ABOUT

ABOUT US

OUR MISSION

To empower the next generation of athletes and leaders to become limitless in their life journey; To inspire them to enrich their community by becoming masters of their minds, skills, and athleticism

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Basketball is a teacher of life.


We believe the essentials to basketball set the foundation for athletes to become masters of their unique path in life

MEET THE COACHES

Jaron Kirkley

Makana Stone

OUR MISSION

  • To empower athletes to elevate to their highest potential; to overcome internal and external limitations and become the best version of themselves on and off the court;
  • To use a holistic approach to training and build a balanced, healthy, and competitive athlete. As athletes, we understand that athletic performance improves when we integrate the essential aspects of the whole human experience into our training (Skill, strength, agility, breath work, mindset, rest & recovery, nutrition, and community).


  • OUR VALUES: To be an A.T.H.L.E.T.E.

    To be an athlete means to

A: be Accountable

T: be Tenacious. You will face obstacles. E.T.M aims to help you identify your goals and provide you with the tools and support to be physically and mentally relentless in pursuit of your YOUnique goals in life

H: play and live with Heart

L: Lead

E: manage your Energy

T: be Thankful and show gratitude everyday

E: stay focused on the Essentials. There are many essentials to mastering basketball. We cover all of them. Fitness. Mindset. Knowledge/IQ of the game. Creativity. Community.


OUR PHILOSOPHY...

Our mission to empower each unique individual on their unique path stems from our philosophy that basketball is a teacher of life.


Mastering your craft is a continuous and infinite journey. We provide players with the tools to master the essentials, continue to grow, and develop beyond their imagination.


Regardless of if their journey is focused on a career in basketball or the infinite options in life, these tools set the foundation for success and to achieve their dreams.


Our coaching philosophy is built on personal basketball experience at the elite level, coaching experience, and our educational pursuits and passions to review and keep up with current physiological and psychological studies.

MEET THE COACHES

Jaron Kirkley

Co - Founder

Coach + Trainer

  • Certified Personal Training (ISSA)
  • USA Basketball Licensed Coach
  • Geology and Environmental Sciences B.A, Whitman College
  • Nutrition and Behavior, Bournemouth University England


Makana Stone

Co - Founder

Coach + Trainer

  • USA Basketball Licensed Coach
  • Biology B.A, Whitman College
  • Exercise Physiology, Loughborough University England
  • Coaching experience in USA, UK, & Norway (10 years) - All ages and levels


Jaron Kirkley grew up in a small town named Mossyrock which is a 2B High School with only 800 students.


His dream has always been to play college basketball and be a professional basketball player since he was 12 years old. He played 4 years at Whitman college and 1 year in the BUCS division in the United Kingdom.


During his basketball journey, he was and has always been a nerd and curious how to become the best player he could! Jaron spent hours daily studying and learning about the game to enhance his IQ, skills and knowledge of the game. 


However, this also meant studying and learning about things that are often left out of the basketball realm like how to take care of the body to recover quicker and enhance performance; how to train the mind to always tap into the flow state and become resilient mentally on the court; and how to train the body to tap into its fullest athletic potential?


He earned a Masters in Nutrition and Behavior, and while also getting a Personal Trainer Certification through the International Sports Sciences Association. While he continues to pursue his professional basketball dreams and goals, during the offseason he loves to teach the youth all the essentials to becoming a master of their craft. He has 7 years of experience training kids in basketball skills, 2 years of coaching which include assistant coach at Mossyrock High school 2023 (team took 4th place in state) and PAC Express auu, 4 years of experience running and working at basketball camps.

Stone grew up on Whidbey Island and played for a 1A/2A High School. She had a successful collegiate career at Whitman College. She earned her Bachelors from Whitman College in Biology and the NWC Player of the Year and an All-American honors.


It wasn’t until 2017 that she wanted to pursue her ball and become a pro hooper overseas. She aspires to empower others - specifically athletes - of all ages to understand their potential, set a meaningful goal, and overcome any obstacles to achieve it.


In 2020 she moved to England to get her Master’s in Exercise Physiology and play ball. A successful season in the WNBL lead to her first pro contract in 2021 the WBBL - the U.K’s professional league.


Stone is passionate about holistic wellness (particularly within the athletic community with the intent of returning to school to become a chiropractor), constantly elevating her game, and inspiring the next generation to identify and pursue their goals on and off the court.


She has 10 combined years of coaching experience in the USA and internationally. She started coaching at 15 for the Boys and Girls Club Basketball program. Since then, she’s coached multiple youth camps, afterschool bball development clubs for the Leicester Riders, individual training sessions at Charnwood College, BUCS 3 Women's University team in England, trained U8 - U17 for Lommedalen Basket, and coached a U14 and U16 girls team in Norway from 7th and 8th place, respectively, to 3rd place in the 2023 - 2024 season.


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