Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony McCutcheon.
Hi Anthony, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I founded MTB Training Academy in 2018. When we first started, we just wanted to get kids of all ages in the gym and become mentors on and off the basketball court. In 2019-21, we began hosting camps and organized training which lead to personal and small-group training. We even had 3rd, 4th, 9th, and 10th-grade travel teams.
When COVID shut down everything, I noticed there were limited recruiting opportunities for local high school basketball players (graduating seniors). Hearing the news that college players would get an extra year due to the basketball season being canceled, prompted me to think of a way to help these graduating extend their basketball careers all while taking college courses.
That is when MTB Collegiate Academy came to fruition. This 2-year program was created for graduating high school seniors and/or college freshmen looking to extend their basketball careers all while pursuing their AA and/or Bachelor’s degree. This program motivates them to attend college all while playing the game they love in hopes of being recruited to play at the next level.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth road but when starting something new it’s never smooth. When starting this program, the toughest thing was finding quality games, tourneys and showcases to get players recruited. After a few months of trial and error, we were able to schedule 35 games and three players received offers to play at the next level.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Aside from MTB Training Academy and MTB Collegiate Academy, I also coach girls’ varsity basketball at Somerset Academy Canyons in Boynton Beach. We are currently one of the top 2-3 girls’ basketball programs in Palm Beach County and we are also the youngest girls’ varsity basketball team in Palm Beach County. This year our top 7 of our 8 players were 10th grade or younger. Four of our top players are middle schoolers with two of them in the 7th grade.
In South Florida, I am most known for coaching, training, and mentoring the youth on and off the court. I train and mentor players from 6 years old all the way through the professional level. I have also been blessed to have been mentored by three former NBA and pro basketball players. I am most proud of the young men and women I have been able to touch over the past 10-15 years when I started this fruitful journey after college.
What sets me apart from others is I truly don’t do this for money. I genuinely want to see my players thrive in life. At some point the ball is going to stop bouncing, then they’re going to have to figure out their next chapter. Hopefully, I can be the one along with their parents to make sure they have a plan B, C, D, etc. so they have multiple ways to provide for themselves and their families. Hopefully, I can motivate them to use the game of basketball to help prepare them for the challenges of life that are right around the corner.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
The main lesson I learned was to always remain sanitary. I’m way more conscious of washing my hands, touching my face, shaking hands, being in large crowds, etc.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtbathletics/?hl=en&__coig_restricted=1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MTBTrainingAcademy/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mtbbasketball?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNh4-sW3ocPgPXIg8bzt5pQ
Image Credits
ToroHoops, Futuredraftstyle, and Mixtape Fever
