ABOUT ABOVE-THE-RIM

OUR MISSION

Our goal is to produce fundamentally sound basketball players who play hard, understand the game, and can compete at a national level. We work with all age groups, boys, and girls, with a variety of skill levels ranging from beginner to advanced. We teach the same shot mechanics, ball handling, offensive and defensive fundamentals and footwork that are taught to today’s collegiate and professional athletes. We strive to assist every athlete that works with us to reach their full potential as a basketball player. We aim to inspire and motivate our clients to set lofty goals then work hard to achieve them. Our approach to this process includes intense, innovative skill development training of the body and mind, becoming a student of the game and understanding that the best way to reach your destination is through persistence, discipline, and commitment to the process. These sessions are for players who seek 1 on 1 attention to maximize their skill development. These workouts are designed to replicate the pressure of game speed situations and assist in the execution of basic and advanced fundamentals under that pressure. We encourage our clients to get out of their comfort zones and make mistakes as a part of the learning and developmental process. These sessions are the most intense workouts we offer. Basketball players are made not born  

CARLOS CLARK, LEAD DIRECTOR

Carlos has an extensive background in basketball as he brings more than 30 years of experience as a player and coach. He possesses a wealth of knowledge as twenty of those years were at the pro level both on the national and international level in Europe, Canada, and the Philippines.

Carlos was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1983 played with legends Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, Kevin McHale, and Dennis Johnson as teammates. They went on to win the 1984 NBA World Championship which has been the highlight of his career.

His passion, commitment, and enthusiasm for the game continues as he now helps young players develop and improve their basketball skills. As a development trainer he imparts the wisdom, attitude, and skills needed to become and elite player.  

Deion Clark, Lead Trainer

Deion is a former high school and Division 1 athlete provides over ten years of knowledge and experience. Deion grew up in the Naples Florida area playing under former NBA veteran and father Carlos Clark knows what it takes to advance your game. He is one of the most successful players to come out of Collier County.

As a high school student, Deion was a 4-year letterman at Barron Collier High School, he was named to the All-State teams three years and was 4A player of the year in Florida both Junior and Senior years. He was also named Naples Daily News player of the year as a Junior and Senior season as well as FHSAA Coaches’ for best player in Southwest Florida.

He attended Old Dominion University, as well as Rollings College. In a community that raised him, he now enjoys giving back and teaching the next generation of young players about what it takes to really get better and develop their game.