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Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)
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21 years
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Qualified Private Coach
Passed Coach Course
James S.
Basketball
SILVER
Background Check Verified
Learn MoreThis coach has passed an identification, basic background, and sex offender check.
"Impact Basketball Certified Specialist and former pro player with 20 years of collegiate and scholastic coaching experience specializing in elite player development." View all coaching experience
Training Locations
My training location only
Packages
In-Person Training
for a single athlete
Comprehensive skill assessment and biomechanical film review.
Session Length: 1 hour
$130 1 session + applicable fees
Recommended
In-Person Training
for a single athlete
(Save $75): Best for short-term tune-ups before a season or tryouts. Focused skill building and situational game training.
Session Length: 1 hour
$575 5 sessions ($115/ea) + applicable fees
In-Person Training
for a single athlete
Most Popular. Allows for deep skill development and film review. $100 / session (Save $300) Complete seasonal development, advanced film breakdown, and recruitment consulting.
Session Length: 1 hour
$1000 10 sessions ($100/ea) + applicable fees
In-Person Training
for a single athlete
The Elite Athlete track. Designed for college/pro aspirations. $90 / session (Save $800) Full-scale athletic roadmap for athletes preparing for collegiate or professional play.
Session Length: 1 hour
$1800 1 session + applicable fees
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Adults, Kids, Teenagers
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Guard, Forward, Center
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Shooting, Rebounding, Reading the Floor, Post Moves, Pick and Roll, Passing, Moving Without the Ball, Footwork, Defense, Ball Handling, Attacking the Rim, Agility
Credentials
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Metropolitan State University of Denver (CO)
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21 years
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Qualified Private Coach
Passed Coach Course
Services
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Adults, Kids, Teenagers
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Guard, Forward, Center
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Shooting, Rebounding, Reading the Floor, Post Moves, Pick and Roll, Passing, Moving Without the Ball, Footwork, Defense, Ball Handling, Attacking the Rim, Agility
More About Coach James
Former Pro Athlete & Certified Impact Basketball Specialist | 20+ Years Elite Coaching Experience:
About Me: I bring over 20 years of basketball coaching excellence split equally between the collegiate and scholastic levels, backed by over a decade dedicated exclusively to elite player development. As an official Impact Basketball Certified Player Development Specialist, I utilize the world-renowned training system designed by Joe Abunassar (trainer to elite NBA stars like Kawhi Leonard and Tyrese Haliburton).
My approach fuses elite, on-court skill development with athletic performance tracking and academic consulting. Whether you are a scholastic player trying to break into the collegiate ranks, or a college athlete preparing to transition to the professional level abroad, my training system delivers an unmatched standard of success on and off the court. Core Expertise & Training Capabilities.
The Impact Basketball System: Implementing advanced, pro-level skill development drills, game-situation efficiency training, and mental conditioning.
Advanced Biomechanical Film Breakdown: Analyzing game and workout footage to optimize mechanics, improve shot consistency, and maximize on-court movement efficiency. Athletic Performance, Strength & Conditioning: Designing targeted, sport-specific strength, speed, and agility programs to protect against injuries and unlock peak explosiveness. Sports Consulting & Scouting: Providing expert roadmap consulting to help high school athletes navigate college recruitment, build academic success plans, and catch the eyes of scouts. Coaching & Leadership Highlights:
Academic & Athletic Sports Consulting (2015 – Present) Player Pipeline: Advanced numerous scholastic players to college teams and trained collegiate athletes transitioning to professional leagues overseas.
Performance Analysis: Utilized biomechanical video tracking to overhaul players' shooting forms and defensive footwork.
Head Boys Basketball Coach | Alameda International High School: Academic Turnaround: Implemented a rigorous Academic Success Plan that successfully raised the team GPA from 1.6 to 2.6 within a single year.
Player Advancement: Placed academically at-risk student-athletes into regional community colleges to continue their athletic and educational journeys.
Roster Optimization: Fielded highly competitive, disciplined varsity squads despite a major height disadvantage (tallest player on the team was 5'10").Character Development: Earned special recognition from CHSAA officials for team character, discipline, and outstanding sportsmanship.
Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach | Johnson & Wales University-Winning Culture: Propelled the program to Post-Season Tournament appearances in 6 out of 7 seasons. Elite Recruiting: Served as lead Collegiate Recruiter, building the most talented recruiting class in the university's history.
Defensive Architect: Designed and executed the overall defensive philosophy and schemes for the program. Comprehensive Player Development: Led post and wing player development while orchestrating the year-round strength and conditioning programs.
Assistant Boys Basketball Coach | Denver East High School-Championship Record: Contributed to a legendary 144-16 overall record, capturing two Colorado 5A State Championships (including an undefeated 24-0 season in 2006) and a State Runner-Up finish. Elite Talent Production: Coached and developed 6 Division-1 players and 1 professional player, including Colorado 5A Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year,
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics | Arapahoe Community College-Financial Management: Served as Chief Operating Officer, erasing an inherited $80K deficit and turning it into a budget surplus within a year through creative fundraising. Academic Excellence: Established an athletic academic tracking program that skyrocketed student-athlete graduation rates to 86%.Elite Facilities: Successfully secured player access to a state-of-the-art $3M athletic training facility.
Peer Recognition: Honored as the NJCAA Region IX Co-Athletic Director of the Year. Playing & Educational Pedigree
Professional & Post-Collegiate Play: National Basketball Association (NBA): Denver Nuggets Rookie/Free Agent Camp
Continental Basketball Association (CBA):
Suited up for the Yakima Sun Kings (veterans camp) (the top NBA minor league system at the time).
International Play: Professional contract in Luxembourg
World Basketball Opportunities Touring Team in Mexico City
Collegiate Play. Metropolitan State College of Denver (D-II): Two-year varsity starter, team co-captain, All-Conference selection, and 1st-Team All-Tournament honors. Averaged 11 PPG and 6 RPG.
Illinois Central College (JUCO): 3rd-Team All-American, team MVP, and co-captain. Averaged 25 PPG and 7 RPG, scoring over 30 points in 14 different games before signing a Division-1 letter of intent with Eastern Washington University.
Peoria Manual High School: Pre-season Dandy Dozen, Conference Newcomer of the Year, and led the entire conference in field-goal percentage (60% FG) senior year.
Certifications & Professional Development. Impact Basketball Certified Specialist
CHSAA Certified Coach (Active)
Continuous Education: Annual attendee of elite coaching clinics including the PGC Glazier Basketball Clinics and the Nike Championship Coaching Clinics to stay ahead of the evolving basketball landscape.
Commitment to Development: Training Packages: Player development does not happen overnight. To see measurable results in basketball IQ, biomechanics, and court confidence, I highly recommend multi-session packages. Shorter packages are excellent for fine-tuning specific skills, while 10 and 20-session packages allow us to fully implement the Impact Basketball System, complete with deep post-session film review.
Having played on the Scholastic level at Peoria Manual High School under legendary Hall of Fame Coach Dick Van Scyock who holds the records for all time wins in Illinois High School history.
Later, I starred at Illinois Central College where I was 3rd team All America, All Region 24, All Conference and Conference MVP (25 PPG, 6RPG): 14 Division-1 Offers while @ Illinois Central College.
Lettered at NCAA-D-2 power Metro State. Varsity Letterman, All Tournament team (Christmas Holiday Tourney), All time FG% (current) leader.
Participated in the NBA Denver Nuggets Rookie and Free Camp directly after Collegiate career (Invite only).
Played abroad & in what was then the NBA minor league (G-league currently) for the (CBA-Yakima Sun Kings-Veteran's Camp).
Investment in Elite Development:
Single Session Baseline Evaluation ($135): A comprehensive 1-on-1 athletic evaluation, full biomechanical film analysis, and custom roadmap layout.
5-Session Commitment ($575 / Save $100): Designed for deep tactical sharpening and mechanical alignment.
10-Session Elite Development Package ($1,000 / Save $350): Our most popular track. Fully integrates the Impact Basketball System with ongoing digital film review.
20-Session Pro-Prep Package ($1,800 / Save $900): Complete year-round training program including academic recruiting strategy for college and professional advancement.
What to Expect: The Premium Training Experience1.
The Two-Phase Development Process. Your investment extends far beyond the time we spend on the hardwood. Every booking includes a complete feedback loop: Phase 1: The On-Court Session – High-intensity, focused, and tailored physical training.
Phase 2: Post-Session Digital Review – You will receive a comprehensive breakdown in the Coach-Up app. I carefully review performance clips and provide detailed written feedback so the athlete knows exactly how to apply what they learned to their next team practice.
Professional Training Focus Every session targets elite fundamentals modeled after pro-level game scenarios. We specialize in the following:
Elite Footwork & Posture: The foundation of all explosive on-court movements.
Biomechanical Form Shooting: Overhauling and perfecting mechanics for ultimate consistency.
Positional Game Scenarios: Position-specific reads, scoring variants, and high-IQ playmaking.
The 4-Pillar Skill Set: Focused drilling across Offense, Defense, Purposeful Dribbling, and mastering the catch-and-attack to maximize scoring options.
Facility & Attendance Policies Exclusive, Distraction-Free Access To maintain elite focus, workouts are held in a fully private facility who is allowed: The Player Development Coach, the athlete, and the parents/guardians only.
The Benefit: Zero crowds, zero noise, and absolutely zero distractions.
Your athlete receives 100% of my attention and the court's real estate.24-Hour Cancellation policy, because court slots at this private facility are reserved and paid for in advance, a strict 24-hour cancellation policy is enforced, Any session changes or cancellations must be made at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled start time. Late cancellations or no-shows will be charged the full session rate to cover the facility booking fee. Thank you for respecting the schedule and our facility partners.
Action Photos
Client Reviews
Briana (CoachUp client)
Coach James was very knowledgeable and thorough with his coaching session. The way he breaks things down to help us understand building the right technique on the court has really helped our kid excel and grow!
Julia (CoachUp client)
Woah! Coach James instantly identified my son’s injury and provided proactive solutions to enable him to progress in the game and to continue to recover his health. My son can only improve with Coach James’ outstanding player development system. We could not be more impressed!! We can’t wait for the next training session!
Brittany (CoachUp client)
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Lisa (CoachUp client)
Very good 1st session. Very positive and understood what skills needed improvement. Looking forward to the next session.
Lori (CoachUp client)
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Neal (CoachUp client)
Coach James has a lot of expertise to share. He focuses on the fundamentals and stresses to players and parents how perfecting the fundamentals leads to long term success. We will definitely continue to seek out his coaching.
Gray (CoachUp client)
James is a great coach. He focuses on then weaknesses of the player and turns them into strengths.
Aspen (CoachUp client)
Coach James was awesome, we had our first lesson with him a few weeks ago and after about 20 mins in I knew we were going to continue with him! He really focused on the fundamentals with my son, which is what he needed. He was stern but friendly at the same time if that makes any sense lol which is exactly what I need with a pre-teen. I can’t wait to see where coach James is able to teach my son!
James (CoachUp client)
Great coach , takes the time to explain and help improve on everything.
JoAnn (CoachUp client)
5 Star all the way!
My daughter had an AMAZING first session with Coach James!
Today was an eye opener for my daughter. She never had proper coaching before, especially starting with the basics. Although he worked her hard during the hour, you could see the growing excitement in her attitude and enthusiasm! It was that ‘aha’ moment once she realized the lack of knowing the basics and she can’t wait to get back on a court to keep practicing. She learned more in one hour than in her whole past season.
Coach James truly has a talent for teaching and so glad he’s choosing to share it with today’s youth - both on and off the court!
Samantha (CoachUp client)
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Herb (CoachUp client)
Coach James was amazing with my 13 year old (no experience) son! Fantastic fundamentals and excellent drills to work on at home, I can already see a huge improvement. We just scheduled his next session.
Rebecca (CoachUp client)
My son has had an incredible experience with Coach James. He has focused on my son’s body mechanics to help him improve his ability to make shots. My son has never had a coach focus on the basics like this and what he needs to change personally. Most coaches focus on the group as a whole instead of what each player can improve on individually but this is exactly what he is doing. He is helping my son get ready for tryouts and I just wish we had found Coach James sooner.
Jen (CoachUp client)
Coach James is amazing. He didn’t just have my son shoot the ball for an hour, but spent the entire time working with him to correct his shooting form. By the end, my son was hitting most of the baskets and was excited to go practice! His patience and attention to detail are phenomenal! We will definitely be booking more sessions!
Kathryn (CoachUp client)
James is completely engaged and a fantastic coach for my son!!
Alyssa (CoachUp client)
Our time with Coach James has been awesome. He’s a firm believer in not just teaching our kids to shoot and dribble but to break down the fundamentals of basketball so make sure our kid becomes a REAL and solid basketball player. My son is 14 years old stands about 5’10-5’11. On his AAU team he plays center but is wanting to play more positions. Coach James is getting my him ready for high school ball to play a wing position. My son’s confidence in his dribbling, shooting, eye coordination and footwork is improving DAILY. I see my son practicing those same drills in the mornings when we’re alone. I see my son confidence building every time he steps foot on that court. Thank you Coach James for everything you do and instilling confidence and belief into my son. Can’t wait until our next visit.
Clint (CoachUp client)
Coach James was awesome! After one session with my daughter she showed an improvement in shooting, just like they worked on! She had a tournament a few hours after her session and Coach James was thoughtful enough to send a message to talk about how she was doing in the games. You can tell he really cares.
Kristi (CoachUp client)
First session with James was great. My son was able to correct some “bad habits” and see how the correction affected his accuracy and ball handling. Will definitely be back!
Carl (CoachUp client)
Coach James has been a great personal coach for our 8th grade son. James stresses fundamentals and is positive and fun to be around. You can tell he loves the game and what he does. After just a few sessions my son has leaned a lot and looks forward to each session.
Chris (CoachUp client)
Coach James is an extremely effective coach. His focus on getting the biomechanics and proper techniques correct have allowed Jack to take his game to the next level! I highly recommend choosing James as a coach to level up your game.
Victoria (CoachUp client)
After just one basketball session we are already seeing improvement. Thank you Coach James for providing quality lessons for our daughter! She left feeling empowered with new skills and a positive outlook!
Roman (CoachUp client)
Coach James S. is exactly what we were looking for in an individual coach. Fundamentals are paramount, and James is exceptional with immediate first time study and analysis. Corrective work, teaching, explaining and instruction ruled this first session. My son indicated that he had never received this type of instruction and level of detail. The written analysis and feedback from Coach James will be instrumental for my son to review, and work on improving to become a better basketball player. We are excited to continue growth and development with Coach James.
Roman G.
Dana (CoachUp client)
My son loved his first coaching session with Coach James. He feels like he learned so much, and is looking forward to training with James again soon!
Zachary (CoachUp client)
I have been enjoying training with Coach James! I am a post-high school player pretty new to playing basketball, want to improve, and Coach James has worked with me at my skill level. He is patient, friendly, and it is clear he has experience and knows what he is talking about. In the time I have been working with him I can already tell I am improving. I recommend training with him and will definitely be continuing to work with him in the future!
Tiffany (CoachUp client)
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Keyshawn (CoachUp client)
Coach James Shettleworth is amazing at what he does. I spent a year playing college basketball in New Mexico and decided to take a year off. I got in touch with coach James recently to get back in shape and work on my skills and have been doing workouts since then. The different things he puts you through during your workouts very closely resemble the things I had to do at the college level. If you are a college athlete then coach James can help keep you prepared while getting you better and if you are an aspiring college athlete then I can confidently say there is no one better to help you prepare than him. I would recommend him to any and everyone looking to reach there full potential in basketball! I have already seen huge differences in my game in the short amount of time I have been working with coach James!
Shawn (CoachUp client)
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Christian (CoachUp client)
Very professional.
Daisi (CoachUp client)
We were impressed with Coach James S.’s patience; knowledge and overall demeanor evaluating my grandson’s skill set.
He emphasized the importance of basketball fundamentals in addition to everyday practical life skills.
We highly recommend him!
Hillary (CoachUp client)
James is very knowledgeable - my daughter learned a lot in just one session. We will definitely book w/ James again.
Jadon (CoachUp client)
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Cory (CoachUp client)
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Glenn (CoachUp client)
We attended our first session with James this past week and I came away very impressed with James' approach and his demeanor. We have been to our fair share of skills development trainers, but James was the first one that really honed in on footwork, taking proper angles to the ball, and small technical nuances. In addition, he kept my son and I appraised at all times as to what he was doing and why for each exercise. I look forward to having my son work with James in the future and would recommend him to anyone looking for a trainer that is invested in the development of your child and extremely knowledgeable as to the game itself.
Joni (CoachUp client)
Coach James was awesome! After just one session my son learned a ton... we will definitely schedule more sessions with Coach James. I would recommend him to anyone.
Lance (CoachUp client)
Coach James, should be called King James! Excellent mentor with exceptional basketball skills and knowledge for the game, my boy learned about footwork and shooting skills, what a improvement on his first lesson. Will definitely sign up for more sessions.
Duane (CoachUp client)
Coach James has been working with my son now for two months. He is a Freshman in High School and never even touched a Basketball until he signed up for the team last fall. He secured his spot on the bench all season yet ended with a love for the game and a determination to improve. Weekly sessions with Coach James is having a profound impact on my son. He is learning fundamental basketball and will likely be a starter on the JV team his Sophomore year. Coach James is on time to the sessions and always brings a BIG smile and a GREAT attitude. His positive influence on my son as a young man is more important than the lessons. If you are considering hiring a private coach for your son or daughter, Coach James in your man!
Blake (CoachUp client)
I’ve had 5 sessions so far with coach james, and each time I get better and plan on coming back for more. He does a great job pushing your comfort zones to improve your game in areas you didn’t even know needed improvement.
Jennifer (CoachUp client)
Great session with James! Very personable, and his knowledge of the game are obvious. Olivia thoroughly enjoyed the session and feels that James can certainly help her grow. Can’t wait for June when we can work more closely!!
Devin (CoachUp client)
Great coach, he really focuses on your weaknesses and helps you make them a strength of yours. I have booked him more then once now and will continue to book him.
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