We Are United Prep - Jonathan Dunn

JONATHAN DUNN IS OFFICIALLY COMMITTED TO PLAYING POST-GRAD HOOPS WITH WE ARE UNITED PREP.

With school ball behind him, Jonathan Dunn is looking forward and focusing on working out and getting better this summer. If his spring performances with Yanders Law Basketball are any indication, things are going incredibly well.

Dunn recently received offers to hoop with Mizzou and SIU-Edwardsville and is currently drawing interest from Iowa State, Purdue, Murray State, Maryland, and more.

Dunn attributed his strong play in AAU ball to his teammates. “We play well together,” Dunn says. “We do a good job playing off the ball. Whoever is hot gets the ball in their hands; when I’m having a good day, they get me the ball.” With Yanders Law, Dunn has certainly had plenty of “good days,” most of which is due to his willingness to run the floor, a nose for the ball, and vicious rack attacks.

He has already come a long way, but Dunn knows there is already room for improvement. He says he will work on his jump shot mechanics this summer, focusing on backspin and having a consistent stroke. “I also want to make sure I’m attacking off the dribble more,” Dunn says. “I also want to use my length to score over the defense.”

Polish_20210517_071158713.jpg

Asked about his decision to continue his hoops career at We Are United, Dunn says he simply needs to continue to get better. “I want to get better, and I want to work with good people - people who are in my corner,” Dunn says.

Since Dunn initially came to The Basketball Movement and began working with Rob Yanders, he says that their similarities have allowed the relationship to strengthen. “He is competitive on-and-off the court, just like me,” Dunn says of Yanders. “He pushes everyone to be the best they can be and still makes sure they continue to work.”

Dunn has been coming to The Basketball Movement and working with Coach Rob long enough that he knows what hard work looks like. The strides he has taken in his time here cannot be understated, and his arrow is pointing straight up.

For more on We Are United’s upcoming inaugural season and all things basketball, keep it locked to The Basketball Movement.

We Are United Prep - Sincere Malone

CHICAGO NATIVE, 6’8 SINCERE MALONE HAS COMMITTED TO PLAYING POST-GRAD HOOPS WITH WE ARE UNITED PREP.

Currently holding offers from Chicago State and Southern U., Sincere Malone is coming from Chicago to We Are United prep in hopes of raising his stock further. Robert Yanders’ new post-grad school will allow Malone to improve rapidly and do just that.

Malone says that school ball ended quickly and mostly felt like a scrimmage environment with no fans being allowed to attend. Making a visit to We Are United, Sincere liked the atmosphere quite a bit, saying that he made his mind up on the spot.

“It is a family environment,” Malone says. “I feel like I am at home. I know that it will be a good place to hoop and develop.”

Polish_20210516_090646822.jpg

Development, hooping, and family are significant areas of emphasis at We Are United and The Basketball Movement, so we are pleased to hear these words. Development starts early, as Rob Yanders is putting his recruits through rigorous workouts already. “I thought IU was in shape before I came here,” Malone told Yanders after a recent workout. Yanders’ patented toughness can mold players in a hurry if they have the correct mindset.

“He’s a hard-knock coach,” Malone says of Yanders. “He knows what it takes to get to the next level. I am self-motivated, but everyone can use that extra voice in their ear. He’ll give me that edge.”

Sincere says that this summer, he will spend his time striving to improve his athleticism, shooting, and rebounding. He also notes that he has work to do to become a better off-ball player, slashing and cutting. With We Are United using The Basketball Movement as its home base, he will get plenty of opportunities to improve every aspect of his game.

Keep an eye out as we highlight more players committed to We Are United and keep it locked to The Basketball Movement for news, player updates, and more.

We Are United Prep - John Lovelace Jr.

Milwaukee native 6’8 John Lovelace Jr. has committed to playing post-grad hoops with We Are United Prep.

Robert Yanders’ new prep school, We Are United, is set to have its inaugural hoops season this fall. Commitments are heating up, including 6’8 John Lovelace Jr. out of Milwaukee, WI.

Lovelace Jr. already boasts offers from Mizzou, DePaul, Western Illinois, and Grambling State. He has received interest from Wyoming and Illinois as well, and his stock is on the rise.

Polish_20210515_171654872.jpg

Lovelace Jr.’s high school coach, Jose Winston, was the connection with Rob Yanders. Coach Winston explained to John that he and Rob would be an excellent fit. “Rob is a great guy,” Lovelace says. “I like that he’ll push me and expects everybody to work hard. He treats the 15th guy like he treats the best players.”

With professional aspirations, Lovelace Jr. knows he has plenty to work on to make his NBA dream a reality. “I’ve been pushing myself in practice ‘til I can’t go anymore,” Lovelace says. “I’ve been working on my athleticism, conditioning, ball-handling, shooting, and creating plays on both sides. I always try to guard the best player too.”

John says that this seems like a great area, and he seems ready to go to work this fall. He says that he is prepared to be pushed, which is music to Rob Yanders’ ears.

“I think the world of John,” says Yanders. “It’s always good to have guys here from where I’m from. The pieces are coming together and the talent level of We Are United is going to be very, very high.”

Stay tuned for more from We Are United and The Basketball Movement.

HOF enshrinement: Duncan, Garnett, and Bryant

Saturday, May 15th, marks the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement for Time Duncan, Kevin, Garnett, and the late Kobe Bryant.

The basketball world will be remembering an important era of hoops this weekend as The Big Fundamental, The Big Ticket, and The Black Mamba enter the hoop hall and cement their basketball legacies. Each player had legendary careers and will be looked back on as some of the greatest ever at their respected positions.

Of course, the passing of Kobe Bryant will add a somber note to the event. Gone too soon, the loss of Kobe and his daughter Gigi shook the world, and things are still not quite the same. Each player will get their due recognition, but Kobe and his family will be showered with love and remembrance through it all.

Bryant came right out of high school and spent his entire career as a Las Angeles Laker. He holds multiple team records, an impressive feat, playing for one of the Association’s most storied franchises.

From his unstoppable tandem with Shaquille O’Neal to his 60-point final game, Bryant’s competitiveness and pursuit of greatness were apparent at all times. His philanthropy, what he meant to one of the biggest cities in the USA, and now his induction into the Hall of Fame will ensure that his memory will not fade.

Another player that spent his entire career with one team, Tim Duncan retired as one of the winningest players in history. Never having a losing record and winning championships as early as 1999 and as late as 2014, Duncan was dominant.

Perhaps one of the greatest team players and winners since Bill Russell, Duncan is regarded by many as the greatest power forward of all time. No flash, none of the teeth-gritting or fire that we see from Bryant or Garnett, but an undeniable legacy for his sustained dominance on both ends of the floor.

Kevin Garnett spent his first 12 seasons in Minnesota, amassing nearly all team records in the process (almost all of which still stand). He was a revolutionary player, stretching the floor and using his quickness to torch opposing big men. What he lacked in power was moot, as his body control and ferocious demeanor meant he could punish teams inside as well.

When he went to play for Boston during the summer of 2007, he finally paired with fellow All-Stars that allowed him to exist as a defensive anchor and clutch third option on offense. His numbers went down, but his terrifying, competitive nature remained. He was an integral part of a memorable championship squad, cementing his Hall of Fame status.

The rest of the inductees per NBA.com: “…four-time National Coach of the Year Eddie Sutton, two-time NBA Champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, 10-time WNBA All-Star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings, three-time NCAA National Championship Coach of Baylor Kim Mulkey, five-time Division II National Coach of the Year Barbara Stevens and longtime FIBA executive Patrick Baumann.”

Focus on strengths - Insulate weaknesses

You know what you are good at, and you know what needs work. Which is more deserving of attention?

As a player, unless you are blinded by supreme confidence, you are aware that you are not perfect. Perhaps you have never been the best shooter, or maybe you are an undersized post player. You also know where you shine on the court or in the locker room.

With something like basketball, it is easy to get caught up in the areas that need improvement. This is not always a bad thing; there are always opportunities to elevate skill level but do not also forget to focus on the strengths that set you apart.

Players like Shaquille O’Neal and DeAndre Jordan have been mercilessly criticized for their free-throw shooting woes. They are also heavily applauded - Shaq was an NBA MVP, and DeAndre Jordan was 1st team all-NBA with the Clippers. Do you see where we are heading with this?

Focus on what sets you apart

Shaq was not a great free throw shooter, but it did not matter because he was so dominant in other facets of the game.

If you are a great shooter, keep working on shooting. Never entirely ignore any aspect of the sport, but stay sharp and keep improving even your best qualities. The all-time great shooters were not content with being decent. They still practiced shooting every single day. 

Even if you are hyper-focused on strengths, do not forget:

Insulate weaknesses to make sure you do not fall behind

Just because you are focused on what sets you apart does not mean you can ignore the other aspects of the game. You can become a great shooter, but coaches will be hesitant to play you if you never bothered to work on defense.

Not everyone can be fast. Stay in shape and keep your conditioning at the best level you can, but do not sweat it too much if you struggle to improve foot speed. Focus instead on footwork and body positioning to insulate this weakness. Then, get right back to focusing on what sets you apart.

Great rebounders practice rebounding. Glue guys focus on defense and ball movement. Shooters get up hundreds of shots. Be a well-rounded player, but make sure your best skills are kept the sharpest for your team.

Make sure to keep up with more on the great game of basketball here at The Basketball Movement.

Tracking interest, offers, and commitments

In what has likely been the strangest recruiting and scouting year ever, The Basketball Movement is keeping you up-to-speed on our athletes.

Different athletes naturally have different goals, all of which are respected at The Basketball Movement. Some young players just want to get a feel for the game, some may want to crack the varsity squad, and others may have dreams of going pro. While we work with players from every stage of the game, we have recently been fortunate to be a part of a large wave of high school players committing to play NCAA basketball.

Every player is responsible for their own destiny, so work with The Basketball Movement will only take individuals as far as they will let it. We are confident in saying that we know what it takes to help any player reach their next level if they let us.

Recently, many athletes that work with The Basketball Movement (most of which also participate in Yanders Law AAU basketball) have received offers to play Division 1 hoops. Some have already accepted those offers, and others are still deciding as they continue to elevate their level of play.

We track offers and commitments of our players on our social media platforms, so make sure that you are following The Basketball Movement.

Despite a challenging year for scouting and recruitment, this has been the strongest crop of young local talent in recent memory. Some players are choosing to reclassify and wait for more exposure as they continue to develop. Many of those players have committed to attending the new prep school, We Are United, this fall (more on that later).

For any parents or players - let us know if we are missing anything also. If you frequent The Basketball Movement or are part of #LawNation, DM us or shoot an email to basketballmovement@yahoo.com to tell us about any recruiting news you think we should know about.

In addition to news about recruitment, The Basketball Movement has been pumping out player highlights, news, and more on our social media sites. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as we monitor all of the movement!

One-on-One with Lyla, Ella, Ruthie, and Riley

The Basketball Movement catches up with some of our favorite ladies following the conclusion of their high school seasons.

The Basketball Movement’s affiliate AAU program, Yanders Law has helped some of the area’s finest hoopers elevate their game beyond what the competition of Southwest Missouri may otherwise allow. Playing for Yanders Law and working out right here at The Basketball Movement allows for bonds to be built and a competitive edge to be sharpened.

We caught up with a few girls that have been staples of the Yanders Law program as well as gym rats of The Basketball Movement to see how things are going with school ball in the rear-view for a while.

Lyla Watson, Ozark (Jr.)

With her junior season at Ozark completed, Lyla Watson is ready for the next chapter. “It wasn’t the best season,” Watson says. “ I had some mental battles for sure, but I overcame them by the end. I am really ready for summer ball and then my senior season.”

Asked what she will be focusing on this offseason, Lyla says that she wants to focus on being more than a shooter. “I need to focus on a drive-first mentality and work on aggression,” Watson says. “I know that I can shoot the ball, but I need to keep focusing on all aspects. I am strong and I need to take advantage of that.”

Lyla is “extremely confident” in her shot, but her drive on the defensive end is what can turn the tides of a game even when shots are not falling. “I love the satisfaction of locking someone up,” Watson says. “Stuff like forcing five-second calls - it motivates me. That is what fuels my offense.”

Her time with Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement has transcended beyond hoops. In Lyla’s eyes, it is all like family.

“They have given me confidence and hope,” Watson says. “They have seen me and believed in me all along. It is so much more than a gym. I’ve learned how to work hard here and never give up. I couldn’t even shoot a right-handed layup when I started - they get credit for everything.”

From winning the Nike Tournament of Champions in Chicago to teaching Coach Rob the newest dance moves, Lyla’s time with us has definitely been mutually beneficial and we are so excited to see where she goes from here.

Ella Lippelman, Springfield Catholic (Sr.)

Having finished what she considers her best team and individual season, Ella Lippelman has wrapped up a great high school career. However - she is not finished yet.

Ella committed to continuing her academic and athletic career at Colorado College last August and is ready for the next step. In fact, she was in our gym the day after her season ended. “It is a weird feeling,” Lippelman says of her high school career being over. “The other girls (at The Basketball Movement) still have another year. I’m excited for what’s to come.”

When asked why she selected Colorado College, she pointed out that the school and the program checked all of her boxes. “For me, it has everything I’ve wanted,” Lippelman says. “Academics is so important and it is one of the top liberal arts schools. The coaches are nice and supportive and honestly remind me of Rob (Yanders) and The Basketball Movement. I wanted to feel supported and invested in.”

A part of Yanders Law since 6th grade, Ella has had the chance to be around coaches and trainers that set great examples. “They really care and that makes them different,” Lippelman says. “They will push you every single time until you can’t move - slacking off is not allowed. I wasn’t very good when I started, but here I have improved every area of my game.”

“Practices prepare you for game situations. Basketball IQ has been one of my biggest takeaways. Beyond that, they are as awesome at being there for you as a person as a player. If I ever needed anything, I know they’d be there.”

As she ramps up lifting and prepares her conditioning for playing at a higher altitude, Ella is not done with The Basketball Movement. She will remain a regular through school and be here most mornings over the summer in preparation. When she finds time though, Rob and Craig are going to need those Colorado College T-shirts.

Ruthie Brown, Clever (Jr.)

Having wrapped up her junior season with Clever, Ruthie Brown says that he feels that she still has unfinished business. “It was a bit of a rough season,” Brown says. “I’ll definitely be making up for that next year and working extra hard this summer.”

Brown is already focusing on what she needs to work on to put her team in a better position next year. She will get plenty of opportunities to do so while playing AAU ball with Yanders Law this summer. “I’m going to focus on being more aggressive,” Brown says." “Playing at a higher tempo and getting stronger inside.”

Ruthie has been a member of #LawNation since about 5th grade and says she has come a long way personally in addition to her improvement on the court. “When I started, I didn’t really talk to anyone, didn’t know how to play,” Brown recalls. “Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement have completely built up my confidence and transformed my play. It’s like a family.”

Also a member of the team that won the national Nike Tournament of Champions, Ruthie is has been a cornerstone of the Yanders Law program over the years. Playing with many of the same girls for a long time, dinners and experiences on road trips, competing, and winning are all a part of what has made her time with the program special.

Already equipped with the needed work ethic, we are pleased to have been able to provide the tools to help Ruthie along her journey. She is a highly versatile player and absolutely has what it takes to help a team at the next level.

Riley Arnold, Blue Eye (Jr.)

Coming off of a third-place finish in Missouri Class 2, Riley Arnold and her Blue Eye teammates are feeling good. Not many teams get to end their season on a win. It wasn’t first though, and Arnold will be back again next season. “With the tie for third the last year, this means we’ve done it back-to-back,” Arnold says. “We will hopefully be back again next year.”

To make that happen, Riley will be spending the offseason working on everything that goes into being a floor general. “I’ll be focusing on continuing to improve my ball-handling and point guard skills,” Arnold says. “All of that will improve getting to play with Yanders Law as well.”

“(Yanders Law) is a really hard-working club,” Arnold says. “It has taught me a lot about basketball and life honestly. Always being pushed hard has helped me to develop my skills. Every workout I’ve been through here has been challenging and I’m always ready for the next.”

Riley is also active in cross country, track, and volleyball. Whatever path she chooses to pursue, coaches should know that she works hard, is aggressive, always fights to win, and has leadership qualities that are not easily taught.

Playing time - A basketball balancing act

Year after year, playing time is one of the top issues on the minds of players (and their families).

Whether it is justified or not, many players find themselves not getting the time on the court they desire. There are situations in which it comes down to coach oversights, preferences, or bias. Almost always though, a player can increase their playing time by stepping up their game.

“I don’t complain about playing time. My job is to play so well the coach can’t sit me.”
— Shane Battier

All of the practice and effort that goes into basketball comes together in games, so that is why it can be so frustrating to not get many minutes - if any at all. No matter the reason for the limited minutes, the frustration is understandable.

That being said, many of your minutes are truly up to you. A coach controls substitutions, but you control your abilities. In a game situation, a coach’s mind is going 100 miles per hour. Many of their decisions are based on split-second instinct. They go to players and schemes that they are comfortable with and make sense in specific situations.

During your time on the court, time in practice, and even time off the court, present your best self to your coach. Get noticed by your play and demeanor - this will place you more prominently in your coach’s mind. Naturally, this will pay off when those split-second decisions happen in games.

The best thing you can do to increase playing time is simple - step up your game. Just practicing with your team is not going to separate you from the pack. The most improvement often happens in the offseason.

Not only getting up shots but going through basketball-specific workouts like those offered by The Basketball Movement are the kind of thing that separates a team’s best players from the rest.

It can be tough to dig yourself out of the hole that is the bench, so it will take patience and determination. Overcoming adversity is something else that helps to separate the strongest from the pack, however. It is a challenge worth taking on if you are serious about getting more minutes.

Parents - It can be tough to accept sometimes, but this isn’t your battle. Coaching decisions are not yours to make and you must understand that you have blind spots when it comes to your own boys and girls. If coaching actions seem abusive in any way, it is of course time to step up. With issues such as playing time, however, just support your children and be willing to help them in any way possible.

As mentioned, The Basketball Movement is a tremendous resource in the Midwest for scenarios just like these. If a player is serious about improving in a hurry, The Basketball Movement is the perfect place to start at any level of the game.

Remember you can contact us anytime here!

Cam Liggins (2022) continues to dominate

Over the last few weeks, 2022 guard, Cameron Liggins has been lighting up the competition and opening eyes around the country.

6 foot 4 athletic wing, Cameron Liggins just finished up dropping a 40-piece on a Nike NYBL squad. If anyone is surprised, they have not been paying attention. Liggins has had big games this weekend against Illinois Wolves, All Ohio, and then the 40 point, 15 rebound game against Team Thad.

Cam Liggins has a great body for a perimeter player. He can drill the three, runs well, and has become a terrific downhill attacker.

He currently holds an offer from Western Illinois. Liggins has previously received interest from Oklahoma State, Montana State, and Texas State, but his Yanders Law coach, Rob Yanders has been taking calls from several new coaches this weekend following his impressive performances.

Liggins is presently slated to attend We Are United Prep this fall. His stock had been rising but is likely to spike with his current level of play. Stay tuned!

Around the NBA: Final stretch

With the 2020-21 NBA regular season winding down, the playoff picture should be getting clearer. But is it?

For the past couple of months, The Basketball Movement has been keeping running power rankings for the top 15 teams in the NBA. This list is updated at least every few weeks over on our NBA page and the most recent iteration can also be found below. The NBA exemplifies the pinnacle of the sport and we try to help keep you up to date.

Many teams are sitting around 16 remaining games in a regular season that has been shortened to 72 games total. At this point, the cream has largely risen to the top, but with close records and a new “play-in tournament,” it remains difficult to determine which contenders will be making noise.

How the play-in tournament will work is explained in the below NBA tweet:

Got that? May 18th will be here before we know it. Below we break down where teams currently stand according to The Basketball Movement:

1. Phoenix Suns (40-16)

Edging out the Clippers in the win/losses column means edging out the Clippers in our standings. These rankings have proven volatile over the weeks, but Phoenix has been surprisingly constant. In their best season since the Steve Nash days, Chris Paul’s veteran leadership has shown up more on defense than offense, balancing out a talented team. The question now is: will their bubble experience translate to more traditional playoffs?

2. Los Angeles Clippers (40-19)

The LA Clippers we see today are the Clippers we should have been seeing all season. With a chip on their shoulder after last years’ playoffs, it took a while for the team to show the necessary fire to get back. Perhaps some of that fire left with Montrezl Harrell in the offseason. Regardless, the Clips are having one of their best stretches of the season and have a decent chance of claiming the top spot in the West as the Jazz slow their pace.

3. Utah Jazz (42-15)

An Eastern Conference team would look pretty here, but holding onto the best record in the NBA means something. Utah has recently sustained injuries to key players, one of which being leading scorer Donovan Mitchell. Despite odds, they keep chugging along with the most wins in the association, though that margin is slowly shrinking.

4. Philadelphia 76ers (39-17)

Is “The Process” the MVP? Joel Embiid is back in a big way from his injury and has not lost one dominant step. The most telling part of the Sixers story recently is how the team played without him. Ben Simmons paced his squad on both ends of the floor and did more than keep his team afloat - Philly is currently the top seed in the East (though not by much).

5. Brooklyn Nets (38-19)

How do teams game plan for the Brooklyn Nets? Kyrie Irving usually decides to play, so there is an impossible-to-stop 30 points. Kevin Durant hops on and off the injury report, so there may or may not be 30 points. James Harden is likely returning from his injury soon, so there may be one of the league’s most dominant playmakers. Throughout their 30+ starting lineup changes, the Nets maintain a strong record at 38-19. If all the pieces come together - look out.

6. Denver Nuggets (36-20)

Acquiring Aaron Gordon for Gary Harris is looking like an excellent move for Denver. Gordon provides dependable effort and athleticism, and his arrival has not detracted from stellar play by Michael Porter Jr. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Jamal Murry, a star in last year’s playoffs, is out for the year with an injury. Keep an eye out for our guy Monte Morris to step up and help keep this squad afloat out west.

7. Los Angeles Lakers (35-22)

The defending champs have managed to stay competitive in the absence of injured stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, which is all they could have hoped for. The defense has remained formidable, so with LeBron nearing a return, LA will be right back in the saddle as a championship contender soon enough. 

8. Milwaukee Bucks (35-21)

Milwaukee has been playing with the appearance of complacency at times this season, which is a bad sign for a team without a Finals appearance with All-Stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. The defense is not what it was in previous seasons, but this team will indeed be judged by playoff success. With Antetokounmpo returning from a 6-game injury absence, the Bucks will look to build traction in this final stretch to prove they still belong at the top in the East.

9. Boston Celtics (31-26)

Finally playing the way we expected them to, Boston is currently enjoying a nice run, and Kemba Walker is looking like his old self. With the continued excellence of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics’ core has the looks of a contender again. The C’s have had an excess of close games lately, but have proven themselves to have the clutch gene that it takes to get by top teams.

10. Atlanta Hawks (31-26)

Still rolling since their coaching change, the Atlanta Hawks continue to score with the best of them. Hampered by suspect defense and turnover issues, they will be getting John Collins back after a 6-game absence and will look to get right on D. Trae Young has looked more like the breakout star from last year, and the bench is heating up. Atlanta will make a fun playoff team to watch, but can they be consistent enough to take a seven-game series?

11. New York Knicks (31-27)

Still here. Don’t look now, but the Knicks are, for the first time in a long time, for real. Julius Randle continues to prove that his All-Star bid was no fluke, and the supporting cast is not messing around either. It has been years since we have seen this kind of fire from a Knicks squad. After so many seasons of going through the motions, this has to feel good for New York fans. They have a difficult remaining schedule, so we will know if they are truly playoff-ready.

12. Portland Trailblazers (32-24)

A hamstring issue for Damien Lillard is what you must know first and foremost about the current state of the Trailblazers. With CJ McCollum still trying to work into a consistent groove following his own injury, a brutal upcoming schedule could potentially throw the Blazers off the playoff trail and open the play-in window. If the offense can hang in there until Lillard returns, they should be alright.

13. Dallas Mavericks (30-26)

Needing a lucky Luka Doncic game-winner to snap a recent skid, the Mavericks have not looked great. With Lillard banged up, the Blazers may leave the door open for Dallas to escape the dreaded play-in tournament, but will they seize the opportunity? The Mavs’ upcoming schedule is soft unless LeBron hurries back for LA, but the time to lock in for Dallas is now if they want to contend.

14. Memphis Grizzlies (29-26)

Absent from these rankings for some time, Memphis recently passed the Spurs and Warriors and is clinging to the eighth seed in the West. With Ja Morant making shots, Grayson Allen emerging as a sharpshooter, and Jaren Jackson Jr. due to return soon, Memphis may be a tough out in the playoffs if they can hold on. With some Western Conference rivals on the docket in the coming weeks, we may find out sooner than later.

15. Miami Heat (29-28)

With San Antonio slipping and Steph Curry just keeping Golden State above water, the reigning Eastern Conference champs round out our rankings. With a relatively soft upcoming schedule, the Heat feel like a team that is establishing internal momentum, despite just being above .500 in the win/loss column. Jimmy Butler is a constant, and Bam Adebayo has had confidence-building moments of late. Look for the Heat to creep up the standings over the remaining stretch of the regular season.

Keep checking back here and follow us on Twitter as we near the play-in tournament then the official playoffs, which should look more traditional compared to last season’s bubble.

Passing: Open teammates vs. Friends

Basketball is a fast-paced sport with decisions that have to be made in an instant. Always strive to make the best pass no matter who the recipient.

The sport of basketball is a great thing for friendship development. It allows new friendships to be formed and old friendships to be strengthened. However, it is not a given that you will always get along with your teammates.

Teamwork is very important, so if there is a rift in the relationship between yourself and a teammate, you must do whatever you can to mend it. In the meantime, you're still going to need to be willing to give them the ball if it puts your team in the ideal situation on the floor.

Picture this: Your close friend is a simple pass away behind the three-point line, but they may not be able to get their shot off before the defense closes. Below the basket, a teammate you don't always get along with has slipped his/her defender and is wide open. Who deserves the ball?

I think you already see where this is going. You must put your personal feelings aside for the betterment of the team. The best pass and the best decisions must be attempted at all times if you want to be on a successful, winning squad. Again, if there is an issue between yourself and a teammate, the best thing to do is to try and mend the relationship before a game scenario.

“The most important measure of how good a game I played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.”
— Bill Russell

Understanding your teammate's skillset

Take the above situation and remember that there are other aspects of the game that must be considered. Maybe your friend is the best scoring option on the team. Maybe the open player under the basket hasn't made a left-handed layup in all the years that you have played together.

The point is, we aren't telling you to make a point to deliver the ball to someone just to "extend an olive branch". Always make the best basketball decision. If your friend is the most efficient scorer: feed him or her the rock. If someone you don't get along with is the most efficient scorer: feed him or her the rock.

It is not always easy, especially in such a fast-paced game, but do your best to not let your prejudices affect your decisions. If you are playing hard, keeping your head up, and being a willing passer, the game will come to you and you'll likely make the right call.

“To “play the right way” means play unselfishly, respect other’s achievements, play hard, fulfill your role.”
— Gregg Popovich

This line of thinking is important in other team sports such as football and volleyball and even in the workplace. Constantly have a team-first mentality.

For more on being a better teammate as well as skill development and more, keep scrolling through our blog or reach out to us here. The Basketball Movement is all about the sport we all love but is also passionate about developing better teammates and people. Hit us up!

NY2LA Swish N Dish Spring Warm-Up

The Basketball Movement’s affiliate AAU program, Yanders Law is among premier high school talent at NY2LA’s Swish N Dish.

When Robert Yanders founded the Yanders Law AAU basketball program, he envisioned his teams playing at events like NY2LA’s Swish and Dish Spring Warm-Up. “No doubt, it is the best independent league in the country,” Yanders says. “We are beyond excited to be a part of it.”

Yanders Law boys and girls teams have been active with NY2LA for years, but the Swish N Dish has stepped up more than ever in 2021. “To have 30 to 40 top-100 guys here in one weekend is amazing,” Yanders says. “Curro has done it again.”

Antonio Curro is the Swish N Dish event director and is instrumental in keeping NY2LA humming as one of the top national grassroots organizations.

“I’ve known him for probably 12 years or so,” Yanders says of Curro. “He is professional, he cares about the players, and he is one of the best in the business. We are excited to be a part of what he does once again. We are putting our guys in a position to play the best of the best.”

The amount of talent in the Swish N Dish is off the charts in 2021. This past weekend alone, Yanders Law athletes faced off against 16 players with power 5 collegiate offers. Top players like Cam Kroft, Ausar Thompson (ranked #36 nationally), Amen Thompson (#34), Jalen Washington (#12), Andre Casey Jr. (#18), and Nick Martinelli faced off with Yanders Law Basketball over the weekend’s three games.

Swish N Dish includes EYBL squads Brad Beal Elite, EG 10, High Major AZ, Mac Irvin Fire, Meanstreets, Phenom University, Illinois Wolves… many national, shoe-sponsored brands.

Yanders Law brings plenty of talent as well. Some big names recently graduated from the program, but some of the area’s best remain.

Logan Applegate holds offers from SIUE and Texas St. and has drawn interest from Drexel, Belmont, and Chicago Loyola. Zach Howell also holds an offer from SIUE and has heard from Lipscomb, Mizzou, and Purdue. Jonathan Dunn has heard from Mizzou, Iowa State, Maryland, Montana State, Purdue.. and more to come. Kanon Gipson has heard from UW Milwaukee and Lipscomb.

Applegate, Dunn, and Gipson are all heading to We Are United this fall - Rob Yanders’ new post-grad prep school. This core is going to continue to grow and undoubtedly develop into impactful D1 collegiate athletes.

If you haven’t already, make sure you are following us on Instagram and Twitter. Part of what we provide for athletes that we work with is media exposure. We are proud of our media team, coaches, players, parents, and everyone else that makes these events possible. Follow the movement and check out what’s good!

NCAA March Madness: Final Four preview

After taking a year off, March Madness is back in a big way and we are already down to the Final Four.

The 2021 NCAA March Madness tournament has been different this year, all taking place in or around Indianapolis. The national pandemic has reared its ugly head a few times, but overall, things have gone smoothly. About any way you slice it, this has still been an incredible stretch of hoops.

One of March Madness's most exciting aspects is getting to watch underdogs go out and prove themselves against the best teams. The upsets started early and no brackets escaped unscathed.

UCLA is no stranger to March Madness, but they are playing the part of the underdog this season. Starting their tournament having to win one of the “First Four” games, UCLA (11-seed) is a talented squad that has battle the whole way.

On the other side, Houston is a more unfamiliar program than the others that remain. To the casual observer, they would be big underdogs as well. Houston is a 2-seed for a reason. Their consistency and defensive aggression have put pressure on all levels of opponents this season and have led to a 28 and 3 record.

Unfortunately for both of the above squads, for all of their success, the trials are far from over.

Awaiting Houston is Baylor (1-seed), who looks as strong now as they have all year. For most of the NCAA season, if you had to pick the two teams most likely to make the finals it would be Baylor and… the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Gonzaga (1-seed) was the overall favorite heading into March Madness and they have done absolutely nothing to cast doubt on that expectation.

Having rolled through each of their opponents to this point, Gonzaga just needs to continue to play within themselves and not get overconfident, even though it feels a bit like a Baylor-Gonzaga championship has been in the making all year.

This is still March Madness and we have seen a few wild happenings in the big dance. Nothing is set in stone and Houston’s consistency or UCLA’s underrated talent and scrappy defense could still win the day.

Houston and Baylor tip-off Saturday (4/3) at 4:14 pm CT (don’t ask us why) on CBS.

UCLA and Gonzaga go head-to-head right after at 7:34 pm CT on CBS.

Women’s Final Four

The table is set for the lady’s Final Four as well with three 1-seeds advancing and some unsurprising programs hoping to build on their already impressive histories.

UConn (1-seed) plays Arizona (3-seed) Friday (4/2) at 8:30 pm on ESPN. With a coaching staff that has been here time and time again and the AP Player of the Year, freshman Paige Bueckers, the Huskies suddenly find themselves as national title favorites once more. Arizona must find a way to rattle Bueckers or they may need to keep the bus running.

South Carolina (1-seed) and Stanford (1-seed) face off Friday (4/2) at 5:00 pm. This will be an epic showdown between teams that have been powerhouses again this year. Stanford was the team that finally put an end to Missouri State’s great season and will likely be favorited in this one. Their talent and size will be tough to overcome, though the Gamecocks defense is elite. It will be a great battle.

Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement as we follow the action and keep you up to speed. Your bracket may look ugly, but there is plenty of beautiful basketball on deck.

The Future is Yours camp is underway

Night one of The Future is Yours is starting off the way you may expect at this point: with fire.

At The Basketball Movement, things are always done in the same gear. We pack the most into every athlete’s time with us by going full throttle at all times. Whether it is group drills mirroring in-game scenarios or doing some 1-on-1 king of the court, the intensity and clear emphasis on competition remain.

This is not The Basketball Movement Invitational - our camp for elite high school talent. The Future is Yours is a camp for middle school - 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade players. Do not think for a second this means players won’t be pushed to the limit.

We don’t discriminate. If you lace up and step on our courts, you are a hooper and we will treat you like we treat all hoopers. We will work you hard and make sure that you are put in positions to get better. We are excited to get started.

Night one begins with some 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 game action and competitive drills to determine who is here to bring the fire and who isn’t. We will use that info when forming teams for games later in the weekend.

The highlights of the night will be a 3-point competition and king of the court games. Much like it does at our high school camp, we anticipate king of the court establishing rivalries, expectations, and the tone for the whole weekend. This 1-on-1 drill has become a favorite at The Basketball Movement.

We already have players stepping up to the plate, naming guys they want a piece of. This is going to be good.

We will be keeping you updated with competition winners and standouts and will be filling our social media platforms up with photos and highlights from all the action. Stay tuned!

NCAA March Madness: First round recap

The first round of the men’s 2021 NCAA Tournament has concluded and the madness is certainly underway.

Dominant performances, upsets, Cinderella stories, drama, and hungry young hoopers; this is why we watch and this is what we are being treated to already. The men’s 2021 NCAA March Madness Tournament is underway and the first round did not disappoint.

Part of the “madness” is due to the sheer number of contests being played, especially in the early rounds. That is certainly part of the fun. The other part comes from dramatic finishes and surprising upsets - we got those too. In fact, this is the first time that four teams seeded 13th or worse are moving on to play in the Round of 32.

In 2018, Virginia became the first 1-seed to lose in the first round, dropping their game to UMBC. This year was not that bad, though the 4-seed Cavaliers did make an early exit with a loss to 13-seed Ohio.

A bigger upset came in the form of Abilene Christian (14-seed) toppling a Texas team (3-seed) that was supposed to lead the Longhorns back to basketball prominence. Instead, it will be North Texas representing the Lone Star State as a 13-seed taking down Purdue (4-seed). (Okay, Texas Tech is also moving on, but we are trying to get in on the drama as well)

The largest upset seeding-wise was 15-seed Oral Roberts knocking off 2-seed Ohio State. Oral Roberts will play Florida and Yanders Law alum, Tyree Applebee tonight at 6:45 pm central time. A few other smaller upsets were sprinkled in for good measure: Rutgers over Clemson, Syracuse over San Diego State, Oregon State over Tennessee, Wisconsin over North Carolina, and Maryland over UConn.

Mizzou lost a heartbreaker to Oklahoma by four and Creighton narrowly escaped a loss to UCSB by one point. Gonzaga remains undefeated and still has the looks of the team to beat in this year’s tourney. Really, all the 1-seeds still look very strong with Iowa (2-seed) and Kansas (3-seed) also playing nice ball.

Oregon moves on to the Round of 32 due to unfortunate circumstances, as VCU had to forfeit due to issues with COVID-19. Tough way to go out for those guys.

That should have you caught up through the first round! Don’t blink, as the Round of 32 starts today. The women’s tourney kicks off as well, so keep an eye out as we update you on both. Keep checking back here as we keep up with the movement!

The Future is Yours invites

The Future is Yours is the premier camp for 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade boys - below are the invites.

Much like The Basketball Movement Invitational camp that we put on for high school players, The Future is Yours is an elite, invite-only camp so that iron can sharpen iron. We were aware of many good players from all over the area, but even more have come forward and made themselves known to us with the camp quickly approaching. The camp runs from Friday, March 26th through Sunday the 28th.

Below is the current list of invitees:

Ryder Rowden-Springfield Catholic MS

Miles Elliott-Ozark MS

Vincent Mhire-Cherokee MS

Griffin Mehrhoff-Spokane MS

Amarre Witham-Pershing MS

Kain McCaskill-Jarrett MS

Owen Weiss-Verona MS

Lucas Peebles-Clever MS

Jacob Harmon-Ozark MS

Cole Hunt-Springfield Catholic MS

JD Layman-Springfield Catholic MS

Carson Smith-Springfield Catholic MS

Henry Haynes-Hickory Hills MS

Samari Pickett-Carver MS

Jaylon Liddell-Nixa MS

Ryker Letterman-Marshfield MS

Cordell Davis-Nixa MS

Tyler Harrell-Greenwood MS

Payton McDaris-Norwood MS

Noah Drake-Norwood MS

Cooper Vaughn-Norwood MS

Carder Kelly-Norwood MS

Sam Kennard-Fair Grove MS

Tegen Curley-Marshfield MS

Bubby McCaskill-Jarrett MS

Collin Clark-Greenwood MS

Bryce Turner-Nixa MS

Skyler Todd-Ash Grove MS

Bear Morrison-Springfield Catholic MS

Damon Snead-Hazelwood Northwest MS

Quincy Williams-Bayless MS

Joseph Aghaeze-Ritenour MS

Keshon Mims-Whitfield MS

Marquel Murray-Cape Central MS

DeAndre Hollis-Southside MS

Oscar Patterson-Hazelwood Northwest MS

Miles Woodfork-Paducah MS

Tayo Rivers-Cape Central MS

Javyn Jenkins-Hazelwood Central MS

Darion Lee-Hazelwood Central MS

Emery Woehrmann-Parkway West MS

Reese Kimrey-Cherokee MS

Brayden Roubidoux-Cherokee MS

Luke Roberts

Quentin Hoffman-Fair Grove MS

Noah Schiman-Nixa MS

Jackson Gamble-Nixa MS

Owen Jump-Cherokee MS

Devon Sanford-Greenwood MS

Hollis Deckard

Jackson Shorter-Cherokee MS

Cohen George-Ozark MS

Dominic Licata-Pershing MS

Sebastian Norman-Pershing MS

Keion-Jarrett MS

Eli Govan-Jarrett MS

Tanner-Pleasant View MS

Lane Meltabarger-Nixa MS

Are we missing someone? If you do not see a name that deserves to be here, it is because we simply do not know the player. There are several who have already scheduled workouts with us that we have added to our list after seeing what they can do.

Contact The Basketball Movement to set something up and prove us wrong for not knowing the name. You need to hurry, as we are just over a week away from kicking things off.

Camp Schedule

Friday: Collect gear, take photos, skill competitions/3-Point contest - 7:00-10:00pm

Saturday: Skill development drills, game-situation readiness - 12:00-2:00pm

Break

Evening games - 5:00-8:00pm

Sunday: Drills/scrimmages, afternoon games - 8:00am-2:00pm

Our media team will be on-site capturing footage in addition to taking high-quality headshots and other images. This is a prime opportunity for hungry young players to gain recognition and begin establishing themselves as elite hoopers.

The weekend will be serious fun. Again, for any additional information, please email us and we will get with you as soon as possible. See you there!

tfiy date.jpg

NCAA: March Madness 2021

After taking a year off due to the pandemic, March Madness is back in 2021.

The 2021 tournament brackets are set for the NCAA’s big dance. March was mad last year for very different reasons than we are used to, but things are on track for a (mostly) normal NCAA tournament this season. The “First Four” games tipoff this Thursday, March 18th.

Multiple men and women’s teams have had to withdraw from conference tournaments due to health concerns including the Missouri State Lady Bears, who are all but a lock to make the tournament and want to keep it that way. Notably, Kansas and Virginia are having COVID issues in the men’s bracket.

Four teams: Louisville, Colorado State, St. Louis, and Mississippi did not make the cut but are on standby, ready to fill in and ensure the bracket starts with a full 68 teams. Any team that must miss essentially forfeits and their opponents move on.

Kansas and/or Virginia missing having to withdraw could have big implications for overall number one seeded Gonzaga, who looms in their same bracket. Gonzaga is a flawless 26-0 heading into the tournament. The other 1-seeds are; Baylor (22-2), Michigan (20-4), and Illinois (23-6).

This also marks the first year since 1976 that neither Duke nor Kentucky made the tournament. Hello, fresh faces.

Beginning March 18th and concluding on April 5th, March Madness is always one of the best stretches of the year for hoops fans and we at The Basketball Movement are excited to have it back. Games will be televised on TBS, CBS, TNT, and truTV. Click the below link to see the full, printable bracket:

Check out the 2021 NCAA March Madness bracket here

Good luck to all the athletes participating (especially those we have had the pleasure of working with)! Basketball is close to a full recovery from a tough year or so. Keep checking back with The Basketball Movement blog as we break down the action round-by-round. Remember to follow us on Twitter for updates as well. Let the games begin!

The Future is Yours Camp

The Basketball Movement presents “The Future is Yours” - an invitational camp for 6th-8th grade boys that are serious about the game.

The Future is Yours in an invite-only camp March 26-28th for 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade boys that have a desire to be elite. Essentially an extension of The Basketball Movement Invitational for high school players, The Future is Yours is a chance for up-and-comers to not only step up their game but make themselves known early.

“Your greatest rival is yourself,” says Robert Yanders, Founder of The Basketball Movement. “We are creating this camp to help elevate young players and help them realize their potential. So much of the game is mental. If these young guys can overcome the hurdle that is themselves, fight through the pain, and overcome, then a star is born.”

Yanders has a storied history of producing star players in his facility and seems to possess the recipe for helping players achieve their goals on-and-off the hardwood.

As mentioned, the camp will be invite-only, as it is intended to take established players and polish them to help them realize just what they are capable of. Iron sharpens iron after all. Names of the invitees will be coming soon.

If you or your athlete feel that a spot in this camp is deserved, take action, as the end of the month is quickly approaching. Email basketballmovement.com to set up a workout and we will let you know afterward if we think the camp is a good fit.

The camp will be serious fun. This is not a basics camp, but one for those that truly have a desire and the will to improve.

The Future is Yours will feature a 3-Point Contest, shooting work, small games, and live games each night with officials, scoreboards, and a real game atmosphere. The Basketball Movement is modeled after NBA facilities and will make athletes feel like pros. Our film crew, writer, and social media team will be in attendance to help the deserving gain exposure and valuable game film and images. Jordan Brand tops, bottoms, and shoes will be provided.

Invitees do not want to miss this. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook as the names drop shortly. Remember that if we do not yet know your name, let us know and we will see what you are made of. Stay tuned!

tfiy date.jpg

Around the NBA: All-Star 2021 recap

In case you missed it: we are dropping a quick recap of the 2021 NBA All-Star events because it was… well, quick.

Instead of the usual full weekend of festivities, the 2021 NBA All-Star events took place in one wild night of elite skill and hoops. The Skills Competition and 3-Point Contest took place first, followed immediately by the All-Star game itself. The Dunk Contest was held at halftime.

The Skills Competition only featured six competitors with two getting a first-round bye. One was Luka Doncic because he was an All-Star starter and expected to log big minutes. The other was Chris Paul because… he’s old. Despite the byes, Luka and CP3 fell to rolling big men, Domantas Sabonis and Nikola Vucevic. Pacers forward Sabonis would go on to take the title.

Next up was the 3-Point Contest, which wound up being one of the best parts of the night. There was a great field of competitors as usual and multiple shooters brought their A-game.

Mike Conley filled in admirably for the injured Devin Booker, putting up great scores in both rounds. However, it would be the unreal shooting of Steph Curry that would take the night. It came down to Curry’s final shot to overtake Conley, which he drained in classic Chef Curry fashion.

As we mentioned, the Dunk Contest was sandwiched between halves of the All-Star game. The contest featured rookies Cassius Stanley and Obi Toppin as well as second-year guard, Anfernee Simons of the Trailblazers.

Not much star-power to be had here, but plenty of bounce. Unfortunately, the dunk contest can be hit-or-miss and this one was a bit more in the miss column. Cassius Stanley looked impressive but played it safe. Toppin and Simons jumped high but did not get the (limited) crowd out of their seats. In the end, Simons won the judge’s favor with his (almost) kissing the rim slam.

Anyone who stopped and took much stock of the Team LeBron and Team Durant rosters had a feeling that it may be a bit lopsided. During the draft of the players, Durant admitted he had no plan and that may have cost his team. Team LeBron won every quarter, racking up big bucks for their charity.

Philadelphia 76ers stars, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons were forced to miss the contest due to last-minute COVID contact tracing. Team Durant could have used MVP candidate Embiid (and Durant himself, who is injured). Team LeBron featured starters: Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic. Unstoppable.

For those that cannot watch the video highlights - the first half featured high flying and deep-bomb fun. Damian Lillard, Steph Curry, and Chris Paul each caught consecutive alley-oop slams and Curry and Lillard also unleashed barrages of deep, deep threes for Team LeBron. First-time All-Star, Zion Williamson mysteriously started the game 0 for 4 on dunks for Team Durant.

The second half featured less exciting sequences and Curry no-look follow-throughs but rounded out the night nicely. Giannis Antetokounmpo went 16 for 16 from the field (including two banked-in threes) en route to MVP honors.

Historically black colleges and universities were recipients of most of the charity and were highlighted all night. The condensed style of the contests was refreshing, though it is up for debate whether or not it was an improvement. The Rising Stars game was certainly missed.

That is a quick rundown! The NBA and basketball organizations at all levels continue to navigate unprecedented circumstances and hopefully, the light at the end of the tunnel is growing near. For more Around the NBA action as well as all things hoops - keep it locked right here!

Around the NBA: All-Star 2021 preview

The Basketball Movement previews the unique 2021 NBA All-Star “weekend.”

As you may expect, the 2021 version of NBA All-Star weekend is unique compared to previous years. The game format remains roughly the same and will encourage the competitive style we saw at the last event. There will still be a Skill Challenge, Three-Point Competition, and Dunk Contest, though everything will be taking place in one wild night.

All-Star 2021 was announced as canceled last November in anticipation of the worsening pandemic. The league and NBA Players Association met and decided that the event could still be held if conducted properly. The event will take place in Atlanta.

In order to minimize exposure, what is normally a three-night event is being crammed into one - Sunday, March 7th on TNT. The Taco Bell Skills Competition and MTN Dew 3-Point Competition will take place right before the game, with the Slam Dunk Contest happening during halftime. You may need to pop two bags of popcorn for this jam-packed evening.

Missing this year is the Rising Stars Game made up of rookie and sophomore players, which always provides a fun look at the league’s future. Less of a bummer is the lack of a celebrity game and NBA Legends Brunch. Our condolences to big fans of those.

The format of the All-Star Game itself will be similar to last year, encouraging healthy competition each quarter. It can be a bit complicated to spell out, so check the below tweet for a breakdown:

Shoutout to the NBA for continuing to honor the legacy of Kobe Bryant, who was an inspiration to so many of the evening’s participants and was taken far too soon.

Another parallel from previous years is the playground-style method of picking teams. Top Western Conference vote-getter, LeBron James will be a team captain and Kevin Durant will represent the East. The captains will take turns selecting first from the pool of starters and then the reserves. See the selections below based on fan voting, player and media votes, and coaches:

Devin Booker has since been selected to replace the injured Anthony Davis and Domantas Sabonis will replace the banged-up Durant.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had been captain representative from the East the last few seasons but Durant takes the throne this year. The draft always makes for interesting TV - you can tune in Thursday, March 4th at 7:00 pm Central on TNT.

UPDATE: Check the below tweets to see who LeBron and Durant selected for their teams. Devin Booker has since sustained an injury and will be replaced by Mike Conley of the Utah Jazz.

Slam Dunk, Three-Point, and Skill Competition participants should be announced soon. The whole league still gets a four-day break, though they are restricted on travel and such per league and NBPA agreed-upon protocols.

UPDATE: Check the below tweets to see the participants in the Dunk, Three-Point, and Skills Competition. Mike Conley will be replacing Booker in the Three-Point Contest as well:

The Basketball Movement will be updating you on Twitter as the fields fill out. We will also be recapping the big night, so keep an eye out right here down the road. This is lined up to be a great evening of hoops - we hope you tune in with us!