New Kent Basketball Academy
New Kent High School, 11809 New Kent HWY, New Kent, VA 23124
About
New Kent Basketball Academy offers Foundations skill classes, Player Development small-group and individual training, and age-appropriate competition that focus on footwork, ball-handling, shooting form, defense training, guard development, post development, finishing, and high-end skill work. The program also includes weekly film review and post-game debriefs during the school season, mental-training programs, and a June summer camp called Heart of a Trojan that features four days of basketball, character building, and fun. Players are asked to bring court shoes, a water bottle, and athletic wear, and the program provides basketballs, with the option for Player Development participants to bring their own ball.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Schedule: Training runs March–October with ongoing Foundations blocks and Player Development sessions; the New Kent High School basketball season is November–February with continued training that includes weekly film review, post-game debriefs, and skill adjustments; the Heart of a Trojan summer camp takes place in June and runs for a week, with Summer 2026 scheduled as four days.
• Price: Foundations: $20 off per additional sibling. Player Development: $25/month off, auto-applied at checkout once a second player is on the same account.
New Kent Basketball Academy offers two paths in one program: Foundations, a skill class for ages 6–12 with a fundamentals-first approach and flexible enrollment, and Player Development, which is monthly small-group and individual training for committed players with a 4:1 ratio and assessment-driven structure. Every Player Development participant receives a custom development plan and a dedicated coach, with small ratios, specific feedback, and repetitions that compound. The program follows a whole-player approach that includes shooting, defense, guard development, fundamentals, program design, and mental work, with mental-training programs anchoring this approach and a stated commitment to honesty about progress and realistic next steps for each player. The Heart of a Trojan camp in Summer 2026 focuses on developing both skills and mindset.
The leadership team includes Garrett Ross (Head Coach & Founder; Head Coach · NKBA + NKHS Varsity Coach), Ellen Ross (Co-Founder · Mental Training), Coach Donovan (Assistant Varsity Coach · Player Development Specialist), Will Ross (Elite Player Trainer · Shooting Specialist), and JJ Jacobs (Player Development Trainer · Guard Specialist). Garrett Ross has seven years as New Kent’s varsity head coach, is entering his 8th year as New Kent High School’s varsity head basketball coach, has 14+ years developing players in the county and working directly with New Kent’s community youth, has 20+ years of instruction experience across several fields including basketball, is a state championship player, and is a Southern Virginia University basketball alumnus. Ellen Ross holds a Masters in Sports Kinesiology and Sports Psychology and is a former elementary and middle school physical education teacher. Coach Donovan has 5 years as Assistant Varsity Coach at New Kent High School and is a travel basketball and youth development specialist. Will Ross was the 2025 Bay Rivers District Player of the Year, a 2nd team All-State selection, the state leader in 3-point shooting with 4 made per game at 44%, a 4-year varsity starter with multiple New Kent records, completed a postgrad year at Spire Academy, and is starting his first year of college basketball at Southern Virginia University. JJ Jacobs is a New Kent alumnus and former player for Coach Ross, a two-year varsity guard, a four-year track athlete at Virginia Wesleyan University, and now an Assistant Coach at New Kent High School.
New Kent Basketball Academy runs year-round youth basketball training in partnership with New Kent County Parks & Recreation and states that it is built by New Kent, for New Kent, is not a franchise, and coaches the kids the staff see in the community. The program describes itself as one program with one staff and one gym that works with players from a six-year-old’s first dribble to a varsity player’s last rep. The mission statement from Garrett Ross is: “My goal isn’t just to teach basketball skills — it’s to help every child build confidence, work ethic, and a love for the game.”
Parent testimonials describe the program’s impact on foundational athletic development, coaching knowledge, passion, and patience, and note that confidence, selflessness, leadership, and a strong team bond have been part of their children’s experiences. Parents also report that the program has provided foundational skills, essential drills, playing opportunities, and has been instrumental in players’ success on and off the court, including sportsmanship, confidence, and resilience, and refer to the program’s lasting impact on young athletes.
Last updated July 19, 2026.
• Ages: 6–18 years old
• Schedule: Training runs March–October with ongoing Foundations blocks and Player Development sessions; the New Kent High School basketball season is November–February with continued training that includes weekly film review, post-game debriefs, and skill adjustments; the Heart of a Trojan summer camp takes place in June and runs for a week, with Summer 2026 scheduled as four days.
• Price: Foundations: $20 off per additional sibling. Player Development: $25/month off, auto-applied at checkout once a second player is on the same account.
New Kent Basketball Academy offers two paths in one program: Foundations, a skill class for ages 6–12 with a fundamentals-first approach and flexible enrollment, and Player Development, which is monthly small-group and individual training for committed players with a 4:1 ratio and assessment-driven structure. Every Player Development participant receives a custom development plan and a dedicated coach, with small ratios, specific feedback, and repetitions that compound. The program follows a whole-player approach that includes shooting, defense, guard development, fundamentals, program design, and mental work, with mental-training programs anchoring this approach and a stated commitment to honesty about progress and realistic next steps for each player. The Heart of a Trojan camp in Summer 2026 focuses on developing both skills and mindset.
The leadership team includes Garrett Ross (Head Coach & Founder; Head Coach · NKBA + NKHS Varsity Coach), Ellen Ross (Co-Founder · Mental Training), Coach Donovan (Assistant Varsity Coach · Player Development Specialist), Will Ross (Elite Player Trainer · Shooting Specialist), and JJ Jacobs (Player Development Trainer · Guard Specialist). Garrett Ross has seven years as New Kent’s varsity head coach, is entering his 8th year as New Kent High School’s varsity head basketball coach, has 14+ years developing players in the county and working directly with New Kent’s community youth, has 20+ years of instruction experience across several fields including basketball, is a state championship player, and is a Southern Virginia University basketball alumnus. Ellen Ross holds a Masters in Sports Kinesiology and Sports Psychology and is a former elementary and middle school physical education teacher. Coach Donovan has 5 years as Assistant Varsity Coach at New Kent High School and is a travel basketball and youth development specialist. Will Ross was the 2025 Bay Rivers District Player of the Year, a 2nd team All-State selection, the state leader in 3-point shooting with 4 made per game at 44%, a 4-year varsity starter with multiple New Kent records, completed a postgrad year at Spire Academy, and is starting his first year of college basketball at Southern Virginia University. JJ Jacobs is a New Kent alumnus and former player for Coach Ross, a two-year varsity guard, a four-year track athlete at Virginia Wesleyan University, and now an Assistant Coach at New Kent High School.
New Kent Basketball Academy runs year-round youth basketball training in partnership with New Kent County Parks & Recreation and states that it is built by New Kent, for New Kent, is not a franchise, and coaches the kids the staff see in the community. The program describes itself as one program with one staff and one gym that works with players from a six-year-old’s first dribble to a varsity player’s last rep. The mission statement from Garrett Ross is: “My goal isn’t just to teach basketball skills — it’s to help every child build confidence, work ethic, and a love for the game.”
Parent testimonials describe the program’s impact on foundational athletic development, coaching knowledge, passion, and patience, and note that confidence, selflessness, leadership, and a strong team bond have been part of their children’s experiences. Parents also report that the program has provided foundational skills, essential drills, playing opportunities, and has been instrumental in players’ success on and off the court, including sportsmanship, confidence, and resilience, and refer to the program’s lasting impact on young athletes.
Last updated July 19, 2026.
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