In the end, basketball is still just a game.
But it’s love of the game that propels its practitioners to put in hours of work, day after day, to hone their skills.
These are the young men and women who dream of playing collegiate basketball. Whether that dreams involves national exposure at a Power 5 school or merely furthering their playing careers whilst helping to pay for their education, there is one constant from Division III on up.
Work.
You’re not getting anywhere without it.
Gone are the days of getting by on natural athleticism and genetics. There’s no more playing just during the season. Basketball is a year-round adventure.
Those that want to reap the rewards have to put in the time.
Jeremy Hays of Fadeaway Fitness knows this.
He’s been offering his services as a high-level basketball skills trainer for the last few years, continually building his brand and his client base.
He’s not the only option in the Ohio Valley. Others have successful client lists too. But Hayes’ results speak for themselves.
In just the class of 2020 alone, at least 13 local players, whether OVAC-based or ones who play for First Love Christian Academy in nearby Washington, Pa., are moving on to the collegiate realm.
Wheeling Central’s girls’ program had three Division I signees last season. All three work with Hays. Wheeling Park’s Shanley Woods, headed to Wheeling U here shortly? Also a client.
When coronavirus restrictions threatened to eat away at his business, Hays evolved. He debuted the #BeatTheTrainer skills competition videos on YouTube. Those quickly blew up both nationally and internationally.
It kept the players active and the Fadeaway brand in the spotlight. But the goal, as always, is making his players the best they can be.
For people who want to make a serious push at getting recruited, how essential is a dedicated skills trainer? Especially for the younger, developing players?
It’s as simple as this—you have to work out seven days a week. If you see a trainer one or two days a week, that’s great. What are you doing outside of your training session to maximize your skill development? I think it’s extremely noticeable for the players that workout or shoot or condition or lift, that they do something small every day vs. the players that pick up a ball when they have to or only when it’s basketball season. Some of my 2020 athletes have a very strict regimen of 2 and 3 workouts each day, and it’s no wonder why they are going to major Division 1, 2, & 3 schools.
In addition to the individual training, how else does and athlete benefit by working with someone in your position?
I think my knowledge of the game really helps, but also my connectedness to the basketball world is big. I have ties in both the Men’s & Women’s sides of the game. From Grade school to middle school to high school and AAU plus Prep School & Post Grad School into both Men’s & Women’s College Basketball into Professional levels overseas and the NBA G-league. Being able to network and connect with several coaches about a player is a direct relation as to why I am able to help so many players each year.
What are some of the traits you’ve noticed from players you’ve worked with that separate the ones with potential from the ones with potential that actually realize that potential and get recruited at the higher/highest levels?
Each player that I’ve worked with that has moved on is very special in their own right. They all have talent; all are skilled. Ultimately I think it comes down to dating vs. being married to the game. Everyone likes playing the game sure, but every single player in my recruiting class seems to truly be married to the game. They put so much time every day into lifting, running, shooting, working out, playing pickup, a second workout, watching film, on top of being a kid. I really think it speaks volumes of the character of each of those kids. I have no doubt in my mind they will really reach their full potential because they are disciplined in their craft and not just working when they feel like it.
You grew up in the OV and went to John Marshall, played collegiately and then a bit professionally and overseas. How is what’s available today different from the options available when you were rising up?
Honestly when I was growing up, I do not recall Basketball Skill Development Coaches or Trainers around. I think working with a high-level trainer would have truly benefited me as a player and person. Playing the game at an extremely high level, coaching it at a high level, and being able to help people really led me to creating this company.
Obviously the #BeattheTrainer videos were a huge success and you recently decided to stop at the 100th edition. But now you’ve moved on to periodic skill demonstration with some of your videos. Are you trying to branch out in that sense or is it more of a marketing tool, especially given the current situation we are in and restrictions players must work through to get extra work?
I started the #BeatTheTrainer Challenge once the quarantine hit, and it just took off. I gave people 100 free skill videos ranging from ball handling to shooting to defense, in an attempt to beat my score or my time. Once I finished Part 100, I was ready to wrap it up. The videos ended up in all 50 states and about 36 different countries. Recently, I have been doing small skill demos or breakdowns of a move, just something to help grow my brand. But I also continue to put out content; it’s just different. I’ve never really seen it before. People from all over are still sending in their videos, so it has been pretty amazing to see the Reach from the power of the internet over a small dribbling drill I did in West Virginia.
