Coach Curtis Grant

Coach Curtis Grant, also known as Coach CJ, is the head coach and co-founder of Under Pressure Basketball Academy. Coach CJ was born and raised in Broward County, Florida, and wouldn’t have it any other way. He has three siblings, one sister and two brothers, who share his passion for the game of basketball. Introduced to basketball at four years old by his grandfather, he has been determined to expand his knowledge of the game ever since.

Due to the fact that Coach CJ relocated often as a teenager for his mother’s job, he didn’t play basketball in high school until his senior year. He made the varsity team, and although he didn’t get the opportunity to play very much, he took what he learned and applied it to everyday life. Ultimately, Coach CJ ended up playing in Vermont and then tried out for a team in Massachusetts. After not making the team, he decided it was time to start focusing on coaching and developing players. Coach CJ has been coaching travel basketball for six years; five with the South Florida Spartans and one year with the South Florida Sonics.

Coach CJ’s coaching philosophy is focused, but compassionate. He believes in preparing young men for games and for life by providing real scenarios in which they must THINK CRITICALLY about the game. Offensively we want to get up and down the court as quickly as possible. Push the pace and look for opportunities to set teammates up. Just like on offense, we want to set teammates up to create a defensive play. Coach CJ wants his players to sit down in a stance and have some dog in them to get the necessary stop or just immediately set a tone.

Coach CJ strives for a WE> ME team. He establishes the idea that we work together as a team, we talk as a team, we run and encourage each other as a team, and we WIN as a team. There are no individuals here. Even when a player is having a great game, Coach CJ still encourages them to stay aware of opportunities to make plays for teammates while playing solid defense.