Virginia PRIDE

Committing ourselves to the excellence of student-athletes. Perseverance Resilience Integrity Dedication Empowerment #KH11

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

This industry is becoming a complete waste basket.

Everybody wants to run a team.
Everybody wants to run a tournament.

Very few people actually know basketball.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

Tournament directors aren’t directing anything.

Missing entire altercations.

Then running over afterward and calling forfeits.

The only time some of them show urgency is after the damage is already done.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

The event organizers aren’t much better.

Anybody with a striped shirt can officiate a game.

We got guys 60+ years old reffing basketball games.

More concerned with the color of a uniform than protecting the players on the floor.

That’s a problem.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

It’s bad enough for us independent teams that actually compete against top programs on our respective circuits.

In June, we’re trying to fine tune things and prepare for July.

We can’t do that when half these mom-and-pop organizations don’t teach or coach authentic basketball.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

Too many “AAU” / travel teams out here.

We got people coaching that have NEVER hooped. Clearly never been around the sport.

Coaches DUCKING smoke.

Forfeiting their way to championship games and starting fights because they can’t play basketball.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

The goal isn’t to be comfortable.
The goal is to be better today than you were yesterday.

Comfort is the enemy of progress.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

Comfort kills development.

Success is never owned. It’s rented.
And the rent is due every day.

The moment a player becomes comfortable, improvement stops.
The moment improvement stops, somebody else passes them.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

What’s actually unfair is convincing athletes they can reach elite levels without elite habits.

The standard isn’t the problem.

The gap between where they are and where they think they are is.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

When players finally encounter a coach that demands effort, toughness, communication, and discipline…

They call it “too much.”

They think it’s personal.

They think it’s unfair.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

Some of these AAU teams have never experienced accountability.

Not because the kids are incapable.

Because the adults around them have spent years making excuses for them.

[Nacho @nachomiranda14]

Look at how proud Mitch Johnson was of Carter Bryant 😭

Corrected him, trusted him, sent him back in… and the kid responded.

That’s real coaching. Confidence grows when players know mistakes won’t end their night.

[Coach Aaron @vettepassby35]

People think when we travel for basketball it’s a vacation. When you trying to win, it’s literally all work. We don’t go out and party after games. We go back to watch film and prepare.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

Points don’t always tell the whole story.

2028 F Lailah Dembo through 28 games:
114 REB | 45 OREB | 5 BLK

Extra possessions. Toughness. Energy.
Winning basketball.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

2029 F Lainey Lemoine through 28 games:

113 REB | 85 PTS | 7 BLK

Toughness doesn’t always trend — but winning programs value it.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

2031 G (Playing 16U) Amberlee Allen through 28 games:

158 PTS | 42 made 3PT FG | 41 AST | 30 STL

Spacing the floor and making defenses pay. One of the engines in our backcourt.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

2028 F Skylar Strother through 28 games:

189 PTS | 103 REB | 29 STL

Consistent production. Toughness. Winning habits.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

2028 F Aysleen Paulino through 28 games:

210 PTS | 207 REB | 34 STL | 6 BLK

Physical. Relentless. Productive.

Nearly averaging a double-double while anchoring us inside.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

2029 G Saniyah Scott (9th Grade) through 28 games:

222 PTS | 107 REB | 42 STL | 37 AST

Leads us in scoring — but takes just as much pride in guarding the opposing team’s best player.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

College coaches will be in the building. Opportunities will be in the gym.

Shooters — shoot.
Ball handlers — tighten your handle.
Everyone — be intentional.

We’re not showing up to participate.
We’re showing up to separate.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

This weekend is a LIVE period. This is business.

Families are investing $1,000+ on the season and paying to get in the door. That “it’s not that serious” mindset doesn’t exist here.

If it wasn’t serious… we wouldn’t be here.

[Virginia PRIDE @pridehoops_va]

Limit distractions. Get off social media. Lock in.

IG not paying your tuition.
Likes not covering room and board.
And nobody in your DMs is investing in your future.

Stay focused on what matters.