Elitus Basketball Academy News (August 2026)

Elitus Basketball Academy July 2025 Free Clinic

Hello Elitus Family,

This is Jo Kurino, Executive Director of Elitus Basketball Academy.

As we welcome the month of August, I would like to thank everyone for another exciting and productive month of basketball. We continue to see tremendous growth throughout our Academy and Club Teams, and we truly appreciate your continued trust and support.

Our August 2026 Academy and Club Team Calendar is now available.

Please take a moment to review the schedule, as we have several practices and games planned throughout the month. If there are any changes, we will continue to communicate them through LINE and email.

🏀 Thank You for Joining the Elitus Experience

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our Elitus Experience event held in the middle of July.

We were excited to have a full house in both the Fundamental Class and the Junior Class, and it was wonderful to see so many new faces eager to learn the game.

Throughout the event, we focused on the fundamentals of dribbling and passing, before introducing players to one of basketball's most overlooked offensive skills—scoring through movement without the basketball.

Many young players naturally believe they can only contribute when they have the ball in their hands. During the clinic, we emphasized that great offensive players are constantly creating opportunities by moving, cutting, and communicating.

We taught different types of cuts and how to recognize moments when defenders lose sight of the player they're guarding. Understanding how to move without the basketball is a skill that can help every player become more effective and create scoring opportunities for both themselves and their teammates.

Thank you again to everyone who joined us. We hope to continue hosting more Elitus Experience events in the future.

☀️ MCCS Summer Basketball Clinics Conclude

August 1 marks the final day of our MCCS Youth Sports Summer Basketball Clinics.

It has been an incredible experience working with so many young athletes throughout the summer. Our coaching staff placed a strong emphasis on mastering the fundamentals of dribbling, passing, and shooting, while also helping players understand how to apply those skills during game situations.

One of our biggest goals this year was to create opportunities for players to play freely at the end of each session, allowing them to gain valuable game experience while reinforcing the concepts taught during practice.

We are currently in discussions with MCCS Youth Sports about the possibility of launching a basketball academy during the Youth Sports season. Our vision is to provide consistent skill development and fundamental instruction that complements league play and helps young athletes perform with greater confidence during games.

These discussions are still in the planning stages, but we are optimistic and hope to share exciting news with everyone in the near future.

🔥 Club Team Update

Our U15 and U18 Club Teams will remain active throughout August with multiple scheduled games and continued team development.

Our U15 team has shown tremendous growth this season, and we are excited to see how far this talented young group can progress by the end of the fiscal year.

The U18 program also continues to grow, providing our players with meaningful competition and opportunities to develop alongside experienced teammates.

We sincerely appreciate everyone's continued encouragement and support for both of our Club Teams.

🍂 Looking Ahead to the Fall Season

As August comes to a close, the Fall basketball season will be just around the corner.

If you're preparing for school team tryouts, now is the perfect time to invest in your game.

Whether you're working toward making your school's team, earning more playing time, or simply becoming a more confident player, Elitus Basketball Academy is here to help you prepare.

We believe every player has untapped potential. Our goal is to help you discover it, develop it, and perform with confidence when the opportunity arrives.

Come train with us and discover your Power to Perform.

Thank you again for your continued support of Elitus Basketball Academy.

We look forward to another exciting month of learning, growth, and competition.

Push to Propel!

Jo Kurino Executive Director Elitus Basketball Academy

Beat out the competition by participating in the

MCCS Summer Basketball Clinics

We are excited to announce that the MCCS Youth Sports Summer Basketball Clinics will officially begin on Saturday, June 6.

Once again, I, Jo Kurino, will serve as the lead instructor and will oversee training for:

Fundamental Class (Beginners)
Junior Class (Middle School Players)
Advanced Class (High School Players)

The clinics are primarily designed for participants with base access (SOFA status). However, Japanese players may also participate if they have access to the installation through an approved escort.

If you are interested in registering, please visit the link below for additional details:

MCCS Summer Basketball Clinic Registration https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mccs-okinawa-youth-sports-2026-summer-basketball-clinic-tickets-1988461755639

ELITUS BASKETBALL ACADEMY

CALENDAR

We are pleased to release the August 2026 calendars for both the Academy and Club Teams.

ELITUS CLUB TEAM

CALENDAR

ACADEMY STRUCTURE

ーAbout Our Coursesー

Club Team & Academy Class Separation

To create the best possible environment for all players, we will implement the following structure:

Fundamental Class players will be separated from Club Team players.
U15 Club Team players will participate in:The Experience Class, and/orThe Advanced Class

This structure allows us to:

Provide more individualized instruction to beginner players
Create an environment that is both fun and challenging
Allow players to develop confidently without unnecessary pressure

More Live Play & Game-Based Training

Moving forward, Academy sessions will include more:

Live Play
Small-Sided Games

These additions will provide players with more opportunities to apply their skills in game-like situations.

However, skill development and retention will remain our highest priority. The more focused players are during the fundamental skill portions of practice, the more time we can dedicate to competitive and game-based activities later in the session.

FUNDAMENTAL CLASS

Ages: 7–13
Level: Beginners / Early-Stage Players
Focus: Fun, confidence, basic basketball skills, movement development, and game understanding.

EXPERIENCE CLASS

Ages: 10–15
Level: Experienced elementary school and middle school players
Focus: Skill development, decision-making, game concepts, and competitive mindset.

ADVANCED CLASS

Ages: 12–17
Level: Advanced elementary school, middle school, and high school players
Focus: Game-speed execution, advanced skill development, situational decision-making, and preparation for higher levels of competition.

We are seeking U18 Players!

Goals for 2026

Increase the number of games played (targeting approximately 12–24 games per year)
Expand travel and tournament opportunities
Build a diverse team that is not limited by nationality or foreign-player restrictions

Recommended for Players Who:

Want detailed instruction from specialized coaches
Are looking for an environment where every player receives a fair opportunity to compete
Value balancing academics and athletics
Are seeking a club team that offers scheduling flexibility
Want an additional place to develop outside of their school team