🏀 Train

-

Play

-

Compete

-

Repeat

🏀 Train - Play - Compete - Repeat

Philosophy: Training or playing alone will not maximize the chances of reaching your goals. Both are necessary. You should be seeking as much opportunity for both as possible. Be a student of the game and always seek runs, we provide both!

Skills Based

  • Competitive, Cognitive, and Speed Enhancing drills to challenge players skill sets with the basketball(s). Our coaches pride themselves on constantly coming up with ways to challenge our players that translates to real growth in games.

Live Based

  • Competitive, Applicable, with Real Actions and Coverages that modern coaches use in today’s game. Play in situations against players that will push you to win each drill.

Book Sessions Now

About apex hoops

MissioN: Train & Play

Our structure is built and defined with one goal; develop in an environment that supports both individual and player to player growth. Apex’s train and play model allows us to compete at a high level while focusing on what it means to grow and learn through competition. It is important for us to recognize that winning is the goal however, ultimately we want our staff and players to ask ourselves “Did we get better today?” so that our players can help their school teams WIN MORE when it matters. Our players reach their potential with their individual commitment to themselves and their teammates shaped by lessons learned though both winning and losing. Effort is the only non-negotiable.

Founded by trainer Conner Wess who has prioritized player development since 2016; our goal is to prepare athletes for success at the High School varsity level. Our staff includes varsity head and assistant coaches, collegiate coaches, youth and middle school coaches, and former collegiate players who understand that excelling in varsity basketball creates opportunities for future success both on and off the court.

The values we emphasize to prepare players for varsity basketball whether we’re in a training session, AAU practice, or championship game include:

  • High work ethic

  • Willing to take pride in high-level communication on the court and on the bench

  • Leadership

  • Consistent high energy

  • Skill development

  • Conditioning development

  • Basketball IQ development

History

  • 2016: Conner Wess became a part-time trainer while beginning his collegiate basketball career at Walsh University. He began training local players around the area of the University on the weekends.

  • 2020: Conner had built his training clientele to over 100 players annually and began “Success Centered Athletics” as the first attempt to form a basketball business ran out of a local church in Manchester, OH.

  • 2022: Removed “Success Centered Athletics” as a formal business to take the GA Coaching position at The University of Mount Union (2022 OAC Champs - 2023 OAC Champs & NCAA D III National Runner Up working under Head Coach Mike Fuline).

  • 2025: After finishing a GA position at Mount Union in 2023, Conner continued to build his training clientele. Through the years of training, most players were seeking AAU teams so we decided to form a new business model “Apex Hoops LLC” to begin building AAU as another route for basketball development along with training. We were able to form 3 teams (2nd grade led by Coach Josh Twiddy, 6th grade led by Coach Conner Wess, and 8th grade led by Coach Conner Wess) to kickstart Apex AAU Basketball.

  • 2026: Apex became home to 6 teams and growing! 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th blue, 7th black, and 9th grade teams competed under Apex winning a total of 8 local tournaments through out all grade levels. We also gained an incredible coaching staff with additions of Breighann Donald (2nd), LJ Campbell (5th), Corey Lehner (7th black), and Lucas Bitong (7th blue).

  • Going into 2027: The beginning to a great new chapter of having our own home facility to train out of in Massillon Jackson!! Come be a part of the next chapter of our program which will include youth/mens leagues, memberships that include a variety of levels to use our new facility, and 1v1/2v2/3v3/5v5 tournaments!

    We are anticipating each grade level to have no more than 1 to 2 Apex AAU teams - Quality > Quantity! This will also be our first year in competing in circuit level basketball. Come join now while spots are open!

Current Apex AAU coaching staff

A woman coaches a youth basketball team during a timeout, with four young players and a man seated on the sideline in matching black team shirts with a blue and white logo.

Breighann Donald

  • 9u Head Coach

  • Former Head Coach At Manchester High School

  • Peak Performance Speaker and Mentor

A group of young boys in a locker room huddle together with a coach, appearing to be in a team discussion or pep talk.
A young boy wearing glasses, a black and white sports jersey, black shorts, and bright orange sneakers, appears to be in a sports arena or gym, focused and ready to play basketball.
A youth basketball team in black jerseys with numbers is gathered in a huddle on an indoor court, holding a trophy while their coach kneels beside them. A man in a black hoodie stands nearby, and a woman and another person are in the background.

Josh twiddy

  • 10u Head Coach

  • Current University of Mount Union Head Men’s Basketball Coach

  • Former assistant coach at The University of Mount Union, Akron University, and Bakersfield Jam (Suns NBA G-League)

A young boy with short brown hair in a black T-shirt with a basketball graphic is holding a basketball at an indoor basketball court. Red and white bleachers are in the background with a few out-of-focus spectators.
Young boy in black and white basketball uniform dribbling a basketball during a game in an indoor gymnasium.
Young boys playing basketball in an indoor gym. One boy in a black jersey is jumping with a basketball near his face, while other children in jerseys watch or run in the background.
A man with a beard wearing a black cap and gray hoodie sitting and talking, as two children and a woman listen attentively in a bright room.
Young boy in a basketball uniform holding a basketball on an indoor court, surrounded by players.
A young boy playing basketball on an indoor court, wearing a white and black uniform with an 'Apex' logo, dribbling a basketball as he is guarded by another player.
Young boy with brown hair and light skin wearing a basketball jersey with the Golden State Warriors logo, in a gym or sports facility, listening attentively.

‍ ‍Lucas bitong

  • 14u Blue Head Coach

  • Current Head Coach at Green MS - 8th Grade

  • 3x Federal League Champion at Green HS as a prominent player

Young male basketball player in black sleeveless jersey with blue and white logo, standing indoors.
A young boy wearing a white basketball uniform with blue accents, holding a basketball, on a wooden basketball court.
Two young boys playing basketball indoors. The boy in the foreground is holding a basketball and appears to be preparing to shoot or pass, wearing a black sleeveless basketball jersey with blue and white accents. The boy in the background is also dressed in a similar jersey, standing in the gym.
A young male basketball player in a black jersey with the number 10 shooting a basketball.

Corey lehner

  • 13u Black Head Coach

  • Current Head Coach at Mogadore MS - 7th Grade

  • 41-9 varsity record at Mogadore HS 2022-2024as a prominent player

A young man playing basketball indoors, in a gymnasium, with spectators seated on benches in the background.
A young male basketball player with curly hair, wearing a black tank top with blue accents and a logo that says 'APEX', holding a basketball on an indoor court, preparing to make a shot.
Young boy holding a basketball during a basketball practice or game, with other children in the background in an indoor gym.
Young basketball players and adults standing in a gym, holding basketballs, with focused expressions. The children are wearing white jerseys with a logo and black shorts, while one has a white leg sleeve, and others have headbands and glasses. Adults are dressed casually, some with cross arms or hands over their hearts.
Side view of a man wearing a black Nike cap and black jacket, looking downward, with a blurred background.
Young boy playing basketball indoors, wearing a black jersey with a blue and white logo and the word "APEX" on it, holding a basketball, with a purple and white wall and spectators in the background.

‍ ‍Lj campbell

  • 12u Head Coach

  • Current assistant coach at Glen Oak High School

  • Former NCAA DII basketball player - Walsh University

A group of young boys in basketball uniforms celebrating on an indoor basketball court. There is a basketball hoop and a digital scoreboard overhead. An adult in athletic wear is walking nearby.
A young person is taking a selfie, showing a large championship belt in front of their chest. The belt has a red and orange design with rhinestones and the words 'WORLD CHAMPION' on it. The background features a wall with framed photographs or plaques, and another person is visible in the background wearing a white cap and black jacket.
Young man coaching basketball at a game in a gymnasium with players and spectators in the background.
A sports team, wearing black jerseys with blue accents, gathered on an indoor basketball court listening to their coach, who is holding a piece of paper.
Young male basketball player standing on the court during a game, wearing a black uniform, with spectators watching from the bleachers behind him.
Young boys playing basketball on an indoor court, with one boy in black running with the ball while others are chasing him.
A boys' basketball team wearing white jerseys with the logo 'APEX' listens to their coach, who is crouched down and explaining something, as some players sit on the floor and others stand around them.
Four young boys in basketball uniforms sitting on a bench in a gym, reacting to the game; some are clapping and cheering.
A young man with a beard and curly hair kneels on the floor, resting on his heels, with one finger on his lips. He is wearing a black long-sleeve shirt and black pants with a logo, and white sneakers. In the background, there are other people in a gym or indoor sports setting, including a woman sitting against the wall and a man wearing a red shirt and black hat, standing near a white wall with a clock.

‍ ‍Conner wess

  • 16u Head Coach

  • Former Varsity Head Coach, Varsity-Assistant Coach, NCAA D III GA Coach, 10+ years of player development experience

  • Former DII basketball player - Walsh University

Two young men with blond hair are looking down, one in the foreground and the other in the background, both wearing dark sports jerseys with the logo 'APEX' visible on the sleeve of the foreground individual.
A young male basketball player dribbling a basketball on an indoor court, wearing a black and blue jersey with the number 3.
A young boy playing basketball indoors, wearing a black jersey with a blue and white logo that reads 'APEX', holding a basketball with his right hand, and pointing with his left hand, with an American flag in the background.
A young male basketball player in a black and blue jersey with the number 2, practicing a shot in a gymnasium, with another player in a light blue jersey nearby.
A group of ten young men in black sports uniforms and medals, standing together in a modern indoor space, holding a gold trophy and celebrating their victory.
A young male basketball player dribbling a basketball on an indoor court with other players and spectators in the background.