Difference Maker Program & DM Elite Open Run Standouts

[caption id="attachment_1054689" align="alignleft" width="175"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Difference-Maker-5-Julian-and-kid-3.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1054689" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Difference-Maker-5-Julian-and-kid-3-175x300.jpg" alt="" width="175" height="300" /></a> Julain Dunkley (R), founder of Difference Maker.[/caption] For the last two plus months of the Covid-19 pandemic era, elite prospects from the Philadelphia area and beyond have been caravanning to Cherry Hill, NJ to play basketball. Hold up!, you interject. What the heck is going on in Cherry Hill, NJ? Well that’s where former Temple / Maine standout, Euro-baller and Jamaican National team member Julian Dunkley and his Difference Maker program have been hosting their high level training sessions and scrimmages. The word among hoops heads as well as on social media is that the workouts and competition in Cherry Hill have been second to none. So that’s why ballers have been streaming over the bridge to Jersey lately. After a quick Q&A with Dunkley about his program, we’ll look at some of the prospects who have impressed at the Difference Maker Elite open runs. Prep Hoops: Basketball fans like myself know about your distinguished playing career from Top 50 high school player to college (Temple and Maine) to Europe (Austria and Turkey) to the Jamaican National Team. But I am curious, how did you get started on the sidelines as a coach / trainer? Dunkley: After college ball (Temple / Maine) I was blessed enough to have the opportunity to have a pro career. I played professionally in Vienna, Austria; Istanbul, Turkey; Belgium. I played for the Jamaican National team because I am Jamaican – I was born there. After I tore my Achilles and did not return to Europe, I started to coach. I coached at my alma mater, University of Maine. I went and coached at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. After that I moved out to San Diego for a couple years. I saw the landscape of how training was conducted in California. There was a lot of personal training for basketball and this was back in 2008 and I knew it was something I wanted to bring back to my home area. So when I came back, I started my company -- Difference Makers – and we concentrate on training guys from 8th grade all the way up to pro athletes. I have trained Jason Smith of the Sixers. Samardo Samuels (former Louisville player / NBA Draft pick). Tons of overseas guys and countless DI guys have come through the program. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Difference-Maker-2-Yellow.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1054683 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Difference-Maker-2-Yellow-211x300.jpg" alt="" width="211" height="300" /></a>Prep Hoops: What is the basketball philosophy of the Difference Makers program? Dunkley: We try to concentrate on developing these players. We are not an AAU program. We concentrate on training and we concentrate on mentorship and assist with guidance for the families on the recruiting process and helping them navigate through this basketball world. We want these kids to use basketball as a tool to get an education whether its DI, DII or DII. Prep Hoops: In terms of developing players on the court, what is the Difference Maker approach? Dunkley: We are heavy on footwork; fundamentals and balance. By balance I mean if you are doing things with your left hand, you have to be able to do it with your right as well. We also concentrate on perception. If you are a guard, you have to look like a guard. (If you are a big. Look and play like a big). So you have to pay attention to the details and the perception of the position. In this day and age everyone says ‘you know, I am a 6’7” wing’. But you can’t guard a wing. You can’t handle the ball with your opposite hand. You can’t finish with your opposite hand. You’re not good off the bounce. You don’t shoot it well. You just want to be a wing because you believe that’s the position that makes you look more valuable. We like to invert that and work on your game from the inside out. Once you master certain things like left and right finishes and the mid-range; then we venture out to the 3-point line and perfect that craft. We like to build from inside out for all our players. We believe in position-less basketball, so the 6’10” kid is going to work on the same things the 6’0 kid is working on. I think that helps with basketball IQ as well. Prep Hoops: How did you come up with the idea for the Difference Maker Elite open runs over in Cherry Hill, NJ? <img class="size-medium wp-image-1054703 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Difference-Maker-8-huddle-2-300x242.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="242" /> Dunkley: It started off as I wanted to have an outlet for the kids who train with me to get a chance for some exposure. I have trained a lot of players in the South Jersey and Philly areas. With the pandemic, I saw there was going to be limited AAU events going on so I conjured up a safe environment where kids can showcase their abilities. We have core kids that work out with me and are part of the program and they might play in the weekly run 4 times in a row. Those kids are going to get priority of kids who get recommended to me. But of course I take player suggestions from basketball guys I trust like Van Coleman and Randy Miller. Plus AAU coaches. College coaches can request to see certain kids. Prep Hoops: From humble beginnings has grown a basketball phenomenon. In August and now here in September the Difference Maker Elite Open Runs portion of your program has blown up. Can you tell me how the games became must play events for the Delaware Valley’s top prospects? Dunkley: When it first started, no one could go anywhere (because of Covid-19 pandemic) so nobody could come watch the kids play. When we first started doing it at Del-Val hoops, Ari Rosenfeld was recording the games on an iPad and uploading them to YouTube so college coaches and others could watch. Then Randy Miller (of the Miller Report) took it to another level by setting up the streaming part. I have a good friend, Rob Kelly at Baller TV, I connected him and Randy and the rest has been history. Prep Hoops: What’s next for the Difference Maker program? Dunkley: I see us getting creative. With the pandemic, I am hearing that high school hoops may not go full tilt until January. So going forward I want to continue with selective open run situations, but also want to get high school teams involved. Maybe select certain powerhouse high schools in the area and have them compete against each other. Not 2 or 3 games in a night, but one featured game per week that people and college coaches want to see before the season starts. [caption id="attachment_1054706" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Difference-Maker-4-tshirts.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1054706 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Difference-Maker-4-tshirts-300x174.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="174" /></a> Difference Maker t-shirts used in the Elite Open Runs.[/caption] Prep Hoops: Lets pause on the basketball talk for a quick second becasue you want to stress that your Difference Maker program goes deeper than just hoops. Dunkley: Absolutely. You don’t have to play basketball to be a difference maker. You need to make a difference in society and impact your community in a positive way. That makes you a difference maker. Our merchandise does not have a basketball on it and its does not say “Difference Maker training” on it. We are just trying to make a difference – PERIOD. Prep Hoops: Okay, so now the question everyone wants to know the answer to…who has played well in these Difference Maker Elite Open Runs? Dunkley: Off the top of my head, a number of guys…(Dunkley then proceeded to rattle off the following names and give me a few words on each player.) [player_tooltip player_id="990937" first="Hysier" last="Miller"] – 6’2” / Senior / Neumann Goretti / Point Guard: He set the runs off with a tremendous individual performance the first week. I think he had like 40 points or something like that and willed his team to victory. He has played really well consistently in the runs. I have to give a lot props to him for his play. Zach Hicks – 6’8” / Senior / Camden Catholic (NJ) / Small Forward: He has been tremendous. Handled the ball and competed consistently against everyone each week no matter their rank. He shoots the three at a high level. Wisler Sanon – 6’3” / Senior / Paul VI (NJ) / Small Forward: Wisler who is a NJIT commit has been playing great every week. One of the best on ball defenders and finishers in that state. [caption id="attachment_1054710" align="alignleft" width="195"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Difference-Maker-1-Simmons.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1054710 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/09/Difference-Maker-1-Simmons-195x300.jpg" alt="" width="195" height="300" /></a> Shawn Simmons of Huntington Prep has been crushing the DM Elite Open Runs.[/caption] Shawn Simmons – 6’6” / Junior / Huntington Prep (WV) / Point Guard: I can’t forget Shawn. He is one of the best across all the open runs. He is amazing. He is 6’6”, and a lights out, major, major player. Quadir Copeland – 6’6” / Junior / Life Center (NJ) / Point Guard: Copeland has had one of the best Covid, non-AAU seasons out of anyone. He’s a really good player. A 6’6” point guard and his future is looking really, really bright. Schools like Oregon, Penn State and Maryland, you name it, have been contacting him. Shane Dezonie – 6’4” / Senior / Brewster Academy / Combo Guard: He is now transferring and going to flourish at Brewster. Excellent defender. Unselfish player on the offensive end. Has all the tools to get what he wants out of the game. His best basketball is ahead of him. [player_tooltip player_id="990932" first="John" last="Camden"] – 6’8” / Senior / Brewster Academy (NH) / Wing: The former Carroll star is a hell of a player. Can play inside or out. Game seems to be constantly evolving and he plays with a tremendous amount of confidence. [player_tooltip player_id="990934" first="Sam" last="Ayomide Onu"] – 6’11” / Senior / Phelps School / Center: “Big Sam” from Phelps has really shown out. There’s some real growth in his game. Has the ability to dominate the paint. Good athlete who runs the floor and has a super soft touch. [player_tooltip player_id="1119147" first="Elmarko" last="Jackson"] – 6’3’ / Sophomore / Academy of the New Church / Point Guard: He is special. He’s really good and has been playing lights out basketball against the under and upper classmen. Plays like Russell Westbrook. Plays downhill and gets to the rack. His jump shot is getting better and he is figuring out how to get guys involved. Christian Tamasco – 6’9” / Senior / Archbishop Ryan / Center: Christian came out of his shell. You’re not going to find many 6’10” kids who can shoot threes, run the floor and block shots. The transfer to Ryan will be great for him. Great shooting touch. Very athletic. He is a legit shot blocker. [player_tooltip player_id="1116062" first="Elijah" last="Duval"] – 6’0” / Freshman / Msg. Bonner / Point Guard: One of the younger guys to play. He came in and played really well. He’s an explosive playmaker cut from an aggressive Westbrook (Russell) like cloth as well.   Thanks to Julian for his time and answers. Give him a follow on Instagram...@differencemakers1