Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla James.
Hi Kayla, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I first started playing basketball when I was about eight years old. I actually played softball first and was pretty good at it. Once I began basketball I pretty much put all the other sports to rest. My parents kept my brother and I pretty active in all different sports growing up (gymnastics, softball/baseball, etc). I immediately fell in love with basketball once I started playing. Now I wasn’t that great starting off, but I was always faster than most of the other kids, so full-court layups and defense was my specialty. I couldn’t shoot the ball to save my life, lol. I played all through middle and high school and received a scholarship to play at Piedmont College.
In 2019, I first started working with B3 Academy after my family moved back to GA. I ran into Brent (owner/CEO) and he started telling me about his basketball academy and how he was looking to continue to grow his company, especially the girl’s side. I had wanted to continue doing something in basketball after coaching some in Washington State, so it was a perfect opportunity. I actually did some group training with Brent a few times in college, so it was cool to see how that evolved for him into a great program. I started with a small co-Ed youth group on Saturday mornings. We literally had about seven kids in this beginners group and two were my daughters. Consistency word of mouth and google reviews took us from seven kids to adding about 240 kids to the program. We have a growing girls’ program that I am most proud of. It includes a summer travel team, group and individual training, team bonding and a loooot of birthday parties.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I feel like anytime you are growing something, it’s never easy. I was new to training. I coached basketball before but I never had been a trainer per say. Being a trainer and being a coach are two different things. I had to learn how to adapt to different skill levels, teaching basics from step one, drills and really understanding our athletes and how to help make them better. A lot of times we assume kids know what they are doing and really they don’t, we just kind of throw them into advance activities. One thing I love about our program is we really break it down and concentrate on the details. We cater to all skill levels and start at the age of 5 and go up to the pro level. Boys and Girls
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the Youth Director and Girls trainer for B3 Academy, and I also coach girls’ basketball at Peachtree Ridge High School.
I love being able to train and coach girls. I think it’s very important for our girls to be able to have access and work with someone who looks like them and represents them. I love all their personalities and watching them grow over the last few years. Any opportunities I can share with them, I do. I’m most proud of the girls who consistently come back and continue to refer others. I think it speaks volumes. They can work with anyone, and some have multiple trainers and yet they still choose to work with me as well. I think what sets me apart is I really take the time to explain all the little details of the game. I don’t assume the kids know, I really go out of my way to break it down. I teach them all the areas in the court, how many points each shot is worth, the whys and how’s. I get comments from parents whose kids have been playing a while and they are like FINALLY! I really appreciate that.
What matters most to you?
Aside from God and my family (blood-related and nonblood-related), Loyalty matters most to me. Whether it’s from your family or friends, I think being loyal is most important. Being loyal to others and those being loyal to me has gotten me pretty far in life and in some great opportunities. Take care of those who take care of you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.B3academy.com
- Instagram: B3coach_kayla
- Twitter: @b3coachkayla
Image Credits
@jalen.raw @j.gphoto.graphy
