Snap Shot Facts
- U9 Co-Ed, U12 Co-Ed, U14 Boys, U14 Girls, U17 Boys, U17 Girls
- NO TRAVEL and NO WEEKENDS
- No try outs at U9 and U12 divisions. We do NOT believe in cuts that young. GRAB A SPOT, these fill up
- March Try outs for older divisions, practices begin AFTER Spring Break (the week of April 10). We may get a few practices in BEFORE the break also. REGISTER HERE
- Lakeshore teams practice in Fruitport and Ferrysburg, GR area teams practice in Rockford. (6060 Belding Rd)
- NOTE: we have the FULL SIZED Fruitport HS and Fruitport MS gyms this spring. GREAT advantage for practices.
- Basics Gear included. (Shirts, Uniforms, Duffel Bags)
- ALL U14 and U17 players receive a mental strength assessment as part of their fee ($125 value)
- ALL players may attend unlimited skill training all spring at NO EXTRA COST in any gym. All players have 2 practices a week scheduled, they may attend on OTHER DAYS for extra skills and conditioning. GREAT benefit.
SPRING TEAM FAQ SHEET
- Many spring options exist for players interested in improving their games, both competitively and in learning the game at the younger levels
- For beginners to moderately skilled players: there is no better choice to learn the game correctly than Basics
- For competitive players, beware the allure of travel and supposedly “competitive leagues”. They have little meaning. All that really matters is can you improve, can you approach and-or reach your potential. See Kobe comment below
- The national average for HS players playing in college is approximately 1 %. Since 2011, 9% of our Varsity players on our Spring Teams have made that grade. 15 D-1
- We think travel is too expensive, time consuming and a lost opportunity to improve. See Travel video here. Basics NEVER travels.
- At the beginning (2011-13), we travelled a little thinking there was no other option. This experience changed that.
- RELATED: we do not believe in 2 sports at the same time. Pick one at a time and stick with that. See CONFLICTS video here.
- Started in 2011. 133 of our 141 Basics grads playing in college have been through this program.
- Primary values are: NO travel, NO weekends, NO try outs, NO cuts at youngest age (U9 and U12), DONE by early June
- RELATED: Summer Basketball in Michigan. We do not believe in organized summer basketball. It’s more competitive to get a job, work on your strength/conditioning and then go to the beach. (CHARGE the batteries)
- Teams in Grand Rapids (Rockford) and on the Lakeshore
- No try outs or cuts at U9 and 12 Co-Ed divisions. Register HERE and your child is on the team
- Try outs for U14 Boys, U14 Girls, U17 Boys and U17 Girls. Try Out dates here.
- 2 practices a week, NO WEEKEND PRACTICES. (Practices will be on Mon, Tues, Weds or Thurs–2 of those dates)
Advice from Kobe Bryant
- Stay loyal and consistent.
- Practice more and train harder than anyone else.
- Your mental and emotional toughness is the final ingredient.
Tournaments
2023: April 29 and May 20
- Basics runs and manages our own tournaments
- There will be two (2) 1-day tournaments in the Spring in Fruitport/Ferrysburg and-or Rockford
- Each team plays 2 games on that day. And the length of time will be 2 or 3 hours MAX in the gym.
- Every Basics team is limited to 7 or 8 players only.
- We sometimes invite OUTSIDE teams to play, but mostly we do NOT. If an outside team is interested, contact Coach McGannon 616 402-1600
- We try NOT TO CHARGE ADMISSION. We look for sponsorship here to assist with gym fees and the officials.
- We do not look for volunteers to run the scoreboard. We arrange scorekeepers ourselves.
- Two must videos: How Tournaments are run generally: 4:46 Basics Run Tournaments: 2:32
Summer Basketball
- Summer Camps in Rockford, Forest Hills and Spring Lake
- Summer Instructional Basketball League (SIBL) NO TRAVEL; Team Basketball. Info coming soon.
- Team Camps run by Coach McGannon anywhere in Michigan: I NEED NOTICE
- Video commentary: the folly of Travel Ball.

Three Associated Press Michigan High School Players of the Year: Info here on these 3 players
As of this writing Basics has 141 program graduates playing college basketball (or who have played). 15 D-1. Please review these 2 links to learn why the Basics methodology is the most competitive training for beginners, intermediate or even the best players. This last category, “the best players”, fascinates me because while the best players in the world (NBA, D1 and college players) still work on the drills Basics teaches everyday in practice, a large percentage of lower level players (Middle school and high school) forgo this primary work believing that games and tournaments are a better way to improve.
Never confuse competition with competitive growth.
Never mistake activity for achievement.