New training facility in Lewiston sets precedent

Players and coaches gathered underneath the basket.

Gorilla Basketball League, established in Northern Virginia in 2014, is a fairly new program to Maine.

“Due to my success, a lot of kids believe in what I say because I actually accomplished what I went out to accomplish,” stated Tyc Snow, the owner of Gorilla Basketball League. 

Snow was a Division- I athlete at Mississippi Valley State from 2005-2007, before going D-I Snow competed on the courts in community college. Eventually he made his way onto, what was formerly known as, the Maine Red Claws. 

Certainly, his is a success story.

Gorilla Basketball League is currently located in Lewiston sharing a facility with MBC. This organization offers several programs to help players from 4th grade up to college succeed. There are three high school girls teams, three high school boys teams and one eighth grade girls team.  

“I think he’s transferred my game over the past year to a different level,” stated Kennedy Lampert. “He pushes me hard and gives me a lot of opportunities.”

Lampert is a Junior guard on Mt.Ararat’s girls basketball team who attends events held at Gorilla Basketball League as often as she can. She trains 2-3 hours a day with Snow and is on one of the AAU teams. Lampert also competes on the 3v3 teams.

If you’re wondering what training entails with Snow, Drayson Bernard, a Sophomore, enthusiastically described one of his new favorite skills.

“Tyc’s got me doing stuff I didn’t even know existed. I’ve never heard of dribbling four basketballs until now! So I’m trying to work on it every time I come in to train,” he stated.

Tyc Snow dribbling four basketballs at Maine Red Claws.

Gorilla Basketball is the only organization in Maine that has a shoe deal for both boys and girls. NXTPRO circuit, which is associated with Puma, offered Gorilla Basketball a two year contract for every team. 

There is typically a mix of boys and girls from all different age groups that train at the facility. 

“Boys are tougher and we can get stronger,” stated Jazaiah Cleveland, a seventh grader from Hall-Dale.

She expressed that having the chance to compete with boys often has aided her game. Her physicality and competitiveness has been impacted by these joint-training sessions held at Gorilla Basketball League.

In order from left to right; Drayson Bernard, Jazaiah Cleveland and Kennedy Lampert.

So, what makes Gorilla Basketball League special compared to other training programs in Maine?

When I entered the facility I was met with parents of the players catching up and enjoying watching their kids work hard. There was plenty of space for the littler kids of those parents to roam without disturbing the work of the athletes. Overall, it’s very family friendly.

As the players went to switch drills they hustled and enthusiastically performed their best with smiles on their faces. There was never a dull moment.

The other coaches, who are a part of the Maine Bulldogs ABA team, corrected any players that needed help and genuinely looked as if they were enjoying their time on the court.

Lampert and Cleveland described Gorilla Basketball League as “family”, while Bernard focused more on the tactical side, calling this organization “winners”.

Undoubtedly that’s what I experienced in my time with Snow and his players. 

“I’m excited and feel obligated to give back to Maine,” stated Snow. “And to build a Powerhouse Organization to compete across the United States.”