About BTG Basketball | Transformative Youth Training in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES YOUTH ACADEMY • EST. 2021

MORE THAN A CLUB.
A BASKETBALL MOVEMENT.
FORGED IN LA.

To give young athletes a positive basketball experience where they build lasting confidence, make real friends, and fall in love with the game—equipping them with strong fundamentals, life lessons, and a lifelong passion for basketball.

Explore Our Story Meet The Coaches →
Coach Justin Furtado
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Direct Player Mentorship by Coach Justin Furtado Founder & Program Director • 7 Years Coaching • 500+ LA Athletes Mentored
🌆 VDM Rooftop Court (Marina del Rey) ⚡ Ages 8–14 Specialization 🛡️ 4 Pillars Culture
2021.
Founded in Westside LA

Launched to redefine youth basketball from transactional drill mills into authentic, transformational player mentorship.

500+
Youth Athletes Mentored

Proven developmental progression from basic ball-handling fundamentals to varsity high school leadership.

8–14
Ages 8–14 Specialization

Stage-specific curriculum: Foundation (8–10), Development (11–12), and Preparation (13–14).

4 Pillars
Core Culture Standard

Commitment, Curiosity, Communication, and Connection embedded in every session and classroom film breakdown.

The BTG Movement

OUR STORY

BTG Basketball isn't just a name—it's a commitment to transformation. Founded in 2021 by Coach Justin Furtado on the Westside of Los Angeles, BTG was born out of a clear realization: too many young players entering competitive basketball burnt out, overworked, or missing the core skills needed to succeed. We knew there had to be a better way.

Today, we have intentionally pivoted our focus to young athletes ages 8 to 14, placing ourselves squarely at the foundation of an athlete’s basketball journey. Our mission is simple: to help young players fall in love with the game, build strong basketball foundations, and give them a supportive, high-energy community to grow into confident players ready for high school basketball and beyond.

Our environment is designed to meet young athletes wherever they are on their path:

The Rooftop Academy (Marina del Rey): Our signature private outdoor rooftop court serves as our player-development home, where athletes build fundamental skills, footwork, decision-making, and basketball IQ.

Developmental Club Teams: During the school year, our 9U–14U competitive club teams give athletes real game experience, team concepts, and earned play time without the toxic pressure of modern club basketball.

Summer Camps & Clinics: When school is out, we host high-energy summer camps, clinics, 3x3 leagues, and local gameplay designed to keep training competitive, creative, and fun.

Led by Coach Furtado and a passionate team of mentors, BTG Basketball is more than just workouts and drills. We are shaping skilled, confident, and connected individuals who love the process of improvement—on and off the floor.

BTG Training at Pacifica Christian High School
2021
Founded in Los Angeles, CA
Coaching Staff

THE PEOPLE BEHIND
THE PROGRAM

Experienced coaching. Intentional development. One shared mission.

Coach Justin Furtado — Founder & Program Director, BTG Basketball 01
Founder & Program Director

Coach Justin Furtado

Coach Justin Furtado is the founder and director of BTG Basketball—Beyond The Game. With seven years of coaching experience—including five at the high school level—Coach Justin has trained over 500 athletes. His journey includes taking Venice High School to the LA City Section Division 1 Finals, and he currently serves as the Varsity Girls Head Coach at Pacifica Christian High School.

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For Coach Justin, basketball is simply the vehicle. Through BTG, he focuses on teaching athletes the lifelong habits that sports reveal: resilience through failure, accountability to a team, self-discipline, and confident leadership. The goal isn’t just making better basketball players, but giving young people a standard of excellence they carry into every room they walk into.

Off the court, he expands on these ideas as the host of the Beyond the Scoreboard Podcast, diving into youth development, mindset, and culture alongside 150+ sports leaders—including coaches from UCLA, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and USA Basketball.

A University of Oregon graduate, Coach Justin created BTG Basketball to build a community where kids learn to compete hard, hold themselves to a higher standard, and succeed far beyond the game.

Coach Andy
Skills Development Coach

Coach Andy

Coach Andy believes basketball isn’t just where you build the kind of player you become, it’s where you build character. Hard work, resilience, discipline, consistency, and effort are the lessons the game has taught him, and today, he is committed to passing those lessons on to the next generation of players.

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At just 18 years old, Andy has already been part of the BTG program for nearly five years. He began as the very first player to join BTG and has since grown into the program’s youngest coach. Specializing in skills training, Andy also serves as a Varsity Assistant Coach at Sacred Heart High School. During his high school career at Venice High School, he was a Varsity Captain and an All-City League selection.

Off the court, Andy brings that same work ethic and entrepreneurial mindset to everything he does. He is currently pursuing a degree in psychology at West Los Angeles College while running his own marketing and content creation business, working with local companies to help them grow their brands.

For Andy, the goal is simple: build discipline through basketball because the lessons learned on the court don’t stay there. They become part of who you are—and continue to show up in every area of life.

Coach Bo
Basketball Coach & Mentor

Coach Bo

Coach Bo believes basketball is more than a game—it’s a vehicle for developing young people. He focuses on the person behind the player, combining purposeful skill development and basketball IQ with teamwork, perseverance, and character building. His goal is simple: to help every athlete become a better player, teammate, and person.

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With more than 10 years of coaching experience, Coach Bo has worked with youth players at all levels. He currently serves as Head Basketball Coach at Laurel Hall School in North Hollywood, where he has spent 10 seasons building the program, developing players, and mentoring fellow coaches. His work has helped establish Laurel Hall as a prominent force in the Valley Christian Athletic League. He has also served as an Assistant Varsity Coach at Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida, YULA Girls High School in Los Angeles, and Maranatha High School in Pasadena. During his time at YULA, he helped lead the team to a 23-win season and an undefeated Independence League Championship in 2023–24.

A graduate of Florida State University with a B.S. in Accounting and the University of Tampa with an Executive MBA, Coach Bo brings the same discipline, commitment, and attention to detail to coaching that he brings to his professional life. Above all, he is driven by a desire to pass along the lessons he learned from his own coaches and mentors. Through basketball, he strives to help young athletes build confidence, respect, leadership, and the resilience to face adversity—both on and off the court.

Coach Gil
Basketball Coach & Mentor

Coach Gil

Coach Gilbert Sanchez believes basketball is more than a game—it is a vehicle for developing young people. His philosophy is simple: People First. Team Second. Basketball Third. Through basketball, he helps athletes build confidence, discipline, resilience, accountability, communication, and the ability to grow through adversity and mistakes.

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With 14 years of coaching experience, including eight years as a varsity head coach, Coach Sanchez has coached and mentored approximately 200 student-athletes across youth, middle school, high school, varsity, and competitive club basketball. A former varsity player at Wilson High School, he has coached at Wilson, Lincoln, and Palisades High Schools.

At Palisades, Coach Sanchez was part of a program that competed at the highest level of LA City basketball, including an LA City Open Division Championship and a run to the CIF State Division II Regional Finals. At Lincoln, he helped rebuild the girls basketball program following COVID, leading to consecutive LA City Division II playoff appearances. At Wilson, he helped turn around a struggling program by establishing a culture built on academics, accountability, leadership, commitment, and player development.

Today at BTG, Coach Sanchez continues to develop athletes both on and off the court, emphasizing basketball IQ, decision-making, teamwork, communication, competitiveness, and confidence.

For Coach Sanchez, success is about more than wins or championships. It is about helping young athletes become better players, better teammates, and better people—and giving them lessons that stay with them long after basketball.

The wins matter. Development matters. But who they become matters most.

Coach Sean
Team Coach & Skills Trainer

Coach Sean

Coach Sean serves as a BTG Team Coach and Skills Trainer, working directly with athletes on the court to develop their game.

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Outside of BTG, Coach Sean is the JV Girls Basketball Head Coach at Thousand Oaks High School, following previous coaching roles at Marymount High School and Santa Monica College’s women’s basketball program. Sean prides himself on building the core confidence, footwork, and decision-making key to becoming a high-level player.

“I’m blessed to be a part of the BTG community. My goal is to help these kids grow into the best versions of themselves, both in life and in basketball.”

Built For The Next Generation

DEVELOPING ATHLETES
AGES 8–14

BTG Basketball helps young athletes ages 8–14 build strong basketball fundamentals, confidence, basketball IQ, and the habits needed to grow both on and off the court.

8–10
Foundation

Build fundamental skills, confidence, coordination, and a love for the game.

11–12
Development

Develop basketball IQ, decision-making, confidence, and competitive skills.

13–14
Preparation

Build advanced skills, game understanding, leadership, and preparation for the next level.

Our Mission

A Positive Basketball Experience

To give young athletes a positive basketball experience where they build lasting confidence, make real friends, and fall in love with the game—equipping them with strong fundamentals, life lessons, and a lifelong passion for basketball.
Our Core Programming

A Complete Developmental Pathway for Ages 8–14

At BTG Basketball, we provide a clear, structured pathway designed to meet young athletes wherever they are in their development. Whether your player is honing their individual skills or competing on the floor, our programs focus on building complete basketball foundations, game IQ, and a lifelong love for the game.

🏀 THE ROOFTOP ACADEMY

Player Development & Fundamentals

Located on our signature outdoor rooftop court in Marina del Rey, the Rooftop Academy is our year-round skill-development home. Designed for athletes looking to master the essentials, our weekly Home Sessions deliver high-repetition, low-fluff training tailored to individual growth.

Core Focus: Fundamental mechanics in shooting, ball handling, footwork, decision-making, and creative finishing.

Game-Based Learning: Fast-paced 3v3 small-sided games to maximize ball touches and build real-time basketball IQ.

Flexible Schedules: Dedicated weekly training crews on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

EXPLORE ROOFTOP ACADEMY

🏆 BTG CLUB TEAMS

Developmental & Competitive Teams (9U–14U)

Our Club Program bridges individual skill development with real, structured team competition during the school year. Built around a "development-first" philosophy, our 9U through 14U teams give players earned play time, team concepts, and competitive experience without the toxic pressure of traditional club basketball.

Core Focus: Spacing, team defense, transition concepts, communication, and high school readiness.

Structured Roster Depth: 10-player roster caps to ensure opportunities for play time and real player rotation.

Year-Round Pathway: On-court practices, local game schedules, and a direct bridge to high school readiness.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLUB TEAMS & TRYOUTS
BTG Camps

Where Fun Meets the Foundations of the Game

BTG Camps are built with a clear purpose: to help young athletes fall in love with basketball while building real, lasting skills. We ditch the boring drills and long lines to create a high-energy environment where players build confidence, make friends, and fall in love with the process of getting better.

Every camp session combines fundamental skill-building with high-repetition gameplay:

The Core Foundations: Dedicated instruction in shooting mechanics, ball handling, defensive footwork, finishing around the rim, and decision-making under pressure.

3v3 & Small-Sided Gameplay: We believe the best way to learn the game is to play it. Athletes get maximum touches on the ball, learn spacing, and test their skills in fast-paced 3v3 games.

Building Great Teammates: Basketball is a team sport. We emphasize communication, encouragement, hustle, and what it truly means to lift up those around you.

At BTG Camp, we don't just teach the game—we create an unforgettable community experience where kids fall in love with basketball, grow their confidence, and leave every day eager to get back on the court.

Camps & Clinics — Join the Waitlist
Beyond the Game Athletics Foundation

Investing in Potential, Removing Financial Barriers

We believe that participating in BTG Basketball—whether on the rooftop, in our club program, or at camp—is an investment in a child’s confidence, character, and basketball foundation. However, the modern youth sports landscape has shifted, turning what should be an accessible community experience into a costly "pay-to-play" model where financial privilege often determines who gets to play.

💡 DID YOU KNOW?

The Participation Gap: Kids from lower-income households are half as likely to play organized sports compared to higher-income peers due to rising costs.

The Escalating Investment: The average family spends $1,000 to $3,000+ annually per child on basketball training, team fees, and travel.

The Debt Strain: Nearly 1 in 5 parents go into debt just to keep their children involved in youth sports.

OUR FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM

We recognize that quality player development and structured club teams represent a real financial commitment for families. We never want cost to be the reason a dedicated athlete is left on the sidelines.

Through the Beyond the Game Athletics Foundation, we offer financial aid exclusively for kids to participate directly in BTG programming (including Rooftop Academy, Club Teams, and Camps).

The Economic Reality: Rising facility and equipment costs have priced dedicated young athletes out of structured basketball training.

Closing the Gap: Families earning over $100,000 spend nearly three times more on sports than families earning under $50,000. Our financial aid program exists to close that divide for local families.

A Shared Commitment: Financial aid is a partnership. We provide financial assistance so that committed families and hardworking young athletes ages 8–14 can fully access BTG’s year-round development ecosystem.

SUPPORT THE FOUNDATION

Help Us Keep Local Athletes on the Floor

Every child deserves a positive basketball experience, a safe community, and a chance to build confidence through the game.

When you donate to the Beyond the Game Athletics Foundation, 100% of your contribution goes directly toward funding financial aid for committed local athletes (ages 8–14) to participate in BTG skills training, club teams, and camps.

Fund an Athlete: Cover a player’s seasonal club dues or Rooftop training.

Sponsor a Camp Spot: Give a young player an unforgettable summer camp experience.

Community Partners: Help us expand access to court space and player equipment across the Westside.

Financial Aid & Foundation Information
Beyond The Scoreboard

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP &
COACHING INSIGHTS

Listen to All Episodes
Beyond the Scoreboard 8 min read

What Separates Good Youth Basketball Coaches From Great Ones

Feeling the grind of youth basketball in Westside LA? Coach Justin Furtado breaks down the crucial shift from transactional to transformational coaching in youth sports development.

By Coach Justin Furtado Listen →
Beyond the Scoreboard 14 min read

The Hidden Cost of Turning Youth Sports into a Business

In a youth sports landscape where kids are treated like professional products, the "year-round grind" is draining the soul out of the game. Here is how we flip the script.

By Coach Justin Furtado Listen →
Beyond the Scoreboard 18 min read

85% of Youth Coaches are Burning Out: How Did We Get Here?

Learn how coaching burnout impacts youth sports, discover practical strategies to maintain passion, and find out how coaches and parents can build healthier athletic environments.

By Coach Justin Furtado Listen →
The BTG Standard

DEVELOPING PLAYERS.
BUILDING CHARACTER.

Experience the BTG difference firsthand. Help your athlete build confidence, make real friends, and fall in love with the game—equipping them with strong fundamentals and life lessons that extend far beyond basketball.

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