Our Team

Brian1Aug09Brian Sacks, Founder & Chief Jumper
Jump Athletic founder and Chief Jumper Brian Sacks is no stranger to youth sports. He started playing competitive youth sports at the age of 7 in Long Island, NY traveling across the country to different cities playing competitive soccer. The team of kids played together for four years and won an incredible 80% of its games over that span of time. While playing soccer, Sacks also played youth basketball in competitive club leagues. He continued to develop in many different sports as he entered his high school years playing varsity basketball, soccer and tennis.

Given his enthusiasm for sports on the court and field, it’s no surprise that the love of the game translated off the playing field too. Sacks dabbled in sports radio on the former local ESPN Affiliate 860 AM with a radio show called Sports Junkies. As well, his passion for basketball in particular, has led him to coach competitive youth basketball for the past four years.

A proven entrepreneur with a knack for launching companies, he started bizAZ magazine in 1997. After growing it into the most respected business magazine in Arizona he sold it to Gannett Co. in 2005. Sacks went on to start bizSanDiego, a magazine and online brand for the greater San Diego area in 2006. He is married to Kathy Sacks, also an entrepreneur, who heads up a marketing and public relations firm for tech companies. They have a little Jumper, Juliana born Feb 2009.

OB-sittingPadraig (OB) O’Brien, Director Of Training
OB brings 17 years of experience in basketball training and coaching to Jump Athletic. He has been working with some of the top players from the Valley, throughout the U.S. and abroad for the past five years. OB’s Phoenix workouts have been attended by over 100 professional players including four NBA lottery picks. He is also the Director of Player Personnel for the Phoenix Summer Pro League. The league features the top high school, college and professional players living in the phoenix area over the summer. Prior to moving to Phoenix, OB worked several training camps for the LaCrosse Bobcats and made stops at North Park University and Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

basketball tournament directorJustin Peterson, Tournament Director
As the founder of Just4Hoopin, Justin Peterson heads up the best youth basketball tournament series in Arizona, now partnering with Jump Athletic to put on these high-impact events. He launched Just4Hoopin to promote basketball as a means for young athletes to build self-confidence, self esteem, physical health, and positive body image both on and off the court. The Omaha, Nebraska native moved to Arizona in the 70’s and has been hooked on the Valley’s sports scene ever since. Peterson served as sports director for the Mesa Family YMCA. Prior to that, he was the Senior VP of Public Relations for the Basketball Congress International (BCI) in Dallas where he ran the nation’s top youth basketball tournaments. More than 150 kids came up through the BCI ranks to play in the NBA.

He played soccer throughout high school and began coaching basketball back in the early ’90s and has been in sports all his life starting at the age of 9 playing baseball. He sits on the advisory board for the Salvation Army and served as a coach for the Salvation Army’s youth basketball program. Peterson currently coaches both youth basketball and football and loves to spend time with his “little athlete”, son Caleb, age 3.

Erik_Gray2Erik Gray, Elite Team Coach

Coach Gray leads Jump Athletic’s Elite Club team. He is also Director of Operations, Head Basketball Coach, Player/College Relations and Scholarship Coordinator, and also serves as the Sponsorship Liaison. Coach Gray is a graduate of Missouri State University and has been a student of the game for the past 30 years. He has coached at all levels of the game—High school, Jr. College and Division I.  He was an all-state player in Arizona, a Jr. College All American at York College in Nebraska, and a two-year starter at Missouri State University. He also played six years of professional basketball. Coach Gray brings a wealth of knowledge and has a strong passion for the game. Over the past year he has assisted many players in obtaining college scholarships. Coach Gray’s desire is to teach youth solid skills and game fundamentals while also teaching them to maximize their potential in life by building character traits such as sportsmanship, teamwork, responsibility, and integrity. Coach Gray is the Founder of Metropolitan Amateur Sports.

Brian Sykora, Senior Trainer
Well rounded in all facets athletics, Brian Sykora played football, basketball, and baseball growing up as a kid in Minnesota. While playing football and basketball at Bloomington Jefferson High School (MN), he was an all-metro and all-state athlete in both sports for three years. After high school, Brian decided to pursue football and received an athletic scholarship to play TE at the University of Minnesota. Missing his love for the game of basketball, he decided to take a year off from football and concentrate on hoops. While working in the Bloomington public school district, Brian coached football and basketball, along with teaching elementary school children during before and after school programs.

From there, Brian found in way out to Arizona and played one year of basketball at Scottsdale Community College. For his athletic efforts at SCC, Brian was awarded 1st team All-ACCAC and 1st team All-Region. The past two years Brian has been playing basketball at the University of Minnesota Duluth where he was a two-time captain, 1st team NCC/NSIC All-Conference, All-Region, and 2nd team All-American. Brian finished school this past May with a degree in Early Childhood Education.

Dave Camadini, Trainer
Coach Dave Camadini is a 5′9 170 lbs. point guard from southern Orange County, California. Graduating from Aliso Niguel HS in 1999, he earned All-League honors as he led his team in scoring, assists, steals, & 3point shooting while being named team MVP. He once scored 28pts on 11-12 of shooting in the Orange Holiday Classic. Dave went on to play professionally in Uruguay were he averaged 15 points in only 21 minutes of play. In his First pro game Dave came off the bench to score 30pts in only 28 minutes. He then returned to the states to play at Laramie County Community College.

Dave earned All-Conference honors as he lead his team in scoring, assists and lead the highly competitive Region IX conference in 3point shooting at 55%. He had a career game against the 9th best team in the nation (Sheridan CC) when he scored 39pts, 7assts, 5rebs, 5steals, on 15-24 shooting. He culminated his collegiate career at Chadron State College, a Division II school in Nebraska. Dave played on a traveling team the summer before his senior year that competed against pro teams in Europe. He led his team to an 8-1 record while averaging 25pts, shooting 52% from the field, and nailing 49 3-pointers. In his last game in Europe he scored 17 pts in the first 6 minutes of the game. He turned down offers to play in both Germany & the Czech Republic to return to school for his senior year. Dave went on to lead his team in points, assists, steals, and 3point shooting while earning All-Conference honors and being named team MVP.

Dave developed the reputation as a clutch performer by hitting several game winners and countless shots down the stretch. He once scored 13 points in a 5 minute overtime and had a 24pt second half. Dave graduated with honors in the spring of 2005, but his career was cut short as he suffered a devastating knee injury just 2 weeks before he was scheduled to return to Uruguay to continue his pro career.

Steve Jurich, Trainer
After starting basketball at the age of five, Steve Jurich stuck with the sport he has come to love and hasn’t looked back since. Playing club, middle school, and high school basketball, Jurich has won several state championships. Playing at Horizon High School and then moving to Desert Mountain High School, Jurich carried his team to a State Championship. He now plays at Scottsdale Community College and is their leading scorer and rebounder.


Shane Oliva, Trainer
Hailing from Nebraska where he played basketball throughout high school, Shane Oliva began coaching at multiple basketball camps during that same time. He then attended Arizona State University, where he continued coaching multiple basketball camps and also became part of the managerial staff for the men’s basketball team. Following his time with the men’s team, he started working for Tom Kuyper as a basketball club instructor/coach. Since college graduation he has continued his work with the basketball club and camps while also helping with the Phoenix Summer Pro League.

 

A.David Cureton,Trainer

A. David Cureton II, a 32 year old, NY native who grew up in the inner city of Buffalo. He often found himself turning to the local community establishments -  The Boys and Girls Club and YMCA. It was there that the passion for basketball was instilled. Due to the outpouring of leadership and commitment David received during the “crucial” years, giving back to the community is always a priority!

David  played 4 yrs Varsity Basketball – Sec. 2, Div. 2 at Geneseo High where he held the honor of captain all 4 years. Two of those years made the All Star team, and helped bring my team to a State Championship.  During high school he had the opportunity to coach at Syracuse Basketball Camp, Ron DeCarli Basketball Camp, Boys & Girls Club (summer league).  After graduating high school David embarked on a new journey to SUNY Fredonia where he played two years of D3 basketball and participated in SUNY Geneseo Basketball Camp and SUNY Fredonia basketball camp.

David have been blessed with the opportunity to travel with the National Basketball League (NBA) – for two and a half years on the cross- country tour van also traveling with the TBS Tuesday/Thursday night coverage team. The NBA Jam Van participated in spot shooting, 3 point shoot out, dunk contest and promotional games during halftime.  Following the NBA  Jam Van went cross country yet again, with REEBOK, for the Allen Iverson shoe launch – DMX Air Transfer Technology.  Attended exhibition play and shoe signings.

In 2004 Cureton moved to Arizona where he began coaching at  SABIS International School – a charter school on the Southside of Phoenix.  During his 5 years at the school he brought in 2 championships for the girls and 3-peat for the boys!

 

John Jerome, Senior Trainer

John Jerome has been playing competitive basketball since the junior high days till the age of 36 where he retired from playing in Jeruselem, Israel.  He started his playing days growing up in Prescott Arizona.  Jerome’s quickly moved to the next level playing for Mesa Community College winning two ACCAC championships and 3rd place finish in the NJCAA tournament in Hutchington, Kansas.  After being nominated 1st Team NJCAA All-American, John went on to ASU for one season then onto finish his college career with 1st Team All-WCC Conference accolades at the University of San Diego in 1990. Jerome’s pro career started immediately after college heading to the Netherlands playing for two seasons in Den Helder where the team won two Dutch Championships and one Dutch Cup.  The next five seasons would be spent in the Belgium university town of Leuven (home of Stella Beer) wherehe earned individual honors being in the top five in scoring and rebounding for five straight seasons.  Leuven would accomplish one runner-up appearance in the Belgium Cup and three straight European appearances.  Jerome moved on to Oostende (a team on the coast) to play for two seasons earning a Belgium Cup title and one Belgium Championship appearence.  Jerome’s last three seasons would be playing for Spirou Charleroi on the French Wallonia side of Belgium.  In Charleroi, the team would win one Belgium Cup, earn two Belgium Championship finals appearances, and play three years in the second best basketball league in the world, “the Euro-League.”  His career ended playing half a season for Jeruselem in Israel where the team was remembered for beating Maccabi Tel Aviv at home with one of the best teams in all of Europe.