Ganon Baker adds Fremont to list of basketball destinations for skills camp
Ganon Baker often learns from the athletes he trains.
It's his services, however, that are coveted on six continents, 51 countries and 48 states. After more than 10 years, John Cahill finally convinced Baker to add Fremont to the list with Los Angeles, Chicago and Greece.
Ganon Baker Basketball Academy Skills Camp, partnered with Cahill's NorthCoast Showtime AAU program, is August 4-6 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fremont City Recreation Center. Cost is $150 for girls and boys age 10 and up.
Cahill's daughter Amanda Cahill had the opportunity to train with Baker as an elite-level high school player. He's trained LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, among others among the world elite.
Rotnei Clarke might be Baker's favorite pupil.
"He's 5-foot-11," Baker said. "He's white. He has a .000 chance at a Division I scholarship. He played at Arkansas and Butler. He has a .000 chance of playing professionally. He was a two-time MVP in Australia.
"He had to change his socks twice during each workout. It wasn't because they were sweaty, they were soaking in blood. Blisters. He's the hardest worker. He wasn't out of shape, he'd throw up. He wanted it."
Baker is also fond of Clarke's habit of requesting drills be repeated. It's usually the other way around.
"Autonomy is a huge lesson in your own success," Baker said. "He wants to be the best he can be."
Baker, 50, played basketball at Duquesne and North Carolina Wilmington. Fremont Ross all-time scorer Greg Bender played at UNC-Wilmington and knows Baker.
He went to high school in Virginia and earned a Master's degree from Winthrop. He played professionally in Iceland, before ankle surgery ended his career.
"I'm an entrepreneur," he said. "I love basketball. Create a business and take it around the world. It's my passion, my purpose."
He generated VHS tapes and later DVDs. He gained popularity posting YouTube tutorials with intensity and charisma.
"The lessons, holistically everything I bring captivated people," he said.
Over the last 23 years, Baker formulated ODC: offense, defense and winning culture.
"Fundamentals, basketball team concepts, basketball moves, life lessons and winning behavior," he said.
He has five winning behaviors. Grind with a purpose.
Do it right, not just work hard. Second, be a great teammate.
Fight, compete, don't complain. Next play, body language.
Four is a growth mindset to learn. Attitude.
Five is have fun, show joy. Smile, be grateful.
He tries to adjust as times change.
"The last six or seven years, it's a different human now," he said. "A sixth behavior, you can express it if you disagree. If you disagree, let me know. A good leader allows you to express yourself. We can learn from students in this information age.
"Coaches should be humble and ask students to speak up. Say, 'You're right.' I'm not perfect."
Baker, like Clarke, loves repetition. It's not about saying you completed the drill, it's what you get out of it.
"Do it again," Baker says. "Do it better. Yesterday was great, do it great today. Pushing, prodding, persistent always trying to move them forward to another level. My favorite thing to say is, 'That was great, do it again.'"
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
Twitter: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Ganon Baker brings five winning behaviors to Fremont basketball camp
