Welcome to The Academy Phoenix Men's High School and Post Grad Basketball Program. We are thrilled to have you join our community of driven and passionate individuals committed to growth both on and off the court.
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” — Hebrews 12:1
As a high school and post-graduate Christian program, our goal is to empower you through the development of your basketball skills while nurturing your education, faith, and character.
The Academy Phoenix (TAP) was formed in 2024 by a group of individuals with a passion and background in the basketball world. The goal: recruit aspiring basketball athletes from around the globe to come to the United States after high school graduation and prepare for college basketball in the States.
In a unique collaboration, TAP joined forces with Justice University to give players a comprehensive college experience — practicing, competing, and attending classes directly at the university's brick-and-mortar campus.
We've extended our reach to high school student-athletes, who can accelerate their athletic development while continuing their high school education.
William E. Coleman Jr. is a highly-regarded coach within the Arizona region with a track record of winning two consecutive state championships. His dedication in the field has been recognized, and he has received the title of Coach of the Year by the CAA. Even during the offseason, Coach Coleman remains actively involved in developing the skills of athletes across all levels — his coaching impact extends from current NBA players like Corey Kispert and Dillon Brooks to mentoring local youth community talent. Having played his collegiate years at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Coach Coleman brings a wealth of personal experience — a standout high school player in his own right, he averaged 26 points per game with a career high of 51 points in a single game. Upon completing his college education in 2016 he started the coaching journey, where he gives back to the game by teaching and mentoring athletes to help them reach their full potential on and off the court.
Mathias Clairus-Gauthier has over 10 years of experience in basketball both as a player and on the coaching staff. As a team manager for Arizona State University he gained experience in collegiate athletics and player development, assisting with offseason NBA Draft preparation for many athletes. He then joined 3 Step Sports as an Assistant Regional Director for ZG Basketball in Boston, hosting thousands of top-level AAU programs every weekend across the East coast. Upon his return to Arizona, Mathias co-founded The Academy Phoenix Post Grad, where he took on the role of assistant coach and head of player recruiting. In the offseason he shifts his focus to player development trainings with NBA and NCAA D1 players, as well as helping with player recruitment and placement at the collegiate level.
Ashley has over ten years of experience working in management for men's basketball teams. Previously, Ashley gained experience in this field working as a private trainer at a professional sports group, where she trained and managed collegiate and NBA athletes — including workouts with players, business meetings, and handling athletes' social media likeness and presence, as well as NIL representation. Ashley was also Manager at the Arizona State University Men's Basketball Team, responsible for all day-to-day operations for the team. Now, in partnership with Coach JR, Ashley runs an up-and-coming full service management group for talent all across the world, International Assist Initiative.
Shanea Coleman comes to us with an extensive hospitality management background. With her family history of recreation and sports, she knows what it takes to help an athlete succeed along their journey. From home management skills and driving tests to community events and fundraising, she helps athletes adapt throughout their time at The Academy Phoenix. Consistently analyzing athletes' well-being and overall success in the program, Shanea will be alongside your athlete as a host parent to assist and maximize comfort.
Apply today to be a TAP Tiger and reach your full potential.
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