Brendan Smith

Brendan Smith is the Owner and Director of A Step Ahead Incorporated (ASA). As Director of ASA Smith overseas all basketball operations including: summer camps boys / girls AAU teams, school vacation clinics and weekly skills classes. In addition to his duties at ASA, Smith has served boys' varsity basketball coach at Boston Latin School since the 2007-08 season. During his tenure, Smith has lead the Wolfpack to two DCL Championships, and five tournament births. Smith has previously coached men's college basketball at Mt. Ida College, and high school basketball at Newton North High School. Most recently, Smith successfully completed both the written and floor exams of referee school to join the referee fraternity and became a member of Board 27. He earned his undergraduate degree in Human Performance & Fitness at Umass Boston and received his Masters of Education degree from Cambridge College.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Director
• President
• Owner

Dave Pierce

David Pierce teaches history at Brockton High School. Pierce coached the Oliver Ames J.V. boy's basketball team in Easton, MA, for two years and has previously coached high school freshman at Boston Latin School and Fairfield Academy in Connecticut. In addition, he has coached AAU basketball for ASA and summer league basketball for Boston Latin School. Pierce has a Masters in Secondary Education from UMass Boston and is a graduate of Wheaton College.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Co - Camp Director

Marquis Victor

Marquis Victor played high school basketball at Central Catholic in Lawrence where he was a three year starter, captain his senior year and a Boston Globe Dream Team and Boston Herald Super Team player as well. He finished his last two years of college basketball at Salem State University where he helped lead the team to a 45-10 record during his two years, captaining and leading the team in scoring his senior year. Marquis formerly worked with Citizen Schools as a National Teaching Fellow. He taught at Garfield Middle School in Revere and finished the Fellowship up at Orchard Gardens K-8 School in Roxbury. During the Fellowship, Mr. Victor obtained a master’s degree in Education from Lesley University. Currently, he is the Community Field Coordinator/Dean of Students at the Roger Clap Innovation School in Dorchester, MA - Boston's first innovation school.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• 7th Grade Boys AAU Coach
• Summer Camp Coach

Greg Maneikis

Greg Maneikis is a recent graduate of Boston College where he double-majored in English and Secondary Education. He is currently teaching in the Boston Public Schools. Greg played three years of Varsity basketball at Boston Latin School, twice being named a first-team league all-star. As a senior captain, Greg led his team to a share of the Dual County League Title and the third round of the MIAA tournament, which remains the most successful run a Boston Latin basketball team has ever had in the history of the program. Recently, Greg has been featured on ESPN.com, for his involvement in Asian basketball tournaments across the United States, and is considering a return to competitive basketball. Greg will be coaching the 8th grade AAU program for ASA this spring.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Co - Camp Director
• Assistant Camp Director
• AAU Coach

Tom Levett

Now in his 8th year, Tom Levett brings a wealth of basketball knowledge, skill development and coaching to his position as Co-Director of A Step Ahead Basketball Incorporated. Tom has recently taken the helm as the head varsity girls basketball at Hingham High School. Levett’s previous coaching experience was head coach of the women’s basketball team at Wheelock College and head coach of Quabbin Regional High School. Off the court, Levett teaches physical education with Boston Public Schools and instructs private pitching lessons at the South Shore Baseball Club in Hingham, MA. He earned his Bachelor's degree in elementary education/sociology from Fitchburg State College where he played both basketball and baseball.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Co - Camp Director
• Director of Nike Overnight Camp

Brian Hughes

Brian Hughes is the head coach for the boys' JV basketball program at Boston Latin School. Prior to joining A Step Ahead and BLS, he previously coached for four years in the Parkway Youth Travel Basketball Program and also ran youth basketball clinics in West Roxbury and Brighton. Hughes is a graduate and Former Captain of the Boston Latin School Basketball Team. He earned a degree in Human Resources Studies and Business Administration from the University of Scranton and is presently completing a Master’s Degree in Human Resources at Suffolk University.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Human Resource Advisor
• Basketball Consultant

Jon Dalzell

Jon grew up in upstate NY and was named High School Player of the Year in the Tri County Area 1978 and top scorer averaging 24.7 points per game in 1978 and led his team to championships in both 1977and 1978. Dalzell played college ball for Eastern New Mexico University 1978-1982 and was named All Conference in his senior year averaging 15.8 per game. Upon graduation he played professionally in the Euroleague for 16 years (1983-1999) for teams such as Hapoel Tel Aviv and Hapoel Jerusalem where he won the National Cup Title with Jerusalem in 1996 and in 1997. Third all-time leader in 3 point shooter in Israeli history and inducted into the Israeli Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008. When is playing days were over Jon received his Coaching basketball degree from Wingate Institute for Sports in Israel. Jon has Coached youth teams and ran special basketball program for national youth team players in Herzliya, Israel in 1999-2000 and Coached the Israeli Air Force basketball team from 1992-1999. Basketball junkie that still plays 3 times a week.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• AAU Coach - girls 9th grade

Stephanie Savas

Stephanie Savas is a history teacher and Women’s Freshmen Basketball Coach at Brockton High School. Prior to joining A Step Ahead, Stephanie played for four years on the Wesleyan University Basketball Team and was a two year starter. Stephanie earned a Bachelor’s degree in history from Wesleyan as well as a Masters of Education from Boston College. She has coached at many summer programs, including those at Stonehill and Bentley Colleges, as well as Wesleyan University. She played four years of varsity basketball and volleyball at Brockton High School. Stephanie was named to the Brockton Enterprise First Team for three years in both sports and received the Gold Scholar-Athlete Award.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Co - Camp Director
• Assistant Camp Director

Eric Brickley

Coach Brickley has recently been named the Director of ASA "West" camps and VP of AAU operations. Most recently he has served as the Director of the joint ASA/Nike camps at our Southborough and Framingham location as well as assistant clinician at many of ASA’s holiday clinics. Last year Coach Brickley led the 4th grade ASA AAU team to a second place finish in the Division 2 MA State Final. It was his first full year of coaching in the program. Outside of ASA, he is the Head coach for the 5th grade travel team out of his hometown of Milford which plays in the Metro-west league. Coach Brickley has successfully passed the coursework to be a certified coach through the MIAA, NFHS and PCA. Besides coaching he is a certified High School Referee with IAABO board 208, (Milford, MA) & a UNH alumni with a BA in Psychology.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• VP of AAU Operations
• Co-Camp Director - ASA West

Andruis Zeikus

Coach Zeikus comes to A Step Ahead with a wealth of experience in athletics. Participated in soccer and basketball while growing up in his home country Lithuania, played basketball for clubs BC"Alga", "LKKA-Atletas, KK "Notomas" and for NCAA powerhouse Husson University where he has completed the B.S. degree in Physical Education. Coach Zeikus received M.Ed. from Suffolk University and is a student at Boston University Graduate School. Currently, works as a JV Basketball coach at Boston Latin School and as a Head Men's Soccer coach at Suffolk University. In the past, coach Zeikus has worked many basketball camps including Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Mass Elite, Nike Basketball, University of Maine and with athletes at Medford and Boston English high schools. Aside from his coaching duties, Coach Zeikus is a Physical Education Coordinator for Josiah Quincy Upper School.

Role(s) / Title(s)

Elizabeth Gilmore

Former point guard at Dartmouth College, Gilmore was named Ivy League Player of the Year and led Dartmouth to the 1993-94 and 1994-95 Ivy Championships along with an NCAA Tournament bid. She led the Big Green in assists and steals and ranks first all-time in career steals per game and season as well as second in all-time career assists. After her collegiate career Gilmore played semi-pro ball in Germany. She is currently teaching physical education in Weymouth and spends summers coaching basketball at various camps.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Co - Camp Director
• Assistant Camp Director

Steve O'Connell

Stephen O’Connell currently teaches 7th and 8th grade Special Education at the Neighborhood House Charter School as the English Language Arts Fellow. He is also a student at the University of Massachusetts, Boston where he is studying History and working towards a Massachusetts Teaching Licenser. Stephen played three years of Varsity basketball at Boston Latin School where during his Junior and Senior year, the team won the Dual County League title. Stephen has coached ASAHoops 7th and 8th grade AAU teams since the fall of 2011.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• AAU Coach - boys 8th grade

Bobby Allan

Bobby Allan is the Girls Varsity Basketball Coach at Campbell High School in Litchfield, NH. Coach Allan graduated from Merrimack High School in 2007 where he was a three year varsity player. He graduated from New England College in 2011 with a double major in Kinesiology and Physical Education Content. He is currently working as a Paraprofessional in the Litchfield School District. Allan recently accepted a position coaching the 14U New England Shooting Stars. He enters his second year coaching with ASA & Nike Basketball Camps.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Co - Camp Director
• Assistant Camp Director

Eric Adams

Eric Adams, has served as the Operations Manager for the Dana Barros Basketball Camp for 15 years. He's a graduate of Mount Ida College Coach Adams comes with numerous coaching experiences. Prior to his current position as Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at Emmanuel College, Coach Adams was Assistant Men's Basketball Coach at Mt. Ida College, The Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at Regis College and Assistant Boys Basketball Coach at Canton and Xaverian Brothers High School. Coach Adams is currently the Asstistant/Head JV Girls Coach at Randolph High School. He is the founder and director of the New England Breakaway Basketball Camp and has been affiliated with the Bay State Summer Games for over 10 years. He recently guided the Southeast Girls' Scholastic Team to a Gold Medal Championship.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Co - Camp Director
• Assistant Camp Director

Josh Clark

This will be Josh Clark’s first AAU season with A Step Ahead Inc. Josh has been coaching basketball for 10+ years in a various roles. His last position was as the freshman girls’ coach at Milton Academy from 2011-2012. Previously he has coached at a local charter school, and AAU programs. Coach Clark specializes in skill development while using sport specific strength training to help his players be more efficient on the basketball court. Coach Clark is pursuing a degree in exercise and health sciences at UMASS Boston and will be finishing up this spring.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• AAU Coach - boys grades 3 & 6
• Summer Camp Coach

Allison Florentino

Allison is a sophomore at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut and is majoring in Athletic Training and Sports Medicine. Upon graduating she’s planning to attend graduate school for a doctorate in Physical Therapy. For the 2012 – 2013 school year Allison had an opportunity to work clinical rotations with the Women's Soccer team and Women's Basketball team. While attending Boston Latin High School for Allison played three years of Varsity basketball while also playing soccer. Allison has been a valued member of the ASA summer staff and is looking forward to her 3rd summer with us.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Summer Camp Coach
• Athletic Trainer

Jackson Ellis

Jackson was raised in Vermont where he attended the Sharon Academy. As a two time captain and 1000 point scorer Ellis was selected to play for the New England Colonials. A team of traveling New England all stars playing international competition in Russia, Finland and Sweden. Jackson went on to play College basketball in Ohio for the College of Wooster. Currently a graduate student at the Simmons school of Social Work Jackson hopes to soon be working in the public school system.

Role(s) / Title(s)

Dani DeLaurentis

Dani DeLaurentis is currently completing her Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work at Boston College with a focus on children, youth and families. She played two years of basketball at Connecticut College, where she was voted captain her Junior year. She is a graduate and former captain of the Middlesex School girls Varsity Basketball Team. She ran various summer clinics while in college for girls of all ages as well as coached the JV boys team at the Williams School. Since graduating from college, Dani helped run developmental leagues in Boston Public Schools and coached the Needham 8th grade girls team in the Metrowest League. Currently, she assists with the JV boys team at the Clifford School in Walpole.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• AAU Coach - boys 6th grade

Dan Totten

Dan has coached in the Quincy Girls Youth Basketball League for the past 5 seasons. While coaching over this time Dan has been to four league championships while winning two, most recently winning the 2012 - 2013 QYB Girls championship. In addition to his coaching duties Dan is Director of girls basketball tournaments and clinics for Quincy Girls Youth Basketball. In past years Dan has played in numerous corporate and Boston neighborhood basketball leagues. As a youth Dan attended various basketball schools and camps, including John Havlicek Basketball School and the Talisman Basketball Camp. Dan has worked at The Boston Globe for 32 years.In College, Dan was a member of the National Collegiate Scholastic honor society (Delta Epsilon Sigma) and earned his BBA (cum laude) & MBA degree from Anna Maria College, Paxton, MA. Dan also participated in 2012 on scholarship from the Archdiocese of Boston - Labor Guild in a mid-career / residency program at Harvard Law School in the prestigious Harvard Law School - Trade Union Program and holds a certificate in labor studies from Harvard Law (TUP).

Role(s) / Title(s)

Kevin Bernazzani

Kevin Bernazzani is the Assistant coach for the girls' Varsity basketball program at Boston Latin School. He also coaches golf and softball at Boston Latin School. Bernazzani is a graduate and Former Captain of the Boston Latin School Basketball Team. He earned a degree in English from Stonehill College and is presently completing a Master’s Degree in Education at Cambridge College. He has taught in the Boston Public School system for the past 5 years.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• Assistant director girls AAU program
• AAU Coach - girls 8th grade

Lauren Dobish

Lauren Dobish is a recent graduate of Bates College where she majored in Psychology and minored in Sociology. At Bates, Dobish was a three-sport athlete as a member of the Varsity Soccer, Basketball, and Softball teams. While she was as a two-year captain for the Softball team, she was also a senior captain of the Basketball team. As a member of the Softball team, Dobish currently holds two records in addition to having her name appear on the leader board for most offensive statistical categories. Dobish attended Mercersburg Academy high school where she earned 12 varsity letters and remains one of the few female athletes in school history to have done so. Dobish has coached many summer camps, including those held at Dickinson College and Mercersburg Academy. This spring she will be coaching the 6th grade girl’s AAU team for ASA.

Role(s) / Title(s)

• AAU Coach - girls 6th grade

Jake and Peter Lansbury

Jake and Peter Lansbury Jake and Peter are anxious to share their father-son love of team basketball through coaching. Jake played basketball at Brookline high school (3 years as team captain) and in the ASA program and is anxiously awaiting his graduation this June. He plans to study psychology in college and is interested in basketball coaching as a profession. This will be his first coaching experience. Peter has been a basketball junkie for over 30 years, dating back to his days as a Princeton undergraduate, where he studied Pete Carill’s famous offense in person. He has extensive youth coaching experience, from baseball (Brookline Youth baseball) to water polo (Harvard, Empire state games). He is a Professor of Neurology at the Harvard Medical School.

Role(s) / Title(s)