THE CORE
• OUR FOUNDER & CEO
Dashaun thomas
Meet the Founder
DaShaun “DT” Thomas was born December 12, 1988 on the westside of Chicago. He overcame a challenging upbringing in the Lawndale community as one of 20 siblings. DaShaun was motivated by not allowing his situation become his outcome. Driven by a passion for basketball, he rose to prominence as one of Chicago’s top players by age 13. He excelled at Farragut Academy and furthered his career at Kentucky State University before heading to Riverside College where he became a State Championship as Co-Captain of the team.
In 2015, DaShaun founded DTermined Athletics and developed a reputation and became a highly respected figure in the sports industry. Serving as the Director of Camp Operations for NBA Hall of Famer Chris Paul’s CP3MSC and CP3RS camps, DaShaun has gained extensive experience in managing elite-level basketball programs. He is also the President of UNLMTED Training, where he leads cutting-edge athlete development programs.
With a background in sports consulting and extensive work on various NBA projects, DaShaun has cultivated a reputation for excellence, working with athletes from beginners to the professional level. His expertise has taken him across the globe, hosting camps in 8 countries and over 15 states, helping athletes reach their full potential.
Beyond his professional achievements, DaShaun is a dedicated family man, proud father of three, and husband to Shy Thomas. His commitment to both his family and his craft embodies the determination and passion that drives the DTermined brand.
OUR DIRECTORS
Xavier Spells
DTermined IE
Xavier has been with the program since year 1, he’s a former Junior College product who played at San Bernardino Valley College. He then transferred to La Sierra University, finishing out his collegiate athletic career and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Communication and later earning his Master’s degree in Education at the University of Redlands. He is also a high school experienced coach and assisted The Vale in winning The Throne National Championship. He continues to service the youth in surrounding communities through coaching, mentoring, and skill development as it pertains to their respective sports or life experiences.
Niko Brooks
DTermined LA
Niko Brooks is the owner and founder of Outwork Everyone Basketball, with experience training players at all levels. He played college basketball at UC Riverside and Westmont College, leading his team to a conference championship. After earning a degree in Social Sciences, he played professionally in Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia. Niko’s true passion is training players, focusing on building confidence, improving skills, and understanding the game. He is dedicated to developing young athletes both on and off the court, preparing them for success in basketball and life.
Joi Duffy
Administrative Director
Joi Duffy, has been apart of the Team DTermined family for as long as any of us can remember. She started as a parent in the program, and has now been our Administrative Director for the last 4 years. Joi keeps the engine running behind the scenes, and does her best to ensure our families from the start are welcomed and kept informed.
Joi has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Minor in Human Services from the Cal State University of Fullerton, where she competed at the Division 1 level in Track and Field. She also has a Masters Degree and Teaching credential from the University of Redlands. As a Physical Education Teacher in San Bernardino for 5 years, working with over 200 students every day, she brings her knowledge and experience to our program and helps make everyone’s job easier on all fronts.
coach TJ
Director of Operations
Coach TJ Evans, 42 years young, has played as a point guard, trained and coached basketball for over 30 years. Tearing the right ACL, senior year at Moreno Valley High School, playing basketball seemed to be a retired after thought. But contributing to the game in other ways ensued. Becoming a strategist in how to help others understand why and where certain movements is advantageous to players. TJ develops skill sets, builds confidence, physical strength, agility, mental toughness and game awareness, to be better prepared for court action. Assisting in building a great culture on and off the court. Coach TJ loves the game, but loves helping athletes become the best version of themselves, more!
John Leggett
Director of Operations
John Leggett Jr., a dedicated trainer and basketball coach hailing from Riverside, CA, is not just a coach; he's a transformative force in the world of basketball. In 2023, John's coaching prowess was officially recognized when he received the Coach of the Year award for his remarkable achievements with the San Gabriel Academy Girls Basketball team. And in 2024, It was under his guidance that the San Gabriel Academy girls varsity team secured their first-ever conference championship, marking a historic milestone in the school's sports history.
Beyond the accolades and championships, John's commitment to basketball and skill development extends far beyond himself. He is on a mission to inspire, motivate, and positively impact lives whenever the opportunity arises. With an unwavering belief in the transformative power of sports, John Leggett Jr. continues to be a beacon of inspiration, both on and off the court.
Jamario harris
DTermined IE South
JAMM is a former collegiate guard who earned three degrees, 2022-23 CLIFF HAMLOW AWARD WINNER and played professionally in Armenia before becoming a Skill Development Coach and Real Estate Investor. Currently, JAMM is the Founder of Thorough Deposits Enterprises, where he passionately develops the skillset, mentality and mindset of young athletes in the San Diego/Inland Empire area. JAMM has worked with several different athletes at every level, he brings an array of knowledge, IQ and genuinely enjoys giving back everything he’s been taught.
OUR IE COACHES
coach shy
Shy Thomas served as Director of our Lady DTermined program, which produced several collegiate athletes under her guidance. She is also a former collegiate basketball player and received her degree from Cal State University San Bernardino. Coach Shy immediately started giving back while coaching for Team DTermined since 2016! Currently, she is the assistant coach for San Bernardino Valley College women’s program. Coach Shy has a true passion for the development and well being for all athletes. She’s an advocate for family and creating environments for student athletes to thrive on the court and navigating through life.
Coach Ken
Kendrick Ayres has been coaching Youth and High School Sports for over 20 years. His original passion for playing the game evolved into an enthusiasm for teaching after his playing days concluded. After a stand out high school career in the state of Maryland, he continued playing competitively while serving in the United States Marine Corps. Coach Kendrick first coached the High School level at Heritage High School (Menifee, Ca) in 2007. There he was a part of the inaugural staff, serving as the Freshman Coach and Lead Varsity Assistant. He is currently the Varsity Boys Head Coach at Colton High School. Coach Kendrick is dedicated to being a positive influence for student athletes both on and off the field of competition.
Coach Jahbril
Jahbril Price-Noel is one of our newest coaches/trainers who is the owner of clothing brand SAKREDWORLD. He attended University of the Pacific for 3 years before finishing up his collegiate career at Wagner College. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Sports Administration, he went on to play professionally in Canada and Albania. Now embarking on his coaching journey, Jahbril gears his focus towards mentorship and development both on and off the court. With his love for basketball, music, and the arts, he prides himself on showing youth how to passionately chase their dreams in between the lines and in the game of life.
coach TJ
Coach TJ Evans, 42 years young, has played as a point guard, trained and coached basketball for over 30 years. Tearing the right ACL, senior year at Moreno Valley High School, playing basketball seemed to be a retired after thought. But contributing to the game in other ways ensued. Becoming a strategist in how to help others understand why and where certain movements is advantageous to players. TJ develops skill sets, builds confidence, physical strength, agility, mental toughness and game awareness, to be better prepared for court action. Assisting in building a great culture on and off the court. Coach TJ loves the game, but loves helping athletes become the best version of themselves, more!
COACH K.LOPEZ
Kearnan Lopez is the Head Junior Varsity Coach at Colton High School and also coaches at DTermined Athletics. With four years of coaching experience, Kearnan has made a significant impact in both high school and youth basketball. He began his career at Patriot High School, where he spent three seasons as an Assistant Varsity Coach, helping the team reach the CIF playoffs in his first season.
Kearnan’s extensive basketball experience has fueled his passion for coaching and developing young talent. He’s known for his ability to nurture players, including one athlete who progressed to college basketball under his guidance. His coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of building character alongside athletic skills, and he instills discipline and a strong work ethic in his players, often reminding them, “If you play hard and practice hard, it will be hard for me to take you out of the game.” Kearnan is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, with plans to complete his studies at California State University, San Bernardino. His motivation to coach stems from his own experiences as a young athlete, and he is passionate about giving back to the sport by helping young men grow both on and off the court.
OUR LA COACHES
COACH NIKO
Niko Brooks is the owner and founder of Outwork Everyone Basketball, with experience training players at all levels. He played college basketball at UC Riverside and Westmont College, leading his team to a conference championship. After earning a degree in Social Sciences, he played professionally in Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and Indonesia. Niko’s true passion is training players, focusing on building confidence, improving skills, and understanding the game. He is dedicated to developing young athletes both on and off the court, preparing them for success in basketball and life.
coach JT
JT Langston Sr. Owner of Langston Academy Basketball Training, with 15+years of training and coaching. He is a high school basketball state champion in the state of Indiana. He played college Football and Basketball at Pasadena City College, he lead PCC to its 1 and only state football championship. JT’s true passion is fatherhood I’ve had the luxury of coaching and developing all 4 of my kids. He’s dedicated to development,teaching,improving skills and also building confidence. JT loves teaching life lessons through the game of basketball.
coach JOHN
Coach TJ Evans, 42 years young, has played as a point guard, trained and coached basketball for over 30 years. Tearing the right ACL, senior year at Moreno Valley High School, playing basketball seemed to be a retired after thought. But contributing to the game in other ways ensued. Becoming a strategist in how to help others understand why and where certain movements is advantageous to players. TJ develops skill sets, builds confidence, physical strength, agility, mental toughness and game awareness, to be better prepared for court action. Assisting in building a great culture on and off the court. Coach TJ loves the game, but loves helping athletes become the best version of themselves, more!
Coach TAM
Tamara McDonald, a seasoned coach with 16 years of collegiate coaching experience, recently completed her third season as the assistant coach for the LMU Lions women's basketball team. Before joining LMU, McDonald served as an assistant at the University of Washington in the Pac-12, bringing over a decade of coaching expertise and a deep understanding of the West Coast Conference.
OUR COORDINATORS
Fay Cheng
DTermined LA
Fay and her family have been with DTermined going on three years. Fay has been there to bridge the gap and assist our LA families all year long. Fay and her family are devoted members of the community, and a big part of the DTermined family. You will see them all at any given time lending at hand at our Media Night, our National Events and the programs weekly needs. If you would like to tryout for DTermined LA click below!
Eric Villegas
DTermined IE
Eric and his family have been with DTermined going on three years, from a program called DTermined Littles where we teach 5-7 tear olds the fundamentals of the game. Eric and his family are instrumental to our program's success, and is here to help our DTermined IE families throughout the season. Eric a successful business owner, makes time to lend his support to our program, from communicating with parents, filming games, assisting and tournaments and our annual media night. If you want more information on how to be apart of DTermined IE click the link below!
Breon Brown
DTermined IE South
Bre and her family have been with DTermined going on three years. She is a vital part to our program's success and is here to help our IE South families throughout the season. Bre works in the Menifee School District and is a successful business owner. After she answers your questions about DTermined make sure you enquire about all of your decorating needs via the link below: