Tom Emory has been a basketball coach and trainer for over 23 years, mentoring athletes in the Spokane community from ages 5 -25. Tom comes from a family that is deeply involved in the game of basketball – his dad, wife, and daughter all played college basketball. His dad was a High School Championship coach in Colorado Springs, Colorado and daughter is currently on the coaching staff at The Masters University where she played 4 years. Below are some of the highlights of Tom’s career:
Tony Skinner moved to Spokane, WA in 2002 to continue his basketball career. He went on to play for Gonzaga University from 2002-2004. He graduated from Gonzaga with a Bachelors in Sociology. After graduation, Tony went on to play professionally in Germany after which he returned to Spokane and started to embrace what Spokane and the basketball world have in common – a real love for the game.
In 2007, Tony began his coaching career with a fellow teammate, and has since coached for several youth programs, teams, and organizations.
Tony loves the passion Spokane has for basketball and does as much as he can to continue to give back. With 3 children of his own, his focus is on the fundamentals of the game. This includes not only teaching proper form and technique, but truly teaching the game the right way.
Austin Yoakum was born and raised in Spokane and has been a basketball player at both the high school and collegiate level. After spending 3 years playing Varsity basketball at West Valley High School, Austin went on to play 2 years at Wenatchee Valley Junior College while getting an Associates degree in Business Administration. After college, Austin opened a private local finance business in the Spokane area while staying involved in athletics / basketball as an AAU coach, skills development trainer, and personal training. Passionate about helping people achieve their full potential, Austin is actively involved in personal development workshops including but not limited to; cognitive functioning, personal finance, entrepreneurship, and nutrition / fitness. Below are some of the highlights of his basketball career and personal life.
Riley Lupfer was born and raised in Spokane, WA. She graduated from Lewis and Clark High School in 2016 where she won GSL Player of the Year and Spokane Youth Sports Award Female Athlete of the Year. Her AAU experience playing for Spokane Legacy and the Northwest Blazers fueled her passion for the game and opened the door for her to compete at the next level.
Riley went on to play at Boise State University from 2016-2020. During her time there, she helped lead her team to 4 straight conference championships and 4 straight NCAA tournament appearances. She became the single season all time 3-point record holder not only at Boise State, but also in the Mountain West Conference. Her other career highlights include being a three-time all Mountain West team member and winning the Mountain West Tournament MVP her sophomore season.
Her outstanding collegiate career opened the door for her to play professionally in Germany following graduation. While in Germany, she helped lead her team to their most successful season in club history.
Upon returning to the US, Riley has spent the last year coaching AAU and training kids of all ages.
Jase went to Central Valley High School where he was GSL All League in basketball, baseball, and football. After high school, Jase played 2 years of baseball at Spokane Falls CC where he got his Associates Degree. After 2 years of baseball, Jase played 2 years of basketball at Columbia Basin College, where he will receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Project Management this year. During his time in the Tri-Cities, Jase helped train and coach players in the area alongside his brother, Bryan. Since Returning to Spokane, Jase has been active in Real Estate and enjoys staying around the game of basketball. Jase’s main focus is to help players develop their basketball IQ, learn proper footwork, develop effective in-game moves, and help shape player’s mindsets towards the game to help them reach their full potential.
