Milton “UltraReady” Lee (back turned) and Sean “In Fin” Couch demonstrate closing out on a defender. Photo: Alton Ritter.

Baruch College turned into one big turntable early Sunday morning as players from NYC’s Public School Athletic League got into the rhythm of basketball conditioning on the run. Over 90 boys and girls representing 10 P.S.A.L teams came out to work on their conditioning for the upcoming season. With sneakers stuttering against waxy wood, the players got into our world-famous tap rebounding drill that takes players out of the gym, up staircases and back into the gym to catch a basketball on the far side of the court, tap it against the backboard and take off again. Trainer Milton Lee dropped cones like they were hot during the drill, turning the straight run into a defensive sliding, shuffle cutting, stutter-stepping frenzy that had the gym in a rhythm that lovers of straight ball and the street game appreciate.

Milton Lee has worked out 30 NBA players on an individual basis and came ultra prepared to work!

With an emphasis on footwork and quick changes on the run, the clinic helps players understand sudden stops on the offensive and defensive ends. Many of these drills started with our conditioning experts in the 1980’s – Arnie Jacobs, Evander Ford and Lincoln Sessoms, see: History of Jim Couch Foundation Workouts. The drills help players with their change of direction and build the type of movements that cause players to
have that wiggle that coaches and crowds love to see. Milt Lee is one of the hardest working trainers in America and he treated the players like I do – with professionalism and care.

One kid who distinguished himself during the first session was Nick Davis, a guard from Grover Cleveland High School in Queens.

Nick Davis received the The New York Knick hardest worker award at the Jim Couch Conditioning Clinic.

When Nick’s community league coach heard about the award, he sent me this e-mail about him:

“As you may have already learned Nicholas Davis is a 6′ 2″, 170-pound guard, solid student and a young man of high character who carries himself as a gentleman and team leader. After being a part-time starter as a junior at Grover Cleveland, Nicholas enters his senior season as Tri-Captain and starter. He is definitely a prospect that is under the radar. But he’s one who possesses solid perimeter skills, is a fluid, athletic and creative player in the open court and one with the ability to slash to the basket.

On behalf of Nicholas, I want to thank you for your interest and consideration, I look forward to speaking with you in the future.”

There was another player that made an impression on the clinic. A seventh grader from Albany, New York came down with the Upstate New York Rising Freshman Team and participated in the 11:00 pm session, impressing everyone in the camp. His handle was super tight and he kept running like he had an extra lung or some sort of frog man air cannister on his back. Read about Zach Radz’s day at the Jim Couch Conditioning and Rising Freshman Games in NYC.

We have two other session winners that we will post about in the next few and a report on the top players from both weekend events as soon as I get back off the road.

Special Thanks: Baruch College, The New York Knicks, Shirts and Skins, Leroy Shaw, and the Public School Athletic League for having us work with their players.