COACHING STAFF

DBX Academy

Meet Founder, Camp Director – Sam Graham 

Sam Graham is the Founder and Camp Director of Dynasty Basketball Experience (DBX) and Head Coach of Basketball Development Club, DBX Wolves. 

Sam was born in Barbados in 1967 and raised in New York City. 

In 1985 Sam graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, a prestigious private school for boys, as a top player and defensive stopper in the Catholic league.  

Sam started his collegiate career at St. Bonaventure University, Olean, New York.  At the university, Sam was named as the “Defensive Player of the Year” in three of the four years and was the “Most Improved Player” after his second season. In 1989 Sam graduated earring a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. 

Sam attended basketball tryouts for the CBA (Continental Basketball League), at that time, the development league for the NBA. Sam made the team, however accepted an offer in Europe.

Professional Basketball career highlights:

1997 – 1998 1st Regionalliga 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany

1996 – 1997 1st Regionalliga VfB Gießen, Gießen, Germany 

1995 – 1996 1st Bundesliga Hamburg Tigers, Hamburg, Germany

1994 – 1995 1st Regionalliga VfB Gießen, Gießen, Germany 

1993 – 1995 1st Regionalliga, TSV KirchHeimBolanden, Germany

1993 ProB, Orlean Basketball Club, Orlean, France 

1992 – 1993 1st division Neptune Basketball club, Cork, Ireland 

1990 – 1991 2nd division Hottur Basketball Club in Iceland

1990 – 1st division Neptune Basketball Club in Cork, Ireland 

1989 – 1st division Super League Worthing Bears in Worthing, United Kingdom

Coaching background: 

2023 Founded Dynasty Basketball Experience, LLC, New York, USA

2020 – Founded Dynasty Basketball Experience (DBX), Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2019 – Founded Basketball Development Club, DBX Wolves, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2015 – 2018 – Founded Dynasty Sports, Basketball Camp Organization, Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

2006 – 2018 Basketball Coach / Technical Youth Director – Basketball Club, Blue Stars, Diemen/Amsterdam, The Netherlands

1998 – 2005  Founded “Slammers” in Germany, Player Agency and Camp Organization

1993 – 1998 Head Coach at Reebok Hoop Camps in Germany

1985 – 1998 Basketball Camps, Hottur, Iceland, Dublin University,  Orleans Basketball Club, France, US Embassy, Bonn, Germany

1985 – 1993 Poconos Basketball Camps, PA, USA, Syracuse University, NY, USA, Five Star Basketball Camps, PA, USA, Jim O’Brien Basketball Camps, Olean, NY,USA,  Charlie Ward Basketball Camp, Manhattan College, NY, USA, UNC Basketball Camp, NC, USA

Meet Head Coach – Torrell Martin

Torrell Martin is a former NBA player, European professional Basketball Player and Hall of Famer at Winthrop University.

Torrell  played with Orlando Magic during the 2007-08 NBA regular season and continued playing professionally in Poland, Germany, France and the United States.

Torrell is also the Founder of HOFTrain in South Carolina, USA.

FULL BIO HERE

Meet Head Coach – Bobby Ray Jones Jr.

Bobby Ray Jones Jr. is a former NBA player and European professional Basketball Player in Italy.

Bobby played for Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76-ers, San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets.

Bobby is a Certified Yoga Teacher and the Founder of Growing Up Compton, Los Angeles, USA.

FULL BIO HERE

Meet Head Coach – Linton Johnson

Linton Johnson is a former NBA player, an NBA CHAMPION (2005 San Antonio Spurs) and a European Professional Basketball player in Italy.

Linton played for Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Bobcats and Orlando Magic!!

Linton played in the Italian Pro League, and is a Basketball Coach and Skills Trainer in Italy were he currently resides with his family.

Linton is the Founder of High Five Supplements & Apparel and a Social Media Influencer. https://www.hifive5.it

FULL BIO HERE

Meet Head Coach – Dave Hopla

Dave Hopla is considered by many to be the top shooter in the world, regularly knocking down 495 out of 500 shots. He is the world-record holder of the most free throws in one minute with one ball and one passer, having made 26 shots out of 26 attempts. He also holds the record for the most NBA corner three-point shots having shot 18 of 18 with one ball and one passer in one minute. From the NBA three-point (23 feet. 9 inches), Hopla made 16 out of 17 attempts with one ball and one passer in one minute. These records can be seen on YouTube.

Dave’s coaching background with the NBA is as follows;

2016 2017 Detroit Pistons

2012 2012 to 2014-2015 New York Knicks

2005 2006 to 2008-2009 Washington Wizards

2005 2006 to 2008-2009 Toronto Raptors

Dave has worked with many NBA, College, and High School teams and players including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Iman Schumpert Carmelo Anthony, Zion Williamson, Metta World Peace. Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, Chris Bosh, Gilbert Arenas, Ben Gordon, Rip Hamilton, Kevin Love, Brandon Jennings as well as several WNBA players, including Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird.

Hopla has held many Shooting Camps all over the world and is still going! Dave’s home is at the “House of Hopla” in Naples, Florida where he runs shooting camps and personal training sessions.

Meet Head Coach – Keith Spencer

Keith Spencer is the Founder and Director of Player Development at Kingdom Performance in Dallas, TX.

Keith was raised in San Diego, CA where he began playing basketball at the age of 4. He was ranked amongst the top players in the state c/o 2003, receiving a McDonald’s All-American Nomination.

Keith received a full athletic scholarship to the University of Texas-San Antonio(UTSA), where he contributed to the dynamics of the roadrunner basketball program.

In 2008, Keith graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. He then signed a contract to play professional basketball for De Friesland Aris in the Netherlands where he was amongst the top rebounders in the league.

After his professional basketball career, Keith launched his basketball development business “KINGDOM PERFORMANCE” where he serves some of the top uprising players in Dallas, TX at his training facility.

Throughout his journey, Keith has coached high school basketball at John Paul II and International Leadership of Texas. He has also coached at top ranked youth basketball camps and international professional exposure events.

Keith’s mission is to meet players where they are and empower them to evolve daily.

2006 –  2008: University of Texas-San Antonio
2008 2010: De Friesland Aris (Holland)
2010 Launched Kingdom Performance
2011 –  2013 North Dallas Vandals (ABA)
2013 2014 Assistant Coach at John Paul II High School
2014 2022 Head Coach & Leadership Professor at International Leadership of Texas High School

FULL BIO HERE

Meet Head Coach – Ramses Kelly

Ramses Kelly is a former Professional Basketball player, a Cardinal Hayes HS School alumni and Hall of Famer of Spring Field College, Massachusetts, USA.

Ramses has and has played professionally in Germany, Sweden and Puerto Rico.

Rames is the Founder and Head Coach of  Drills and Skills in Florida, USA and Camp Director at  the Jr. Knicks and NBPA Basketball Camps in New York City.

Meet Head Coach – Donte Karon Wright

Donte Karon Wright is from Jackson, South Carolina and an alumni of South Carolina State University. Founder and Head Basketball Coach of OverLooked Skills Academy in South Carolina, USA.

Donte is also the Assistant Coach at Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina (NCAA, Division II).

Summary of Donte’s accomplishments:

  • Holds the SCSU school record of 3’s made in a season. (95)
  • Leading the country (Division 1) in made 3’s first 15 games of the season. Finished in top 50. (2017-2018)
  • Played in Zacatecas, Mexico. Lead the league in scoring. (41ppg)
  • Santa Cruz Warriors G League invitational only tryout.
  • Drafted 55th into the 2019 Worldwide Invitational Camp in Las Vegas.
  • Played in Liga Nacional de Basquet (LA Liga A Division 1) in Argentina.

Donte Karon Wright Pro 2018-2019 highlights

FULL BIO HERE

 

Meet Head Coach – Moses Cheek

Moses Cheek, Founder and Head Basketball Coach of OverLooked Skill Academy in South Carolina,  USA

Moses is a currently a Student Athlete at Erskine College, Due West, South Carolina, USA

FULL BIO HERE

Meet Head Coach – Mario Tarin Araus

Mario Tarin Araus is a true Streetballer and a genius at dribbling the ball. Mario has 4 years coaching experience and specializes in teaching and developing players’ ball handling and dribbling skills.

Mario started playing basketball at the age of 14. He is a self taught Basketball player, by watching players and basketball games at NBA level, gaining (technical) knowledge about the game of Basketball and various dribbling techniques.

Mario’s height (5ft 7 / 1.70) played an important role being accepted as a basketball player amongst other players. However, Mario was determined and motivated to become the best streetball player in Amsterdam and on the court of Museumplein. Daily training, playing with and against other (streetball) players took Mario to an unexpected high level of basketball other players could no longer deny; “He’s got Next!”.

From the age of 17 to 19, Mario played for Basketball Club, Harlem Lakers in Amsterdam and combined playing with coaching younger children and young adults.

In 2019 Mario joins Dynasty Camps & Clinics and was appointed Assistant Coach / Dribble Coach, coaching Basketball Programs developed by Sam Graham for the age groups 6 to 14. In this period Mario has coached 3 Camps in Amsterdam and Almere.

January 2020 Mario returns to DBX Academy and joins DBX Wolves. Mario is the coach of DBX Juniors Academy and DBX Wolves U10-U12 and U14-U16 team.

Thanksgiving day 2020, DBX Academy & DBX Wolves promotes Mario to Head Coach.

Mario coaching approach is positive and challenging. He has the ability to bring the best out of (young) players by acknowledging strengths and weaknesses and work towards improvement and overall success.