About
Train First Hoops offers youth basketball teams, skills clinics, personal and individual training, small group training for individuals or groups up to 10, and basketball camps including a Small Ball camp and an elite skills camp. The Small Ball camp is for little ballers and beginners who have little to no basketball experience and uses unique fun and competitive drills, while the elite skills camp uses advanced drills and game-like situations aimed to challenge each player on and off the floor. All Small Ball and elite skills campers receive a camp T-shirt, and camps may be cancelled if the minimum number of five campers is not met, with a maximum of 25 campers per camp and no refunds for missed days.
• Ages: 4–14 years old
• Price: Small Ball camp cost $195; elite skills camp cost $225
Train First Hoops offers basketball camps for boys and girls in grades 2–5 for the Small Ball camp and grades 5–8 for the elite skills camp. Families can reserve training online by filling out a form.
Train First Hoops was active at least as of 2019, as shown by the copyright notice “Copyright © 2019 Train First Hoops.” The program’s mission states that Train First focuses on basics and fundamental training before anything, and that it values teaching and helping kids learn through intense drills, planning, routine, and overall lessons that can be used in any facet of life, with a close personal family environment that the program states separates it from other programs.
The leadership and coaching team includes Quaran Johnson (Coach Q) as Founder, Coach, and Trainer; Leon Hart as Coach and Trainer; Willis Gardner as Coach and Trainer; and Steven Pangelinan (Coach Pange) as Coach and Trainer. Coaches are described as experienced and extremely knowledgeable about the game of basketball.
Coach Q played all four years of college basketball as a four-year starter and captain, received tournament MVP, All Tournament awards, All League honors, and College All-American recognition, played at Ohlone College, Metro State College of Denver, and Benedictine College, and played semi-pro. Coach Q is a personal skills trainer and coach, does one-on-one and group training, runs camps and clinics, and is the head Varsity coach at Granada High School in Livermore, California.
Coach Leon was a student-athlete at Dominican University, has extensive experience on the collegiate and professional level as well as broad training and coaching experience, does one-on-one and group training, runs camps and clinics, and is the head JV coach at Granada High School in Livermore, California. Coach Leon’s coaching and training experience includes serving as a strength and conditioning trainer for Moreau High School’s football and basketball teams and head coach of the Soldiers 16 elite team.
Coach Willis is a graduate of Colorado State University with a BA in Liberal Arts and Sociology, has extensive playing experience at the collegiate and professional levels, and broad coaching experience at all age groups up through college and beyond. Coach Willis is the head coach and lead trainer for the varsity elite team that travels the country to play in showcase events and has coaching and playing experience in Germany and the United States.
Steven Pangelinan has extensive experience working with and mentoring youth, is involved with three philanthropic foundations serving the Tri-Valley community and youth, and has coached youth and high school basketball teams. His community roles include serving in different capacities with the Mario Pedrozzi Scholarship Foundation Executive Board of Directors, East Bay Counseling Services, and the Mony Nop Foundation.
Coach Q’s credentials include tournament MVP, All Tournament awards, All League honors, and College All-American recognition. Steven Pangelinan was named a North Coast Section California Interscholastic Federation (NCS-CIF) Scholar-Athlete. Willis Gardner received Honorable Mention Mountain West Conference and was Male Athlete of the Year and Coast Conference MVP as starting guard at Ohlone College. Leon Hart was named to the 2011 All-Star Second Team in the Puerto Rico Pro League and Second Team ABA player standings.
Last updated April 27, 2026.
• Ages: 4–14 years old
• Price: Small Ball camp cost $195; elite skills camp cost $225
Train First Hoops offers basketball camps for boys and girls in grades 2–5 for the Small Ball camp and grades 5–8 for the elite skills camp. Families can reserve training online by filling out a form.
Train First Hoops was active at least as of 2019, as shown by the copyright notice “Copyright © 2019 Train First Hoops.” The program’s mission states that Train First focuses on basics and fundamental training before anything, and that it values teaching and helping kids learn through intense drills, planning, routine, and overall lessons that can be used in any facet of life, with a close personal family environment that the program states separates it from other programs.
The leadership and coaching team includes Quaran Johnson (Coach Q) as Founder, Coach, and Trainer; Leon Hart as Coach and Trainer; Willis Gardner as Coach and Trainer; and Steven Pangelinan (Coach Pange) as Coach and Trainer. Coaches are described as experienced and extremely knowledgeable about the game of basketball.
Coach Q played all four years of college basketball as a four-year starter and captain, received tournament MVP, All Tournament awards, All League honors, and College All-American recognition, played at Ohlone College, Metro State College of Denver, and Benedictine College, and played semi-pro. Coach Q is a personal skills trainer and coach, does one-on-one and group training, runs camps and clinics, and is the head Varsity coach at Granada High School in Livermore, California.
Coach Leon was a student-athlete at Dominican University, has extensive experience on the collegiate and professional level as well as broad training and coaching experience, does one-on-one and group training, runs camps and clinics, and is the head JV coach at Granada High School in Livermore, California. Coach Leon’s coaching and training experience includes serving as a strength and conditioning trainer for Moreau High School’s football and basketball teams and head coach of the Soldiers 16 elite team.
Coach Willis is a graduate of Colorado State University with a BA in Liberal Arts and Sociology, has extensive playing experience at the collegiate and professional levels, and broad coaching experience at all age groups up through college and beyond. Coach Willis is the head coach and lead trainer for the varsity elite team that travels the country to play in showcase events and has coaching and playing experience in Germany and the United States.
Steven Pangelinan has extensive experience working with and mentoring youth, is involved with three philanthropic foundations serving the Tri-Valley community and youth, and has coached youth and high school basketball teams. His community roles include serving in different capacities with the Mario Pedrozzi Scholarship Foundation Executive Board of Directors, East Bay Counseling Services, and the Mony Nop Foundation.
Coach Q’s credentials include tournament MVP, All Tournament awards, All League honors, and College All-American recognition. Steven Pangelinan was named a North Coast Section California Interscholastic Federation (NCS-CIF) Scholar-Athlete. Willis Gardner received Honorable Mention Mountain West Conference and was Male Athlete of the Year and Coast Conference MVP as starting guard at Ohlone College. Leon Hart was named to the 2011 All-Star Second Team in the Puerto Rico Pro League and Second Team ABA player standings.
Last updated April 27, 2026.
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