Program Preview: Drive Nation Houston
The History: Drive Nation was founded in 2016 by former NBA forward Jermaine O’Neal. Coach Cutter and Coach Martin decided to partner up with the Drive Nation brand and bring it to Houston, TX. This is our first year of…
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Continue ReadingThe History: Drive Nation was founded in 2016 by former NBA forward Jermaine O’Neal. Coach Cutter and Coach Martin decided to partner up with the Drive Nation brand and bring it to Houston, TX. This is our first year of Drive Nation Houston.
2020 Goals? Our goal for 2020 is to establish a winning culture on and off the court. We want to be the brand that becomes the new model for AAU programs. We plan on doing this by getting our players prepared to play against elite competition. Our coaches, players, and parents will be organized and respectful. Last year we played in the circuit under the team name TSK. We had great success but weren’t good enough. We want that to change this year. With that said, we understand the level of competition we’re getting into. Our goal is to be number 1. Simply put, we want to be the best.
The Mission: Our program’s mission each year is to be one of the best programs in the circuit. We want to get our kids as much exposure as possible. Last year Coach Cutter and Coach Martin assisted 19 young men in earning college scholarships. Our program has that same focus this year. Having two teams in the 17U division and one team in the 16U division, it’s extremely important for our players to play on the main court and against the best teams, the circuit has to offer. We believe this is one piece of the puzzle that can help our players receive interest from colleges and eventually offers to play at the next level. As for our 7th and 8th-grade team, we’re looking to continue their development as players and as a team. We believe that playing against the elite competition will help with that process.
Why Prep Hoops: We chose to be a part of the Prep Hoops Circuit because it’s the #1 independent circuit in the country. Last year a tremendous amount of our players got exposure. The competition is elite, the tournaments are organized and the staff is wonderful. It’s an absolute honor to be a part of the Prep Hoops Circuit.
Team Strengths: Drive Nation Houston has five teams in the circuit (13U – 17U). Each team is different but very competitive. Each team has a plethora of strengths. With that said, our strength is our teams. Each team is led by coaches with multiple years of experience. We systematically chose a group of players on each team that would fit with the culture that we teach with this program. We have some of the best players in Texas and multiple players who are ranked within the city of Houston.
X-Factor Players: |
| 17U | DN Houston Cutter | Lonzo Rade | is a true SG with great IQ and shooting ability. He handles the ball with ease, getting by opponents and finishes strong at the basket. He’s one of the best kept secrets in his class.
| 17U | DN Houston Martin | Jacob Harvey | is the leading 4A scorer in Houston and the 7th leading scorer in Texas. He can play PG or SG and has a solid mid-range and 3 point game. He has great playmaking ability, plays smart, has a lot of energy and desire to be the best.
| 16U | DN Houston Gray | Jaylon Johnson | has been on the Summer Creek varsity team as a freshman. The sophomore guard can play fast and is very acrobatic at the rim. He can shoot the three very well and easily beat his man off the dribble.
| 14U | DN Houston Boston | Eric Woods | is one of the best 8th graders in his class. He’s an attacking guard who can score in many different ways. He has tons of potential and can be a college athlete if he continues on the path that he’s currently on and puts in the required work it takes to develop.
| 13U | DN Houston Jason | Eric Lavergne | is an exciting young prospect for his age level. He’s a leader on the court with his teammates and excellent court vision. He’s also an excellent defensive player.
Players to Watch:
| 17U | DN Houston Cutter | Ja’Dyn Chaney, Lonzo Rade, Eli Lee, Thirey Smiley
| 17U | DN Houston Martin | Jacob Harvey, RJ Crawford, Jabari Miller, Robel Desta
| 16U | DN Houston Gray | Jaylon Johnson, Donovan Pointer
| 14U | DN Houston Boston | Eric Woods
| 13U | DN Houston Jason | Eric Lavergne