Getting to know Micah Lancaster

Micah Lancaster's arrival to Hoops City is a unique. story. As a guest clinician for the Hoops City AAU Program in April, 2009, Lancaster wowed all 400 attendees with his knowledge, demonstrations, passion and gift for training. One of those impressed was Hoops City owner Rik Seymour. "After Micah led his first clinic last Spring, I immediately called our partners and said this is the guy we have been looking for," Seymour said." Not only is he able to communicate as a phenomenal skills teacher but adds his own creativity and out of the box approach to training that significantly improves skill development."

Seymour was not the only one that Lancaster impressed. After working with Micah at the National 365 Sports Camp for the top High School Players in the United States last July, premier National Trainer Aubrey McCreary, formerly the Adidas Phenom Camp Director and current private coach to NBA Stars Derek Fisher and Deron Williams said, "he is one of the best I have ever seen, and I've been teaching this game for almost 40 years."

Lancaster's Story

As a freshman in high school, Micah Lancaster stood only 4 feet, 11 inches tall. From being the player that was never supposed to make it, Lancaster overcame all odds becoming an All-State high school player, a college All-American, and an International Basketball League All-Star.

Now standing 5 feet, 9 inches, Micah Lancaster is an internationally renowned professional skill trainer, the lead trainer with Nike sponsored, Ganon Baker Basketball (the world’s leader in skill development, training countless NBA and WNBA players), and, of course, he is the new Executive Director of Basketball Training at Hoops City U.

On the court, Lancaster is able to reach athletes with his lightning quick ball handling, his innovative use of tennis balls and medicine balls, his uncanny ambidexterity and body control, and his knowledge of the game. But it is the journey that brought him to this point that is truly his “X” factor.

As a 5’2 sophomore in high school, Micah Lancaster was moved up to play with the varsity team at Comstock Park high school in the state of Michigan. But after just one game, he was moved back down to the JV team for not having a “basketball frame.” Ironically, it is this lack of a basketball frame that plays a big role in Micah’s ability to motivate athletes, and he’s the first to admit:

“Whether I am training a young kid or a pro, the fact that I do not have the “body” of a protypical basketball player is a blessing. Players need to know that this game takes thousands of hours of hard work and sacrafice.  But if I can handle the ball, execute advanced skills, and demonstrate at an elite level, I know I can help anyone believe that they can too!”

And believe they do. Lancaster’s results as a skill coach have been impressive. From helping an eighth man varsity player earn the rights to play college ball in only one summer, to helping elite professional players such as the 2004 ACC Tournament Player of the Year, John Gilchrist, re-establish his professional career, Lancaster’s reputation is only growing.

Dee Brown, former NBA All-Star and the current NBA D-League Head Coach of the Springfield Armor, had this to say about Lancaster:

“When I think of someone who has the ability to teach and demonstrate the game of basketball to our young and even experienced players that will allow them to be successful at any level, Micah Lancaster is the guy. He has cutting edge drills and great knowledge and passion for the game.”

From developing and designing all the basketball programming at the “U”, to offering private one-on-one training sessions to athletes across the country, Micah Lancaster is now pouring that knowledge and passion into the Hoops City U community. And he wants every player to know that if he can do it, then surely they can too!