MEET THE TEAM

Coach Gio founded BBA in 2018 at Coney Island Park with just three students. Today, BBA has grown into one of Brooklyn’s largest and most well-organized basketball organizations, operating across three facilities. A true pioneer, Gio has transformed warehouse spaces into high-quality basketball courts, creating better training environments for young athletes.

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Gio is recognized as one of the top youth basketball coaches in New York City. Beyond his own program, he has played a major role in mentoring and helping other coaches launch their own organizations, including Hoops Club and FIAO El Centro. Many programs have adopted his innovative approach of converting warehouse spaces into functional basketball courts, expanding access to quality training facilities across the city. Through his vision and leadership, Gio has significantly elevated the youth basketball landscape in NYC, setting new standards for development, organization, and opportunity.

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Gio’s basketball journey began in Georgia at the age of four. He later became a member of the Georgian U16 National Team, which helped him earn a scholarship to continue both his education and basketball career in the United States. For his junior year of prep school, Gio attended Mountain State Academy in West Virginia. He then transferred to Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for his senior year, where he averaged 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. He is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame; NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also played in the same program.

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Gio received a full athletic scholarship to play basketball at Union University, an NCAA Division II program. He later transferred to the University of Minnesota Crookston (NCAA D2), where he earned a bachelor's degree in Business Management and Economics.

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Gio has furthered his expertise with certifications in Global Sports Management from NYU and the EuroLeague Coaches Academy.

Carlos Marín is a Catalan basketball coach recognized for his work in elite youth player development and high-level European competition. Over the last few years, he has coached teams to consecutive Spanish Junior National Championships and appearances in the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals, one of Europe’s premier youth basketball events organised by Euroleague.

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Throughout his career, he has contributed to the development of some of the most promising young talents in the world of basketball, including Kasparas Jakucionis, Dame Sarr, Sayon Keita, and Mohamed Dabone. Known for his modern approach to the game, attention to detail, and strong player relationships, Carlos has built a reputation as a coach focused on both competitive excellence and long-term development.

Mike is a nationally respected player development specialist with over a decade of experience training athletes from grassroots to WNBA pros. A former college player, adidas 3SSB coach, and Olympic-level trainer, he focuses on helping athletes maximize their individual skills and understanding of the team game.​ Mike recently returned from three years as Director of Player Development for the China Women’s Senior National Team, where—under Yao Ming’s leadership—China earned silver at the 2022 FIBA World Cup and multiple gold medals in 2023 before competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics.​ He has also led player development for top U.S. club programs and trained many of the nation’s top girls players. Known for his clarity, adaptability, and high standards, Mike now brings his expertise to Brooklyn Basketball Academy to help elevate girls basketball in New York City.

Franz Depra is a performance and player development coach who integrates strength & conditioning and skill work to build complete basketball athletes.

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A former point guard for the Brooklyn College Men’s Basketball team with a bachelors degree in Exercise Science, Franz is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).  He continues to develop under the mentorship of Mike Guevara and GBG Hoops. He has also completed the Applied Performance Coach Certification (APCC) under the mentorship of Dr. Ramsey Nijem.

He trains athletes through private, semi-private, and group sessions—developing the physical qualities behind the game: strength, movement, power, and durability as well as on-court skills. 

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Franz also serves as a practice player for the New York Liberty, competes with the semi-professional organization Epiphany Sports, and continues to pursue professional basketball opportunities.

Eddy is a St. Raymond High School alum and former college athlete at QueensboroughCommunity College. Currently studying psychology, Eddy brings a unique perspective on the mental side of the game while continuing to grow his knowledge in the field.He combines his playing experience with a focus on fundamentals and confidence-building to help athletes develop on and off the court. Eddy is passionate about helping players reach their full potential through both skill development and mental growth.

Lasha Parghalava is an international basketball scout and trainer, hailing from the eastern European nation of Georgia. Since 2015 Lasha has been based between Brooklyn and Los Angeles, all while simultaneously coaching and scouting on an international scale. After wrapping up a 4-year collegiate basketball career at the D-1 level, he would then play professionally over the next 9 years in multiple countries.  Additionally, Lasha has coordinated and managed youth basketball programs across the country, including managing the Zaza Pachulia Basketball Academy in Tbilisi, Georgia. He has also managed and coached at the Nike Rise Academy in Shanghai, China. Throughout his experiences, Lasha has built strong connections within the global basketball industry.

Growing up in Los Angeles, CA, Carter played four years of varsity basketball at Harvard-Westlake High School, winning two CIF championships. After completing his undergraduate degree at Williams College (MA), Carter returned to Los Angeles to begin personal basketball skills training with boys and girls ages 8-18. He recently made the cross-country move to NY to continue his passion for developing young athletes. Within his second season here at BBA, Carter is looking to continue to aid in building a foundation of fundamentals for our young players on the court and in the weight room, all while pairing this with a strong IQ for the game.

Patrick played varsity basketball at Midwood High School in Brooklyn, NY. His collegiate career started at the D-2 level at Jamestown Community College, ultimately completing his college career at SUNY Old Westbury. Pat also played professional basketball for for a year in the ABA (Staten Island Vipers).

Chanel brings championship experience and a passion for player development to Brooklyn Basketball Academy as a Girls Travel Team Coach. A Brooklyn native and Brooklyn College standout, she is the program’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder and earned multiple honors, including two-time CUNYAC Player of the Year and 2022 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Division III Player of the Year. She led her team to three CUNYAC Championships and the program’s first NCAA Tournament win. Chanel played professionally in Costa Rica and Honduras, earning a 2023 All-Star selection. Off the court, she works as a Finance & Operations Associate, applying the same discipline and leadership to coaching. Her philosophy centers on fundamentals, confidence, and character, developing skilled athletes and strong young women who compete with pride.

Luka grew up in the eastern European nation of Georgia, and played professional basketball for his country for four years. He moved to the USA in 2021, and is one of the first (and youngest) coaches here at BBA. Luka loves the game tremendously, and is improving his coaching skills daily. Within every session and team that he coaches, Luka's enthusiasm and energy has made him a favorite amongst BBA's students.

Isaac Sanders is a basketball Coach, Scout, and Player Development specialist with over three years of experience working with youth and grassroots programs. He has held coaching roles at organizations including Rare Elite, City Rocks, UpperRoom Christian, St. Albans Prep, Herricanes, HoopHouse Premier, Haftr Middle School, 238 Academy, & Jewish Youth Sports. Throughout his career, he has led teams to tournament and school championships and helped student-athletes earn over $120,000 in college scholarships. Dedicated to skill development, basketball IQ, and mentorship, Isaac is committed to developing well-rounded players both on and off the court.

A 4-year point guard and captain for the men’s basketball team at Brooklyn College. Extensive experience running camps and working with youth grassroots programs. Passionate about connecting with the youth and creating valuable experiences in a team-oriented environment. 

Brandon played AAU basketball from 5th grade to senior year of high school. He attended East Hampton High school where he was a 3-year Varsity starter – as a 1000 point scorer, League VI Champion, and dubbed the Suffolk County Small Schools Player Of The Year his senior year. During his college career, Brandon attended LIU Post where he played for 2 years, before transferring to SUNY Brockport to play for 3 years. In 2020, his team won the SUNYAC Basketball Championship and went on to play the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament. In his last season from 2021-2022, Brandon played as the starting point guard and captain of his team. Brandon has a degree in Sports Management and two minors in Business and Marketing. Since graduating, he has worked with the NBPA, Long Island Nets, Jr. Knicks, as well as coached AAU.

Alex starting playing basketball at six years old in various leagues throughout New York City. In college, Alex also refereed basketball, soccer, flag football, baseball, and volleyball. Since the age of 20, he has worked with children in various capacities, drawing on his past experiences to train and share his passion for basketball with young athletes. He is currently working towards a certification in strength and conditioning, with a long-term goal of attending medical school to become a leader in applying large language models to skill acquisition and emotional intelligence development. His dream is to develop an athlete from childhood to adulthood to compete at a high level.

Alina is a Brooklyn native whose basketball journey took her from neighborhood parks to earning a scholarship at Division II Daemen University and later competing at Brooklyn College. Grateful for the coaches and mentors who shaped her path, she is now dedicated to being a positive and motivating influence for the next generation of young athletes at Brooklyn Basketball Academy.

Originally from the country of Georgia, Lizi started playing basketball at a young age before moving to the U.S. and joining Brooklyn Basketball Academy, where she became one of the first girls to play on their middle school team. She continued her basketball journey into high school, earning a spot on the varsity team as a freshman. Simultaneously, she began training as an Assistant Coach at Brooklyn Basketball Academy. Through this experience, she discovered a true passion for coaching and developing young kids into future student athletes. Now entering her senior year, she is the captain of her high school varsity team and continues coaching BBA FUNDAMENTALS at Brooklyn Basketball Academy.