Around the NBA: Updated power rankings

This is a reminder to check out The Basketball Movement’s NBA power rankings to see who is the best of the best.

The top hoops league in the world, the National Basketball Association, is a source of talent, inspiration, and entertainment unlike any other. The Basketball Movement closely monitors the NBA so that we can learn from the best. Also, it is damn fun to watch.

Each year, we post power rankings for the top 15 teams and update them every few weeks to help keep you in the loop when it comes to basketball at the highest level.

Records, winning streaks, and injuries to star players are all factors, but teams also need to pass the eye test.

We recently updated our rankings, and the landscape has already changed quite a bit compared to how things were early in the 2021-22 season.

Check out our updated rankings on our NBA page and catch up on what is happening around the NBA. For everything else, keep it locked, as always, to The Basketball Movement.

We Are United hands OTE first loss

Coach Rob Yanders and his We Are United prep team hand OTE their first loss.

In a big weekend for We Are United prep, the team traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to face the impressive ball clubs of Overtime Elite. The squad went 1-1, handing Team Elite their first loss of the season before falling to Team Overtime on the final day.

The Overtime Elite model is designed to churn out top-level players, already paying players a base salary of $100k annually with several making substantially more. For We Are United, in its first season ever, to come in and grab a victory is a massive step for the young prep school.

“We wanted two wins, but we are still excited,” Head Coach Rob Yanders says. “Giving that team its first loss - a team of professional basketball players - that is huge for our program.”

To have the squad performing at a high level in front of NBA scouts and D1 coaches is all anyone involved at We Are United could ask for. This fulfills Coach Yanders’ promise to these players and their families that trusted him and his new school. Yanders feels that his guys stepped up for him as well.

“All of our guys played well and represented our program the way we expect,” Yanders says. “In our first year to be playing against future NBA lottery picks…  that is a great test. The future is bright for our guys.”

Yanders also wants to be sure and thank his coaching staff as well as the fan support that traveled all the way to Georgia. “I also want to give very special thanks to OTE for having us,” Yanders says.

What Overtime has built in Atlanta is impressive, from the overall Overtime Elite structure to the facility itself. See the facility and our guys in action in the below video by OTE!

We Are United vs. Overtime Elite

We Are United prep is in Atlanta, Georgia, to face fierce competition and achieve maximum exposure this weekend.

We Are United is coming on strong in the prep hoops scene and is traveling this weekend to face another young program already producing elite talent.

Overtime Elite was started several years ago from a collaboration between great basketball minds. The board includes names like Carmelo Anthony and Jay Williams, and the coaching staff has multiple former NBA players as well. OTE is described on their website by the below:

“OTE (Overtime Elite) is a transformative new sports league that offers the world’s most talented young basketball players a better pathway to becoming professional athletes and engage and inspire a new generation of fans.”

The brand “Overtime” has been around for a while, covering upcoming stars across the country. Now, they are using their resources to give those players a new avenue along their basketball journeys.

OTE has three teams: Team Overtime, Team OTE, and Team Elite. Tonight (Friday, November 19), We Are United faces off against Team Elite at 6:30 PM Eastern. Tomorrow, they face Team Overtime at 4:30 PM Eastern.

With an already impressive platform, OTE draws national attention, meaning that big college programs and even pro scouts keep a close eye on these games. We are excited for our guys to compete and show what they can do.

For more on OTE, check out some interesting facts here.

Want more We Are United? Follow along on Instagram and Twitter and keep up with the movement!

Spotlight: Trevor Keels and Jeremy Roach

From the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions to playing meaningful minutes for an undefeated Duke squad, Keels and Roach are on the come-up.

Once a year, Southwest Missouri hosts the most heavily-attended high school basketball tournament in the country. The Bass Pro Tournament of Champions hosts some of the top squads from around the nation as well as local standouts. The Basketball Movement is always honored to cover the event, which also means getting to watch and assess the bright young stars.

A few standouts from Paul VI (Va.), Trevor Keels and Jeremy Roach have been able to translate their time in high school to playing big-time minutes for one of the most prominent D1 programs in the nation.

At Duke, Roach (6’2 sophomore guard) and Keels (6’5 freshman guard) are getting to experience legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski in what he has announced to be his final season. The young players are undoubtedly winning the coach’s favor, with strong play through Duke’s first four games.

Keels has games of 10, 18, and most impressively, 25 points against rival Kentucky. Roach now plenty removed from an ACL injury, has games with 10, 14, and 14 while chipping in with assists and excellent rebounding for his size.

Duke is a perennial contender and is looking to have a bounce-back season after uncharacteristically missing the Big Dance last season.

Jeremy Roach and Trevor Keels are looking like big pieces of the puzzle for Duke, and we are excited to see what these young men can do.

For more spotlights, NCAA news, and more, keep it locked to The Basketball Movement.

Big weekend at The Basketball Movement

College signings, We Are United prep’s home opener, and plenty more made for an excellent weekend of hoops.

The Basketball Movement has been a player development hub for years, but this past weekend felt special. Of course, big moments and events frequently happen on our floors, whether it is Angels of the Hardwood, The Basketball Movement Invitational, or even a young player having a breakthrough and making great strides. But, this past weekend felt like a culmination of so much hard work.

For starters, opening things up with our Saturday Clinic always feels good. There is no better way to kick off a weekend than filling the gym with bright-eyed young athletes and coming together to improve and have fun.

This weekend also saw the official college signings for Jonatan Dunn (Missouri State) and Sincere Malone (Eastern Illinois); both have played with Yanders Law and are current We Are United prep athletes.

Not only did these athletes get a nice presentation as they put pen to paper, but they had all of their We Are United teammates with them, emphasizing that unity that we strive for within our facility. Both signings made a fun reminder of what we are all about and how we must strive to celebrate each other’s successes.

We Are United prep also got to host its first-ever home game by going up against Link Year prep. We Are United not only came away with a victory but did it with the kind of balanced attack that coaches can only dream of, and opponents only see in nightmares.

Dunn, Malone, and John Lovelace Jr. all eclipsed the 20-point mark, while almost all of their teammates chipped in with stat lines that would impress in other ways. The most noteworthy stat lines are graphically outlined on We Are United’s Instagram.

In addition to the above, things were broken as always by individual and group workouts. As always, players were improving left and right, serving as the icing on the cake of a fantastic weekend of hoops.

Keep following along, as we are just getting started down here in the basketball Mecca of the Midwest!

We Are United home opener

The highly anticipated home opener for We Are United prep at The Basketball Movement is nearly here.

After months of practices, a slew of intrasquad games, a pair of jamborees, and an invitational tourney, We Are United is ready to host its first home game right here at The Basketball Movement. This Saturday (11/13) at 8:00 PM, you are invited to come check out some of the best prep talent in the area.

We Are United will be taking on what essentially amounts to our neighbors in the prep school world. From right down 65 highway, Link Year prep will be bringing its impressive squad out of Branson, MO.

Being the first season for We Are United, this will be yet another test for Coach Rob Yanders’ squad, as Link has been running its highly successful program for a while, constantly churning out impressive college athletes. The Basketball Movement is honored to host the Link Year Lions.

Having already taken on many impressive squads in the young season, the players for We Are United are excited and up for the challenge.

Seating is first-come-first-served, so show up early, grab a courtside leather seat, and enjoy the fireworks.

You can keep up with the schedule for We Are United here. Also, remember to follow along with the gametime countdown on We Are United’s Twitter and Instagram.

For everything else hoops, you are already in the right place. With NCAA hoops kicking off and the NBA underway, keep checking back with The Basketball Movement for all you need to know about the game you love.

College hoops on the horizon

The Basketball Movement is looking ahead to the 2021-22 college basketball season.

College basketball is nearly back, this time in full force following a strange, pandemic-altered season. The NCAA kicks off November 9th with the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden featuring Duke vs. Kentucky and Kansas vs. Michigan State.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has announced that this will be his final season, and the Blue Devils are hoping to send him out with a bang. Kentucky will be on a mission to end its Final Four drought as well.

As for rankings, Gonzaga has remained on top essentially since the end of last season. They are bringing back an impressive squad in addition to the number one recruit, Chet Holmgren. The defending champs, the Baylor Bears, did not retain as much talent and are expected to drop off a bit.

Below are ESPN’s rankings as of October 11:

  1. Gonzaga Bulldogs

  2. Kansas Jayhawks

  3. UCLA Bruins

  4. Villanova Wildcats

  5. Texas Longhorns

  6. Purdue Boilermakers

  7. Memphis Tigers

  8. Michigan Wolverines

  9. Kentucky Wildcats

  10. Baylor Bears

  11. Duke Blue Devils

  12. Oregon Ducks

  13. Illinois Fighting Illini

  14. Arkansas Razorbacks

  15. Houston Cougars

  16. Alabama Crimson Tide

  17. North Carolina Tar Heels

  18. Tennessee Volunteers

  19. Ohio State Buckeyes

  20. Maryland Terrapins

  21. Florida State Seminoles

  22. Auburn Tigers

  23. UConn Huskies

  24. St. Bonaventure Bonnies

  25. Virginia Cavaliers

As you can see, many familiar names are on the list to begin regular season play. Houston has finally proven to the big media outlets that they are here to stay and the mention of St. Bonaventure is good to see as well. Arkansas and Alabama forging their way into these rankings are interesting too with both schools historically only gaining football attention.

Memphis is viewed as a top 10 team but still will have plenty to prove. They certainly have the talent to do it, now sporting touted recruits, Emoni Bates and Jalen Duren.

Of course, we have our personal favorites as Yanders Law alumni and other friends of The Basketball Movement are scattered on men’s and women’s teams all over the country. Right here in Missouri, we have two players on Mizzou and two for Missouri State that we will be watching excitedly.

Good luck to the young men and women everywhere as another exciting college basketball season nears tipoff. Keep checking back here for news and updates on NCAA hoops as well as everything else from prep to pro.

The definition of "united"

The Basketball Movement has standards and expectations, so it is no surprise that Rob Yanders’ We Are United prep is the same.

Robert Yanders is the founder of The Basketball Movement, the Yanders Law AAU program, and now We Are United prep. Rob conducts himself as a man with a code - one that stands out immediately. He cares about his family, his community, and his players. He expects maximum effort because that is what he provides in return. He loves the game of basketball and is successfully using it to better as many people around him as possible.

We Are United prep allows players who are willing to give maximum effort a chance to elevate their standing within the game of basketball. Not only that, they are given the opportunity to learn, grow, and form a bond with like-minded individuals. That bond is a pillar of the program.

The word “united” has several definitions but certainly adheres to one prevailing theme: made one. To be combined or joined. To be joined together for a common purpose. That is what We Are United is all about.

Initially, players attend an institution such as We Are United prep for personal reasons. They want to raise their stock to continue a more desirable path in their personal basketball journey. However, what may not be immediately apparent, but grows over time, is the realization that this is not a journey they can take alone.

First, Rob Yanders and his staff win their trust - that is why they are here in the first place. Rob and his coaches want to help young players succeed. Players that recognize this are already on their way to understanding how necessary unity is in their hoops career.

Next, as they practice each day, sweat, and grind in the trenches alongside teammates, they begin to see that they are not alone. Every single player at We Are United prep has a desire and the will to improve. In this, they are united. Players that are recognized by Yanders and make it to this level are competitive. They are attending a prep school because they refuse the alternatives of settling on their path. In this, they are united.

These guys want to win. To do this, they must form a cohesive, unselfish team. What was once a group of individuals is now a unit. The common purposes blend into one burning desire under the We Are United banner. The better the team, the better the exposure. The better the exposure, the better odds of completing their individual goals.

This is how success is established. This is how hard work can pay off. This is how WE ARE UNITED.

Avery Arnold college commitment

Avery Arnold of Yanders Law and Blue Eye high school has committed to Lyon College.

A staple of NAIA women’s hoops, Lyon College has landed a tremendous basketball player in Avery Arnold. As she wraps up her time at Blue Eye high school, Arnold has decided to lock in her future as a college hooper in a town only three or so hours away.

Arnold is a Yanders Law alumni who left her mark as a capable scorer and facilitator, but mainly as a lockdown defender. Avery says she knows she can make an impact right away at that end of the floor.

“I will always be the hardest worker,” Arnold says. “Not only on offense, but on defense as well - that is where I excel the most. That winds up playing into my offense too.”

The coaches at Lyon College mentioned that they would like to see her spending time running point. “Point guard would be a new role for me, so that would be different,” Arnold says. “I’ve never been a point guard, but that challenge is what I am looking forward to the most.”

Asked about her decision to commit, Avery points out the excellent tradition, especially over the last ten years or so. She said she liked the coaches and the atmosphere.

College hoops are plenty different from high school, but Avery said her time at The Basketball Movement and playing for Yanders Law should make a big difference. “Rob has helped me a lot, and Craig,” Arnold says. “They would do anything for me despite my busy schedule. They have given me a lot to help me succeed.”

Avery would like to extend a thank you to the whole program. “Rob is so busy, but he took a whole season to coach us,” Arnold says. “Craig too; they traveled with us and took their families… They have devoted their lives to basketball, and I want to thank them for everything.”

Wherever Avery was going to wind up, she was going to have numerous fans at The Basketball Movement. Not to mention a whole Yanders Law family that has her back. She does not need luck, but we wish it anyway as she begins her exciting next chapter!

All-American Jamboree: We Are United

En route to a true test and a big opportunity, the We Are United team is gearing up for the All-American Jamboree in Orlando.

Featuring top prep teams from the United States and Canada, the young men of We Are United are in for a big weekend at the All-American Jamboree in Orlando, Florida.

With around 90 teams and over 200 Division 1 coaches expected onsite, the hustle and bustle of this jamboree will be a needed shock to the system for this squad. The stakes are high, and the We Are United staff expects its players to rise to the occasion. Hard work is a staple at The Basketball Movement, and we will see if it pays off early for We Are United’s promising team.

We Are United’s schedule for the weekend is as follows (in Eastern time):

Oct 15th

2:00 PM vs. Central Pointe White PG

5:15 PM vs. IMG National PG

Oct 16th

12:15 PM vs. Central Pointe National HS

7:50 PM vs. Elite Prep PG

Oct 17th

9:00 AM vs. Coastal Prep Red

The team is traveling today. (In style, of course - check Twitter) After a nice stay in Tenessee, they are on to Florida. There will be plenty of action this weekend, so keep up with We Are United and The Basketball Movement as we pass along everything you need to know. For We Are United’s full schedule: check here.

Stay tuned!

Around the NBA: 2021-22 Preview

Each year, The Basketball Movement breaks down the movers, shakers, and championship contenders around the NBA.

As usual, the National Basketball Association has had an interesting offseason. Also, as usual, nothing matters until the games begin. Fortunately for hoop heads everywhere, that time is finally upon us once more.

Can the Milwaukee Bucks repeat, or will the Nets reign in Kyrie and become the Eastern Conference champs? Are the Suns the next NBA dynasty, or will LeBron or Steph come storming back to claim the Western Conference throne? Let’s dive in.

Eastern Conference

As of this moment, the Eastern Conference has two teams that seem ready for a title run. The Milwaukee Bucks are the defending champs, and their core of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday remain intact. Will the deer be as hungry as last year?

Last season, the Brooklyn Nets were the league’s biggest question mark. This season? The same. The trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving only played six regular-season games together last year and followed it up with injury-plagued playoffs. This year, all eyes are on Kyrie Irving.

Convinced the COVID-19 vaccine is filled with brainwashing nanobots, Irving is currently intelligible to play any games in New York or San Fransisco due to restrictions. Playing for a New York team, you can see the issue. The Nets recently announced that it is all-or-nothing. Irving will be fully with the team or unable to join them at all. Time will tell, but it looks like Irving will miss the 2021-22 NBA season.

Beyond Milwaukee and Brooklyn, several teams may have what it takes, though Miami stands out. The Heat added veteran PG Kyle Lowry while retaining All-Stars Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo as well as Duncan Robinson and Tyler Herro. Miami will be one to watch.

How far can Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown lead the Celtics? After a bit of a disappointing season, Boston will look to rebound, led by their two young stars. Speaking of young stars, the other two potential contenders are Atlanta and New York, who will rely on the continuing development of their young cores.

The Hawks got plenty of experience in last year’s playoffs and are coming back with essentially the same lineup. After getting off to a slow start last season, Trae Young finished strong. However, he will need to take better care of the ball and show continued consistency if the Hawks want to realize their potential.

For the Knicks, Julius Randle returns as the star and has a new running mate in point guard Kemba Walker. If Walker and his backcourt mate Derrick Rose can remain healthy and the young role players like RJ Barrett take strides, they can threaten the top teams.

Ben Simmons seems as likely to remain in Philly as anywhere else now, so the 76ers fate is a bit up in the air. They remain talented but have proven nothing. With Embiid on the floor, though, they can hang with anyone.

Washington lost Westbrook, and Orlando, Detroit, Toronto, and Cleveland are still building. The other interesting teams in the East are Chicago and Charlotte. A healthy LaMelo Ball and Gordon Hayward keep the Hornets entertaining, if not much of a threat at this time.

As for the Bulls, they added All-Star Nikola Vucevic last season, and he seemed to pair nicely with Zach LaVine. Also, having added DeMar DeRozen, Chicago has a proven core and will be one of the more exciting teams in the East this season. But can they get out of the first round with this squad?

Oh, and the Pacers are still a thing. If Caris LeVert and TJ Warren can get healthy, they will be their typical, uninteresting selves. Sorry, Indy.

Western Conference

Phoenix not only made it to the NBA Finals last year, but they kept their roster intact. Chris Paul may be another year closer to retirement, but Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Johnson now have another year of experience, including their deep playoff run. So, is Phoenix still the team to beat out West?

Until someone proves otherwise, the answer is probably yes. Are there teams that could quickly assert their dominance? Big yes?

The king is looking to retake the throne. LeBron James may require a bit more rest than he used to, but the 36-year-old is as dominant as ever. The team’s core is now almost entirely made up of aging stars with Rajon Rondo, Deandre Jordan, Trevor (not a star) Ariza, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, and triple-double machine Russell Westbrook. Hell, Kent Bazemore is 32.

It is no secret that Anthony Davis is the key. When healthy, “The Brow” is one of the most dominant players in the NBA on both ends of the floor. It is also no secret that he struggles with injuries. Interesting as these old fellas may be, they can likely only go as far as Anthony Davis’ health will allow.

Throughout most of the 2020-21 season, the Utah Jazz held the NBA’s best record. We kept them around the top of our rankings for that reason, but we have seen the Jazz perform in the regular season before. The eye test shows us that Rudy Gobert is a dominant pick-and-roll defender and can alter shots at an elite level. Donovan Mitchell is an elite slasher, and much of the roster is built to supplement his strength with three-point shooting. Can the Jazz actually become a contender when it matters, though? Time will tell.

Two seasons without Klay Thompson, two seasons of relative obscurity for the Golden State Warriors. Stephen Curry was back last year, but while his barrages from the parking lot were fun, it did not result in a playoffs appearance. So with Steph, Klay, and Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala back in addition to Andrew Wiggins and a developing James Wiseman… can the Warriors get back to the glory days?

(Sorry that we have to ask so many questions. It is just that, preview or no, the only thing that can tell us what will happen this season is the players and teams themselves. The game speaks for itself; we are just telling you what to look for!)

With issues similar to Utah’s, the Denver Nuggets are caught between being a great team and having meaningful postseasons to show for it. Nikola Jokic won the MVP award last year but had to beat out hobbled versions of Joel Embiid and Kevin Durant to do it. Nevertheless, “The Joker” had a stellar season, nearly averaging a triple-double from the center position.

With Aaron Gordon signed long-term, Michael Porter Jr. developing into a star, and Jamaal Murray and the deep guard roster behind him, the Nuggets are poised to grow. Do not be surprised to find them atop the Western Conference standings.

From here, there is a bit of a drop-off. This is due partly to the health of Kawhi Leonard. Undergoing surgery in July for a partial ACL tear, “The Klaw” will miss potentially all of the season, leaving Paul George to lead the LA Clippers solo. George has done this with success before with the Pacers, though that was seven years ago now. LA may be scrappy, but they may not be contenders this season.

Dallas and Memphis are two other teams that feel just outside of contention status. Luka Doncic is ready to begin an earnest MVP campaign, but the durability of his running mate Kristaps Porzingis remains an issue. As long as Doncic is around, the Mavs will be tough, but his team must rise to the occasion.

As for the Grizzlies, Ja Morant developed nicely last year but must achieve consistency to lead his young team. Jaren Jackson Jr. is healthy and should be a big help in stabilizing the Grizzlies’ approach.

After some offseason questions, Damian Lillard is still in Portland. With a healthy CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, and Norman Powell, the Trailblazers are poised for another exciting playoff exit. Sorry, Dame.

The OKC Thunder are still amidst their lengthy rebuild, which at least has more promise than Minnesota, Sacramento, and Houston, though all have a few interesting young players. The Spurs should be just good enough to miss the playoffs again.

Also likely to miss the playoffs, but perhaps more interesting, are the New Orleans Pelicans. With a budding star like Zion Williamson, the Pelicans will be hard-pressed to keep faith afloat. Brandon Ingram and the addition of Jonas Valenciunas will be big pieces, but New Orleans may need to figure things out quickly.

That’s it! This was a long one for what you may be used to seeing on The Basketball Movement blog. That is because writer Wil Harrington is a passionate NBA fan that does his best to keep track of each team. Give a follow on Twitter, but do not expect deep insight. Only retweets of the most unmissable highlights and sarcastic comments about the most boneheaded player news. The NBA is the most entertaining soap opera in the world but also the most dazzling display of basketball brilliance. So tune in and follow along!

We Are United - Coach Sly Yanders

Associate Head Coach Sylvester “Sly” Yanders is doing his part to have the We Are United team ready to roll.

At last, the first season of We Are United hoops is upon us, and the squad is looking prepared. That preparedness is due in no small part to Associate Head Coach Sly Yanders.

Coach Sly is looking forward to the stiff competition that the team will face, but not at the expense of the moment. Like everyone with roots in The Basketball Movement, Sly relishes the process and loves watching players develop on and off the court.

“What we know we can provide is lifelong relationships as these guys develop as friends and teammates,” Sly says. “We can truly see a team forming. They arrived here as individuals, but we’re starting to see their talent as a unit.”

Sly says that the players are working six days a week, often twice a day on shooting, weights, and of course, school work. “We require the same focus on the court as we do with the books,” Yanders says. “These guys aren’t all used to being on their own, and we are making sure they are held accountable.”

Yanders adds that this ongoing accountability is intended to prepare them not only for next steps in basketball but for life. “All the skills we are developing will help them on their next team,” he says. “We want to be able to guarantee that our guys will be positives on their teams.”

Mental toughness is always something that Coach Sly has strived to form in his players. He is also quick to call out his brother, Head Coach Rob Yanders, being a skill trainer like no other.

“Rob has gone all in, getting these guys ready for anything that may be thrown at them,” Sly says. “Rob’s heavy emphasis on skill development is proven. He can develop players that are willing to get better - that is no secret.”

An ongoing theme in speaking with the We Are United coaching staff is no corners cut. “You make it through here? You are ready to survive at a university,” Sly says. “You are ready for anything.”

Check out the upcoming We Are United schedule here and keep it locked to The Basketball Movement for more inside scoops.

We Are United - Coach AJ Green

A staple trainer of The Basketball Movement, AJ Green is ready for his role as Assistant Coach for We Are United prep.

A trainer for The Basketball Movement for some time now, AJ Green is taking on more responsibility as an Assistant Coach for We Are United. While the breadth of his tasks has expanded, he says that much of the job content remains similar.

“I’m really just making sure that these guys are taken care of,” Green tells The Basketball Movement. “I am just doing my part to make sure that things flow smoothly for everybody else.”

That selfless dedication to the players is a big part of why AJ was named Assistant Coach in the first place.

Green says that things are going well with the team. “We have seen a lot of growth from day one ‘til now,” he says. “There is still a long way for these boys to go, but we have already seen improvements as players as well as young men in general. I’m excited to see where we’ll be when the season officially starts.”

With the players and coaches, many different personalities are coming together at We Are United. Green believes that they will all grow from each other into a well-oiled machine.

“I am just really looking forward to seeing the growth of the team - where they start to where they finish,” Green says. “Any coach wants to see a different team compared to what they started with.”

Coach Green is not a rookie in what he describes as “The Movement culture.” The Basketball Movement is home to We Are United, which means that the tried-and-true philosophies still apply.

“What we bring is not just basketball,” Green says. “As these players go from us to other coaches or even out to the real world, we want people to see more mature young men and women than they would have seen before. In the next few years, we want to make sure these guys are ready for life outside of basketball as well.”

The mission of We Are United shines brightly through Assistant Coach AJ Green. The product everyone will see on the court soon will have his imprint on it, and we are proud of that.

Stay tuned right here for more on We Are United and the world of hoops.

We Are United Prep - Jake Martin

The Basketball Movement recently caught up with We Are United’s man in the middle, Jake Martin.

A seven-foot-one center, Jake Martin is a commanding presence for Robert Yanders’ We Are United Prep. Or at least, that is the goal. The words “seven-footer” are magic in the hoops world. Coach and recruiter ears perk up, opponents double-take, and the word big comes with the territory.

For Jake Martin, size is just one piece of the puzzle as he takes things one step at a time.

A product of the Phenom U AAU club, Martin hails from White Water, Wisconsin (about an hour out of either Milwaukee or Madison). His coach, Jose Winston, is a friend of Yanders going back to high school.

Last year, Martin attended The Basketball Movement Invitational, so he was already familiar with the facility and atmosphere. Once Winston mentioned Rob’s new prep school, Jake gave it a shot.

“I came down and liked it,” Martin says of his visit to We Are United. “Next thing I knew, I was moving down last month.”

Having seen Yanders in action during The Invitational last year was likely helpful in bracing Martin for the intensity of We Are United. “It is tough,” Martin says. “There are definitely times where I am feeling weak and want to quit. But at the same time, I know it is for the best in the long run. I know Rob wants the best for me.”

Currently, Martin says that his focus is on improving in the paint. “I am working on being strong and aggressive,” Martin says. “I want to dominate the post.”

As for the team dynamic, Martin says that things are coming together. “We have 12 new people that have not played together,” Martin says. “We are figuring out roles and finally figuring out each other’s strong suits. By our first game, we will be a pretty good team.”

Asked to describe the atmosphere at We Are United prep, Martin gives a slight shrug. “Not to sound cheesy, but united,” Martin says. “We are all here for the same goal. We are standing up for each other and pushing each other. Making each other the best athletes and also the best humans we can be.”

Stay tuned as We Are United’s inaugural season draws closer!

We Are United schedule, roster, and more

Looking for more information on Robert Yanders’ prep school, We Are United? The Basketball Movement has you covered.

Since announcing his prep school, Rob Yanders has been fielding questions about We Are United. The Basketball Movement and We Are United are in an exciting time, in which we can show as well as we can tell. The team does not have closed practices - anyone is welcome to come marvel at their leisure.

More excitingly, official games will be starting soon enough. The schedule is shown below:

Screenshot 2021-09-28 3.13.48 PM.png

This schedule has been pulled from weareunitedbasketball.com, where you can also find the complete roster, list of coaches, information on the school, and more.

The Basketball Movement has been conducting interviews with a few of the student-athletes of We Are United. Keep clicking around this blog to check them out.

There are more interviews coming as well, highlighted by coaches such as Sly Yanders. So keep an eye out here and across our social media as we cover We Are United and all other movement around the world of hoops.

Around the NBA: Offseason update

No blockbusters to report, but there has still been plenty of action around the NBA.

The NBA has become a year-round hub of basketball entertainment. Even in the offseason, a week does not pass by without the occurrence of noteworthy news (or drama). Over the last 24 hours, for example, we have had both news and drama.

News: JJ Redick has announced his retirement from basketball. After four memorable years at Duke and 15 seasons of NBA hoops, Redick is calling it a career. One of the most prominent college hoopers of the last few decades, Redick’s legacy is bolstered by a pro career in which he showed persistent improvement.

Now, for the drama. Unsurprisingly, yet dramatically nonetheless, Ben Simmons has no intention of making an appearance at the Philadelphia 76ers training camp next week.

Simmons stands to lose substantial amounts of money if the Sixers do not move him during this hiatus. Philly naturally would rather see him moved and have new pieces in place but have less to lose in the short-term than Simmons. An All-NBA defender and All-Star playmaker, Simmons has been knocked hard recently for his lack of offensive development and questionable playoff play. However, he is still a massively talented hooper. This story will continue to develop over the coming weeks.

On to “in case you missed it” news. The Los Angeles Lakers have gotten older yet more experienced and debatably more talented this offseason. They have lost the likes of Dennis Schröder and Montrezl Harrell but have picked up Russell Westbrook and LeBron James’ buddy, Carmelo Anthony. The moves certainly make the team more interesting. But, whether or not it is enough to dethrone the reigning Western Conference Champion Phoenix Suns will be something we must watch in real-time.

Out in the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets employed a similar strategy. The signing of Paul Millsap and the return of LaMarcus Aldridge means more All-Stars (albeit from a while ago). The Aldridge signing came at the expense of The Basketball Movement favorite Alize Johnson. Given his showing as a rebounder and high-motor guy, Johnson quickly found a new home with the Chicago Bulls. (Kill ‘em, Ze)

For better or worse, there is not much other “big” news circulating around the NBA at the moment. Klay Thompson has been reported to have made good rehab progress. The Golden State Warriors need to get their pieces together in a hurry before their stars move past their primes.

The LA Clippers have taken steps towards constructing their new arena within the next several years to further their move out from under the Lakers’ shadow.

New developments? As you may have gathered, writer Wil Harrington is an NBA fan through and through. So stay tuned to The Basketball Movement blog year-round if you even have a passing interest in pro hoops. If there are happenings around the NBA, we will cover it. See you soon!

We Are United Prep - John Lovelace

Another big baller from Milwaukee, John Lovelace Jr., is ready to up his game with We Are United.

Robert Yanders’ Milwaukee connections have paid off in a big way once again, helping We Are United prep to land 6’7” combo forward, John Lovelace Jr., who is looking great with the fall semester underway. Classes have started, and intense practices have been firing on all cylinders. We Are United is looking game-ready with guys like Lovelace ready to roll.

“Classes are going good,” reports Lovelace. “It is different, but I was mostly doing remote work due to COVID until the end of my senior year anyway.” On the court, Lovelace is seeing plenty of growth as well. “Basketball is going well. I’m getting better and more confident each day I’m here.”

Lovelace says that becoming more confident has been a point of emphasis as he works on his game. “I’ve also been working on getting to my spots and scoring consistently from them.”

In a previous interview with The Basketball Movement, Lovelace noted that he has dreams of playing basketball professionally. With his size and skill, it certainly seems like he can go as far as his work ethic takes him.

Of We Are United, Lovelace says that he likes it here a lot. “(Coach Yanders) is training us not just to be great basketball players, but men as well.”

With a good head on his shoulders and all of the physical tools to succeed, the sky is the limit for John Lovelace Jr. Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement for more on We Are United prep.

We Are United Prep - Jeremiah Dotson

Another up-and-comer for We Are United prep, Jeremiah Dotson, is elevating his game.

Jeremiah Dotson is a 6’6 forward for We Are United prep. With a demeanor that screams hooper, Dotson has spent his time at We Are United wisely, getting better on and off the hardwood.

Classes are going great, according to Dotson. Basketball is going well, too, though expectations are at an all-time high. “It is definitely different from high school,” Dotson says. “It is way more intense, way more work.”

Consistency has been a point of emphasis during that work for Jeremiah so far. “I am working on being more confident shooting the three,” Dotson says. “I’m focusing on keeping the same form every time.”

For the second interview in a row, a player described the atmosphere around We Are United as being family-like. The Basketball Movement and now, by extension, We Are United, has always focused on rewarding hard-workers with camaraderie and a place that they feel they belong. We are excited to see that bleeding through into this young program.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dotson comes from the same neck of the woods as Head Coach Robert Yanders. Milwaukee crafted Yanders into the relentless worker that he is. Dotson sees that in his coach and can use it to grow.

“(Rob) is going to push us to our limits,” Dotson says. “Well… past our limit. Everything is going great here overall.”

We are excited to see Dotson and his teammates in action soon. Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement for updates and follow We Are United on Twitter and Instagram!

We Are United Prep - Isaiah Davis

We Are United Prep is in full swing at The Basketball Movement. We sat down with student-athlete Isaiah Davis to see how things were going.

Isaiah Davis is a 6’6” guard/forward for We Are United Prep. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, he brings plenty of skill to bolster the We Are United team, preparing to enter its first season in just a few short weeks.

Davis says that classes are going well. He confesses that doing work online and communicating with instructors seemed difficult at first but is mostly just different. His on-court experience has been a change as well.

“We have been working hard,” Davis says. “But it has been really good. We are getting ready to compete at the highest level.”

In particular, Davis says that he has been focusing on off-the-ball work more than ever before. “I've been focusing on moving without the ball, setting hard screens, and creating for my teammates,” Davis says. Working with his teammates and coaches has established what he describes as a “family-based” atmosphere.

“Everyone at We Are United is hard-working,” Davis says. “Work hard or go home, really. It is all or nothing here - no one can come with half effort.”

The hard work is already paying off as Isaiah Davis and his We Are United teammates visibly improve with each passing day. They still have a few weeks of preparation before games begin and apear to be right on track.

Using size to your advantage

Basketball players come in many shapes and sizes. Each variety can be used to a player's advantage.

For a long time, basketball was closed off to only the biggest individuals at its highest levels. Throwing it into the post to let your bruiser back their way to the cup was the most effective form of offense. Times have changed.

The game itself has evolved, as has our understanding of what it takes to win. For example, Foul-calling and three-pointers have been equalizers. Also, the general, widespread knowledge of what it takes to succeed at smaller sizes.

It still certainly helps to be big, but now more than ever, smaller players have opportunities to compete as well.

Guards can use skill and speed

Perimeter players can be light or on the shorter side while still achieving success. A great shot can go a long way in the sport of basketball. Ball-handling and passing as well. A taller player may get a better view of the floor, but being lower to the ground often means improved ball-handling prowess and bounce pass options.

There are numerous examples of shorter players experiencing great success at all levels of the game. For example, the Basketball Movement's Rob Yanders played professionally with grit and savvy rather than overpowering opponents with strength and size - though quickness and toughness helped.

Post players aren't going anywhere

Just because it is easier to be an undersized baller does not mean that post-play is out the door. A surplus of height or even extra (managed) weight/muscle is always an intimidating factor on the court.

The taller you are, the closer you are to the rim. Offense and defense both become a bit easier with height. The top rim-protectors have always been tall with an above-average wingspan.

Even if you are on the bigger side, but height isn't part of the equation, there are ways to succeed. The bigger you are, the more you will be able to impose your will on smaller players.

Not too big, but not too small?

You can definitely work with this too. Being somewhere in-between means that you may be able to match up with multiple positions.

A well-rounded skill set will help you use your size on the perimeter or hang with the bigs down low.

The Basketball Movement is the ideal place to maximize your potential and learn to take advantage of your stature - no matter what that may be. So contact us to schedule some time into your Summer to step up your game with our great coaches and facility!