New Jersey’s upcoming and accomplished basketball trainer is only 16 years old and he is a Filipino American named Ryan Ang.
Ryan and his sister Samantha were both born and raised in New Jersey. His parents Winston and Madelyn were born and raised in Cebu and Manila in the Philippines and migrated to the United States about 30 years ago.
The talented teenager has been training over 40 Filipino and American basketball players and has worked with more than 5 teams with players ranging from first graders to high school athletes, and even adults, for over a year now.
Ang has already led multiple basketball training clinics, worked one on one with individual clients, and has even held charity basketball events to engage and teach all those who share his love of basketball.
The 5’8″ junior student started training teams at the age of 15 years old at the end of his sophomore year at Hackensack High School, New Jersey. It was at a local gym where he trained with the son of a head coach of an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Team that Ang showed potential as a trainer. He presented the drills he had created on his own and the coach was very impressed. Other kids saw his program and joined the training. The idea of Ryan Ang being a basketball trainer was then born.
Ryan Ang started out training family and friends until his client base grew. He has trained kids starting at the age of 7 and adults in their 40s. Ryan has trained both beginners and intermediate athletes, boy and girl athletes, athletes from all over the state, and athletes from different ethnic races.
Ryan’s basketball training is different from that of other trainers in that not only does he show the drills, he also does the drills with the athlete.
His drills are both fun and beneficial. Ryan says he gets fulfillment seeing other athletes improve both themselves and their basketball skills, and is humbled by the fact that athletes travel from all over the state to train with him. He considers it a great reward when big organizations ask him to train their athletes.
Good News Pilipinas talked to Ryan Ang and his mother Madelyn about his mission as a basketball trainer.
Good News Pilipinas (GNP): Is Ryan considering becoming a basketball player, too?
Madelyn Ang (MA): Before Ryan became a basketball trainer, he has played for multiple teams, both AAU and Recreational Teams. Yes, he is still considering and hopes to become a basketball player as he has been recruited over many teams but denied the offer because of his training schedule. However, he does play for his High School Basketball Team.
GNP: How does Ryan embrace his Filipino heritage?
MA: So the majority of Ryan’s basketball clients are Filipino and as he is affiliated with many Filipino Basketball Teams. As Filipino parents, we teach him and let him embrace our Filipino culture. Both my family and Ryan is very much associated with Filipino groups both in and out of the basketball community.
GNP: What does Ryan think of Philippine basketball?
MA: Ryan is definitely aware about the basketball association in the Philippines as he watches them as well. He has not seen any Pinoy college basketball (will ask him to check it out). However, he does watch Gilas Filipinas Youth.
GNP: Ryan, how has basketball helped you with your life as a student and a trainer?
Ryan Ang (RA): Basketball has helped me become a more responsible and mature person overall. Creating schedules for training has helped me in school by utilizing my time and helping me better my time management.
GNP: With your mission to create better athletes, what is the message you are trying to deliver?
MA: Hopefully by sharing his story, we could encourage other kids to show them that anything is possible.
RA: A message to the Filipino basketball players and fans worldwide: Anything is possible as long as you put your heart and effort into your goal, from there you can only succeed.
Ryan Ang is currently training both multiple AAU Teams and Recreational Teams of all different age groups. He is also currently running his own group sessions every Friday and is the head trainer of a Saturday Basketball Clinic.
Ryan Ang’s journey and training are documented on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Ryan Ang’s basketball training goal in the future is to train abroad, start his own league, and his own basketball team.
Ryan Ang’s story as a basketball trainer is unique among the stories of Filipino-Americans who have made their mark in basketball as players such as NBA’s Jordan Clarkson of Cleveland Cavaliers who played for Gilas Pilipinas and NCAA’s Kihei Clark of the Virginia Cavaliers.
SEND congratulations in the comments below to Ryan Ang, New Jersey’s youngest basketball trainer!
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