Ali K.

I’ve been training and coaching athletes since 2019, working with players of all levels from beginners to professionals. My coaching journey includes personal skills training, club team coaching, and youth development clinics. I focus on building well-rounded players by developing their technical skills, basketball IQ, and mental approach to the game.

Most recently, I coached with Up Your Performance (UYP Hoops) from May 2023 to May 2024, leading 12 to 13u club teams in both competitive and recreational settings. We won several tournaments, and I emphasized player development, team strategy, and advanced techniques including shot mechanics, finishing, footwork, and defensive positioning.

Before that, I served as a Youth Basketball Coach with Magic Elite from September 2022 to October 2023, where I ran clinics and weekly skills sessions focusing on the fundamentals while also mentoring young athletes on leadership, mental toughness, and on-court decision-making.

Since 2019, I’ve also offered personal 1 on 1 and small group training, customizing plans based on each athlete’s age, skill level, and goals. My clients range from youth players just starting out to more advanced high school and pro-level athletes, with a strong track record of helping players improve their ball handling, coordination, footwork, shooting, and confidence.

In terms of credentials, I’m a USA Basketball Gold Licensed Coach (2023) and studied at UC Riverside from 2016 to 2018. My coaching philosophy centers on accountability, effort, and developing the total player physically, mentally, and emotionally.

I played competitive AAU basketball with Open Gym Premier and Cali Rebels, and competed for four years at Canyon High School in Anaheim Hills, California, graduating with the Class of 2016. I was the starting point guard for Open Gym Premier’s 14u through 17u elite teams, where I consistently competed against top talent. My Cali Rebels team featured multiple Division 1 and college-level players, and those experiences helped shape my understanding of high-level basketball.

At Canyon High, I was named team captain of the Junior Varsity team as a sophomore, then moved up to Varsity where I continued to develop as a leader and playmaker. I was known for having the strongest ball handling skills in every program I played in, earning recognition from coaches and teammates alike.

Although I had the opportunity to play at the junior college level, I chose to attend university instead. The competitive experience I gained at both the high school and AAU levels laid the foundation for the skills and knowledge I now pass on to the athletes I train.

A typical session with me is high energy, detail oriented, and designed to push athletes both physically and mentally. We start every workout with a dynamic warm up to get the body loose and ready to move, followed by stationary ball-handling drills to sharpen control and coordination.

From there, we progress into full court dribbling, focusing on speed, change of pace, and off-hand development to build a more complete handle. I emphasize advanced dribble combos and double move crossovers that lead directly into finishes at the rim or jump shots, simulating game-like scenarios.

We break down a variety of finishing moves: pro hops, euro steps, spin moves, pinoy steps, floaters, off-hand layups, reverse layups, and contested finishes, to make sure players can score creatively in traffic. Shooting is another key focus: we’ll work on form shooting, mid-range pull-ups, three-point shots, and free throws, reinforcing proper mechanics and rhythm.

To finish, we often play 1 on 1 to apply everything learned under pressure. Each session is structured to help players become more confident, skilled, and game ready.

For beginners, I meet them exactly where they are. We’ll focus more on building the basics: fundamental dribbling, footwork, layups, and shooting form while introducing new concepts at a pace that makes sense for their development. My goal is to make sure they feel confident, have fun, and build a strong foundation they can grow from.