Yanders Law's Kalin Bennett grabbing national headlines

Word is out that Kalin Bennett is the first athlete diagnosed with autism to have received a Division I athletic scholarship.

Yanders Law alumni Kalin Bennett is a great basketball player with a big heart. His story is also making him an inspiration for individuals around the country that are held down by limitations they are told they have. Every player has their own battle, and some are tougher than others. Bennett was dealt a tough hand, but is overcoming that with determination, help from loved ones, and passion for the game.

Kalin has signed with Kent State on a scholarship to play hoops. The 6’10” 290lb Bennett is a Link Year Prep product. Link Year has been a great ally of Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement. Bennett projects to be a great rebounder and rim punisher at Kent State.

It is truly inspiring to understand what Bennett has overcome to get to where he is today. He is physically gifted, but it takes more than that to compete at a Division I level. in an interview posted on Twitter by Athlete Swag Kalin described how he never spoke until the age of seven. He credits his Mother, who constantly worked with him and did her best to help him socialize.

Parents - As if you needed another reason to never stop loving and encouraging your children, this is a good one. Helping others to reach their potential is so fulfilling and really does make the world a better place.

His story is being blasted all over by ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, Bleacher Report, etc. With exposure like this, comes responsibility. It is clear that Kalin is embracing this responsibility by striving to be an excellent example.

I want to make an impact not just on the court, but with kids that are struggling with the same things I am... I want to use this platform to inspire other kids with autism and non-autism. I want to let them know, hey, if I can do this, you can do it, too. A lot of times they feel alone and by themselves, and I felt that same way growing up.
— Kalin Bennett

With the physical tools, attitude, and passion that Kalin Bennett possess, he will be a fantastic ambassador for others diagnosed with autism or that are in similar situations.

Life gave Kalin a big hurdle and he has cleared it. We are thrilled to have been associated with his journey and wish him the very best as his career continues at Kent State.

Yanders Law - The process

“The process” is more than just a catch phrase for the NBA’s Joel Embiid. It sums up what goes into improving our players.

The process of improving all aspects of a player on the floor is difficult to describe without famous quotes and buzzwords. The little details behind each and every aspect of player improvement come from time spent on specific skills and lessons.

Though each player and program use their own form of process, Yanders Law is confident that our process ranks with any in the nation. It all starts at the top with basketball mind, our founder Rob Yanders.

Watching Rob work with Yanders Law players is fascinating. The constant movement and improvement is peppered with brief pauses that he takes to pull plays and schemes out of thin air. He will run players through a variation of a play, reposition them, and start over until the play is perfected. The end results are well known in the grassroots basketball community.

Rob’s players pound the dribble more than any I’ve ever seen before, executing 5 on 0 drills and plays with in-game-ferocity. Each player rotates to every position, so they know every action inside and out.

From such run-throughs to the intricacy of each individual jump shot and free throw routine, these players have a true advantage that comes from the Yanders Law process.

Every coach and player is unique, but the methodology is the same - Outwork your opponents and over-prepare for every situation. This mentality can be applied outside the game as well, as we have seen through player academic successes and alumni collegiate and professional proficiency.

The emphasis on this process will be evident not only on the court, but through each player’s life. We think that’s pretty special.

Individuals involved in the Yanders Law process already know what we’re talking about. If you aren’t part of the family yet, hit us up and we’ll talk about it! Player development is key, but people development is paramount, so we are ready to give everyone a shot.

Keep track of the Yanders Law process by checking back in here and following us across all platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and following us on Twitter @YandersLaw

Happy Thanksgiving from Yanders Law!

Yanders Law is like family, so we are so grateful for every member - Coaches, players, parents, and everyone behind the scenes.

Yanders Law and its family have a lot to be thankful for this year. Team successes, victories, recruitments, and more are a few of the most simple highlights. As great as all of those things are though, we are still most thankful for you.

Being a part of Yanders Law means creating bonds for life. Nothing can be accomplished in what we do without the driving force of each individual involved in our program. Without the relationships formed, there would not be success.

Sappy enough for you? It’s all true! There is nothing soft or embarrassing about showing gratitude. A lot of individuals take time to help you achieve, the least you can do is thank them. It is those small acts of kindness that reassures the helpers and makes them want to help again and again. You never know who is in need of reassurance, take the three seconds to make someone’s day.

More on those thoughts here at The Basketball Movement.

We want to personally thank our coaches and staff, who dedicate so much time to bettering not just the Yanders Law program, but the boys and girls involved.

A personal “thank you” too to the unsung heroes: Parents and/or guardians. All the driving, funding, and time that goes into raising an athlete too often goes unnoticed. Thank you for what you do for our kids.

One final thank you to the players that wear Yanders Law across their chest. You are part of something special because you make it special. Nothing we do is possible without you and we want nothing but the best for each and every one of you.

Everyone enjoy the holiday! If you get too full, just run out and get some shots up to burn off those excess calories!

Rob Yanders Founder / Owner

A program like Yanders Law is nothing without its fearless leader. Ours is great basketball mind and former pro, Rob Yanders.

About

Rob Yanders, owner and director of The Basketball Movement and Yanders Law, trains some of the best talent in the country. From top high school talent to NBA players, his training methods are sought after by elite players continually striving to get better. As lead director and head of player development, he has worked with multiple top-100 HS players in the country.

Notable names such as Mike Foster, Patrick Baldwin, Harlong Beverly, Charles Smith IV, Jabari Sibley, Emanual Miller, Anton Brookshire, Isaac Lindsey, Nobal Days, Desi Carton, Jalen Thomas, Chris Hodges, Adam Miller, Xzavier Jones, and Desmond Polk are among the players that look to coach Yanders for help in elevating their game.

As someone who has played at every level, his tutelage is an asset to these young men as they proceed with their dream of achieving the highest level of play available to them.

His workouts with NBA players Monte Morris, Deonte Burton, and Alize Johnson have become stories passed around from training camp to training camp, leading to more and more calls from current and prospective pros looking for help as they climb the ladder of success.

He has consulted with multiple NBA teams (including Lakers, Magic, and Pelicans) as they design and implement their own development programs.

Career

Yanders’ basketball career began in Milwaukee at Vincent High School, where he helped lead the Vikings to three State Basketball Championships in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Yanders went on to play at MSU – West Plains and is their only two time All-American.

Yanders was honored as a member of the 1999 USA National Team that toured New Zealand and was inducted into the MSU – WP Hall of Fame in 2007.

Yanders went on to play at Missouri State University in the Missouri Valley Conference under coach Barry Hinson, earning “All-Conference Honors.” He started every game he played from 2000-2002, averaging 11 points, 5.5 assists, and grabbing an impressive 6 rebounds per game.

He played 12 years as a pro, spending his first seven seasons playing in the BBL. As a pro, he started over 300 games, scoring 4,600 points with over 1,500 assists. He ranked 6th on the all-time BBL list. Yanders was a part of the 2009 Great Britain national team that earned the 2012 Olympic bid. After his first seasons playing abroad, Yanders was invited to the Milwaukee Bucks NBA free-agent camp.

During his time in the UK, Yanders won practically every individual and team honor available in the domestic game. Yanders won three European Championships, two regular season Championships, a National Cup, and Finals MVP. In France, Yanders was also voted team MVP with both VCB and KABCA teams and earned All-Star Team honors in 2012.

The Basketball Movement and Yanders Law

The Basketball Movement is the most explosive basketball training facility in the Midwest. Rob Yanders and his team of skilled trainers have developed a new type of basketball experience for youth on and off the court.

The Basketball Movement offers intense skill development, team training, mentorship, film analysis, motivational speaking, marketing, media coverage, and national exposure. With over four thousand athletes coming through the doors each year, the Basketball Movement has been proven to be the Mecca of basketball training in the Midwest.

Yanders Law was established to use the sport of basketball as a tool to assist young men and women in their athletic, educational, professional, and life skill development; to provide young men and women with a fraternity of brotherhood and sisterhood for life; and to promote good citizenship, discipline, teamwork, and physical health.

Even with such big dreams, Rob has managed to stay grounded and true to himself and his community as well. With free-of-charge clinics and leagues, The Angels of the Hardwood event, and more, he is dedicated to using basketball to better the lives of others.

Yanders Law current and former players

Check out some of Yanders Law’s current and former players to see where they are now or where they are headed next.

As we continue to build up our website, Yanders Law has added some information to the “Players” tab. Here, we have some brief information and updates about a few players that have played for Yanders Law and have gone on or are going on to play at the next level of the sport.

We are in the early stages of this, so the list is currently just a short glimpse at the success that we have had the privilege of sharing with some of our players.

This means that there will be more coming in this area about the boys and girls that have experienced success working with Yanders Law. We can only realistically fit so many accomplishments onto one page, so the updates are brief glimpses at what the players are up to in their basketball careers.

The program has had many players over the years, so keeping track of every single one will be difficult. Reach out to us if you or anyone that is or has been affiliated with Yanders Law has a collegiate offer to play extended or accepted as well as overseas or domestic professional interest. We always love to hear from our players as your successes are our greatest accomplishments as a grassroots basketball program.

Access the “Players” page by clicking this link or simply selecting the Players tab above.

Keep checking out this area as we continue to build our site to provide a mutually beneficial platform on our rise to the top. Thank you, everyone for being along for the ride.

Angels of the Hardwood - Yanders Law, The Basketball Movement, and Jones Family YMCA

Yanders Law, The Basketball Movement, and the Jones Family YMCA are teaming up to bring Angels of the Hardwood to the local community.

This year will mark the first annual Angels of the Hardwood event put on by Yanders Law and its players. Yanders Law will be partnering with The Basketball Movement and its coaches to utilize the facilities and resources that The Basketball Movement can provide. The goal of this absolutely free event is to make a difference in the lives of children and let them know that people care.

During the Angels of the Hardwood event, 100 pairs of Nike shoes will be given to those in need as well as Nike shirts, basketballs, and more. The event will take place at the Jones Family YMCA on December 16th from 1:00 to 3:00pm. Angels of the Hardwood is an idea by Rob Yanders, born out of a desire to give back to the community using the platform of basketball.

There is no greater way to find yourself than through service for others. Angels of the Hardwood will show the boys and girls of Yanders Law the importance of selflessness and teach them about character, humility, and integrity.
— Rob Yanders

Rob has described that players need to understand the privilege that they have to be able to play the game of basketball. This privilege can be best utilized as a platform to reach others - either inspirationally or through acts of service. Angels of the Hardwood will help create the next generation of leaders by teaching these kids to use their advantages to give to the less fortunate.

The players involved in this free program must understand that the giving season does not come about through a red-suited man in a sleigh. Behind all of that are good, real people working hard to be able to provide for their family and friends. There is joy to be found in giving, and Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement want players to get to experience that.

“A night of basketball” will be taking place at the Jones Family YMCA in conjunction with the Angels of the Hardwood event. This evening will bring everything back to basketball, giving the players the opportunity to grow on the court through Basketball Movement skills and drills.

Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement’s Rob Yanders reflected back on his time growing up in Milwaukee and what basketball meant to him.

Growing up I remember how much I looked forward to after-school programs at Salvation Army, YMCA, and Boys and Girls Club. Basketball meant so much because it was an escape for us. It could take your mind off a missed meal or troubles at home. It was a chance to make friends and an opportunity to be a part of something. That’s what motivates me to give back.
— Rob Yanders

The Basketball Movement and Yanders Law are excited for this opportunity to be a teammate for their community. This is the first Angels of the Hardwood event, but it won’t be the last. Rob and his entities are driven by development of players and people, and that will shine through absolutely on December 16th.

***Pre-registration is required - Call (417)881-1599 or see the front desk to register.***

Follow Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement wherever possible to learn more about initiatives like this as well as some of the best basketball training and development available in the Midwest.

Yanders Law now has a blog!

Hello and welcome to Yanders Law blog! Here we will post updates on Yanders Law teams, players, alumni, and leagues as well as basketball news.

Yanders Law was established to use the sport of basketball as a tool to assist young men and women in their athletic, educational, professional, and life skill development; to provide young men and women with a fraternity of brotherhood and sisterhood for life; and to promote good citizenship, discipline, teamwork, and physical health.

This blog is set in place to promote these teams and players to allow a platform that they may not have otherwise. We will also let you know about Yanders Law events and promotions to make sure you are able to stay up to date with one of the areas greatest grassroot basketball programs.

Occasionally, we will also cover area tournaments and games in addition to national high school (and under) basketball news.

Blog posts will be written by @WilHarrington. I also author the blog over at The Basketball Movement and will be gradually be integrating as social media manager for both.

All posts on this blog will be tweeted out, so it is important to make sure that you’re following @YandersLaw to get all the updates.

We are excited to get Yanders Law and its players another platform to showcase all of the great things that we have going on. This whole website is ramping up with new pages and content on the way. Be on the lookout for all the new content and a few special events that Yanders Law and The Basketball Movement have coming up.

More coming soon - follow us across all platforms and get involved with Yanders Law!