Developing players into skill-smart, fearless competitors, teaching the game in the right way, building real hoopers, for life.

The Watts Academy

"The most successful players are the ones who make the best use of their time and talent. It's not just about working hard, it's also about working smart and loving it."

Donald Watts

Why No Other Basketball Program Comes Close

The Watts Academy looks at your skills, goals and your life and create a program that works to get you where you want to go. We leverage our decades of experience of playing and coaching at the highest levels, create the most effective approach to youth basketball development, make the best use of your time and talent, accelerating you towards your goals. We prioritize individual skills development, teaching them the competitive mindset and the elite knowledge of the game, creating highly successful habits on the court that translate beyond.

BECOMING A REAL HOOPER, FOR LIFE.

We create a community for accelerating growth. It’s not magic, and it’s not rocket science. It’s about working hard and working smart. It’s also about working in a way that fits our lives and accelerates toward your goals.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

Igniting Passion:

We prioritize the enjoyment of the game, giving positive feedback and maximizing growth.

Becoming a Real Hooper:

We make sure our athletes are best prepared as they move on to the next levels of play. We implement the optimal ratio between training sessions, practices, and games.

Sustaining Progress:

We make sure our athletes are best prepared as they move on to the next levels of play. We implement the optimal ratio between training sessions, practices, and games.

PERSONALIZED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

We start every relationship with a meeting, to discuss and assess every player’s situation right from the start. In addition, there’s personalization at every level, including goal setting, evaluation and continual fine-tuning. They’re appropriately challenged and moved out of the comfort zone and into the “sweet spot” known as the growth zone, but never left in the panic zone.

a legacy of success

Training that comes from top professional experience- we offer the most effective approach to youth basketball development, based on the deep and broad experience that led to our success- most youth basketball organizations waste too much time, money, and emotional energy.

A SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY

Players learn best when they get to interact with their peers. That’s why our training program incorporates interaction between players across age and ability levels. This gives players opportunities to be inspired by and to learn from older, more skilled, collegiate or pro players. On the flip side, it gives them the chance to mentor someone in a skill that they’ve mastered, cementing their knowledge and mastery.

THE 3 STEPS TO BECOME AN ACADEMY MEMBER

LIMITED TO 20 PLAYERS PER GRADE LEVEL. FILL OUT YOUR APPLICATION TODAY!

FILL OUT YOUR APPLICATION

COME TO A WORKOUT AND SKILLS EVALUATION

interview with our team

Watts Family Background

The Watts Basketball family is one of the most successful families in basketball on the Northwest starting from Slick Watts, who was playing for the Sonics, down to his son, Donald Watts, who was playing for the Huskies, and even up to his grandkids Isaiah, who plays for the Cougars and Jadyn, who is playing at the Western Washington University.

DEVELOPMENTALLY OPTIMIZED TRAINING AT EVERY STAGE

Shooting Stars: 3rd-4th Grade

| THE FUNDAMENTAL STAGE |

The fundamental stage to ignite passion and learn how to train. The objective is to learn all basic movement skills by building overall motor skills. This is when an opportunity occurs to develop a lifelong love of the game, learn the fundamental skills and build overall athleticism.

Future Stars: 5th-6th Grade

| FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME |

Still within the learning to train stage, this is a transitional time where many players are deciding if they want to commit deeply to the game, stay part-time or drop the sport all together. The objective is to learn all of the fundamental skills, while still building overall sports skills. Varsity exposure and recruitment prep; focus on getting the experience required to be prepared for when it counts.

Rising Stars: 7th-8th Grade

| COMMITTING |

This training stage covers ages 11-16. The objectives are to build the aerobic base, strength toward the end of the phase and further develop basketball specific skills (build the engine and consolidate sport specific skills). The commitment to the game can be a consideration for children in this age group, however most are not ready to make the decision yet. The commitment must come from a personal choice by the player.

Varsity Prep: 9th-10th Grade

| THE DEDICATION |

Optimize fitness preparation along with individual and position specific skills, and performance on the court. Develop skill and group tactics. The objectives are to build the aerobic base, further develop and consolidate sport specific skills.

College Prep: 11th-12th Grade

| FINAL PHASE: FULFILLMENT |

Continue to refine skills and tactics previously learned with an emphasis on developing positional and team play. Improve consistency and speed of play. Maximize fitness preparation and individual and position-specific skills, as well as performance.