Bound for Glory
By Demone Gore
Making a leap from the University of Iowa, to a starting position for the Krefeld Panthers of Krefeld Germany, Jason Price and Duez Henderson were bound for glory; not because they can box-out, set the pick-n-roll, or know when to make a bounce pass, but because they can teach these fundamentals to our youth.
Bound 4 Glory was conceptualized in 2004 when Price and Henderson sought to further their basketball skills off the court and in between seasons. The first 4 summers were solely based on individual training, but starting this fall, B4G will offer year round training, a 6-12 week academy, AAU teams and more.
Becoming a “complete player” is the motto Price and Henderson strive to reach with every child regardless of their skill level. Their sessions are personalized where players can learn at their own pace to develop confidence and consistency in their abilities.
They offer individual training and small group sessions only allowing between 2-5 players. They even encourage the players to form their own group to learn and grow together.
If it includes youth basketball, B4G has it.
3BA's tour stops in Chicago and Memphis included these two quality athlete's who both agreed that the pace of the 3BA game and playing with guys just as talented as themselves was humbling.
“I was used to playing over there (in Europe) and hadn't played in a while on this level with guys as fast and in a game designed to be that way. It took some adjusting,” said Price referring to The 3BA League and the way you practice is how you play.
“Many of the older kids don't practice with the same intensity as in a game. If you shoot a jumper at half speed and practice with lazy effort, that same jumper from 12ft will be a different shot come game-time when a defender is on you,” said Price.
I asked Price what he likes most about working with kids.
“When they don't give up,” he said, “When I see a child gets that work ethic and keeps at it, it inspires me to constantly grow as a trainer and do research and watch other coaches and see how they run their teams. I like to take a drill and tweak it to best benefit each individual.”
Henderson tells his students, “You've got to sacrifice hanging out too much and playing video games all day to work on your skills. No one is going to give it to you. What do you want to do and where do you want to go?”
Henderson, himself realized, in order to make B4G a stronger youth basketball development program, he would have to sacrifice and not play ball over seas anymore.
“It's too hard to try and make appearances and be involved with an individual when you're gone 8 months out of the year. I know in order for Jason and I to take B4G to the next level and grow, we have to set an example and be here for our students like we expect from them,” Henderson said.
Currently The North Liberty Recreation Center in North Liberty Iowa is where Bound 4 Glory calls home. They have recently added another trainer and hope to have franchises and their own facility in the future.
