About apex hoops

MissioN

To empower players though a “development-centered” format where our priority and success is not determined by how many championships we win but by how much better each player gets through our program. Founded by a trainer (Conner Wess) who has prioritized development since 2016, our goal is simply to prepare players for varsity basketball. Having experienced coaches on staff that are varsity head coaches, varsity assistant coaches, collegiate level coaches, youth/MS level coaches, and/or have played collegiate basketball all understand that excelling at varsity basketball is the best gateway to any opportunity a player desires for their future. Values we prioritize to get you ready for varsity basketball consist of…

  • High work ethic

  • Willing to take pride in high-level communication on the court and on the bench

  • Leadership

  • Consistent high energy

  • Skill development

  • Conditioning development

  • Basketball IQ development

History

  • 2016: Conner Wess became a part time trainer while beginning his collegiate career at Walsh University.

  • 2020: Conner had built his training clientele to over 100 players annually and began “Success Centered Athletics” as the first attempt to form a legitimate business.

  • 2022: Removed “Success Centered Athletics” as a formal business to take the GA Coaching position at The University of Mount Union (2022 OAC Champs - 2023 OAC Champs & NCAA D III National Runner Up working under Head Coach Mike Fuline).

  • 2025: A majority of the players Conner was training at the time were seeking AAU teams so we decided to form a new business “Apex Hoops LLC” to begin building AAU as another route for basketball development along with training. We were able to form 3 teams at the 2nd grade, 6th grade, and 8th grade to kickstart Apex AAU.

  • 2026: Apex is home to 6 teams and growing! We had a great first year of managing and building multiple teams centered around development.

Apex AAU coaching staff - 2026

A woman coaches a youth basketball team during a timeout, with four young players and a man seated on the sideline in matching black team shirts with a blue and white logo.

Breighann Donald

  • 8u Head Coach

  • Former Head Coach At Manchester High School

  • Peak Performance Speaker and Mentor

A group of young boys in a locker room huddle together with a coach, appearing to be in a team discussion or pep talk.
A young boy wearing glasses, a black and white sports jersey, black shorts, and bright orange sneakers, appears to be in a sports arena or gym, focused and ready to play basketball.
A youth basketball team in black jerseys with numbers is gathered in a huddle on an indoor court, holding a trophy while their coach kneels beside them. A man in a black hoodie stands nearby, and a woman and another person are in the background.

Josh twiddy

  • 9u Head Coach

  • Current University of Mount Union Head Men’s Basketball Coach

  • Former assistant coach at The University of Mount Union, Akron University, and Bakersfield Jam (Suns NBA G-League)

A young boy with short brown hair in a black T-shirt with a basketball graphic is holding a basketball at an indoor basketball court. Red and white bleachers are in the background with a few out-of-focus spectators.
Young boy in black and white basketball uniform dribbling a basketball during a game in an indoor gymnasium.
Young boys playing basketball in an indoor gym. One boy in a black jersey is jumping with a basketball near his face, while other children in jerseys watch or run in the background.
A man with a beard wearing a black cap and gray hoodie sitting and talking, as two children and a woman listen attentively in a bright room.
Young boy in a basketball uniform holding a basketball on an indoor court, surrounded by players.
A young boy playing basketball on an indoor court, wearing a white and black uniform with an 'Apex' logo, dribbling a basketball as he is guarded by another player.
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‍ ‍Lucas bitong

  • 13u Blue Head Coach

  • Current Head Coach at Green MS - 8th Grade

  • 3x Federal League Champion at Green HS as a prominent player

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A young boy wearing a white basketball uniform with blue accents, holding a basketball, on a wooden basketball court.
Two young boys playing basketball indoors. The boy in the foreground is holding a basketball and appears to be preparing to shoot or pass, wearing a black sleeveless basketball jersey with blue and white accents. The boy in the background is also dressed in a similar jersey, standing in the gym.
A young male basketball player in a black jersey with the number 10 shooting a basketball.

Corey lehner

  • 13u Black Head Coach

  • Current Head Coach at Mogadore MS - 7th Grade

  • 41-9 varsity record at Mogadore HS 2022-2024as a prominent player

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A young male basketball player with curly hair, wearing a black tank top with blue accents and a logo that says 'APEX', holding a basketball on an indoor court, preparing to make a shot.
Young boy holding a basketball during a basketball practice or game, with other children in the background in an indoor gym.
Young basketball players and adults standing in a gym, holding basketballs, with focused expressions. The children are wearing white jerseys with a logo and black shorts, while one has a white leg sleeve, and others have headbands and glasses. Adults are dressed casually, some with cross arms or hands over their hearts.
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Young boy playing basketball indoors, wearing a black jersey with a blue and white logo and the word "APEX" on it, holding a basketball, with a purple and white wall and spectators in the background.

‍ ‍Lj campbell

  • 11u Head Coach

  • Current assistant coach at Glen Oak High School

  • Former NCAA DII basketball player - Walsh University

A group of young boys in basketball uniforms celebrating on an indoor basketball court. There is a basketball hoop and a digital scoreboard overhead. An adult in athletic wear is walking nearby.
A young person is taking a selfie, showing a large championship belt in front of their chest. The belt has a red and orange design with rhinestones and the words 'WORLD CHAMPION' on it. The background features a wall with framed photographs or plaques, and another person is visible in the background wearing a white cap and black jacket.
Young man coaching basketball at a game in a gymnasium with players and spectators in the background.
A sports team, wearing black jerseys with blue accents, gathered on an indoor basketball court listening to their coach, who is holding a piece of paper.
Young male basketball player standing on the court during a game, wearing a black uniform, with spectators watching from the bleachers behind him.
Young boys playing basketball on an indoor court, with one boy in black running with the ball while others are chasing him.
A boys' basketball team wearing white jerseys with the logo 'APEX' listens to their coach, who is crouched down and explaining something, as some players sit on the floor and others stand around them.
Four young boys in basketball uniforms sitting on a bench in a gym, reacting to the game; some are clapping and cheering.
A young man with a beard and curly hair kneels on the floor, resting on his heels, with one finger on his lips. He is wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and black pants with a logo, and white sneakers. In the background, there are other people in a gym or indoor sports setting, including a woman sitting against the wall and a man wearing a red shirt and black hat, standing near a white wall with a clock.

‍ ‍Conner wess

  • 15u Head Coach

  • Former Varsity Head Coach, Varsity-Assistant Coach, NCAA D III GA Coach, 10+ years of player development experience

  • Former DII basketball player - Walsh University

Two young men with blond hair are looking down, one in the foreground and the other in the background, both wearing dark sports jerseys with the logo 'APEX' visible on the sleeve of the foreground individual.
A young male basketball player dribbling a basketball on an indoor court, wearing a black and blue jersey with the number 3.
A young boy playing basketball indoors, wearing a black jersey with a blue and white logo that reads 'APEX', holding a basketball with his right hand, and pointing with his left hand, with an American flag in the background.
A young male basketball player in a black and blue jersey with the number 2, practicing a shot in a gymnasium, with another player in a light blue jersey nearby.
A group of ten young men in black sports uniforms and medals, standing together in a modern indoor space, holding a gold trophy and celebrating their victory.
A young male basketball player dribbling a basketball on an indoor court with other players and spectators in the background.