Peter Gonzalez

My name is Peter Gonzalez. Currently known as “Coach Gonzo.” It has been a privilege to coach high school basketball for 18 years in Harlem New York (A. Philip Randolph High School).

I started in 2007 as a volunteer Boys JV basketball coach at A. Philip Randolph High School (APR).

In 2008, I was hired as the Boys JV basketball head coach at APR where I served to prepare athletes for the varsity level when they entered whether their sophomore year or junior year.

In 2011, I was hired as the varsity basketball head coach at APR. Continuing my passion of developing student-athletes and building a winning program. Challenges occurred. Many loses happened, but one proud life achievement is that I was helping passionate student-athletes achieve their dreams of playing at the next level.

From 2007 to now, 51 out of 203 student-athletes have gone on to play ➡️📝🏀(D1, D2, D3, JUCO, NAIA, & USCAA) under my coaching supervision. This is beyond a blessing because when i started in 2007, all I wanted was to make the playoffs. The basketball God's has other plans for my coaching career and have not only assisted student-athletes, but have achieved a milestone of 100+ wins as a coach.

In 2023,i earned a Gold License for Youth Development USA Basketball (41751603) in order to coach AAU basketball for the riverside hawks impact team.

Currently now at APR, I serve as still the head varsity boys basketball coach and overall basketball consultant for the boys, girls and all related basketball activities in the school. Due to my long time and professional involvement at APR, a basketball class was created so that students can learn the game and earn a physical education high school credit as well.

Certifications: CPR, AED, First AID, Concussion

https://www.psal.org/profiles/coach-profile.aspx#6806/001

1999-2003- Played Varsity Basketball for George Washington High School in New York City for all four years of my high school career.

2000-2003- Average 10+ points, 7+ rebounds, 4+ assists, 2+ steals, 1+ block per game in all three seasons after my freshmen year.

2003- Got recruited by two division 3 programs such as City College and Baruch college. However, decided to attend the State University of New York at Brockport on an academic scholarship. Graduating with a 3.7 Grade Point Average.

2007- Attended Columbia University for my grad work on an academic scholarships as well while serving as a the Boys JV Basketball coach at APR (A. Philip Randolph High School). Graduated with a 4.0 Grade Point Average.

I still play this beautiful game that I love. I take pride in being in basketball shape and playing for as long as possible

The session depends on the athlete. For the majority of my pro clients, we have an understanding based on the clubs they currently play for and what their contracts entail. The goal is to get them a better contract or find them a better deal.

For my collegiate athletes, i use synergy and dialogue with the coaching staff at their schools. Usually, with synergy alone, we break down their touches and create a workout session that revolves around their role on the team and ONE skill they would like to improve from the summer to the start of the season.

For my high school athletes, intensity is the word. Every skill should be trained in an intense manner. Here at Point GuardZalez academy we make sure that intensity is never an issue and we hold our clients accountable by making sure they work with an intense purpose on their own.

A typical training session starts with ball handling and dynamic warm ups at the same time. I believe athletes should be taught to combine both during the length of the year and isolating their body to more specific warm ups during the season. Ball handling at Point GuardZalez Academy (PGZA) consists of two basketballs or a basketball with a tennis ball to develop and enhance ball handling reactive movements.

After ball handling, we transition into finishing at the rims. Types of finishes are based on the skill and strength level of the athlete. Finishing drills can be establish from no contact to no defenders to full on contact and multiple defenders from help side to ball screen defenders. Again, these finishing drills at the rim are truly predicated on the client.

Then, after finishing at the rim we practice and drill decision making in the paint. No matter what level or skill, all basketball players should be able to pass the ball while utilizing two feet in the lanes and two feet finishes at the rim.

After paint passing, we can warm up the shooting mechanics for shooting drills. No matter what the age or skill level, athlete will be instructed and taught to calibrate their shooting mechanics by shooting close to the rim. An athlete is only able to start shooting outside the paint with me (Coach Gonzo) if they can make 30 jump shots in the paint while shooting at least 50%. Meaning if the athlete takes 60 shots, they have to make 30. For more advance athletes ( pros) I make them shoot all net shots in the paint and still require them to shoot 50%. This is all done with no defense.

If an athlete is able to shoot efficiently beyond the paint, drills are broken based on skill level and the type of jump shots. Type of jump shots can go from a) off the dribble B) movement without the ball C) Transition jump shots D) Catch and shoot E) a free throw F) shooting out of triple threat with different jabs and pivots G) Post up fade aways H) side steps I) Step backs etc

For me, I personally always drill catch and shoot and reading a closeout. Reading a closeout is one of the most fundamental types of shooting or drives to the basket that will occur in a game.

After shooting, I (Coach Gonzalez) always end with defense. Defensive movements like playing help side, proper communication, learning how to guard the ball, guarding one pass away, guarding two passes away, guarding cutters, giving a proper foul, boxing out will the ball is in the air, playing a ball screen by switching it, doubling the ball handler, going over or under, etc are principals that are always added at the end. Less is more so I usually take ONE DEFENSIVE principle and drill it for weeks. Sometimes even more because in these times, many do not watch a FULL game. This is the microwave era, highlights are fast and athletes are moving to the next clip immediately.

When the session is over, I ask my client or athlete two very fundamental questions:
1) How do you feel?
2) Did you feel like you were CHALLENGED today?

Fortunately, all athletes and past clients response in the last 18 years have been on the side of optimism and positive.