Gil L.

I have coached, trained and competed with athletes of all levels from current and former NBA and WNBA players, many elite street ball players, to college level players, to high school, middle and elementary school, down to pre-school age kids ages 3 and up. I have also worked with middle and old age athletes - businessmen and women, doctors, lawyers, and CEOs who once played more competitively, or never learned the game. I have worked with players from over 50 countries. I have worked with at-risk youth, autistic and otherwise challenged kids and adults, and foreign language players. I just recently took a group of professional players (composed of players from 5 different countries) on a tour over to China this past fall, and completed a multiple city and state tour last summer, conducting basketball camps and clinics, of which I have done nearly 300 over the past 10 years. I feel that I bring an extremely unique blend of basketball playing, coaching, mentoring and general leadership experience, from an extremely unusual background. I am known for my infectious energy, love for the game, and I know that I have a gift for inspiring all that I serve in basketball and beyond.

I am a constant student of life, a voracious studier of spiritual, inspirational, empowering, and motivational material ,and a keen observer and listener. I believe that this coupled with my fairly uniquely playing and coaching history provides anyone I work with an opportunity to share in
the creating of mutually beneficial and memorable experiences in basketball and hopefully the bigger game of life.
As players and people we are all works in progress to become better. An overall embracive statement which I believe best summarizes my vision of the ideal approach to fostering camaraderie and teamwork towards creating the most deeply rewarding opportunities for all, whether I am working with individuals, small or large groups is:
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” Mahatma Gandhi

I am a native of Long Island New York. I came to Los Angeles, after my mom and dad separated when I was 3.

I started playing basketball at the age of 7, with a dream for playing for the “Showtime” Lakers, taking long bus rides or walks to local parks, schools, or gyms throughout greater Los Angeles to watch or play legendary street ballers,weekend warriors, pro players or whatever bigger and better players were there, even playing hoops on makeshift “shopping cart” baskets in the parking lots and sidewalks outside his apartment complex, as a testament to his love for the game.

Although I hardly got much playing time, my impact was such that I earned back to back Coach’s Awards at John Marshall High School in Los Angeles in the late eighties, on winning/undefeated teams, and earned the nickname: “Dedicated Gil.” I extensively watched, played and practiced basketball till I was 18.

I did not pursue further basketball opportunities, in favor of devoting my life to selfless humanitarian objectives, in the same path as my mom.

Although very rewarding in many ways, and full of many unbelievable experiences and amazing stories, unfortunately this missionary work took me away from the kind of connection I wanted to have with people through basketball, and for a 16 year period, I virtually gave up my love for the game of basketball, and could hardly find opportunities to watch, play or practice basketball , but for once or twice a year.

In 2004, at age 34, not finding myself aligned with my current situation, I realized I could actually pursue basketball opportunities and inspire others and I began this new mission in earnest, and have never looked back.

Within 6 months of training, I earned a spot as a Practice player and Assistant Coach for the ABA’s Inglewood Cobras.

As a player, coach, evaluator, and observer I have been involved in nearly 100 open tryouts, closed tryouts, training camps, and private workouts.

In 2005, I received a contract to play for the Mississippi Hardhats of the WBA but had to forego that due to other commitments.

I earned spot as Practice Player and Assistant Coach for back to back NBA Summer League Champions – Play2Win Delta Jammers.

I was a top 64 finalist for the internationally-renowned Red Bull King of the Rock 1 on 1 competition – earning a spot on Alcatraz (one of the few over 40 to make it)

I am owner and Captain of professional Team Game Time Advantage and winner of numerous elite division championships.

I earned Executive of the Year two years in row in the West Coast Pro Basketball League – helping lead his team to the Championship game and semi-finals in consecutive years.

I Won Inspirational Player of the Year and Sportsmanship award in the West Coast Pro Basketball League.

I earned invite only tryout to Los Angeles Lakers practice facility, among nearly 30 other tryout and combines I have competed in for various leagues, in front of top Lakers and D league execs.

Some of the top players he has competed against and worked with:
Has competed in the JBL National Pro-Am and Nike Real Run leagues and informal workouts and scrimmages against current and former NBA players, overseas players, current streetball kings and legends, as well as top flight college and high school seniors, such as: Jalen Rose, Mark Jackson, Mitch Richmond, Bryon Russell, Cuttino Mobley, J.R. Smith, De-Angelo Collins, Ryan Hollins, Brian Cook, Earl Watson,Tony Farmer, Larry Williams – aka Bone Collector, Sik Wit It, Kenny Brunner, Jerry Dupree, The Professor, to name a few.

I also worked with and been praised by Division I College coaches, such as Jeff Dunlap, the legendary Pete Carril, and other well-respected coaches as the late Joe Weakley of Crenshaw high fame, and the late Coach Mark Fulcher of the 3 time Long Beach NBA Summer League champion Play 2 Win Delta Jammers.

Captain of the 2009 Nike 3 on 3 Elite Division 3 on 3 championship team

Captain and member of 2010 Excel Hoops Elite Division 3 on 3 championship team

Captain and member of 2012 NBA Nation Elite Division 3 on 3 championship team

Co-Coach of the year (and Captain) in world-renowned Venice Basketball League

Got invited to the Great Western Shoot-out professional tournament in Los Angeles.

I have received opportunities to be player/coach in other countries such as China and Mexico, and recently completed a 10 game tour of 13 Chinese cities, 7,000 miles travelled, with players from 5 countries, whom he or they had never met before, creating a “brotherhood” in my player’s own words, in a very short amount of time.

I have coached and competed with dozens of elite players who have competed in the fabled Drew League, Goodman League, Entertainers Basketball Classic, and others.
I am currently competing on one of the top teams in Dino Smiley’s Drew League for Seasoned Vets 40 and over in Compton, California – the strongest league of its kind in the world.

Many of my players and teammates have also competed in the prestigious Drew Summer League in Los Angeles.

I Helped coach the winner of the 2013 King of the Rock in the qualifying rounds of the worldwide 1 on 1 basketball tournament a friend and teammate from various teams – Tarron “The Beast” Williams.

I have been a consultant and guest clinic director to numerous youth groups and leagues – for their coaches, parents, and kids.

I Earned Invite only trip to the United States Olympic Training Center in the summer of 2012 for a chance to represent USA Basketball in FIBA 3 on 3 competition in Greece, as a player, at the age of 42.

I was Lead Trainer for one of the most popular basketball camps in the world for 8 years – Advantage Basketball Camps, before expanding his operations, through Inspired Life Basketball, Game Time Basketball, Right Touch Athletics, the Santa Barbara Breakers, and other basketball avenues.

I have thus far considered by at least 4 well known veteran NBA players as one of the best or the best they have ever seen inspire and engage others at camps – such as Thurl Bailey, Mark Jackson, Harold Pressley, and Pete Carril, to name a few.

List of countries that I have worked with players:
I have worked with players from over 50 countries, some of which are the following: Russia, Italy, France, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Canada, China, United States, India, Argentina, Greece, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, Sweden, Poland, Cambodia, Cuba, United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Denmark, Taiwan, Armenia, Israel, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, and The Philippines.

I directed the camp and clinic activities for the annual Taste of the Soul, hosted on the streets of South Central Los angeles inner city (the largest festival of its kind in California). Taking charge of the basketball zone.

I also co-founded Game Time Basketball Camps and also carries out his mission through his personal vehicle of Inspired Life Basketball, which aims to inspire others through basketball, and in the bigger game of life.

Community Involvement and the love of teaching:
I have also conducted hundreds of clinics and camps in many cities and states and has worked with at-risk youth, senior Olympians, business professionals who wanted to learn or just get back in the game at some level, those who are disabled, autistic or otherwise challenged, and many others, as part of his love for inspiring others, and helping them gain a better appreciation for basketball and the bigger game of life.

I also draw on my life experiences, as well as from 23 years of part-time experience as a professional freelance Certified Arborist specializing in the art and science of large tree pruning, technical/hazardous tree removals, primarily through the use of rope and saddle climbing techniques, and general tree care, having also managed crews of up to 100 men and women at a time, as well as being an experienced heavy equipment operator, steeple cleaner, Christmas/holiday lighting specialist, passenger bus driver, Hollywood movie transcriptionist, and more, both as part of his communal responsibilities in the humanitarian fellowship in the past, and his current volunteer and for-profit work in the various communities and initiatives that he know serves in the off season.

A client can expect from me a training session that is as good as any training session that they could get from virtually ANYONE in the world. At a cost far cheaper than most lessons of this caliber. I have included a rather detailed Coaching and Teaching philosophy below. This session would be tailored to the individual I was working with. I might ask for and review any video tape of games, workouts, or scrimmages beforehand. It would be a very holistic approach. It would be very specific. It would be fun, engaging, but challenging. It would be mutually Respectful, Compassionate, and Understanding. It would be based off what we (the person I am working with, their parent/guardian, or coach or teammates, or whoever might have a bearing in the process of coming up a with a lesson plan) decided to do. I would also do my own assessment. It would be at least one hour, but no more than two consecutive hours. It would consist of a basketball-specific warmup, the main body of the lesson (whatever decide to focus on) curriculum, and a cool down, concurrent with me imparting wisdom applicable to living an inspired/better life as a whole. It would most likely be High-Intensity Basketball Training - unless an injury or some other challenge prevented that, as this is the best kind of training for basketball. Skills with conditioning - TOGETHER. Active rest, with FREE THROWS. Again, a specific focus - which might be shooting mechanics for jump shots, or layups, or floaters, and runners, etc. Or a specific focus on passing - the fundamentals of passing, and the 25 or so types of passes. Or a focus on rebounding, and a detailed breakdown of offensive and defensive rebounding. There might be a specific focus on defensive fundamentals. Or maybe we will deal with ball-handling - attacking, while protecting the ball. Or we might simply be addressing special game type situations. Rest assured, that I will devise a phenomenal plan that will be hard work, laser-precise, but also fun. We can go as broad, or as narrow as you want to, for all levels. If I don't know something, I will find out. Parents/guardians/coaches are welcome to watch-I suggest that it be videotaped for future reference. I would probably also do some head-to-head work with whoever I was working with, as this would add to the learning potential. There would be email follow up, with a written re-cap and instructions. References to watch specific videos and other media.
My 21 point Coaching/Teaching Philosophy follows:
Coaching/Teaching Philosophy – Coach Gil Llewellyn

One: I believe basketball is a game within the bigger game of life. The journey must be as enjoyable, if not more enjoyable than the destination. I believe that is also true for life.

Two: As coaches, we need to remind our students of the value of the great game of basketball, beyond the apparent immediate objectives. The value of the game, could extend to nearly the entire span of one’s life. We must not let our students short circuit that value. A value that includes learning new skills, and ways of learning. Learning teamwork, sharing, and many, many other valuable life skills. The opportunities of the game, having a great way to make new friends, meet new business connections, stay in great shape, gain more inner peace, that will last a lifetime.

Three: I believe, where ever you are in your basketball journey, embrace the gift of the game, to live a better life, to improve the lives of others, while you work to make that team, earn that scholarship, get that pro contract, or whatever your immediate objectives might be.

Four: I believe, the higher the level of competition the more the score matters – but it is still just a game within a bigger game. Coaching is teaching. A coach is a teacher. If you can reach you can teach.

Five: I believe, the basics of the game are essentially the same at every level, but attention to details is increasingly more important as you ascend to the next level, and the next. With that being said, there are only a handful of basic fundamentals which will essentially never change, but there are thousands of drills, with more being developed every day. Coaches love to add their own wrinkles. However, as a coach, just know the basics, applicable to your level of student, very well, and have core drills that you know and can use to teach these well. And, be willing to learn from others, including those you hope to teach. Teach progressively, physical skill, with conceptual understanding of the how, when, where, why to use it.

Six: As far as basketball is concerned, the primary focus should almost always be on High Intensity Basketball Training – HIBT, unless there are injuries, or other factors prohibiting that, for 1 ½ to 2 hours at most, most of the time.

Seven: I believe it is a very smart thing to get multiple viewpoints, particularly when working with less experienced players, as to what to work on first. What is most priority? What will make the biggest improvement in the player/student’s overall game right now? Consult the player/student. What do they feel they are having trouble with? What do they feel their weaknesses are? What makes them nervous? What questions do they have? Consult their coaches, team mates, consult their parents, their guardians. Conduct your own evaluations by looking at video tape and/or running a circuit of drills to assess. Then devise a plan, and be prepared to modify it, even during that lesson, and keep everyone in the loop on what you’re doing.

Eight: I believe it is a good idea when working with groups of kids, to pay attention to their individual strengths and weaknesses, (actually make notes) by putting them through general fundamental assessments. But also use this opportunity to match up players of equal skill and ability, as well as matching them up with players that are better than them, that they may not get along well with, or otherwise may be challenged. Have the better players make them better. Use different variations of play from 1 on 1 through 5 and 5 (if there are enough players), and disadvantaged situations like 2 on 1 and 3 on 2. And use healthy competition to spice things up by traditional drills, and “out-of-the-box”methods.

Nine: I believe using video is very important. There is an old saying: “the video doesn’t lie.” Whenever possible, videotaping of lessons, games, scrimmages, is a very good idea. Have them watch these tapes on their own, then watch them together, and go over anything that can help improve things. It is best to have a video that covers the whole game action, but also tracks the individual player on the ball, and off the ball. Sometimes students will never “see” something, or seem to be able to be aware of something, until they actually see it, by watching themselves on video.

Ten: I believe that position-specific training should certainly be done, but you don’t want to limit players’ general knowledge of all positions. “Post players”, should know about “perimeter play”. And “perimeter players”, should know something about “post play” – since they are going to need this knowledge, if they want to be more complete as players.

Eleven: Players are people first- whether big, small, young or old – we all respond better when treated with Respect, Compassion and Understanding. Kids are people with smaller and younger bodies. As coaches, we have to know our people – different people respond differently. So, know how to teach and reach each individual in the best way possible. Some, you can yell at, and they take it in stride, and some you can’t, or they’ll go off and hide. Some learn better by being shown and told, others learn better by diagrams and writing things down in bold. Closely observe and listen to your students, and don’t be surprised if you have to deal with something totally dis-related to basketball that can be life changing-including change your life.

Twelve: As teachers, we are learning, too. As teachers, we are getting better. Progress is possible, but perfection is probably not. I believe that basketball is a game of mistakes, and education, and practice on the fundamentals can eliminate many mistakes when taught with an engaging, positive and encouraging approach. I believe you give those you teach the freedom to experiment with newfound skills and knowledge, to be eager to be pushed beyond their comfort zone, to be willing to make mistakes, and to learn from their mistakes. This learning environment must be a safe, nurturing, though challenging environment.

Thirteen: I believe, as teachers, we must also let the game teach itself! Players can drill, drill, drill, but they also need to be put into scrimmage and real game-like situations where they can learn, be challenged, and be successful. You have to play the game. You have to be put in game time situations to get your timing, spacing, communication, sometimes even your thoughts and emotions right. With that being said, “Court sense” can pretty much be summed up as having “a keen appreciation of and ability to apply the right fundamentals in a timely fashion to existing game situations”.

Fourteen: As teachers, we must be able to break things down into simpler parts, so our students can start to get it, and we see that glint in their eye, a newfound confidence; a sense of progress. We must also be able to ratchet up the difficulty, by building things up, piece by piece, to keep our students challenged and getting better. This takes interested, hands-on, instruction. Some things take some time to get, but it’s important to make I-n-c-r-e-m-e-n-t-al progress, in every lesson, no matter how small, and make sure your students know they are involved in a process, that may take some time.

Fifteen: I consider John Wooden, Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, Pat Summitt, to be some of the greatest coaches that ever lived, and there are many other fine coaches/teachers to learn from in many walks of life. I feel that we are all learning or can learn from each other – either what to do, or what not to do, within basketball and beyond.

Sixteen: I believe, sophistication of offense - plays, schemes, rigid positions, etc. is fine, so long as it does not get in the way of basic principles, and/or results in too much thinking. Simplification is key - based on a matter-of-fact understanding of basketball plays, timing and spacing, and simply learning to quickly observe the details of what you see.

Seventeen: I believe great team defense wins championships – and that most definitely includes rebounding! Good teams will score points, and you have to score more points to win, but who will get the necessary “stops” when it counts? This comes down to hustle, anticipation, taking risks, helping each other, and extreme passionate energy – winning the “50/50” game (diving for loose balls, taking charges, getting deflections, etc. to tip the scales to your advantage.

Eighteen: When the leagues are comparable, I believe that good teams playing together beat teams of great individuals. Great individual offense will beat great individual defense, and the same can be said for team offense and team defense, with very rare exceptions.

Nineteen: Excellent communication and bonding on and off the court is probably the major factor in interpersonal and team chemistry, in whatever game(s) of life you are playing.

Twenty: I believe no matter what level, it has got to be more fun than not – there has to be progress, you have to be inspired, and inspire and serve others, too.

Twenty-one: Obviously professional basketball is mostly a business; nonetheless, there is still application for all of the above, in greater rather than lesser degree.

Thanks for reading. Coach Gil