Transforming Basketball
Transforming Basketball
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Transforming coaches

Their coaching changed.
Your story could be next.

Nine coaching case studies: the starting challenge, the changes in practice and what each coach noticed, alongside their full original interviews.

Before and after

What changed for their teams

Real coaches, their starting point, what they changed and what happened next. Results are as each coach reported them.

Varsity head coach, International School of San Francisco · USA

State champions, with turnovers down and assists up.

Paul Cortes

Before
In the previous season’s final loss, opponents trapped his point guard every time he crossed half court and the team froze. Practice opened with a dynamic warm-up and guard and post breakdown lines.
What changed
He went all in on the constraints-led approach. Tag games replaced the warm-up, constrained 1-on-1 finishing opened practice and half-court 4-on-3 became a staple. Early practices followed Alex’s practice plans from the website.
After
The school’s first state championship, in his first full season with the approach. Paul says turnovers fell and assists rose as the season went on, and when teams trapped his point guard in the postseason, his teammates made the play.
“As the season went along, our turnovers went down and they got lower and lower. And our assists went up and they got higher and higher.”
Paul Cortes
Listen to EP117 of the podcast

Director of Coaching, Wyndham Basketball · Australia

Fewer turnovers, and both senior titles in one season.

Gerard Hillier

Before
Offensive decisions were scripted for the players instead of read from the defense.
What changed
The club taught the conceptual offense principles in every age group from U12 to seniors, so players read defenders and chose from shared concepts.
After
Gerard reports fewer turnovers and fewer pauses in possessions, the club’s first season winning both senior Big V titles and multiple Australian 3x3 national titles.
“The club has implemented the Youth Conceptual Offense principles into all the age groups across the program from U12 to seniors.”
Gerard Hillier
Read the Youth Conceptual Offense case studies

Head coach, Camas High School · USA

School records in the first season.

Ryan Josephson

Before
A program with more than 100 years of history, starting its first season with the conceptual offense.
What changed
Camas committed to the offense for the full season, then hosted a team camp with Alex Sarama to keep building it.
After
A 20-4 record, school records for season points, points per game (76.1) and assists, and 30 assists in a game twice. It was the second most wins in more than 100 years of school history.
“We can’t wait to continue with the offense heading into our second season.”
Ryan Josephson
Read the Youth Conceptual Offense case studies

Boys head coach, public high school · USA

From set spots to a player-led state title team.

James Anderson

Before
His team ran a drive and space offense that was only partly conceptual. Players were still told where to go on each possession.
What changed
After Alex ran a camp at his high school in 2022, James built the offense around triggers such as the get, pistol and wide action, with players choosing the read. In the title season, shot selection became a principle of play.
After
A player-led program and a state title. James says he can now put a working offense in with a new group of sixth graders in one night.
“It really turned us into a player-led program when we started playing conceptually.”
James Anderson
Listen to EP162 of the podcast

U9 and U11 coach, Basket Club Piégros · France

U11s who lost by up to 40 won the rematches by up to 25.

Francois Lubino

Before
A mixed U11 team of mostly beginners. The girls were shy playing against all-boys teams, and the team lost games by 15 to 40 points. Francois had coached with on-air repetition and form shooting.
What changed
He went all in on the constraints-led approach for the 2023-24 season, with tag and dribble games in place of on-air drills, supported by the membership.
After
By the last games of the season, they won the same matchups by 15 to 25 points. The club’s senior coach noticed his U9s dribbling with their heads up, without Francois ever having to ask for it.
“I never have to tell them this in practice because we simply play tag and dribble games which allow this to emerge.”
Francois Lubino
Read Francois’s full story

High school and AAU coach · USA

Dropped to the lowest AAU level, then they put on a show.

Chris Hutchins

Before
A group of high school girls dropped to the lowest AAU level by their clubs for not being “good enough”, and blown out by other teams in late August.
What changed
Chris and another coach trained them with Transforming’s CLA videos and education.
After
They played the teams that had blown them out and, in Chris’s words, put on a show. Parents called it the most impressive improvement they had ever seen.
“Not only did I have parents saying this was the most impressive improvement they had ever seen but the girls had a blast!”
Chris Hutchins
Read more coaching stories

U14 boys head coach, Barking Abbey Basketball · England

U14s running a conceptual offense with no set plays called.

Rovel Yakobe

Before
Rovel came from a traditional approach, with drills run without defense and players told what to do.
What changed
Small-sided games with defenders in every practice, and constraints in place of instructions. He drew on the membership’s games and discussions and the summer camp in Italy.
After
His U14 boys play a conceptual offense without him calling any set plays.
“My team are playing a conceptual offense without me having to call any set plays.”
Rovel Yakobe
Read Rovel’s full story

Girls head coach, Fort Collins High School · USA

Coach of the Year in his first season, after a losing year.

Carson Huelle

Before
The team had a losing record the season before he arrived, after several coaching changes. Carson grew up believing every team needed a continuity offense.
What changed
He used the CLA in almost every practice. Every turnover cost a point in every game, and the offense ran on rules such as floor is lava and 1 can’t guard 2 instead of a set pattern.
After
In his first season as a head coach, Carson was named high school Coach of the Year. He says his players started taking care of the ball once losing small-sided games cost them.
“No matter what the drill was this past season, every time it's a turnover, it's minus a point.”
Carson Huelle
Listen to EP161 of the podcast

High school program coach · Australia

A top 20 state program with divisional titles.

Jesse Pittman

Before
A high school program with a clear goal: become a top 20 state program and win state divisional titles.
What changed
The program built practice from Transforming content, adapted for every age group.
After
Jesse credits Transforming with helping the program reach that goal, including state divisional titles.
“Transforming Basketball has been incredible in helping our high school basketball program reach our goal of becoming a top 20 state program and winning state divisional titles.”
Jesse Pittman
Read more coaching stories

Professional player, Bochum · Germany

A pro shooter who stopped repeating the same shot.

Niklas Geske

Before
In his first years as a professional, Niklas got 100 threes up before every practice, for weeks and months.
What changed
He switched to differential learning shooting with Felix Engel’s guidance, changing the angle, footwork, arc or pass on almost every shot.
After
Felix says Niklas’s shooting percentages were better than the season before. Niklas says he now adapts to different arcs and to defenders closing in during games.
Listen to EP61 of the podcast

Original English stories

1–3 of 9 coaches

Kane Mastin

Kane Mastin

High school · Illinois, USA

Kane shares how stepping back from micromanaging helped his players build autonomy and rediscover joy in the game.

Read Kane’s case study
Line Lundfald

Line Lundfald

Regional basketball · Sweden

Line describes more adaptable practice plans, better decisions and a stronger network of coaches.

Read Line’s case study
George Gillam

George Gillam

MK Breakers · England

George explains how more relevant challenges changed his coaching and his players’ progress.

Read George’s case study
Francois Lubino

Francois Lubino

Youth basketball · France

Francois moved beyond the drills he grew up with and found new ways to help his U9 and U11 players learn.

Read Francois’s case study
Elias Maahs

Elias Maahs

Youth & men’s basketball · Germany

Elias describes becoming a coach who creates problems for players to explore and solve.

Read Elias’s case study
Jeff Schmidt

Jeff Schmidt

Player development · Colorado, USA

Jeff brought the approach into his training business and club teams, changing how he sees and coaches the game.

Read Jeff’s case study
Rovel Yakobe

Rovel Yakobe

Youth basketball · London, England

Rovel explains his move toward small-sided games, purposeful constraints and a conceptual offense.

Read Rovel’s case study
Jonathan Vanderlinck

Jonathan Vanderlinck

Club basketball · Belgium

Jonathan shares how a different approach helped him connect with his players and reduce his own coaching stress.

Read Jonathan’s case study
Ryan Keeler

Ryan Keeler

School basketball · New York, USA

Ryan describes players working together to find solutions, with more ownership and more fun at practice.

Read Ryan’s case study