The Basketball Podcast

This conversation was an opportunity to bring a typically offline discussion I have with coaches online to share with you. In it, Jared Mocaby from Kansas Select got to ask me a bunch of questions about youth basketball coaching strategies. We discussed solution-based coaching approaches, emphasizing the importance of letting players figure out problems rather than giving direct instructions, and the value of playing full-court transition basketball during practices.The discussion covered topics including shot selection, position development, the balance between winning and player development, and the overuse of tournament play versus focused practice time. We explored how to implement constraint-based training and reduce reliance on traditional drills, while addressing the challenges of coaching younger players (10-12 years old) and managing parent expectations. The conversation concluded with recommendations for reducing tournament participation while increasing development-focused practice time, and the importance of monetizing coaching positions to support better player development.

Roneeka Hodges, former WNBA guard turned coach known for player development and defensive focus. She discusses building culture and drafting for fit. She explains turning Unrivaled reps into coaching growth. She covers defensive foundations, pick-and-roll chemistry, balancing trust and control, and using analytics and tech to teach and build player confidence.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Jamill Jones joins The Basketball Podcast to share insights on running an elite youth program.Jamill Jones serves as a Director with Team Takeover, one of the premier programs on the Nike EYBL circuit, where he provides leadership across elite player development, program structure, and national representation. He articulates a development‑first philosophy rooted in defense, accountability, and family culture, emphasizing long‑term growth over short‑term results.Team Takeover’s model prioritizes practice over games, beginning player development as early as third grade, maintaining coaching continuity across age groups, and creating consistent standards throughout the program. Jones stresses transparent communication as a cornerstone of success, highlighted by regular parent and coach Zoom calls to align expectations and reduce common conflicts.The program’s practice‑first approach, intentionally demanding practices, and supportive game‑day environment reinforce learning without public criticism. Team Takeover also avoids traditional A/B/C team labels, instead offering multiple competitive pathways to account for non‑linear player development. In addition to his grassroots leadership, Jones brings extensive collegiate experience from assistant coaching roles at Florida Gulf Coast, VCU, UCF, and Wake Forest, as well as national instructional experience through the Nike Skills Summit and other elite basketball platforms.

Bret Burchard, former NBA and college coach and co-founder of ChampionShift, helps teams build mindset and culture. He talks about leading for impact not validation. He covers managing pressure and insecurity, diagnosing culture problems, why engagement is not linear, and practical resets to rebuild vision and purpose.

Jim Haverstrom, a USA Hockey youth director and coach developer, shares ideas from ecological coaching and constraints-led practice. He talks about designing fun, game-like practices that build decision-making, using struggle as learning, tailoring coaching to individual players, and practical ways to give feedback and adapt drills on the fly.

Mike Neighbors, veteran coach who moved from successful college head coaching to the WNBA, shares candid career lessons. He talks about re-learning the game as a pro, pace-oriented offenses, short-roll playmaking, and when to slow the game. He breaks down efficient practice design, feedback loops, staff roles, and protecting players from external pressures.

Ryan Cottingham, long-tenured Spring Arbor head coach and national champion, shares how he builds culture through clear values and creative rituals. He talks about Fun Week, Iron Teams and leadership roles. He describes heart-and-head check-ins, weekly one-on-ones, mental health support, service projects, and rituals that bind players and families.

Clayton Thompson, Coordinator of Integrated Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers and former Driveline R&D specialist, blends sports science with skill and human connection. He discusses breaking down strength versus skill silos. He explores biomechanics, variability in practice, game-like youth drills, and how tech and AI will change coaching.

In this week's basketball coaching conversation, Vietnam Men’s National Team head coach Matt Van Pelt joins the Basketball Podcast to share his defensive shift from packline to forcing left.Matt Van Pelt is currently the Head Coach of the Vietnam Men’s National Team, as well as the Hanoi Buffaloes, the reigning champions of the Vietnam Basketball Association. He now has basketball experience in 28 countries, having ran camps and clinics all over the world, and is also the owner of Van Pelt Sports Management and the co-owner of Pro Coaches Academy and The Performance Lab, in addition to being a FIBA Certified Head Coach in Vietnam.Matt has been in Vietnam on and off since 2017, where he is the winningest coach in the nation’s history with a record of 81 wins and 16 losses between 2 leagues and with 2 organizations. Matt won 3 straight VBA championships & 3 straight Supporter’s Cup Championships with the Saigon Heat, the country’s oldest professional team. Matt also led the Saigon Heat to the 1-seed and a finals appearance in the Asean Basketball League, which formerly hosted 10 teams from 9 countries in Asia, for the first time in the organization’s history in 2023.In addition to 5v5 ventures, Matt was also the Head Coach of the Vietnam 3x3 Men’s National Team from 2022-24, where he won a VBA 3x3 championship, a silver medal in the 2022 Southeast Asian games, and pushed Vietnam to its best ever finish in the 2025 FIBA Asia.Matt is a former professional basketball player overseas, where he played as a point guard in 13 countries in 7 years. Before going overseas, Matt was a 4-year starter as a player at Spring Arbor University in Michigan, where he also won the nation’s Pete Maravich Award.

Coleman Ayers, founder of By Any Means Basketball and co-founder of ADAPT Academy, shares his innovative approach to player development by merging movement science and psychology. He discusses the importance of blending creativity with scientific training methods. Coleman emphasizes the role of adaptability over repeatability for player success and advocates for representative practice to enhance learning. He also highlights the value of honest communication with athletes and the need for tailored training strategies to suit individual player needs.