No Excuse Produce AAU Season Wrap-Up: Growth, Grit, and Our First-Ever Banquet Celebration

What a ride.

As we close out another powerful AAU season, I want to take a moment to reflect on what we've built together — as athletes, coaches, families, and a movement. From the very first tip-off back in March to championship moments in May and June, every player who wore a No Excuse Produce jersey this season represented more than a team. They represented a standard.

A Season of Firsts

This spring marked the first time our 6th Grade Boys team became champions. After battling through adversity and falling short in their first two championship appearances, they stormed back to win the Zero Gravity Gold Rush, rattling off five straight wins. History was made — not just because they took home a trophy, but because of the resilience they showed to get there. From 0–2 to tournament champs? That’s the No Excuse way.

Our 8th Grade Boys showed heart and growth all season long. Competing in some of the toughest brackets across the Zero Gravity circuit, they went 2–0 on Saturday at Nationals, beating strong teams like Team Sims and New York's Team Frenji. Game ball honors went to Malachi Koosono and Jack Vallee, but truly, every athlete on that squad gave us something to be proud of. The energy, the effort, the passion — it was all there.

Our NEP Girls teams stepped up too, with incredible skill development, leadership, and drive. The way these girls pushed themselves and one another shows just how bright our future is. Shout out to the 8th Grade Girls, who led the charge in our team fundraiser — proving they’ve got hustle on and off the court!

Shoutout to Our Coaches

None of this happens without our dedicated coaching staff, who show up day in and day out to lead, inspire, and develop these athletes the right way:

Coach Troy Johnson – Led our 6th Grade Boys with passion and accountability. His energy set the tone for one of our most historic seasons yet.

Coach Gabe – Consistently showed up for our 7th Grade Boys, pushing them to compete with heart and learn through every rep.

Coach Jackie – Poured into our 7th Grade Girls with love, leadership, and structure. Her influence made a huge impact on and off the court.

Coach Dani – A steady force and incredible mentor for our 8th Grade Girls. Her basketball knowledge and care for our girls made the season a huge success.

Each of these coaches brought something unique to the table — but all of them brought 100%. We’re lucky to have them.

Word of the Week: From Commitment to Culture

If you’ve been following our weekly blog series, you know we’ve been focusing on the deeper lessons basketball teaches. Over the past few months, we’ve explored the meaning of:

Commitment – Showing up consistently no matter how you feel.

Energy – Bringing the juice, the voice, and the vibe to every gym.

Discipline – Doing what needs to be done, even when no one is watching.

Teamwork – Putting the mission over the moment.

Leadership – Leading by example and bringing others with you.

Perseverance – Fighting through injury, doubt, and loss without giving up.

Gratitude – Thanking the game, your parents, your coaches, and each other.

These values are the true wins of the season. They outlast the buzzer. They show up in life, in school, in community. Our kids didn’t just hoop this spring — they grew.

Celebrating the MVPs Behind the Scenes

No program thrives without the love, energy, and sacrifice of the parents behind the players — and we’ve been blessed with an all-star crew of basketball moms who poured their hearts into this season.

Julie Parmentier consistently filmed games so our players could study film and relive their best moments. Her dedication gave our athletes a valuable tool for learning and improvement.

Cynthia Laine elevated our program by creating highlight videos that captured the magic in every game — every crossover, every assist, every celebration.

Kryselly added her creative touch by putting together beautiful reels and highlights that shined a light on our kids. Her content not only built confidence, but it helped tell the story of our season.

And a big shoutout to Mrs. Lewis, who always showed up with snacks for the girls, making sure they had the fuel and encouragement to finish strong. It might seem small — but it meant everything.

These women weren’t just supporting their own kids — they supported the entire program. We’re grateful beyond words for everything they did to make this season special for our athletes.

Their behind-the-scenes support made a major difference for the whole NEP family.

Our First-Ever NEP Banquet

To cap it all off, we’re hosting something special:

Our first-ever No Excuse Produce Banquet is this Thursday, June 12th, from 6:00–9:00 PM at The Manor in West Boylston.

This is a night to celebrate everyone — players, parents, coaches, and staff. It’s more than an awards night. It’s a moment. One where we recognize how far we’ve come, and where we’re headed next.

We'll honor standouts on and off the court.

We’ll laugh at highlights, relive the big moments, and maybe even shed a tear.

We’ll break bread and build stronger bonds as a program.

And yes — formal attire is required. We clean up nice around here.

What's Next

We’re not slowing down.

Summer training camps are live and filling fast.

We’re already planning for our Fall AAU and developmental leagues.

And our No Excuse Boyz documentary series continues to build steam, capturing the behind-the-scenes of what it really means to be a part of this movement.

We’re not just here for the season. We’re here for your child’s journey.

Thank you to every parent who trusted us. Thank you to every athlete who gave their all. And thank you to every coach, trainer, and volunteer who poured into these kids.

This is only the beginning.