"I started working with Coach Thorpe as a 19 year old kid about to start my second year of college. He was the only voice in my head for the next 14 seasons, when I retired after the birth of our daughter. And he and his wife were the first people to hold little Anna after my parents, grandparents, and my wife Jill's parents. He's been my second dad forever and always will be. He didn't just teach me skills, he taught me how to play the game and use those skills correctly. He did far more than that. He taught me how to be a pro, in every sense. It's simple, really; without his guidance and teaching, I'd have been a good college player with possibly a chance to play in a decent league in Europe. Instead I averaged over 20ppg in the NBA in six different seasons for three different teams. That's not an accident. That's what Coach and I did together. I only wish I'd have come under his tutelage when I was younger."

"I tore my ACL at the start of my second season in the NBA and the following year I struggled to recover my game. My dear friend and college teammate Joakim Noah told me to go see Coach Thorpe. So I did. That was in 2009. From that first week I knew he was my guy. His style of teaching sneaks little things into my game. He breaks stuff down perfectly so I can quickly add new moves or finishes in games. He knows how to inspire players like no one else I know. Eleven years later, he's still my guy. He's the first man I called when I learned my dad fell into a coma, and again weeks later when he passed. I can't urge young players enough to find someone who can teach them the game and learn from then every second you can. I've played for some of the greatest coaches in history. He's high on that list."

Jrue was the Gatorade National Player of the Year before he played a season at UCLA. He tested for the NBA draft and trained with us to prepare for it. Despite averaging just 8 points per game as a freshman he was drafted in the first round by the Philadelphia 76ers. He went on to become an NBA -All-Star and is the captain for the New Orleans Pelicans.

James Lee

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Martell was an NBA lottery pick and incredible prep player.  Later in his career he hit a rough patch so he worked with us on building his entire game.  He found confidence in his abilities once again. Soon after he signed a one year ‘minimum” deal with the Wizards and turned that into a good long term deal as well. He credited this success to spending time with us. We were the better for it. 

William White

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“UD” is the first ever student from the PTC to make the NBA. After training all summer in 2003 here in Clearwater he signed a deal with the Miami Heat. He is now a legendary figure there after winning three championships and being a strong spokesperson for the franchise and the city. Haslem had to develop a perimeter shot and learn to rebound to make the NBA. He did exactly that.

Jason White

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From a middling career in Israel to the NBA, Mekel is the only Israeli, undrafted free agent ever to sign a multi-year guaranteed contract with an NBA team. A PTC client since 2012, he is now considered one of the top point guards in Europe. He’s also the captain of the Israeli National Team. Listen to this interview, this is what we do. Our job is to both inspire our players, to “DREAM BIG” as Gal says and get them way better.

John Brown

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