Billy Thomas Hoops Academy

Mission

Billy Thomas Hoops Academy aims to be a teaching tool for those kids who aspire to learn and improve upon the necessary skills that will allow for maximum enjoyment of the game and rewards from their effort. BTHA will strive to develop players that will be hard working, competitive, self-confident, and ultimately successful. Also, the academy will stress the importance of actually learning the game. I have seen countless players, even professional players, who lack many of the simple fundamentals that are supposed to be taught in grade school. Therefore, I strongly believe that the more fundamentally sound player is more valuable to his/her team, more so than the player who just runs fast or jump high. So, if you’re a player who wants to learn the game, understands that only hard work gets rewarded, and wants to become a better all around player, I’m ready to help you accomplish your goals!

NBA

Played for three different NBA teams : The New Jersey Nets, with teammates such as Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, and my old college teammate, Jacque Vaughn, with each of them being extremely hardworking and dedicated to the game, hence their levels of success and years played in the NBA. The Washington Wizards, with teammates such as Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler, three very talented players, but were the hardest workers on the team, again, note their success and achievements. The Cleveland Cavaliers, with teammates such as Lebron James, and Ben Wallace, once again, the hardest working players on the team..note the common theme for the best players or longest tenured players!!

NBA Development League

Played in the NBDL in it’s inaugural season in 2001-02 with the Greenville Groove, after returning home from a season overseas, and was fortunate enough to win the very 1st championship in league history. Played the following year(2002-03) in Greenville also. The next D League experience came with the Colorado 14ers for two seasons, 2008 & 2009, winning a 2nd championship in ’09!  Final D League team was the Maine Red Claws, chosen to represent as the team’s 1st player in the inaugural season, an honor and priviledge for! Chosen as Captain for each of the teams I played on in the D League, as well as being chosen as Sportsman of the Year twice, 2002-03 and 2008-09.

CBA

Played two seasons in the Continental Basketball Association(CBA).  1st season was spent in Bismarck, N.D. for the Dakota Wizards, and was fortunate to have a great deal of success in quest for reaching the NBA.  Chosen as the Newcomer of the Year, as an All-Star, as well as be called up to the New Jersey Nets that season! The next season was spent playing for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in Sioux Falls, S.D. After another consistent start to that season, was fortunate enough to get called up to the Washington Wizards that season.

NCAA

I was extremely fortunate to attend and play my college ball at THE University of Kansas and extremely honored to play with some of the best players in school history, as well as represent the university with class and dignity for four fantastic years. It was a priviledge to play for Roy Williams, then and now, one of the premier coaches in America. It was under his guidance that I truly learn how to play the game and learn the true meaning of team and hard work. As a result of those lessons, I was able to be a major contributor on teams that had a record of 124-17, at the time of my graduating, 1998, was the winningest senior class ever. A then record of 58-0 at home in Allen Field House, as well as leaving as the All-time leader in 3ptrs made, are feats that symbolize an unbelievably successful and fun college basketball experience!