Private Basketball Lessons & Coaches in Englewood, NJ

My name is Joshua Watkins, and basketball has been a central part of my life since I was four years old. Throughout my journey, I’ve been blessed to grow from a passionate young player to a coach and mentor, helping others reach their potential both on and off the court. I’ve faced my share of challenges along the way, including managing asthma while pursuing my athletic goals. One of my proudest moments was receiving the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Award, which honors athletes who overcome significant obstacles. This recognition serves as a reminder of my determination and resilience. I had the honor of playing basketball at Howard College, where my efforts led to being named Texas Player of the Year. It was a pivotal experience in my career, allowing me to grow as both a player and a person. While there, I earned an Associate of Science in Sociology, a field that deepened my understanding of team dynamics and how to foster strong connections with the people I coach. For eight years, I worked with the BSNY basketball teams and coaching staff, where I found my calling as a mentor. I also had the opportunity to serve as a camp counselor at the University of Utah, guiding young athletes in their development. My passion for coaching grew further when I transitioned to leading the junior varsity team at the Dwight School, where I helped shape and inspire the next generation of players. I am committed to my craft and pride myself on being a reliable and flexible professional. I have my own transportation, which allows me to be available whenever needed, and I’m always ready to support my players and teams. Basketball is more than just a game to me—it’s a way to teach life lessons, build character, and help others achieve greatness. As I continue this journey, I look forward to making an impact wherever I go.

Good day, I’m Jhazeal White, and I specialize in basketball training for athletes seeking to elevate their game. With my experience in going to multiple NBA combines, nearly signing a deal with the Knicks and playing against top basketball players, I can provide you with the guidance, tools and blueprints to help you with whatever you’re struggling with. With your experience level and the desire to train multiple times a week, I can tailor sessions to focus on skill development and areas I recommend for improvement. Whether you prefer training at your home or a local court, I’m flexible with weekday mornings, afternoons, evenings and even weekends to fit your schedule. Looking forward to helping you achieve your basketball aspirations! Best, Jhazeal W

"In my lessons with Coach Jhazeal, I went from averaging 4pts a game to averaging 22pts a game. He helped me grow 500% better in on court performance. He helped me understand that performance anxiety is common but continuous work and practice will slowly dissolve that problem and he was right. Our practices are always fun and motivating. He even came to some of my games to help cheer me on which made me feel even better. I highly recommend.

I’m Coach Mel Harris, a professional basketball skill development coach based in NYC. I’m a 94FTOfGame Certified Skills Coach, under the mentorship of 3-Time NBA Champion, Coach Phil Handy. DurtttyWork Inc. is our player development company and platform that we train through, with two other coaches onboard as well. We focus on Skill development and the details wrapped around basketball, whether it’s ball handling, shot mechanics, passing, defense, making the right reads in a offensive or scoring on all 4 levels of the court, DurtttyWork has you covered! We’ve had the opportunity to train on all skill levels from NBA/WNBA down to youth basketball, so our teachings and experience is very wide-ranged and helps us train at the highest level. Everyone learns different, so we do our best to administer actions geared around customizing the session for the client(s). Before making DurtttyWork, I have over 15 years of playing experience. From high-level high school basketball and leading the city in assists to playing at a D2 Junior College, nationally breaking 3pt records in the NJCAA, winning two city championships and second place in the Region 15 Championship. To playing at a D3 NCAA college and breaking more 3pt records there as well. After college, I played Semi-Pro basketball in the ABA, followed by a Pro Exposure Tour in Puerto Rico. After signing my next full contract to play in the Dominican Republic, the Covid-19 pandemic had forced myself to retire early and took the opportunity to create a platform for player development and youth skill development.