News - Unlimited Potential Basketball

Mental Buckets Recap: Anthony Bennett

February 26, 2021

Five-star recruit out of high school. Number one pick in the NBA Draft. Too quiet to lead. These are all labels that Anthony Bennett has worn through the years. After listening to this episode of Mental Buckets, it will become clear that Bennett is a fighter. He's overcome injury, ignored the doubters, and continuously worked to sustain a pro career in the NBA, the G-League, and internationally. Learn more about the fire that continues to drive Bennett towards basketball success, and the veteran players who've supported him, regardless of what challenges he's faced with.

Introducing the Unlimited Potential Basketball Youth Charitable Foundation (UPBYCF)

February 21, 2021

Behind the creation of UPBYCF lies years of activism for both Turners and a sustained interest in bettering communities in The Bay Area. They know the statistics that six times as many low-income students drop youth sports when compared to those from high-income families because of access (Aspen Institute Project Play Initiative). They also know firsthand the power sports has to build character because “a survey of 400 female corporate executives found 94% played a sport and that 61% say sports contributed to their career success (EY Women Athletes Business Network/espnW, 2014). The launch of UPBYCF is bounded in these statistics and in past experiences both Turners have had with nonprofits such as The Boys and Girls Club, Big Homie Project, and Play MakeHers. Yearly clinics at UPB have focused on women’s empowerment, and tackled issues like access to sports, and hunger.

Justin Anderson Mental Buckets Recap

February 12, 2021

Justin Anderson was considered a top recruit coming out of the D.C. metro area starting in eighth grade, and was considered a top 50 prospect coming out of Montrose High School. With offers from Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Texas, it’s easy to assume he was bound for greatness immediately out of his high school, but in fact, it was his preparation and diligence on and off the court that made him able to have a successful professional basketball career.

Brandon Ashley's Path to Positivity

February 05, 2021

Brandon Ashley steps into the UPB gym, and his energy radiates across the court. If Brandon is there, you feel it with each step, each dribble, each bounce. He works hard, talks loud, and plays big. Any trainer around him is probably smiling, laughing, chatting. But, make no mistake, Ashley, commonly called “Bash” by those who know him, wasn't always brimming with positivity.

Omari Spellman Mental Buckets Recap

January 28, 2021

Despite Omari Spellman being a nationally sought after recruit coming into college from Cleveland, his path to pro hoops was certainly not simple. Spellman talks about the toolkit he needed to make the journey possible in his appearance on Mental Buckets in which he attributes much of his success to taking on a team-first attitude.

The UPB Fam grows a bit larger...Meet Ashley Hawkins and Asha Thomas

January 21, 2021

UPB is proud to have two additions to our on-court staff in Ashley Hawkins and Asha Thomas, both working as coaches at the UPB team. Both bring a myriad of experiences on-the-court and in around the game of basketball, and we know they will be assets in helping the next generation grow their skills.

The Importance of Special Olympics: Yash's Story

January 14, 2021

Yash Maheshwaran stepped onto the Amador Valley High School football field for what he figured to be a routine volunteering opportunity. Little did he know, on this day, his involvement with Special Olympics would begin to become not only a hobby, but an integral part of his life. Yash spent much of a day with a young girl and her guardian, and his outlook on the day remains, even three years later.

Mental Buckets Recap: George Galanopoulos

January 06, 2021

Not only getting into coaching, but finding a role as a head coach in the NBA G-League just 10 years out of college is almost unheard of. But, George Galanopoulos or “Coach G” has made that dream a reality. On the seventh episode of Mental Buckets, Coach G spoke about his path from University of Indiana basketball manager to head coach of the Texas Legends, the Dallas Mavericks’ G-League team. His path has taken him from being a young and naive ball boy for Derrick Rose to working in basketball operations for the Bakersfield Jam, coaching the Uganda National Team, and then working as a video coordinator for the Mavericks.

2nd Annual Hoopin' With Santa

December 31, 2020

This past December marked the 2nd annual Hoopin' with Santa event at UPB in partnership with The Boys and Girls Club of The Peninsula (BGCP) and The Big Homie Project.

One of The Most Interesting Men in Basketball is not on an NBA Roster: Meet Russ Smith

December 23, 2020

By every “traditional” measurement of success, Russ Smith should be on an NBA roster right now. He led the Louisville Cardinal to a national championship in 2013, and averaged 18 points per game. He became the highest leading scorer in NBA Summer League one summer, and in 2016, he hit a new G-League record with 65 points in one game. In fact, in a season for the 76ers G-League affiliate he averaged nearly 30 points, and eight assists per game. Russ Smith has proven himself at every single step of the way, even when counted out.

Mental Buckets Recap: Grant Williams

December 16, 2020

Grant Williams is truly a renaissance man. He was named a two-time SEC Player of the Year while at Tennessee, a trivia-buff with decades of sports statistics memorized, a Chipotle fiend, a reader, and a student of the game. With so many talents, it’s hard to imagine how Williams has found a way on so many talented squads from Chris Paul’s AAU team to Tennessee and now the Celtics, and been able to thrive. However, just as Williams stands out for his variety of skills, he’s also a sponge and able to make the most of any environment he’s in. While chatting with Packie and Mike for Mental Buckets, Williams detailed the skills needed to adapt to a variety of teams and systems.

Mental Performance Coach Graham Betchart Releases Mindfulness Mixtape, Unlock

December 10, 2020

In Graham Betchart’s garage, there sits a wooden box just big enough to fit a person. Outside, it is covered with photos of Graham, and all the people he’s worked with as a mental performance coach. The list includes Aaron Gordon, Karl Anthony-Towns, Andrew Wiggins, USA Basketball and the team at Facebook. Betchart has worked with the best-of-the-best, the most talented people in the world of basketball, and those at Fortune 500 companies, and he advises them on how to live in the present and sharpen their mental framework.

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