Skills coach here for cage clinics

Manila, Philippines - Highly regarded basketball skills coach Jason Wright is in the country to conduct clinics and before he flies back to the US, hopes to meet his idol Manny Pacquiao.

Wright, 37, established his basketball academy in 2001 and operates training centers in Southern California, running 1-on-1 private sessions, group clinics, six-week classes and week-long camps for players of all ages. He has conducted clinics in over 20 countries. Among the NBA players Wright has tutored were Andre Igoudala, Brandon Jennings, Landry Fields, Derek Fisher, Brian Cook, Chris Andersen, Tyus Edney, Jelani McCoy and ex-PBA imports Randy Holcomb and Juaquin Hawkins.

Sports promoter Vernon Frazier, an American who lives here with his Filipina wife Julie and their three-month-old baby, brought Wright and another coach Tim Kelly to conduct clinics in Iloilo, Caloocan and Butuan during a 12-day visit. Wright has been invited by La Salle alumnus Freddie Mendoza to do a special session with the Green Archers. He is also available for consultations with PBA teams and players.

Wright and Kelly arrived in Manila last Sunday. The next day, they opened a training camp for 110 players – from four years old to 21 – in Iloilo.

“Back home, I start training kids at an early age, preferably three years old,” said Wright who played point guard for the University of New Orleans varsity that lost to North Carolina in the first round of the 1996 NCAA Tournament. “It’s good to get the kids familiar with the basics right away. I specialize in training techniques and skills development.

The key is specialization. My staff is specially trained to make players better. We do two to three sessions a day to keep sharp. I’ve worked with players from all levels, from kids to NBA stars. My experience gives me an advantage when I’m working with players of all ages.”

Wright said he has faced some of the best guards in the game, including Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, Michael Jordan, Vince Carter and Fisher. “We beat Derek and his college team (Arkansas-Little Rock) to make it to the NCAA Tournament,” he recalled. One of his closest friends is Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Jim Cleamons with whom he has traveled to work clinics in Japan, China and Switzerland.

“We’re planning on doing more extensive clinics in the Philippines in July or August, possibly with Jim,” said Wright. “I spoke with Jim just before I left to go to Manila. He’ll come over if I ask him to. But at the moment, he’s still not sure what will happen with the Lakers next season. Nothing is final. There’s talk that Brian Shaw may replace Phil Jackson.

Jim’s availability to come over will depend on what happens with the Lakers.”

As for bringing over Jordan, Wright said it’s not a remote possibility. Frazier has contacted Jordan’s brother Larry on a Jordan visit. The word is Jordan may be interested to do a golf tour and a clinic for kids over two days for an appearance fee of at least $300,000.

“We’ll see if things work out,” said Wright. “Jordan’s visit will depend on many things like how long he can stay over, his availability during the summer, what he will do in the Philippines and of course, how much it will cost. Anything is possible if you work hard at making it happen.”

Wright said he hopes to meet Pacquiao and offer his services to promote skills development in basketball.

“I’m a big Pacquiao fan,” said Wright. “I was in Las Vegas to watch his fights against Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton. I love his aggressiveness, his tenacity and his ability to dominate his opponents. If I could only meet him, I would offer what I do in the US to his constituents in his home province. It would be an honor to work with him and I know how much he loves basketball.”

Wright’s camps focus on shooting, passing, defense, footwork and ball-handling. “Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced player, our methods will take you to the next level and help you reach your true potential,” he said. “We provide custom training programs for youth and adults, private lessons, small group programs, team clinics and community-based and seasonal basketball camps. In today’s competitive basketball world, it’s never too early to begin training. Failing to train is like training to fail.”