The Path · Mentorship
The Path helps serious basketball families improve performance, make smarter decisions, and avoid the costly mistakes that quietly derail a career.
The Gap
The road to college basketball starts long before recruiting does. From middle school on, families pour real time, money, and energy into training, teams, camps, and travel — without a clear read on whether any of it is moving the athlete in the right direction.
"Are we focusing on the right things?"
Is the athlete actually working on what moves the needle in games?
"Are these camps and tournaments worth it?"
Is the schedule building a career, or just filling a calendar?
"Is all this time and money paying off?"
Most families get stuck here — not for lack of care, but for lack of a framework.
How It Works
Every athlete moves through the same deliberate process. Nothing is random.
A 30-minute call with the #HoopStudy team
Every journey starts with a private call between you, your athlete, and our leadership team. You leave with a clear picture of where your athlete stands, three specific 90-day priorities, and an honest answer on whether The Path is the right next step. No pressure. No pitch. A real conversation.
A 60-minute breakdown with DJ Sackmann
Your athlete sits down with DJ for a full film breakdown — tendencies, habits, decision-making. This isn't a highlight review; it's a precise diagnosis from one of the best minds in player development. They walk away knowing exactly what to change to reach their ceiling.
Matched with your private coach
Every athlete is paired with a private coach trained personally in the #HoopStudy Development System — the person in their daily life, building the weekly plan, breaking down film, available through our private app. Cohorts are capped at ten athletes per coach. Real coaching requires real bandwidth.
The most important call of your first 90 days
In the first two weeks, you, your athlete, and your coach look at the whole picture — training, AAU, school team, academics, recovery, social media, recruiting profile, and the people around them. From that conversation we build a 90-day action plan tailored to your goals.
Real development happens when everything is connected
Execution starts. Your athlete follows a structured weekly plan inside the app — skill work, film studies, recruiting and social audits, mindset training. Your coach manages the full picture, breaking down film twice a month and communicating daily for real-time feedback.
Train where the pros train
Add on in-house visits at our private NBA facility in Montclair, NJ. Most athletes plan a few visits a year to work hands-on with their coach, train alongside other Path members, and step into the same environment where DJ and the #HoopStudy team develop some of the best athletes in the game.
What's Included
A structured experience built to create clarity, adjustment, and momentum over time — designed by DJ Sackmann across 17 years inside the basketball world.
Private mentorship with one of the most experienced minds in basketball.
A clear individual roadmap — priorities, focus areas, and next steps.
Consistent film-based coaching on what is actually happening in games.
An honest assessment of strengths, weaknesses, and what needs to change.
A structured breakdown of your athlete's full competitive picture.
Adjustments made in real time as your athlete's game evolves.
Guidance for the family on what to prioritize and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Strategic support through exposure, school decisions, and recruiting.
The Locker Room
My plan is dialed in. I'm improving faster because nothing is guesswork.
The film breakdowns changed everything. I see the game completely differently now.
Before The Path I had no offers. I locked in with #HoopStudy and went D3 to D1 to pro.
The Path gave me clarity. I know exactly what to focus on every week.
This program made me a much more confident player.
For the Family
Because your athlete is coached this closely, your family gets more than feedback — you get direction. What to focus on now, what to improve next, and how to move intentionally toward college basketball.
Your athlete doesn't need to be a five-star recruit. They need to be serious. If they are, The Path gives your family a framework you can trust.
"Everything changed for our family when we started with #HoopStudy. It bridged the gap between me and my son."
Ryan Peek — Father of 3 college athletes
"#HoopStudy helped my son with his confidence, maturity, and college recruiting."
Maura Determann — Mother of a signed D3 point guard
"A real plan and real people behind it. That's the difference."
Kendall Gill — 15-year NBA veteran
Questions
If college basketball is the dream, now is the time to make sure your athlete is on the right path. We'll look at where they stand, where they want to go, and whether The Path is the right fit for your family.
Apply for a Path Evaluation