EST. 2013
Our Story
The Fly Academy started as a competitive basketball program in Portland, Oregon in 2013. Over the years our program has earned a strong reputation as a top-tier program, helping over 50+ players advance to play in college, using basketball to pursue higher education. See our Alumni list here.
More Than Athletes
As former athletes, our Fly Directors and Coaches understand the importance of having success on the court. However, we believe that winning on the court can’t be the only measurable. In order to provide a richer, more impactful experience for our players, The Fly Academy created the Fly Foundation in 2021. The Fly Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that provides opportunities and experiences to help our players prepare for success off the court.
Our Team
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Josiah Lake
President
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Sean Overton
Executive Director
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Marco Williams
On-Court Director
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Eugene Taylor
Off-Court Director
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Maxwell d'Auvergne
Marketing Manager
Our Focus
M
MISSION
Create a CHALLENGING & POSITIVE learning environment, using basketball to inspire a culture of CONFIDENCE, INTEGRITY, and CONSISTENCY among our players and communities.
V
VISION
Be the absolute GOLD STANDARD in youth sports.
P
PROMISE
Use basketball to inspire excellence.
TO KEEP OUR PROMISE WE MUST:
Embody WE over ME mentality
Unleash the potential within
Pursue a passion for winning everyday
Demand 100% effort...always
Build confidence thru attainable roles & goals
Project relentless positive energy
CORE VALUES
INTEGRITY
Continuously operate with the highest levels of respect, trust, and accountability.
PASSION
Relentlessly driven to share our love for the game of basketball with others.
COMMITMENT
Uncompromising level of service to the people, the program, and the process.
CULTURE
Demand a competitive but not combative environment based on mutual trust and respect.
GROWTH
Unwavering pursuit of development excellence both on and off the basketball court.
COMMUNICATION
Consistently sharing clear and concise information, while actively listening.
Our Advantage
Finding a competitive basketball program that prioritizes player development before winning is difficult. Even with Fly Academy’s laser-focus on player development, we understand the competitive nature to win is strong. It should be! We want our coaches and players to compete with purpose and have a passion for winning every day. However, we also understand that all wins are not created equal. Wins should come as a result of playing the game the right way, and not at the expense of it.
Sadly, the current culture in youth basketball often values short-term wins over long-term development. Too many coaches become so fixated on winning, it becomes the ONLY measure of success. Unfortunately, that approach creates a crazed ‘win-at-all-costs’ environment where parents scream hysterically at officials, coaches deploy harmful short-sighted tactics to win games, and players aren’t required to display the discipline and composure that is required in high school or college. And then we wonder why 70% of kids stop playing organized sports by the age of 13.
As an organization, Fly Academy has 10 years of experience preparing players for the next level. We understand a player's youth basketball experience is important because it is the foundation for what's to come. The more solid the foundation, the further they will be able to excel later in their playing careers, and later in life. From our experience, we've developed an approach that maximizes a player's potential thru intense training (physical and mental) and elite competition to prepare them for success at the next level.
Over the course of a season, Fly players will:
1. Learn offensive & defensive concepts that translate to higher levels of basketball.
2. Be challenged to develop their basketball instincts and not play as ‘robots’.
3. Be held accountable by coaches who are focused on the big picture.
4. Develop a culture of success on and off the court