of play since then.

That elevation recently culminated in some of the best squads in the program’s history. The alums from these squads can be found all around the country. Several recently hit the transfer portal, spreading the Yanders Law footprint further than ever before.

We are incredibly proud of our #LawNation family members that not only choose to pursue college ball but put the work in to make it a reality.

From Trevon Brazile's dunks in Arkansas to Ty Appleby shredding opponents at Wake Forest, our players have been popping up regularly on social media.

When possible, Yanders Law, The Basketball Movement, and Rob Yanders himself share these moments on our social media pages. So be sure to follow along to see what these hometown kids are doing on a more national stage.

As we said, our pride cannot be overstated. The Yanders Law alumni currently playing college ball not only have incredible work ethics but are also of high character.

Our programs cannot exist without players like these. Follow along with us and continue showing the support that has helped them achieve their hoop dreams!

"Don Don" Ferguson college commitment

Donald Ferguson III, better known at We Are United as “Don Don,” has committed to the University of Central Missouri.

6’2 Don Don Ferguson is a well-rounded guard out of Osseo, Minnesota. He has been standing out this season for Rob Yanders’ We Are United prep team and has garnered plenty of interest. Recently, he announced his commitment to play for the University of Central Missouri.

“I loved the coaching staff, first off,” Ferguson says on what helped his decision. “(The coaches) seem big on the individuals and really care about their players off the court. That stuck out to me. They care about your life past basketball.”

Don Don considers his strengths to be shooting, handling, floor spacing, his ability to read defenses, jump the passing lanes, being a team player, and having a high basketball IQ.

Currently focusing on his shooting and finishing, he elaborated on what the Mules can expect from him:

“A killer,” Ferguson says. “I am a guy that can score the ball but am also a great teammate. I pick my teammates up.”

Now that college ball is a reality, Don Don can reflect on how his time with Coach Yanders prepared him for the next level. “It has prepared me mentally,” he says. “I have learned about hard work, being locked in, and how success means no days off.”

“(Yanders) can push you to limits you didn’t know you had. It is all about mental and physical toughness - being a dawg. Hard work-wise, there won’t be much new to me when it comes to college.”

For players considering coming to We Are United, Ferguson says you will become mentally tougher, but you also have to come in with a tough mindset from the get.

“Come here, and you WILL get better,” Ferguson says. “You will play real basketball down here. Go from a boy to a man down here. You have to be serious about basketball.  There is no turning back, no fifty-fifty. It has to be 100 percent what you want, and then you will see those results.”

Yanders and the We Are United prep family are proud of any player that can put in the necessary work here and make their dream a reality. We are excited for the next chapter in Don Don’s journey and have little doubt about the impact he will have on his new team.

Good luck, Don Don!

We Are United Signings

The Basketball Movement is taking you behind the scenes for a few of our recent We Are United signings.

Rob Yanders and The Basketball Movement have been fortunate to see many players progress from young hoopers to collegiate athletes. We recently highlighted some of our shared accomplishments with NCAA basketball getting underway across the country.

Even though We Are United is a young program, it has already produced collegiate talent and is continuing to do so as well.

This year’s We Are United prep squad already has several players committed to playing for their future programs. The Basketball Movement took fans inside the process of inking those commitments to make them permanent.

Check out some of the behind-the-scenes footage:

Coach Rob and his organizations are exceedingly proud of these young men for finalizing essential steps in continuing their education and playing careers.

The best part about it all? This is only the beginning. Follow along with We Are United as more players receive offers and elevate themselves on and off the court.

Rob Yanders - Vision to Reality

Tonight is a celebration and a showcase of how Rob Yanders, The Basketball Movement, Yanders Law, and We Are United have elevated our hoops community.

Tonight, college basketball tips off around the country. Millions of fans finally get to see their school’s new squads in action. But, for Rob Yanders, tonight means something a little bit more.

Between Yanders’ from-scratch entities - The Basketball Movement, Yanders Law Basketball, and We Are United prep - he does not have enough screens in his home to watch all his players tonight. ESPN, ESPN+, Fox Sports… there are 16 of his players in action on TV this week. Sixteen.

For Rob Yanders, this is a case of vision turning into reality.

“This is a showcase of our hard work,” Yanders says. “We’ve come so far. The vision has always been to bring basketball to another level in this community.”

Many individuals throughout Southwest MO have Rob’s back. Countless parents and athletes have trusted him with the keys to drive their hoop dreams.

Before there was a prep school or AAU program, there was a man with a vision, opening the doors to a gym by himself. Rob says you first have to show people what you are made of, and then the help comes later. It’s turned into a helluva show.

The opportunities now afforded to the area because of Yanders are often difficult to quantify. However, some concrete figures you can point to is the money saved by community members gaining college scholarships because Rob helped them capitalize on the game they love.

“I am proud of where we are now, especially considering the journey and the battles,” Yanders says. “When you are in the trenches day in, and day out, you don’t always have time to step back and admire what you have built; what you are still building.”

“Tonight is special,” Yanders continues. “I am super excited. I mean, on night one, we have Zach Howell, probably immediately a starter or sixth man playing against Purdue. It’s just wild when you see how far we’ve come in elevating these young men and women.”

Rob has been in the game long enough now that he even has college coaches popping up that are Yanders Law alumni. He has worked with many professional athletes, but these players that have grown up with his programs are undeniably his proudest accomplishments. He takes pride in every achievement they have on and off the court.

Yanders’ footprint on the basketball landscape is increasing exponentially, and he is only getting started. Stay tuned!

Colin Hardrick - We Are United

6’4 combo guard Colin Hardrick is a leader for Rob Yanders’ We Are United prep squad.

We Are United is looking good in the early part of the season. The talent level for Rob Yanders’ crop of players this year is through the roof. Milwaukee's Colin Hardrick is a big piece of why the talent pool is so impressive.

“Things are going well,” Hardrick says about the season. “We are developing and getting better every day. It’s all coming together as we learn each other’s play styles  - we’ve made good strides in the last few weeks.”

Colin is a well-rounded offensive player with tremendous defensive upside at the guard position. However, his main goal for We Are United is to fill a leadership role.

“I can play whatever role puts me in,” Hardrick says. “I can score it, but I like to be pass-first, lead the team, and set the tone for the whole squad.”

Asked how his time at We Are United has helped him improve already, Colin responded the same way as many players we have talked to before him. Coach Yanders and his facilities bring out the best in him as a person as well as a player.

“I have improved tremendously on the court and off the court as a young man,” Hardrick says. “We do hard work here; it’s no joke. Rob pushes us to our limits because he wants the best for us. Owning up to that challenge has been going well for me.”

Colin is holding out for the right fit as a collegiate player. As the season continues, he will undoubtedly get more and more options to choose from.

“My goal this season is to find a fit for me at the next level and, of course, just get better and better,” Hardrick says.

Wherever that fit may be, Colin’s college coaches can expect more than the prototypical freshman basketball player.

“I’m a really good student,” Hardrick says. “I try to be someone that’s great to be around. As a player, I’m someone that works hard and comes in ready to work every single day.”

In his short time running We Are United prep, Rob Yanders is quickly re-affirming himself as a developer of people. He prides himself on that development, but it also can’t happen to players unwilling to WORK.

Colin Hardrick is willing to work.

Follow We Are United on Twitter and Instagram to keep up with highlights from Colin and the entire squad all season long!

We Are United - Makuei Riek

6’6 guard Makuei Riek is a UW-Milwaukee University commit set to make a splash with We Are United.

First, congrats to We Are United’s Makuei Riek for committing to a quality D1 program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Second: congrats to UW-Milwaukee for securing a quality person and player whose arrow is pointing straight up.

A 6’6 guard out of Minnesota, Makuei has spent many summers traveling to the Milwaukee area to play AAU ball, so he is already familiar with the area. Upon even further inspection, he fell for the city.

“I toured the city on a visit,” Riek says. “I got to see places I’d be and meet many of the people I’d be around. I felt a lot of love, and it seemed like home.

Makuei loves nature and is excited to be near a beautiful lake. However, it was the environment of the basketball program that was the deciding factor. “The staff was very caring,” Riek says. “I watched a practice, and the coaches push you to be your best and also seem great to be around.”

Sharing a mindset with coaches is also what steered Makuei to We Are United prep. Ultimately, he decided to come because of Coach Rob Yanders.

“What made me decide on We Are United was Coach Rob - him showing up for me and trusting in me,” Riek says. “I have faith in what he has told me and where he believes he can get me. He’s a hard worker, I’m a hard worker, and I always try to be around people who share the same goals as me.”

Even though we are just scratching the surface of the We Are United season, Makuei says that Yanders has already prepared him mentally, physically, and spiritually for the next level of hoops.

“The season has just started, so we’re still working,” Riek says. “(Coach Yanders) speaks to us as adults. He tells us what we need to hear, not always what we want to hear. He is making us better as men, not just as players.”

Yanders tells his players what they need to hear, but that does not mean he has any shortage of praise for his big new guard.

“He great to be around and is also just a big-time basketball player,” Yanders says. He is a guy that can flat-out score. Coach (Bart) Lundy runs an up-tempo style that will suit him. He knows how to play, scores in bunches, and can be an impact player right away.”

Currently, Makuei says he is working on fully incorporating everything he has learned and using it to make others better. “I want to be a better teammate, better scorer… I’m just learning to grow as a true basketball player,” Riek says. “I am learning to play guard, the four, or any position I find myself in. I am learning the ‘why’ behind where to be on the court.”

If Makuei is hoping to be a sponge, soaking up basketball knowledge, he is in the right place.

To his next team, UW-Milwaukee, he plans to take the work he learns at We Are United and apply it to make his whole team better.

“I am always going to come in wanting to improve,” Riek says. “I work to get better every time I lace my shoes up. I am always going to push and do everything I can to make others get better as well as myself. I want to be a great leader and role model however I can.”

Makuei is already a leader by example. As the We Are United season forges ahead, expect continual improvement to his already impressive game. Stay tuned.

We Are United - Juok Riak

We Are United forward Juok Riak has already committed to Drury University ahead of a big prep season.

A 6’8 forward out of Madison La Follette high school in Madison, Wisconsin, Juok Riak is set to be a force for Rob Yanders’ We Are United prep squad. What’s more, he has also committed to playing next year right here in Springfield for Drury University.

Juok knew that coming to The Basketball Movement, home of We Are United, would not necessarily be an easy route. Nevertheless, he eagerly accepted the challenge.

“I was told that it’d be hard by former (We Are United) players,” Riak says. “I also knew that Rob (Yanders) gets it done. That’s why I wanted to come here.”

Asked what Yanders has already done to prepare him for the next level, Juok responded like a player that had already been through quite the gauntlet, though we are just scratching the surface of the 2022-23 We Are United season.

“Man… we are doing college work,” Riak says. “It is like being in college already. Rob - he’s been there. Everything he puts us through is work to get us ready.”

While Juok experiences the blood, sweat, and tears that go into being a Robert Yanders certified player, he can hopefully rest easy knowing that Yanders is impressed by what he has seen so far.

“He is fun to coach,” Yanders says of Riak. “He is a good kid with an amazing personality to go with his impressive game.”

That game has already landed Juok some college offers - one of which he accepted right here in Southwest, Missouri, despite being brand new to the area.

“He is an intelligent player… can pass and do it all,” Yanders says. “He will do great for Drury, and we will get many chances to watch him succeed.”

An athletic six-foot-eight, Juok Riak can immediately be recognized as a potential force on the hardwood. Add existing film and the well-known ability of Rob Yanders to develop players, and the coaching staff at Drury University recognized that they needed to try their hand at an offer. It paid off.

“Coach Foster and Coach Carr believed in me,” Riak says. “We haven’t even played a game yet, and they believe in me so much. They are telling me how good I can be working with Rob. With coaches that have that belief in me, why waste time in committing there?”

Juok will bring size and a true interior presence to his new squad. In addition, he is an excellent rebounder and has a high basketball IQ that allows him to make the right plays on the floor. “I am a hard worker,” Riak says. “I’m unselfish and push teammates to be better on and off the court.”

Riak says he is currently focusing on stretching the floor and improving upon all the facets of the game he is good at already. “I’m now trying to be great at things,” he says. “I am continuing to learn the game and how to always play the right way - that’s the most important thing.”

We Are United is on the road this weekend, and Drury Panther fans should definitely follow along as the highlights start to roll in. Next season, Juok will join Logan Applegate at Drury, another We Are United alumni. Retaining talent in the area allows us to keep a close eye on our guys and continue to work with them. Riak has professional aspirations as well as the motor and tools to achieve them. Don’t blink.

We Are United - Ishmeal David

Another We Are United prep commitment rolls in - this time, it is St. Paul, Minnesota’s Ishmeal David.

6’3 athletic wing Ishmeal David has been added to We Are United prep’s 2022-23 roster after his recent commitment. David brings playmaking, a good offensive feel, and stout perimeter defense to Rob Yanders’ squad.

David describes himself as a great kid to be around and “a pretty cool guy.” On the court, he says that coaches have praised him for defense that is more than pretty cool. “Coaches tell me I’m a force to be reckoned with,’” David says.

In addition to his defense, Ishmeal says that he brings plenty on the offensive end of the floor. “I’m very unselfish and know when and when not to force things,” David says. Regarding areas he is currently working on, he mentioned aggression on offense and understanding the game better in terms of spacing.

David says that he chose the prep route to expand his knowledge of the game of basketball and become a better player. He has come to the right place.

First impressions of Head Coach Rob Yanders quickly tell players that visit The Basketball Movement all they need to know. He does not hide his tenacity or his expectations for players that may attend We Are United.

“He demands a lot from his players,” David says of Yanders. “Out of the gate, he is very intense. I think that will gel very well with me, actually.”

Overall, Yanders was why Ishmeal David chose We Are United for his next step. “I have seen things from Coach Yanders - he has gotten players to the next level, and that is my goal,” David says.

We are excited to see Ishmeal in action and be a part of his basketball journey. We will do our part to help him achieve his dreams! Follow along right here at thebasketballmovement.com for more.