KING BASKETBALL ACADEMY

WHOLE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT HANDBOOK

DEVELOPING WHOLE PLAYERS. BUILDING CHARACTER. CREATING CONFIDENCE.

KINGDOM FIRST.
INTEGRITY ALWAYS.
NEVER QUIT.
GROW GRADUALLY.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WELCOME TO KING BASKETBALL ACADEMY

Welcome to KING Basketball Academy.

We believe basketball is about much more than putting a ball through a hoop or scoring more points than the other.

Basketball can serve as a classroom for life.

It teaches discipline, responsibility, perseverance, teamwork and how to respond when things don’t go your way.

Most importantly, basketball provides an opportunity to develop the person behind the player.

At KING Basketball Academy, our goal is to help young athletes become better basketball players while simultaneously becoming better people.

We believe players deserve excellent coaching.

We intentionally create an environment where they can make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, compete, and grow.

And they will always have coaches who care about them as a person more than what happens on the basketball court.

That is KING Basketball Academy.

We aren’t interested in simply creating players who can perform drills.

We want to develop players who can play the game.

Players who can think.

Players who can compete.

Players who can respond to adversity.

Players who understand that talent may open a door, but character determines what happens after you walk through it.

Welcome to KING Basketball Academy.

Our Story

While I was a student at Oral Roberts University preparing for ministry, basketball was already a major part of my life. Growing up, I learned that basketball teaches lessons that extend far beyond the court. The game taught me discipline, perseverance, teamwork, accountability, leadership, how to handle adversity, and how to keep working when things don’t go your way.

I came to realize that basketball could be more than a game. It could be a platform for ministry, mentorship, and personal development.

So, I started hosting open gym nights in Tulsa.

What began simply as an opportunity for young people to play basketball quickly became something much bigger. Some of the best high school basketball players in Tulsa began showing up—not because there was a formal program or elaborate facility, but because they wanted a place to play, compete, and belong.

As those relationships developed, basketball became an avenue for something deeper.

I began individually training many of these athletes in skill development, basketball IQ, leadership, and character. We spent hours in the gym working on basketball, but we also spent time talking about life, faith, responsibility, goals, failure, success, and the kind of people they wanted to become.

Over the years, those relationships have continued to shape the vision of what King Basketball Academy is today.

I have now had the privilege of coaching and mentoring hundreds of athletes, and one of the greatest rewards has not simply been watching players become better basketball players. It has been watching young men and women grow in confidence, character, leadership, discipline, and faith.

King Basketball Academy was born out of that experience.

Our goal is simple: “make better basketball players while helping prepare young people to succeed in life as followers of Christ.”
— Coach Jackson Lahmeyer
Founder, King Basketball Academy

About Coach Jackson Lahmeyer:

Jackson Lahmeyer grew up in Oklahoma playing basketball and being trained by some of the very best coaches the state of Oklahoma has ever had. In Junior High, Jackson was coached by Mark Ricks who formerly coached in the Women’s basketball program at Oral Roberts University. In High School, Jackson was coached by Cylde Barkley who is now in the Oklahoma Basketball Hall of Fame.

Coach Jackson has trained hundreds of athletes over the last 10 years and has always incorporated what he learned from Coach Ricks and Coach Barkley.

Currently, Jackson serves as the Lead Pastor of Sheridan.Church in Tulsa, OK and is married to his wife, Kendra. They have 5 children and reside in Owasso, OK. Jackson is a graduate of Oral Roberts University with a B.A. and M.A. in Theological & Historical Studies. 

OUR MISSION

DEVELOPING WHOLE PLAYERS. BUILDING CHARACTER. CREATING CONFIDENCE.

The mission of KING Basketball Academy is simple:

To develop young athletes through intentional basketball training while building the character, confidence, discipline, and work ethic necessary to succeed on and off the court.

We believe skill development and character development should never be separated.

A player who can shoot but cannot accept coaching is incomplete.

A player who can dribble but refuses to defend is incomplete.

A player who can score but does not make teammates better is incomplete.

A player who wins games but cannot handle adversity is incomplete.

At KING, we pursue the whole player.

Our training develops:

Skill.
Athleticism.
Basketball IQ.
Mental toughness.
Confidence.
Leadership.
Character.

Our ultimate goal isn’t simply to help players win basketball games.

What does it profit a player to win championships in basketball but to flunk life in the process?

Our goal is to help them learn how to win at life.

THE KING STANDARD

KING isn’t just our name.

It is our standard.

K — KINGDOM FIRST

We believe there is something bigger than ourselves.

Players are encouraged to understand that their identity isn’t determined by points, playing time, trophies, rankings, or recognition.

We pursue excellence while keeping the right priorities.

Kingdom First.

I — INTEGRITY ALWAYS

Integrity means doing the right thing when nobody is watching.

It means being honest.

It means keeping your word.

It means respecting coaches, teammates, opponents, officials, and parents.

Integrity Always.

N — NEVER QUIT

Basketball brings adversity.

You will miss shots.

You will turn the ball over.

You will lose games.

You will get tired.

You will struggle.

The KING response is not quitting.

We learn.

We adjust.

We keep going.

We Never Quit.

G — GROWTH GRADUALLY

Nobody arrives as a finished product.

Every great player was once a beginner.

Growth requires humility.

Growth requires work.

Growth requires patience.

Growth requires consistency.

At KING, we don’t demand perfection but we work towards steady progression.

We aim for progress.

Kingdom First.
Integrity Always.
Never Quit.
Growth Gradually.

That is the KING Standard.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

FUNDAMENTALS BEFORE FLASH

Basketball development doesn’t begin with complicated moves.

It begins with fundamentals.

A strong stance.

Good balance.

Proper footwork.

Ball control.

Passing.

Shooting mechanics.

Defensive positioning.

Decision making.

We believe players should master simple things before attempting advanced things.

The goal is to develop basketball fundamentals.

INTENTIONAL REPETITION

Repetition matters. Repetition matters. Repetition matters. Once again… Repetition matters.

But not all repetition is equal.

Players must learn to practice with purpose.

We want players to understand:

What am I working on?

Why am I working on it?

What does success look like?

Our goal is not simply more reps.

Our goal is better reps.

GAME-BASED DEVELOPMENT

Players don’t play basketball standing in lines.

Eventually, skills have to transfer into the game.

That’s why KING training progresses from:

Technique → Skill → Decision → Competition → Game Application

We want players to recognize situations and respond correctly.

CHARACTER THROUGH COMPETITION

Competition reveals character.

When things are easy, everyone looks confident.

When things become difficult, we discover who we are.

At KING, competition isn’t something we avoid.

We use it as a development tool.

OUR TRAINING APPROACH

Every KING training session is designed around intentional skill and shooting development.

Depending on the player’s age and developmental stage, training may include:

BALL HANDLING

Control the basketball with both hands.

FOOTWORK

Develop balance, coordination, explosiveness, and efficiency.

SHOOTING

Build repeatable mechanics and game-ready shooting habits.

FINISHING

Learn to score around the basket against different defensive situations and physical contact.

PASSING

Develop accuracy, timing, vision, and decision making.

DEFENSE

Learn how to guard the ball, help teammates, rotate, recover, and finish possessions.

ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT

Improve movement, balance, coordination, quickness, and physical control.

BASKETBALL IQ

Learn to understand the game instead of simply reacting to it.

COMPETITION

Take skills into situations that require players to think and perform under pressure.

THE KBA PLAYER

We aren’t trying to create identical players.

Every athlete has different:

• Body types
• Strengths
• Weaknesses
• Positions
• Personalities
• Experiences
• Developmental needs

Our job is to identify where a player is today and determine what they need to become better tomorrow.

A KING player should strive to be:

COACHABLE

DISCIPLINED

COMPETITIVE

CONFIDENT

TOUGH

HUMBLE

CONSISTENT

TEAM-ORIENTED

HARD-WORKING

RESPONSIBLE

RESPECTFUL

Most importantly:

A KING PLAYER IS ALWAYS GETTING BETTER.

THE KING DEVELOPMENT PATH

Every player develops differently.

We use four broad stages to help identify where a player is in their development.

STAGE 1 — FOUNDATION

Typical focus: younger players

Learn the game.

Players develop:

• Coordination
• Balance
• Basic footwork
• Ball control
• Basic shooting
• Passing
• Finishing
• Defensive stance
• Enjoyment of the game

The objective is building a foundation.

STAGE 2 — DEVELOPMENT

Players begin refining their fundamentals.

The emphasis shifts toward:

• Weak-hand development
• Shooting consistency
• Advanced footwork
• Finishing variety
• Defensive movement
• Ball-screen concepts
• Basketball IQ

STAGE 3 — COMPETITION

Players must learn to execute skills against pressure.

The focus becomes:

• Game-speed execution
• Decision making
• Reading defenders
• Creating advantages
• Playing through contact
• Defensive communication
• Situational basketball
• Leadership

STAGE 4 — PREPARATION

Players begin preparing for the demands of the next level.

Training becomes increasingly individualized.

The emphasis includes:

• Position-specific development
• Advanced skill development
• Game film
• Basketball IQ
• Strength and athletic development
• Leadership
• Mental preparation
• Competitive consistency

WHAT PARENTS CAN EXPECT

When you enroll your child at KING Basketball Academy, you’re not simply purchasing basketball lessons.

You’re entering a development process.

Parents can expect:

PROFESSIONAL COACHING

Players will receive instruction designed to improve their actual basketball ability.

STRUCTURED TRAINING

Sessions are organized around specific developmental objectives.

INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION

We want to identify what your child specifically needs to improve.

COMPETITION

Players will be challenged.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Players will be encouraged to take ownership of their development.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

We care about the person as much as the player.

COMMUNICATION

Parents should understand what their child is working on and how they can support development at home.

WHAT PLAYERS CAN EXPECT

At KING, players should expect to be challenged.

You may be asked to do something you have never done before.

You may struggle.

You may miss shots.

You may lose competitions.

You may get tired.

That’s okay.

Growth isn’t always comfortable.

Players should expect coaches to:

• Teach
• Challenge
• Correct
• Encourage
• Hold them accountable
• Celebrate improvement
• Demand effort

In return, players are expected to:

Listen.

Work.

Compete.

Respond to coaching.

Respect others.

Never quit.

THE 10 PILLARS OF KING DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPING THE WHOLE PLAYER

01 — ATHLETICISM
Build the athlete.

02 — BALL CONTROL
Master the basketball.

03 — FOOTWORK & FINISHING
Become efficient.

04 — SHOOTING
Become a confident scorer.

05 — PLAYMAKING
Make the right play.

06 — DEFENSE & REBOUNDING
Become someone your team can trust.

07 — BASKETBALL IQ
Understand the game.

08 — COMPETITION
Perform under pressure.

09 — MENTALITY & LEADERSHIP
Become someone others can follow.

10 — CHARACTER
Become a KING on and off the court.

THE 10 PILLARS OF KING DEVELOPMENT

1. ATHLETICISM

Build the athlete.

Before players can maximize their basketball skills, they need to learn how to move.

Focus areas:

• Balance
• Coordination
• Speed
• Quickness
• Agility
• Body control
• Explosiveness
• Mobility

KING Standard:
Move with purpose.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

2. BALL CONTROL

Master the basketball.

Players should be comfortable controlling the ball with either hand and at different speeds.

Focus areas:

• Stationary ball handling
• Weak hand
• Change of direction
• Change of speed
• Protecting the basketball
• Dribbling under pressure
• Creating separation

KING Standard:
Control the ball. Don’t let the ball control you.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

3. FOOTWORK & FINISHING

Become efficient around the basket.

Great players don’t waste movement.

Focus areas:

• Jump stops
• Stride stops
• Pivots
• Jab steps
• 1-2 footwork
• Layups
• Weak-hand finishing
• Reverse finishes
• Floaters
• Finishing through contact

KING Standard:
Balance creates opportunity.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

4. SHOOTING

Become a confident scorer.

Shooting development begins with mechanics and progresses to game application.

Focus areas:

• Shooting mechanics
• Balance
• Footwork
• Catch-and-shoot
• Shooting off movement
• Shooting off the dribble
• Free throws
• Game-speed shooting

KING Standard:
Build your shot. Trust your work.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

5. PLAYMAKING

Make the game easier for everyone.

Basketball isn’t just about scoring.

Players must learn how to create opportunities for themselves and others.

Focus areas:

• Passing
• Triple threat
• 1-on-1 attack
• Reading defenders
• Drive-and-kick
• Decision making
• Creating advantages
• Playing through pressure

KING Standard:
Make the right play.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

6. DEFENSE & REBOUNDING

Become someone your team can trust.

Every player can defend.

Every player can rebound.

Focus areas:

• Defensive stance
• On-ball defense
• Closeouts
• Help defense
• Communication
• Rotations
• Boxing out
• Rebounding
• Transition defense

KING Standard:
Defense is a choice.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

7. BASKETBALL IQ

Don’t just play the game. Understand it.

The smartest player isn’t necessarily the player who knows the most plays.

It’s the player who understands what is happening and knows how to respond.

Focus areas:

• Spacing
• Timing
• Reading defenders
• Advantage recognition
• Decision making
• Situational basketball
• Clock awareness
• Understanding team concepts

KING Standard:
See it. Understand it. Make the play.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

8. COMPETITION

Learn to perform under pressure.

Practice teaches the skill.

Competition reveals the skill.

Players must learn how to perform when they’re tired, pressured, challenged, and uncomfortable.

Focus areas:

• Effort
• Toughness
• Physicality
• Pressure
• Adversity
• Composure
• Competitive mindset
• Finishing possessions

KING Standard:
Never back down from hard.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

9. MENTALITY & LEADERSHIP

Become the player others can follow.

Leadership isn’t about being the loudest player.

It’s about being someone others can trust.

Focus areas:

• Confidence
• Mental toughness
• Coachability
• Communication
• Accountability
• Encouragement
• Responsibility
• Resilience

KING Standard:
Lead by example.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

10. CHARACTER

Become a KING on and off the court.

This is the pillar that makes KBA different.

Basketball ability is important.

Character is more important.

Players are challenged to develop:

• Integrity
• Discipline
• Humility
• Respect
• Responsibility
• Work ethic
• Servanthood
• Perseverance

KING Standard:
Who you are matters more than what you do.

PLAYER ASSESSMENT

1 2 3 4 5

Coach Notes:

Primary Development Goal:

THE KING TRAINING SYSTEM

Training should be intentional.

A KING training session typically moves through five phases:

1. PREPARE

Movement and athletic preparation.

2. DEVELOP

Work on specific skills.

3. REPEAT

Build consistency through purposeful repetition.

4. COMPETE

Put the skill under pressure.

5. APPLY

Use the skill in a game-like environment.

Prepare.
Develop.
Repeat.
Compete.
Apply.

THE 60-MINUTE KING WORKOUT

0–10 MINUTES

ATHLETIC MOVEMENT

• Dynamic warm-up
• Coordination
• Balance
• Footwork
• Quickness

10–20 MINUTES

BALL HANDLING

• Stationary control
• Weak hand
• Change of direction
• Change of speed

20–35 MINUTES

SHOOTING

• Form shooting
• Catch-and-shoot
• Movement shooting
• Game spots

35–45 MINUTES

FINISHING

• Layups
• Weak hand
• Contact
• Change of angle

45–55 MINUTES

COMPETITION

• 1-on-1
• Shooting competition
• Finishing competition
• Advantage games

55–60 MINUTES

KING CHALLENGE

One final competitive challenge.

Finish strong.

AT-HOME TRAINING

Development doesn’t stop when practice ends.

Players can improve at home with limited equipment.

15-MINUTE HOME WORKOUT

5 Minutes — Ball Handling

5 Minutes — Footwork

5 Minutes — Form Shooting / Shooting

If a basket isn’t available:

• Ball handling
• Footwork
• Mobility
• Visualization
• Form work

can still be performed.

REMEMBER:

Consistency beats intensity when intensity is inconsistent.

SHOOTING DEVELOPMENT

Shooting requires repetition.

But players should track quality repetitions, not simply attempts.

Track:

Shots attempted: ______

Shots made: ______

Free throws: ______ / ______

Catch-and-shoot: ______ / ______

Off-the-dribble: ______ / ______

Game shots: ______ / ______

SHOOTING GOAL

TRAINING ACCOUNTABILITY

MY KING TRAINING LOG

Player: ____________________

Month: ____________________

Date	Workout	Shot	Ball Handling	Footwork	Competition

MONTHLY TOTAL

Workouts: ______

Shots: ______

Minutes Trained: ______

Biggest Improvement: __________________

Next Goal: ___________________________

MONTHLY TRAINING CALENDAR

MY KING MONTH

Month: __________________

MY GOAL THIS MONTH:

THE SKILL I AM DEVELOPING:

THE HABIT I AM BUILDING:

THE CHARACTER TRAIT I AM DEVELOPING:

WEEKLY TRACKER

WEEK 1: __________________________

WEEK 2: __________________________

WEEK 3: __________________________

WEEK 4: __________________________

MONTH-END REFLECTION

What improved?

What was difficult?

What will I work on next?

PLAYER GOAL SETTING

MY 90-DAY KING GOALS

BASKETBALL GOAL

ATHLETIC GOAL

MENTAL GOAL

CHARACTER GOAL

MY THREE ACTION STEPS

1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________

MY COMMITMENT

I understand that goals don’t happen simply because I write them down.

They happen because I consistently work toward them.

Player Signature: __________________

Date: __________________

THE KBA PARENT PLAYBOOK

Parents play an important role in athletic development.

But sometimes the best way to help your athlete is to understand what not to do.

ENCOURAGE EFFORT

Praise hard work and improvement.

Instead of:

“Why didn’t you score more?”

Try:

“What did you learn?”

LET COACHES COACH

Players need one clear coaching voice.

Allow the coaching staff to teach, correct, and develop your athlete.

DON’T COMPARE

Every player develops differently.

Your child’s journey is their own.

CELEBRATE PROGRESS

Improvement may not always appear on the scoreboard.

A better defensive stance matters.

A better decision matters.

A stronger response to adversity matters.

A player finally using their weak hand matters.

ASK BETTER QUESTIONS

After games, try:

What did you do well?

What did you learn?

What was difficult?

How did you help your teammates?

What will you work on next?

COACH EVALUATION

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Player: __________________________

Grade: __________

Date: __________

THE 10 PILLARS

THE KING PLAYER

01 — ATHLETICISM – 1 2 3 4 5

02 — BALL CONTROL – 1 2 3 4 5

03 — FOOTWORK & FINISHING – 1 2 3 4 5

04 — SHOOTING – 1 2 3 4 5

05 — PLAYMAKING – 1 2 3 4 5

06 — DEFENSE & REBOUNDING – 1 2 3 4 5

07 — BASKETBALL IQ – 1 2 3 4 5

08 — COMPETITION – 1 2 3 4 5

09 — MENTALITY & LEADERSHIP – 1 2 3 4 5

10 — CHARACTER – 1 2 3 4 5

PLAYER PROGRESS REPORT

WHAT YOU DO WELL

WHERE YOU ARE GROWING

YOUR NEXT DEVELOPMENT PRIORITY

YOUR COACH’S MESSAGE

THE NEXT LEVEL

One thing you can begin doing today:

THE KING CHALLENGE

Basketball will challenge you.

Remember the KING Standard:

KINGDOM FIRST

Know who you are and what matters most.

INTEGRITY ALWAYS

Do what’s right—even when nobody is watching.

NEVER QUIT

When things get difficult, keep going.

GROWTH GRADUALLY

Stay humble enough to learn and courageous enough to improve.

Don’t chase perfection.

Chase progress.