Today is officially the 1st day of fall and as we leave summer behind us each day brings us closer to basketball season. While most players that I have come across tell me that they want to become better players they have to put in the work to do so. The off season is the best way to transform yourself and your game. You will never reach your full potential if all you do is work out during the season during practice. The off season is where you'll really become a better player if you work at it. Each day that you aren't getting better, someone else is. That other person may be a classmate of yours that you're competing for a spot on the team with or a player on an opposing team.

Most common people are satisfied with mediocrity or the status quo. If you want to be truly great you need to work at it every opportunity that you have. Improve your game and get 1% better every day. Greatness is uncommon so its not often experienced by the common man. I hope that each and everyone of you are working hard and getting 1% better each and every day.

Good afternoon from the Elite Hoops Offices,

For those out of the loop when it comes to international basketball the US is currently in the quarter finals of the FIBA World Championships. The FIBA (which stands for International Basketball Federation) World Championships is similar to the World Cup except its for basketball rather than soccer. The FIBA World Championships is an international basketball event held every four years. The event is organized by FIBA and features competition between men's national basketball teams from countries around the world and is currently going on in Turkey.

The FIBA World Championship is contested between 24 teams from the five FIBA regions of the world. During the preliminary rounds of the FIBA World Championship, teams are divided into four groups of six, and play a round-robin schedule with the other teams in their group. The top four teams from each group based on win-loss record advance to the round of 16, where the tournament moves into single-elimination mode. A consolation bracket is held for teams that lose in the quarterfinals to determine exact finishes from first through eighth place.

When it comes to qualifying for the FIBA Championships there are a few ways in which a country can get in. First the host nation and the defending Olympic champion qualify for the FIBA World Championship automatically. Other teams have to play their way into the tournament via regional qualifying tournaments. In 2010, FIBA handed out automatic bids to the top six finishers at the FIBA Europe tournament, the top four finishers at the FIBA Americas Championship, the top three finishers at the FIBA Africa Championship, the top three at the FIBA Asia Championship and the top two at FIBA Oceania. In addition, FIBA handed out four wild-card berths. To be eligible for a wild-card berth, a team must have competed at its regional tournament and paid a wild-card fee.

European basketball differs from the typical NBA game most Americans are used to watching. The game consists of four 10-minute quarters rather than the 12-minute quarters that the NBA uses. The court is actually 3½ feet shorter and six inches narrower than an NBA court. The paint is a trapezoid shape, rather than the rectangle of the NBA, and the 3-point line is between 18 and 39 inches closer to the basket, depending on where the shot is attempted, click here to see a depiction of the court during a recent USA international game. Instead of the six fouls an NBA player is permitted a player in a FIBA competition is disqualified after five fouls. Also teams are allowed to play a full zone defense in FIBA games.

While most Americans put a lot of weight into the Summer Olympics and winning the gold medal there with our Redeem Team internationally more weight is placed on winning the FIBA World Championships. Coincidentally enough the US has not won FIBA gold since 1994. The United Stats crushed Angola and will play Russia on Thursday looking to advance to the semi-finals. While familiar faces from the past Olympic squad like Lebron, Kobe, Carmelo, and D-Wade are gone this US squad is still a talented one. Below you can view the current US roster for the FIBA Championship squad:

After, the surprising first round upset of the Washington Mystics, the #1 team in the WNBA's Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Dream look to take down the New York Liberty after taking game 1 of the best of 3 series.

On Wednesday, the 4th place Atlanta Dream and Elite Hoops Hall of Famer, Angel McCoughtry, head into the WNBA playoffs against the number 1 team in the Eastern Conference the Washington Mystics. This should be a tough match-up for the Dream, as the Mystics have won 3 out of the 4 regular season meetings.


Ned Dishman, of NBA.com says,"It’s hard to predict which team will come out on top by the end of this series. Will the Mystics carry the momentum of a six-game win streak into the first round and get the best of Atlanta? Or will the Dream’s high-flying offense be too much for the Mystics to handle?It may be a No. 1 vs. No. 4 matchup on paper, but this one is capable of going either way."


Elite Hoops wishes Angel and the Atlanta Dream good luck in their first round playoff series!

Awaking to the sounds of school buses running and kids yelling this morning we can say that school has officially started in Atlanta. With the start of school many of Elite Hoops 1,200 campers this summer are trading in basketballs and the hardwood for books and homework. As you leave to start your classes remember one of our favorite quotes from this past summer camp season, "Hard work brings prosperity."

Each and everyone of us coaches here at Elite Hoops was delighted that you attended camp this summer but don't be satisfied and leave it at that. Many of you will have try outs for your teams in the upcoming months. Its important that that you continue practicing the drills you learned this summer at camp so that your hard work will pay off come try out time. Do you remember the drills you learned for individual improvement throughout your camp week? Here's a reminder just in case your memory faded a bit while you were at the pool after camp.

Monday: Mikan & power lay ups
Tuesday: Figure 8 no dribble, figure 8 dribble, flip-flop, front back bounce, & front back catch
Wednesday: Diagonal key lay ups & diagonal key jumpers
Thursday: Hot shot

If you want some video tips and pointers just click here and head over to our YouTube site and brush up. Try and fit in some basketball and practice your drills a few times a week to keep sharp and remember, hard work brings prosperity.

Today was the last day of camp at Blessed Trinity. The girls started their day with stretches and warm-ups. After that, the campers received their camp t-shirt and took a group photo. The girls completed stations and competed in the Living by Numbers' drills. Towards the end of camp, the girls broke into their teams and played in their championship basketball games. At the end, there was an award ceremony, where the girls received their certificates and evaluations. Prizes were also given to players for their achievements throughout camp.

For more information about our camps, visit www.elitehoopsbasketball.com.

Today was the last full day of camp at Blessed Trinity. The girls started their day with stretches and warm-ups. They went through two rounds of stations and played basketball games to help with dribbling and shooting. Before lunch, the girls played in 3 on 3 basketball games to help prepare them for the championship games on Friday. The girls ended the day with the last round of Living By Numbers' drills, which combined all the skills they learned this week.

For more information about our camps, visit www.elitehoopsbasketball.com

The girls at the NIKE basketball camp at Blessed Trinity High School in Roswell, Georgia are working hard and improving 1% each day!

Today at camp, the campers began their day with stretches and warm-ups. While they were stretching, the campers repeated the quotes "Hard work brings prosperity" and " Do not mistake activity for achievement." After that, the girls broke into their groups and completed stations without missing a beat. Before lunch, the campers played in their five on five basketball games and after lunch, continued their Living by Numbers' drills. Tomorrow is the last full day of camp. Campers will receive their camp t-shirt on Friday.

For more information about our camps visit, www.elitehoopsbasketball.com

Today was the first day of the Elite Hoops Girls Basketball Camp. There were 50 girls who attended the camp in order to develop their basketball skills. The girls began their day with stretches and stations. Then they broke off into their 5 on 5 games. At the end of camp, the girls began the Living by Numbers' drills.

For more information about our camps, visit www.elitehoopsbasketball.com