Former NBA player Moe Ager to teach Long Beach kids how to hoop

Young basketball players around America are emulating the three-point shot form of NBA star Stephen Curry, and the multiple MVP-wiing swagger of LeBron James.

But lest the kids think those high-level basketball skills magically appear or naturally evolve, one former professional player, now a San Pedro resident, says superstars are able to shine in big arenas because they knew how to sweat in the gyms.

“You have to work hard,” said Moe Ager, a former NBA 1st Round draft pick and player with the Dallas Mavericks. “Nothing happens oveight.”

Ager, a former Michigan State Spartan, runs the Moe Ager Hoop School, and is conducting youth basketball classes at Cesar E. Chavez Park in Long Beach this July and August.

The four-week sessions run Sundays and cost $50. Scholarships may be available for those who caot afford the cost. The age range is for youth 8-18.

Reflecting on his younger years in Michigan, watching the Detroit Piston “Bad Boys” and then Michael Jordan dominating the NBA, Ager said the best way to get better in basketball is to play as much as possible, which he did in the gym and at home, while envisioning himself as a future pro player.

His hands-on teaching includes techniques in ball-handling, passing and shooting, as well as footwork and defense, all in a way to elevate the games — and confidence — of kids who come with a variety of skill levels.

Ager, who is a music producer and businessman, also likes to bring in motivational speakers to talk to kids about topics beyond basketball.

“We teach a lot of skills work and fundamentals, and more importantly, skills for life,” he said.

For more information or to register, visit online at www.lbparks.org.

To lea more about the Moe Ager Hoop School, or scholarships of the upcoming classes, email [email protected].

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