the HBA experience offers
students & parents.....

P	re-Evaluations on an Individual Basis
O	ne-on-One Training and Conditioning
I	ndividual Work Plan and Recommended Module Placement
S	pecifically tailored to optimize player ability
E	nhanced modules maximize learning curve

meet our Trainers

“What is the difference between a professional and an expert?

A professional gets paid for what they do; an expert gets paid for what they know...”

registration now available for:

2009 Season Mini Camps and Summer Camps

Horizon Basketball/Nakia Sanford National Team

HBA Program Overview

Horizon Basketball was formed with a need to develop and raise the basketball "IQ" of the student athlete who desires to play high school basketball. It is also used as a viable resource that will enable a student athlete to take advantage of being recruited to play for college.

What is "Basketball IQ"? - Basketball "IQ" is the baseline that is required to learn the game at its most fundamental level. If you can raise the level of learning, you will surely have a better well-rounded basketball player.

Let's talk about Training - A lot of training programs take athletes into the gym and give them drills to improve their game. At Horizon Basketball we go further. There are over one thousand drills you can give someone, but what we've learned is no matter how many drills are covered, it still doesn't translate into a better basketball player; it doesn't optimize their game.

No matter how specialized or intricate the drills are, there's still no replacing the value of a fundamentally complete basketball player. The real optimization comes in the form of knowledge . Knowledge of the game at various levels. Knowledge of how to communicate with the athlete to get them to the desired level they seek, and knowledge of how to get them to play at a level of consistency. A player can have all the athletic ability in the world, but if he or she cannot execute the skills needed to run the Coach's offense, or is constantly out of position defensively due to the fact that he or she cannot understand where they are on the court, then how valuable is that player? All players want to become better, but players also have a tendency to develop poor habits and try to hide their weaknesses. A lot of players want to depend on the Coach at the school to show them what needs to be done. Unfortunately, there is not enough time in the day to teach everything the Coach would like to impart, especially to an entire team. That's one of the toughest aspects about coaching.

At Horizon Basketball, we support the Coaches by taking the athlete through a uniquely designed phase modulated approach of the game. We teach players how to play the game the right way , while still making it interesting and sometimes fun for them. We say sometimes because Horizon Basketball is not for everyone. Our regiment is structured, and for very good reasons. The phases consist of conditioning the body, understanding the game through intuitive simulation, and playing against real competition to enhance the mental and physical awareness needed to grow at the desired levels. Our phase-modulated process encourages growth and confidence in every athlete that comes into our program. Horizon Basketball lays out the tools and fundamentals in a way that will make the player faster, stronger and more confident. Better athletes make teams stronger. Horizon Basketball, in essence, creates a blueprint, and players need this blueprint not only for motivation, but also for successful transition into a truly competitive environment.

How does the HBA assist with the recruitment of a player? - There are a lot of programs who claim to have players go to D1 schools, but how many of their players have stayed and finished at the school that recruited them? How many players have dropped out? What they don't tell you is this: there is a lot more than going to a D1 school than just by someone offering them a scholarship. The college has to fit the student athlete. Anyone can be offered a college scholarship, but if the student athlete's profile doesn't fit the school, or worse, the school's profile doesn't fit the student, then what good has been accomplished? There are tons of athletes who have gone to a college only to drop out or transfer after their second year, simply because the research wasn't investigated thoroughly enough to give a parent and the student athlete the proper knowledge to make a sound decision.

At Horizon Basketball, we strive to fit the player to the college program that will not only provide the school the competitive player, but will provide the student the necessary tools to complete a college education and have a great time while doing the work. This type of output is a win-win situation for both the college Coach, the university and the student.

At Horizon Basketball, our intent is to make the athlete faster, stronger, better at Horizon Basketball. A lot of people will ask, "How exactly do you do that?" Here's the secret: Hard Work! Our training is broken down into three (3) components:
	The speed training is designed to give the athlete quickness, coordination and most importantly, endurance to efficiently execute basketball moves on the court.
	Total Body Conditioning includes weight training and muscle concentration. The body's natural growth engine is augmented with an organized disciplined strength program. This type of program can turn a so-so athlete into a fine tuned specimen capable of withstanding the rigors of running and jumping. Jumping ability comes from the thighs and calves, so we target the legs with low repetitions to develop bulk and strength for greater leaping ability. We then work on the upper body for better balance and greater maneuverability.
	"Phase modulated training" prepares the athlete to accept the Coach's order of execution on the floor. Whether the command is offensive or defensive, the athlete coming out of HBA is the prototype player who can make the game difference. At HBA we learn how to dribble, shoot and play strong, aggressive defense. We learn how to read and "write". We also learn how to respect our fellow athletes and ourselves. An athlete with a great attitude stands out and receives the most important accolade, respect from his team and his opponents alike. At Horizon Basketball, we recognize this attribute and its value to the player. Our training is built to last a lifetime. The skills that are taught are not only game time, but for lifetime. That is our commitment, which is our goal. At Horizon Basketball we believe that skill is never due to luck; it is always the result of determined effort and practice