Basketball Spotlight Exclusive: One On One Feat. Micah Lancaster

The East Coast Super Skillcase is two weeks away (Oct. 27th and 28th). So Basketball Spotlight decided to sit down with the hottest trainer in the country Micah Lancaster for an exclusive one on one interview. 

One On One Feat. Micah Lancaster

BS: Give us a brief description of your playing background?
ML: My basketball story really began in my senior year of high school. After being 4’11 as a freshman in high school, 5’2 as a sophomore, and 5’6 as a junior and being cut by two AAU teams that spring, I had one summer left before my senior season. After an 8 hour a day summer of training I was able to have a breakout senior season, scoring 25 ppg and leading my team to its first ever state semi final appearance. After the season, I accepted a full scholarship offer to Spring Arbor University in the NAIA, where I became an NAIA and NCCAA All-American. I finished my career 2nd All-Time in scoring with 2,397 points and 1st All-Time in assists with 751. In 2007, I played professionally in the International Basketball League where I became an All-Star and was offered several overseas contracts in Germany, France, and Switzerland.

BS: When and why did you decide to begin I’m Possible Training?
ML:Soon after beginning my professional basketball career, I realized I was more in love with improving my game than actually playing the game. In 2008, I “partnered” with Ganon Baker Basketball, a well-established basketball company. In 2009, however, I decided I needed a more distinct business name to avoid confusion that came with people assuming I was an employee of Ganon Baker Basketball when I was merely a sub-contractor with my own views, style and methodology. That gave me a great opportunity to name my service after my belief that ALL players have opportunity in the game of basketball if they follow the right path and plan. If I could do it, then certainly anyone could! That’s when I’m Possible Training was born.

BS: Give us a list of some of the top players you have worked with?
ML:I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with some of the greatest basketball players to play the game. From doing a clinic with Kobe Bryant in London, to working on-court with Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers, Kyrie Irving, Evan Turner, Nolan Smith, and Darius Johnson-Odom to name a few. Of course, I’ve had the privilege to work with NCAA and High School All-Americans as well as some of the best young players in the country and I get equal joy out of them all. Improvement gets addicting!

BS: It seems that any basketball search on You Tube will result in your drills and other trainers imitating your style. What do you think of your methods becoming so respected?
ML:I am certainly proud of becoming a leader in basketball skill innovation, and I hope that coaches and trainers continue to find our methods helpful. The concern that I have is that while many trainers may be attempting to duplicate our training they need to truly understand the purpose behind them or the method gets lost in the drill. The skill being emphasized is most important. The why behind what we do is the most important! I would like to encourage both trainers and players to make sure they understand the purpose of what we are trying to accomplish in each and every skill that we do.

BS: What makes your training technique different from others throughout the country? ML:Game realism, game feel, and imagination! I think a lot of times drills get watered down into hand-eye coordination, conditioning, and maybe athleticism. Basically, most training I see resembles drills. At I’m Possible, we don’t do drills. We train game skills. Therefore, anything the player may do, whether it be using a tennis ball, one of our famous medicine balls, or a cone, they need to always keep the method completely and totally real to the game. At the very least, our players will always have a very specific reason WHY they are doing what we are asking them to do. Great training comes down to efficiency of time invested, and there’s no efficiency if the skill is lost in the drill.

BS: How did you come up with your unique training techniques and why are they important? ML:I work backwards. I study film. I study moves and footwork of the best players in basketball. I pin point the smallest of details that I can find and then I tailor a drill to that skill. That way – I always know the reality of what I’m trying to create with the player in their workouts. The mistake many people make is they create a drill first and then try to come up with ways to match it to the game. Most of the time – tricks are invented – not skills.

BS: Why have you chosen to work with Basketball Spotlight on the East Coast Super Skillcase? ML: There has a been a scary movement in our game of basketball that says players just need to play games to improve. I think that exists because most workouts players do are generic. High school, college, and even NBA teams are doing the same old drills. Players are bored and really have lost faith in drills because drills are generic. They don’t separate players from the pack. They maintain what a player already has. What else can a player do to separate from the pack in that system? Play more games, of course. I’ve joined with Basketball Spotlight because we both share a vision that players can truly learn how to improve and set themselves apart on their own. By providing them with game-like, challenging training methods that not only simulate the game, but make the game harder, players quickly learn that REAL training works! Then, of course, we will still play extremely competitive games after the training so Basketball Spotlight can assess players for both their skills and their game!

BS: What can a player expect to gain from the East Coast Super Skillcase?
ML: First, players will gain their weaknesses! I know that sounds funny, but most training around the country only gives players what they can already do. Players at the East Coast Super Skills will all be challenged with some of the most intense drills in basketball, and will all gain the gift of discovering their weaknesses. Only then, will they understand how to improve! Second, they will be able to play games against the best players on the East Coast, and some West Coast of course, and see where they stand. It’s the best of both worlds.

BS: What’s your overall outlook on the Skillcase throughout the country?
ML:Anytime you have an opportunity to assemble the best players in the country in one spot, you have something special and we’ve already had confirmations from some of the best 5-8th graders in the US! But by shining a spotlight on each and every player we are doing more than stroking their egos like other “exposure” events do. I think the name Basketball Spotlight is fitting. A spotlight reveals both strength and weakness. It shines a light on it all. In the same manner, we will be able to offer players exposure for their talents but also expose to them the areas they need to improve to stay in the spotlight and keep their dream alive! The Super Skillcase is a game changer – for players and the game of basketball itself!